January 16, 2020
Members of the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic):
It has been my pleasure to successfully lead the Baskerville pack over many trails through the treacherous moors of Devonshire lo these many years. After presiding over my 15th meeting last October, however, I have reached the difficult decision to retire, Emeritus. In fact, this has been in the works for some time, realizing I’ve come to a point in life where my focus needs to be fixed as closely to personal and business matters as Holmes’ lens was to his study of Dr. Mortimer’s walking stick. Of course, this precludes the necessity of selecting a replacement in the time-honored fashion of our founder, Vincent Starrett. And I am pleased to notify you that Al Shaw, BSI, will succeed me. Al is a first-rate Sherlockian and his history with our unique Chicago chapter of the BSI goes back before the world went all awry. He is someone with a good grasp of present trends within our Sherlockian world and has a vision of where the Hounds fit into the future without losing sight of the group’s truly remarkable past. Although official canine coronation will take place in Chicago, I’m in hopes that Al will celebrate the occasion of this announcement with fellow members of our pack and his many other Sherlockian friends attending BSI festivities in New York.
Truly yours,
Donald J. Terras, BSI (…The Lighthouse…)
Master of the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic)