ANNUAL LETTER TO HAKLUYT SOCIETY MEMBERS IN THE USA, 2008
24 December 2008
Dear Fellow Contributor,
My message this year as president of AFHS is going to be very brief. The Hakluyt Society’s publishing program—the longest-running subscriber-based series in the world devoted to exploration and cultural encounters—cannot function without member support. The American Friends was created to augment that support through additional contributions from those members willing to give just a bit more to insure the Society’s continuance. The predictions are that next year is going to be an extremely serious one in all areas of academic publishing as the crisis in financial markets continues. In short, your gift is now more important than ever.
I am sending this year’s appeal specifically to member who have given in the past, because you are the ones who have made the decision—repeatedly—to support the Society above and beyond payment of ordinary dues. To me this means that you believe, as I do, that the Hakluyt publications program is a very worthy enterprise that deserves our continued assistance. Please help us; any amount will be most gratefully received. Checks should be made payable to “American Friends of the Hakluyt Society” in care of:
American friends of the Hakluyt Society
c/o Director
John Carter Brown Library
Brown University
94 George Street
Providence, RI 02906
I will also take this opportunity to let you know that my term as president of AFHS ends with this calendar year, as does Clare Flemming’s as secretary/treasurer. I will be succeeded by Dr. Ted Widmer, Director of the John Carter Brown Library. We have greatly enjoyed our three years as AFHS officers and look forward to serving the Society in future years.
Very best wishes for 2009,
Ross D.E. MacPhee, Ph.D.
President