{"id":3036,"date":"2014-08-17T03:46:37","date_gmt":"2014-08-17T03:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/?p=3036"},"modified":"2019-08-13T21:03:06","modified_gmt":"2019-08-13T21:03:06","slug":"2014-anniversary-reflections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manuscriptevidence.org\/wpme\/2014-anniversary-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"2014 Anniversary Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Detail<\/a>

‘Ecce . . . Bene’. Photography \u00a9 Mildred Budny<\/p><\/div>\n

Who, What, Where, When, Why Not<\/h2>\n

[Published on 17 August 2014, with updates<\/em>]<\/p>\n

The Mission<\/strong><\/a>, History<\/strong><\/a>, People<\/strong><\/a>, and Activities<\/strong><\/a> of the Research Group on Manuscript Evidence are reported on the Pages and Posts of our website and other Publications<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 During this landmark anniversary year, celebrating 15 years as a nonprofit educational corporation and 25 as an international scholarly society, we pause to reflect upon the course and nature of our essence and abilities as a collective entity.\u00a0 And we give thanks.\u00a0 Couldn’t do it alone!\u00a0 Come with us to see how that works, and plays!<\/p>\n

Who, When, and Wherever<\/h2>\n

The Research Group on Manuscript Evidence is an unusual scholarly entity \u2014 a sort of university without walls<\/strong>, open to the academic and wider worlds.\u00a0 With “no fixed abode” (apart from our central office, itself a donation), we hold events in different venues, either formally allocated as part of regularly scheduled conferences or generously donated for the purpose by various institutions.<\/p>\n

\"Poster<\/a>\"Poster<\/a>Among them, in recent years, are our Sponsored Sessions<\/strong><\/a> and Co-Sponsored Sessions<\/strong><\/a>, plus an Anniversary Reception<\/strong><\/a> this year, at the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies<\/strong><\/a>, and a series of Symposia<\/strong> at Princeton University on “Identity & Authenticity” Symposium 2013<\/strong><\/a> (2013) and “Recollections of the Past”<\/strong><\/a> (2014).\u00a0\u00a0 We plan further activities for this anniversary year.<\/p>\n

As an official nonprofit educational organization, with sustained activities, outreach, and publications, we however have no building, no paid staff, no elaborate structure or infrastructure, no sustained funding, and little endowment.\u00a0 After strenuous fundraising over years, while still advancing with our activities above all, our endowment has at last reached the level of $400.<\/p>\n

Why?\u00a0 Why Not!<\/h2>\n

So why have we survived?\u00a0 Good question.\u00a0 Without an elaborate hierarchy, without much money, and yet with the aid of volunteers from many spheres of activities, we have an exceptional flexibility which can respond rapidly to changing conditions, challenges, and opportunities.\u00a0 When, for example during one recession or other, many organizations chose to fold or to restrict their operations, we chose to focus instead on our strengths \u2014 namely people, dedication, and generosity \u2014 so that we can welcome the contributions of many kinds, including funds, expertise, materials, and goodwill.\u00a0 We gladly observe that “Where There is Goodwill, There is a Way.”<\/p>\n

And so, with a slender budget but with generous contributions in kind, we advance our mission, with scholarly conference sessions, symposia, workshops, colloquia, masterclasses, exhibitions, research projects, and publications.\u00a0 The nourishing donated Food for Thought often inspires donations to cover the provision of refreshments in the forms of Coffee Breaks, Receptions, Parties, Buffet Suppers, and even, on occasion, a Symposium Banquet.<\/p>\n

\""Bembino"<\/a>Recent developments include<\/p>\n