Internationale B. Traven Gesellschaft e.V.
Nostitzstr. 36
10961 Berlin
Tel./Fax: 0049-30-21 99 77 93
Berlin, November 2004
Dear
Readers,
how on
earth do B. Traven and an association – a literary society named after him, no
less – go together? The idea might well strike anyone who has read even a
single line by Traven as hysterically funny. Without dismissing or ignoring that
laughter, more than a few Traven aficionados
would counter that considering his own self-marketing strategies, he would
presumably have been quite excited about such an absurd notion.
But
pleasing him posthumously is not the only reason that we founded the International
B. Traven Society following our discussions at the last international B.
Traven conference on Sept. 27, 2003 in Eutin. Our primary goal is to familiarize
him to those who might be inspired by his books, but are not provided with
sufficient access to his works in the ultra-competitive book market. (The
Society was registered as an association on Dec. 12, 2003 at the Charlottenburg
Local Court in Berlin, Germany).
The
Society’s goal is to maintain a presence of the works of Ret Marut/B. Traven
both in the public debate and in the multifaceted channels of today’s
communication media – although their decentralization has certainly taken a
different path than he would have hoped. We also strive to promote study of
those aspects of his work which remain of urgent relevance and are given far too
little attention. This might include:
-
public events (lectures,
readings, exhibitions, socio-political actions, etc)
-
a B. Traven Web
site, now available on the Internet in German, English and Spanish (www.btraven.com),
-
participation
in literary, academic and other endeavors that serve to promote our goals and
are within the Society’s means.
The
initial focus is on developing our Web site, which will serve as the basis for
coordinating additional activities. We welcome any suggestions you may have on
both the site’s design and its substantive scope. Of course, it will be
impossible to attain our goals without support from member dues and donations.
We very
much hope that you will become a member, and are enclosing the Society’s
charter, a membership form and a direct debit form.
Annual
dues are € 20 for students and the unemployed, € 35 for employed individuals,
and € 70 for institutions and sponsors. Dues are payable on February 1 of each
year.
Bank
information: Postbank Berlin (Bank routing code 100 100 10), account no. 470 661
103
We would
be most grateful if you would make us aware of others who would be interested in
membership.
With
every good wish,
Frank Nordhausen,
Christoph Ludszuweit, Alexander Behrendt
International B. Traven Society, registered
association, Nostitzstr. 36, 10961 Berlin, Germany
(a registered non-profit organization pursuant
to §§51 et seq. German Fiscal Code)
© 2005; Internationale B. Traven Gesellschaft e.V.