It’s a Bugle!  The Winter 2017 Baum Bugle is now arriving in member homes. You’ll find 76 pages of Ozziness inside a gorgeous cover that’s a colorization of a black-and-white still from the 1939 MGM classic. Victor Mascaro has done a masterful job of making Dorothy, Scarecrow, Toto and one red apple really pop off the page.

Contents include feature stories about WICKED, the making of Bibliographia Baumiana, and the conclusion of editor John Fricke’s extensive research into Wizard of Oz stage productions at the Muny in St. Louis. Michael Patrick Hearn shares a serialized “Wonderland of Oz” comic strip of The Lost Princess of Oz, a Baum book now celebrating its publication centennial. The Oz Club’s 60th anniversary prompted interviews with four of the Club’s founding members, a report on last summer’s marking of Jack Snow’s grave, and reports on summer conventions. Five Oz fans also give us a look at how Oz has worked its way into their lives. As always, news and reviews help fans stay in touch with what’s happening in Oz.

My President’s column echoes my January blog, thanking our Club’s financial supporters featured on that page in our annual “Ozma’s Honor Roll.”

The issue marks the last sent to our 2017 members. Many, many members renewed their membership with the arrival of the new year, but we’re well aware that some members wait until this winter issue is in hand before joining again. If you’re in that latter group, have been away for a while, or are considering membership for the first time, I hope you won’t hesitate to become a 2018 member.  We’d love to have you with us!