The conference "Personal Knowledge at Fifty" to be held June 10-13, 2008 at Loyola University, Chicago, is sponsored by the Polanyi Society a membership-based academic society that is responsible for shouldering the expense of the conference. Hopefully, those who attend the conference will update their membership and consider a donation to the Society.

Membership dues for the Polanyi Society are still only an unbelievable $25/academic year, although they will be increased to $35 a year for regular members ($15 for students) in the fall of 2008.

In order to encourage you to “think generously,” please review the chart below that sets forth some “rungs” on the contribution ladder. We hope you will reach as high as it is possible for you conveniently to stretch. Unlike the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio drives in the US, we do not have Polanyi Society coffee mugs, book bags and other memorabilia to distribute to those who are generous. But we will list you in the conference program if you are a donor.

For those who do stretch (at least $50), we can provide a copy of any of the following items with no cash value, if you identify your preferences: (1) a remaindered copy of Andy Sanders’ 1988 book, Michael Polanyi’s Post-Critical Epistemology: A Reconstruction of Some Aspects of “Tacit Knowing” ( there are about 20 copies left); (2) paper copies of any available old issues of Tradition and Discovery that you want (all those since 1991 are on the web site but the paper copies have not yet been discarded); (3) an audio CD of Polanyi’s 1962 McEnerney Lectures (lso available for free downloading from the web site). These will be available for pick up at the conference.
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Donation Range Designation Acknowledgment
$20-50 Associate 1 year membership
$51-$100 Friend 1 year membership
$101-$500 Benefactor 1 year membership
$500 Patron 3 year membership

The Polanyi Society is a 501C3 tax deductible non profit organization; the Society sends (to those who pay US income tax) charitable donation letters for donations above $25, the current amount of annual dues. Dues and donations can be sent by post, fax or e-mail to Phil Mullins (HPG, MWSU, St. Joseph, MO 64507, mullins@missouriwestern.edu, or fax 816-271-5680). Credit cards donations are welcome.