For what it's worth, I like Absolute Sage too.
I think the idea of being nominated by the mods and then the last word going to Jenna is also good. If you allow people to nominate themselves, and then have to reject them for whatever reason...to me, the potentiality is there to get into a quagmire of hurt feelings and resentment if someone feels that they weren't given the status that they deserved if you allow self nomination (otherwise, they wouldn't have nominated themselves...). Maybe I'm wrong, but having had my own forum a few years back and having to assign mods, I know how easily feelings can get hurt. A few long term friendships ended badly over others thinking that they were being snubbed when they were not, but that's another story... I digress.
Better to go down the road of invitation, methinks. That way, it's a pleasant surprise and an honor to be asked, plus no one has to do the rotten job of telling someone why their application was rejected and then possibly getting embroiled in conflict. Let's face it, guys, most of us probably get enough rejections in life with submissions. (Oh, just me, then...ok, lol) This forum is a wonderful place of refuge and support and I'd like to see it continue to be.
I hope I don't sound like I'm being negative. I'd just hate to see any ill feeling come from something that was done with good intentions in the first place. Personally, being fairly new, I'd find that really useful, knowing who were the sages amongst us.
Thanks for the opportunity to give my two cents worth.