The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.19           May 18, 1998 
 
 
Helen Scheer Memorial Fund Appeal  
The following is the Helen Scheer Memorial Fund Appeal that was printed in the program of the April 26 meeting to celebrate and life and example of Helen.

The importance of keeping Pathfinder's arsenal of 350 books and pamphlets in print and increasing the distribution of these invaluable political weapons to fighting workers and youth is underscored by new opportunities everyday.

To meet the demand, however, the method by which the books are produced must now be transformed, in fact, revolutionized. The current production methods are too costly and labor intensive to keep pace.

Pathfinder supporters in the San Francisco Bay Area have responded to this challenge by taking responsibility for organizing volunteers around the world to digitize, proofread, and format the text of every Pathfinder title, preparing electronic files that are ready for production. At the same time, the staffs of Pathfinder and its print shop will begin to use advanced computer-to-plate technology to print books prepared in digital format. The Revolution Betrayed by Leon Trotsky, due for delivery the first week in June, will be the first book to be produced in the new manner. The use of this technology will help make it possible to keep every book in print - substantially cutting the labor time required to produce each title and lowering the skill level needed by print shop workers, while at the same time maintaining Pathfinder's high quality standards and driving down the cost of small runs.

Pathfinder's ability not only to provide new titles dealing with the most important questions facing class- struggle fighters today, but to also keep in print hundreds of titles produced by Pathfinder and its predecessors over a period of some 70 years - because they are needed today and will be needed tomorrow - is a powerful revolutionary legacy, worthy of the movement Helen devoted her life's energies and imagination to building.

Substantial capital will be needed to acquire the new equipment. Today's special appeal in Helen's name will provide seed money necessary to begin the fund that will enable Pathfinder's production techniques to be transformed. Every dollar will count. Contributions should be made to Pathfinder Press and sent to 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014.

Mary-Alice Waters

April 26, 1998  
 
 
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