| Subject: |
Market research on certificates |
| From: |
"RMerullo" <a href="/post/novaroma?prote--------=194232192180194153138149203043129208071" >rmerullo@--------</a> |
| Date: |
Fri, 25 Feb 2000 10:36:39 -0500 |
|
Salvete cives
I wonder how many citizens, new and veteran, would be interested in
receiving certificates for donations to Nova Roma.
Last year, there was some discussion in this forum about making certificates
as part of a fundraising effort. Audens and I, with help from M Cassius
Iulianus, made some samples and showed them to Novoromani at the gathering
in Uxbridge, MA. They looked OK to some of the people there, and I would
like to get some more feedback to see whether this undertaking is worth
pursuing further.
The primary purpose of the certificate is to recognize a donation to NR, the
secondary purpose is to please the donor. The content of the certificate
could vary for different donors: magistratus and pontifices could receive
certificates acknowledging their election/appointment to office or admission
into the Collegium Pontificum; citizens could receive, for a somewhat
smaller donation, a certificate identifying them as citizens. Please
understand that a certificate like this would not MAKE anyone a magistratus
or pontifex, or civis. It is just an attempt at a somewhat elegant
acknowledgement of status, to recognize a monetary contribution to Nova
Roma.
I have pledged to contribute up to $100 to develop these certificates. Any
costs that I incur beyond that would be submitted to the Senate for
reimbursement, provided that donations justified reimbursement and wholly at
the will of the Senate. The largest cost so far has been the purchase of
authentic-looking fonts, but paper and postage would contribute to the cost
as well.
The certificates would be printed on standard-sized paper, with
authentic-looking font against a background featuring images of ruins of the
forum romanum, other ancient Roman site or an image of a deity. At the
suggestion of Palladius and Fimbria, I downloaded lots of images from
Maeceneas and other sites that allow non-profit use of images.
If anyone is interested in this type of thing, please let me know. I also
would like to know what level of donation you think would be appropriate.
If fewer than 7 people respond with interest over the next week or so, I
think that it'll be safe to say the project is not feasible. If that many
or more do respond with interest, then I shall resume efforts, with Audens
and the Senate to the extent that my colleagues have the time and are
interested, to formalize this proposal and realize it.
Thanks for any feedback.
Valete
Gaius Marius Merullus
|
| Subject: |
Outreach expedition (longish) |
| From: |
"RMerullo" <a href="/post/novaroma?prote--------=194232192180194153138149203043129208071" >rmerullo@--------</a> |
| Date: |
Fri, 25 Feb 2000 11:26:50 -0500 |
|
Salvete omnes
In an attempt to implement Consul Audens' Outreach Program, I attended
yesterday a study group "Myth, Cult and Poet: the performative context of
the Homeric Hymn to Hermes" sponsored by the Boston University Classics
Dept. My main objective was to gauge the interest of Classics Dept. faculty
in hearing a presentation on Nova Roma, with the thought of eventually
forming some kind of collaborative relationship between the BU Classics
Dept. and NR, and/or someday achieving some sort of "recognition" of NR by
the BU Classics Dept.. My secondary objective was to learn something about
the subject material under study, which is of interest to me.
I am sorry to report that I outright failed to achieve the main objective.
I talked with only two people at the end of the presentation: a professor
from the University of Massachusetts, and the visiting author who had
presented her paper. The only good thing that I can say is that the author
expressed interest in what I had to say, offered to send me some information
on her references for the upcoming paper on the Homeric hymn, and requested
not one but two NR flyers. The second one was for her fiance, who teaches
the study of Roman religion at Princeton.
In contrast, the professor from UMASS seemed to think that I was insane. I
did not manage to talk with anyone else, because while I was waiting for the
author to sign my copy of her book "Restless Dead" (which I had bought and
mostly read in the three days or so leading up to the study group, based on
some misinformation that it was to be the subject of the study group - but I
also thought that it would provide a good vehicle to approach the author and
start a conversation, which it did), the faculty exited the room, shaking
the author's hand and congratulating her as they went.
As for my secondary, more selfish objective, that was pretty successfully
achieved. Not only did I get some perspectives on Greek thoughts about
Hermes, but I also witnessed academic presentation and criticism of a
research paper, something to which I get no exposure regularly.
The paper, which is apparently not yet finished, analyzes the Homeric hymn
to Hermes in terms of its performative context. The hymn is thought to be
odd and puzzling in and of itself, but has much more meaning once its
context is determined. The author asserts that the hymn was composed for
performance at the Hermaia festival in the city of Pellene. The Hermaia,
according to the author, would have consisted largely of athletic contests
among Greek boys approaching the age of manhood. Participation would have
been a part of a sort of initiation into manhood and earning approbation of
men. This approbation is reflected in Apollo's befriending Hermes at the
end of the hymn. The author also draws a parrallel between the athletic
contests of the Hermaia and early Indo-European cattle-raiding as a rite of
initiation into manhood. It fascinated me to listen to the presentation of
these ideas, each of which was supported by research, then listen to the
series of questions, coming from a couple of elderly faculty members who had
no notes to refer to or anything, that seemed to last almost as long as the
presentation itself and cast doubt on some of the paper's premises. I got
the impression that these gentlemen had probably read every book in the
library at least three times. The author answered all the questions, but I
am curious to see whether she'll maintain some of her assertions, including
the certainty of the geographic placement at Pellene and the parrallel with
the cattle raids, in the published version.
Valete
C Marius Merullus
assensus consularis
|
| Subject: |
Re: Market research on certificates |
| From: |
|
| Date: |
Fri, 25 Feb 2000 16:41:31 EST |
|
Salve Gaius Marius Merullus,
This is a very respectable idea. I am certain that many citizens, especially
those who hold elected office will love to participate.
Earlier during the Tax debate less than one month ago I suggested that Nova
Roma could increase their donations by somehow making donating money more
popular and more fun. This certainly could fit that idea.
Excellent Suggestion!
Vale
Iulius Thompsonus
Faber est suae quisque fortunae.
|
| Subject: |
Re: Market research on certificates |
| From: |
|
| Date: |
Fri, 25 Feb 2000 16:10:12 -0800 |
|
Salve,
This idea is not new. :) Cato was the first to my knowledge to bring this
idea to Nova Roma, this was over a year ago, during the Consulship of
Palladius, before the unpleasantness that occurred during the summer. I am
glad to see this idea finally being implemented in some degree.
L. Cornelius Sulla Felix
Censor
----- Original Message -----
From: <--------ef="/post/nov----------------otectID=246243113180119209184102159248147208071048" >St--------eck@--------</--------;
To: <a href="mailto:novaroma@--------" >novaroma@--------</a>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 1:41 PM
Subject: Re: [novaroma] Market research on certificates
> From: <--------ef="/post/nov----------------otectID=246243113180119209184102159248147208071048" >St--------eck@--------</--------;
>
> Salve Gaius Marius Merullus,
>
> This is a very respectable idea. I am certain that many citizens,
especially
> those who hold elected office will love to participate.
>
> Earlier during the Tax debate less than one month ago I suggested that
Nova
> Roma could increase their donations by somehow making donating money more
> popular and more fun. This certainly could fit that idea.
>
> Excellent Suggestion!
>
> Vale
>
> Iulius Thompsonus
>
> Faber est suae quisque fortunae.
>
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|
