As another year comes to an end and 2017 is about to begin it is once more membership renewal time. Your renewal mailing is in the mail!  I write to not only ask for your renewal but to also share with you happenings this past year.

I am pleased to report that the Dollars to Scholars Campaign from June 2015 to June 2016 brought in $2,062.00. If you would still like to contribute this year and add a 2016 tax deductible donation to the Scholarship Fund there is space on your renewal form.

In July this website went “live” and we are receiving many compliments. I hope you are explored the site. We’ve added a Members-Only section. Access requires an email address. Included are publications archives, The Member Directory, and member forums designed to allow every member to ask questions and share information with others in the Society. The Collectors Corner contains articles on collecting, working with auction houses, dealers and appraisals and more. Annual Meeting information, trips, photographs and more are being added all the time. Plus you can renew on line! Ideas or suggestions? Email me – sands@manuscript.org. Bookmark the site!

The 2016 annual meeting in Charleston, South Carolina was a great success.  There are many photographs from members. 2017 will take us to the other coast: the Bay Area! We will be located on the Bay at the Waterfront Hotel in Oakland and from this central point we’ll visit Berkeley, Palo Alto, Oakland and of course San Francisco. See our annual meeting post for the schedule, dates and hotel information. I hope I will see you there!

On the back of your renewal form there is a section devoted to the Member Directory. I hope you will take time to fill it out. Even if you think we have all of your information, it is from this form we will build the new Directory. Thank you for helping.

We are pleased to report our fiscal state is stable. Even so, in 2017 the board will evaluate all of our costs, programs, and advertising to make sure we are providing you the most for your membership dollars. It has been over a decade since the Code of Ethics was written and so much has changed. The Ethics Committee will be working on updating the code.

With so much happening with your Manuscript Society I hope you will take a moment to renew your membership. Fill out the form enclosed in your mailing, write a check and use the return envelope. You can now pay by credit card as well.  You may prefer to renew now by using your credit card or PayPal account.

All of us from the Board of Trustees to the staff of The Manuscript Society would like to thank you for your support and look forward to hearing from you and receiving your membership renewal. The organization is only as strong as its membership and you are a valued member.

Sincerely,

Shirley Sands
Executive Director