Glossary of Institutional Terminology.

A

Abeyance

The condition of a chapter that has failed to convene for four consecutive quarters. A chapter in abeyance retains its charter but may not transact business in the Institute's name.

Acclamation

A method by which the Board may, in lieu of formal balloting, register unanimous support for a measure. Used sparingly. Recorded in the minutes by the formula "adopted by acclamation".

Annual report

The Institute's yearly statement of activities, finances, and observed reach. Published not later than the first Saturday of June following the close of each fiscal year.

B

Bond, the

A non-technical term used in correspondence to denote the affinity that obtains among Michaels by virtue of their shared given name. Not to be confused with formal membership.

C

Canonical given name, the

The name Michael in any of the standardized variants catalogued in the Institute's etymological register.

Chartered

Said of a chapter that has received the Institute's formal recognition under Article VI of the bylaws. To be distinguished from convened, which describes a particular meeting of an already-chartered chapter.

Committee, the

When used without qualification, refers to the Standing Committee on Notability. Other committees are referred to by their full names.

Convening

A formal meeting of a chartered chapter, the Board, or the membership at large. Plural convenings. The Institute does not use the words session, gathering, or meet-up.

Convocation, the annual

The yearly assembly of the Institute, traditionally held on the second Saturday of October. Patrons, fellows, and chapter coordinators are invited as a matter of standing privilege.

Correspondence files

The Institute's collected letters, reports, and other documents of record, maintained by the Recording Secretary at the Institute's seat.

D

Dispensation

A formal permission granted by the Board to depart from a standing rule. Honorary status (Article VII §3) is conferred by dispensation.

E

Eponymous Patron

A donor at the $2,500–$9,999 tier, entitled, by special arrangement, to designate a small program element to bear his or her name in perpetuity.

F

Fellow

A person whose contribution has been recognized by the Standing Committee on Notability and whose name appears on the standing register. To be distinguished from a member, which any qualifying Michael may become.

Fiscal year

The calendar year, January 1 through December 31. The Institute's fiscal year coincides with its calendar year. Fiscal-year designations follow the year of conclusion (i.e., FY 2025 ends December 31, 2025).

Forename

A synonym for given name. The Institute prefers forename in formal contexts and given name elsewhere.

Founders' Circle

The highest standing donor tier ($10,000+). Members of the Founders' Circle are received by the Board at a small dinner held biennially.

Founding generation

The Michaels associated with the Institute's establishment in 2020 and the years immediately following. The term is used reverently and is not to be applied retrospectively to later cohorts.

G

Good standing

The condition of a member who is current in his or her obligations to the Institute and is not the subject of a pending disciplinary inquiry. Standing is presumed unless the Recording Secretary has noted otherwise.

H

Honorary Michael

A person not bearing the canonical given name to whom the Board has, by dispensation under Article VII §3, extended the Institute's recognition.

Hypocoristic

A diminutive or affectionate form of a given name (e.g., Mike, Mikey, Misha). The Institute maintains a supplementary register of hypocoristic forms.

I

Institute, the

The American Institute for Michaels. Always capitalized when referring to this body. Takes a singular verb ("The Institute is...", never "The Institute are...").

L

Letterpress card

A small printed acknowledgment, set in moveable type and printed on heavy stock, typically extended to recurring patrons. The Institute does not use the term postcard.

M

Mark, the

The Institute's seal and wordmark, considered as a single visual identity. Use is governed by the standards published on the wordmark page.

Member

Any natural person bearing the canonical given name (or having lawfully adopted it) who has been admitted to the Institute. Distinct from fellow.

N

Notability

The Standing Committee on Notability; also, in lower case, the quality of public, intellectual, or artistic contribution by which fellows are evaluated.

O

On the boards

Of an actor: in active stage performance. The Institute uses this expression in fellow citations of theatrical Michaels.

P

Patron

A donor at any standing tier. Patron of the Institute is reserved for the $500–$2,499 tier.

Q

Quorum

A simple majority of seated Board members. In the absence of a quorum, the senior Michael present may declare the convening adjourned but may not transact business.

R

Reading, in open session

The formal recital, before the Board in regular convening, of a proposed measure. Honorary status requires no fewer than two readings in open session before the vote is taken.

Recording Secretary, the

The officer responsible for the minutes of the Board, the standing register of fellows, and the correspondence files. The Recording Secretary is, by tradition, a Michael of fastidious habits.

Reach

The Institute's annual measure of Michaels touched. See the methodological note in the annual report.

Register, standing

The book of fellows, maintained by the Recording Secretary. To appear on the standing register is to be a fellow in good standing.

Resolution

A formal motion adopted by the Board. Resolutions are numbered sequentially within each fiscal year (e.g., Resolution 2025-04).

Roll, the donor

The annual list of donors, published in the annual report. Donors may, in writing, decline inclusion.

S

Seat, the

The Institute's administrative headquarters. The seat is fixed by Board resolution.

Standing

The aggregate of qualifications by which a member is in good condition with the Institute. To be in good standing is to enjoy all rights of the membership.

V

Variants, standardized

The list of forms of the canonical given name accepted as conferring eligibility for membership. Catalogued in the etymological register and exposed via the public API.

W

Withdraw, to

A formal mode of departure from the Institute, distinct from disciplinary removal. A withdrawn member may petition for reinstatement after a period of not less than one fiscal year.