As the Executive Coordinator of the Mark Twain Circle of America, I would like to extend to all Mark Twain Forum participants an invitation to join a fine and worthwhile group. I know that many Forum members are already members of the Mark Twain Circle, but I suspect that many are not. The Mark Twain Circle was formed at the 1986 MLA convention in New York, and has now grown to more than 350 members, both academics and non-academics, from all over the world. The Circle sponsors events and activities that promote the study of and an interest in Mark Twain, including sessions at academic conferences like MLA and ALA, as well as special events (an evening with Hal Holbrook last year in San Francisco, and the recent special evening at the Palmer House in Chicago, commemorating the 1879 Grant dinner, for example). Perhaps the most visible benefit to members is the publication four times a year of _The Mark Twain Circular_, edited by James S. Leonard of The Citadel. The _Circular_ will keep you well-informed of the latest in the world of Mark Twain, from calls for papers at conferences and for publication, to news about Twain and Twain sites, to bibliographical updates of Twain publications (it's worth it to me alone for that). The President of the Mark Twain Circle writes a regular column; many of these have become important to me in my teaching and understanding of Mark Twain. I got the most recent issue yesterday, and I must say that Shelley Fisher Fishkin's article, "In Praise of 'Spike Lee's Huckleberry Finn by Ralph Wiley," is something anyone interested in Mark Twain will want to read and think about. Included in the article are scenes from the screenplay of this proposed film, with permission granted to use the scenes in the classroom. I'm teaching _Huck_ again in a few weeks, and I can't wait to try this out. The view of Jim presented here will be controversial, and everyone who cares about the novel will want to know about it, regardless of their opinions. I'm sure you're lining up to join now, so here are the details: a check for $15 ($16 for a non-U.S. address) made out to "Mark Twain Circle of America," sent to me at the address below. You will be joining a great group of people with a continuing interest in Mark Twain. Thank you for your indulgence! (Note to current Circle members: a renewal call will go out within the next few weeks for Y2K membership. You can beat the rush and renew now!) +++++++++++++++ John Bird Executive Coordinator, Mark Twain Circle of America Department of English 230 Bancroft Hall Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC 29733 mailto:[log in to unmask]