PROPOSAL FOR A FELLOWSHIP

Valjhun · 28th February 2006, 10:33 AM

Brilliant idea Ariel. As I'm located in Europe, and I have some connections in the US embassy here in Ljubljana, I can offer some help about visas, ecc..

Mark · 28th February 2006, 08:11 PM

Well, I have been advocating (gently) the creation of an Ethnographic Edged Weapons Research Society, since we already have an annual meeting, and publish the proceedings. Something like this could be a part of that.

It sounds like a nice idea, though of course logistics are always a huge issue. For example, who is "in charge?" Who decides who is on the committee? Who collects and send the money? Who makes sure that the invitees can, and do, come? If a co-sponsor is necessary, who (museum? university? company?)? I expect they will want a lot, if not all, of the control.

Though we are an informal group, we are definitely both dedicated and tightly-knit, so it could be something that can work even if done informally, assuming we go about it right (for example, why would someone need more than just a tourist visa?).

Rivkin · 28th February 2006, 09:34 PM

Proceedings - sounds great, however I would vote for simply an electronic publication, since we are essentialy an internet society.
Co-sponsor - again I was always just taking a departmental letterhead and writing an invitation. Again, the whole issue is not that we need some university, but that a personal invitation usually is not enough for visa support.

Now, I don't think any other visa rather than a B type can be issued with this kind of invitation. I think that it makes biggest sense to invite someone for Timmonium. This creates a slight problem since for example I was never able to attend one, as well as many others.

Rivkin · 10th March 2006, 04:15 AM

... and here is the explanation why it would not work - we would have to split the expenses among just two of us

wolviex · 10th March 2006, 07:49 AM

I feel I should speak in this thread. First of all I would like to thank you for this generous idea. I don't know if Poland is still a country with "struggling economy", but indeed the costs of trip to USA, not mention visas and other problems, are quite high comparing to our earnings. So as one of the representative from eastern-central Europe on this Forum please take my gratitude!

As to myself - I see my name between Astvatsaturjan and Piotrovsky names. I definetely can't compare myself with such great scholars!

Rivkin · 11th March 2006, 06:22 AM

Dear Wolviex,

I think it is we who must thank you for your participation on this forum.
Concerning the fellowship - I still think we must realize this idea; while we would obviously prefer to use the fellowship to improve our scientific exchange with those countries that are currently unable to fully realize their potential for the interaction with our community, in any case providing for a seminar speaker's expenses is an acceptable practise.

Unfortunately most universities do not provide a budget of more than 500$ per speaker, in addition a lot of them do not pre-pay your expenses (which I find completely unacceptable in this situation). I hope that this idea for the fellowship does not die.

28th February 2006, 08:11 PM	#2
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Cool idea Well, I have been advocating (gently) the creation of an Ethnographic Edged Weapons Research Society, since we already have an annual meeting, and publish the proceedings. Something like this could be a part of that. It sounds like a nice idea, though of course logistics are always a huge issue. For example, who is "in charge?" Who decides who is on the committee? Who collects and send the money? Who makes sure that the invitees can, and do, come? If a co-sponsor is necessary, who (museum? university? company?)? I expect they will want a lot, if not all, of the control. Though we are an informal group, we are definitely both dedicated and tightly-knit, so it could be something that can work even if done informally, assuming we go about it right (for example, why would someone need more than just a tourist visa?).

28th February 2006, 10:33 AM	#1
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Brilliant idea Ariel. As I'm located in Europe, and I have some connections in the US embassy here in Ljubljana, I can offer some help about visas, ecc..

28th February 2006, 09:34 PM	#3
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Proceedings - sounds great, however I would vote for simply an electronic publication, since we are essentialy an internet society. Co-sponsor - again I was always just taking a departmental letterhead and writing an invitation. Again, the whole issue is not that we need some university, but that a personal invitation usually is not enough for visa support. Now, I don't think any other visa rather than a B type can be issued with this kind of invitation. I think that it makes biggest sense to invite someone for Timmonium. This creates a slight problem since for example I was never able to attend one, as well as many others.

10th March 2006, 04:15 AM	#4
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	... and here is the explanation why it would not work - we would have to split the expenses among just two of us

10th March 2006, 07:49 AM	#5
wolviex Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Krakow Posts: 418	I feel I should speak in this thread. First of all I would like to thank you for this generous idea. I don't know if Poland is still a country with "struggling economy", but indeed the costs of trip to USA, not mention visas and other problems, are quite high comparing to our earnings. So as one of the representative from eastern-central Europe on this Forum please take my gratitude! As to myself - I see my name between Astvatsaturjan and Piotrovsky names. I definetely can't compare myself with such great scholars!

11th March 2006, 06:22 AM	#6
Rivkin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 655	Dear Wolviex, I think it is we who must thank you for your participation on this forum. Concerning the fellowship - I still think we must realize this idea; while we would obviously prefer to use the fellowship to improve our scientific exchange with those countries that are currently unable to fully realize their potential for the interaction with our community, in any case providing for a seminar speaker's expenses is an acceptable practise. Unfortunately most universities do not provide a budget of more than 500$ per speaker, in addition a lot of them do not pre-pay your expenses (which I find completely unacceptable in this situation). I hope that this idea for the fellowship does not die.