Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

172
Vita ilvirIstituto
aiuti Il disburseniouta woro iliade by bini un uni buri/alioti frolli the Treasurcr. Tbis was ari iitvul nabli*- set-vice rcndered by Columbia University to the Society fi ir it simplificd noi only the account >f the Society, bui it rcmovcd ali rcsponsibilily fruiii the Treasurcr for idi lìnaiicial transactions. In additimi to tbis debt of gru Ut udc, tbc Society is also under deep obligation to Columbia University for the assistance It has given to the Society sincc i ts est alili sbmcii i in 1955 a period of tea years, Tbe University bas been must generous in puyiug for oli expeuses (including the preparai ion and distribuitoti of tbe Netvslettera, supplica, poslage, and secretoria! assistance). These expenses bave been borne by the Scbool of General Studies of Columbia University, Withont ibis insti tu tionul assistance the Society wouhl not bave been alile to cxìst.
Iiutircment of the Executive SecretaryTreasurcr: AB I un nomici-d at tbc last business meeting of tbe Society in December 1964,1 bave been officiali)- rctired at Columbia Uni­versity and I am uow in whal is oininously called terminal bave. As a conscqucucc, at last year's meeting I urged the Society to study the advisability of nominating someone else to lake over tbe duUcs of Executive Sccretary-Trcasurer. I poin led out that tbe finau-cial assistance the Society has been receiving fxom the Scbool of General Studies would terminate at tbe end of ibis calctidar yenr. I know tbat tbc Nominaiing Conunittee has given scrious considera liuti to ibis ma ti e r and is prepared to inaivi* a report at thìs meeting, 1 bave urged the Advìsory Conunittee to appoint a successo? as of January 1, 1966, hot to raake sure that tbe instituliou wilh which he is affiliateli will bc williug to assume the sanie responsihility that Colnmbia's Scbool of General Studies has discharged for a decade. If ibis is not possible, it vóli become nccessary to exact animai dues (a dollar or two from each member) to pay for the opera ting expeuses. Tbis, of course, will be in addition lo the price of subscriptions to tbe reviews. Unless one or the other alternative is adopted. I fear the Society will not be able to operate witli the money it has been able to save. In auticipaUon of my retirement from Columbia, I was authorized, in the Spring of this ycar, by Professors Halpern, Lopez, Grcenfield, and the Advìsory Conunittee of the Society, to dose thennancial account it has had wilb the Controller of the University. Two account* were opened at the Chemical Bank New York Trust Co. (113th Street and Boardway, N. Y. 25, N. Y.): a special ebecking account which at tbis writing (November 24,1965) bas a deposit of 25.81. This ebecking account isused only to pay the Society' bills to the reviews to which our members subscribe. To maintain tbis account the Bank charges the Society fiJ'ty ccnts a month plus ten cents for each check drawn (regardless of the amount). My signature and that of mv Secretary (Mrs. Sylvia Bassoff) bave been reipiired for each check drawn. The other account opened for the Society is a Savings Account which today (November 24, 1965) amonnts to 1618.82. This account earns interest at tbe rate of finir percent a ycur. Therc shonld never be any nced to draw on ibis account becausc the subscriptions to reviews paid by members are more than sumeient to pay the money we send to publishcrs, It is wfth a feeling of deep and genuine regret, as ali of you may well apprettate, that I ani foreed to surrcnder this post of Executive Secretary-Treasurcr with which you bave bonored me since tbe Society was first establi-shed. It has been a source of real joy and satisfaction to bave had the privilege and honor of knowing yon ali and to have worked closely witb tbe Society's presiden I s: Drs. Grcen­field, Salomone, Hughes. Lane, Halperin, and with the members of tbe various committees dnring the last decade. But the clock kceps tìcking with ìnexorablc precisinn for everyone. Obviously, my tum bas come ~ tbongh I will no longcr hold any officiai position in the Society, I hall fi il lo w ita actlvitics and accomplishmcnts with undiminisbed interest. The Society bas achieved n definite position among American scholara who have special interest in 1 ta I inn hisl ory. The further sprend of studies in 11 alian history in our American college and uiiiversities, the intcnfiificiition of the Socicty's nctivit ics, indeed tbe welfure of tbe Society will alwnys bc forcroost in my mimi and if over therc is anything that I can do, pleoae be asvured timi it will ttlways he a plvnsurc tu ruspond to your coli.
HOWARD H. MAItRABO-