About Us

The Arthur Ransome Society in the United States and Canada

The United States group was founded by two Americans who were also founding members of TARS, Ellen Tillinghast and Betty Jo Baerg. The current coordinator for the group is Robin Marshall.

Membership in TARSUS seems to hover at about 125, a quarter of which are families (typically with one or more juniors). We have members in most of the contiguous states, plus Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

In Canada, TARS did not get organized until Robert Dilley attended an IAGM and vounteered to become TARS Canadian contact. He started a newsletter North Pole News which is now included in Signals from TARSUS.

There are now about 30 TARS members and families in Canada from coast to coast.

Publications

USA and Canadian members receive the same publications as UK members, more details of which are available from the Publications pages.

In addition to this, TARSUS also publishes Signals from TARSUS, a quarterly newsletter for U.S.and Canadian members, which is distributed in three times a year. Copies of this newsletter dating from 1998 onward are available here.

TARS Events

Members are entitled to attend any TARS events (upon payment of any applicable booking fee) irrespective of the region in which they are held. US and Canadian members are, therefore, more than welcome at any of the regional and national events organised by TARS in the U.K., including the Annual General Meeting, the biennial Literary Weekend, and a wide variety of camping and sailing events, expeditions, and other activities. Some North American members plan their vacations in the U.K. around one or more of these events.

Due to the relatively small number of members and their distribution across the continent, North America has not had very many events, and they have generally been small, informal events organized around a sailing expedition or camping weekend on the part of individual members or families. We encourage members to plan events in their areas; TARSUS Coordinator Robin Marshall is glad to offer assistance.

Using U.S. or Canadian Currency

TARSUS and Canada maintains a currency exchange mechanism with the TARS Treasurer, such that TARSUS members can use U.S. or Canadian currency to apply for membership, order books and other Ransome-related items from the TARS Stall which also operates online, and other TARS enterprises. Details are available at Our British Account. Membership can be paid in U.S. or Canadian dollars to the appropriate TARS Coordinator.

How To Join

An application form with instructions and current membership subscriptions fees can be printed from Join US Membership renewal falls due on 1 January each year; however memberships begun in the last quarter of the year are continued through December 31st of the following year.

More Information

This site has a wide variety of information about Arthur Ransome and about TARS, including photographs, literary pages, a link to the TARS Society Stall from which TARS members can order books and items by and about Arthur Ransome, and much more.

For additional questions, please contact the TARS U.S. Coordinator: or The Canadian Coordinator

USA Robin Marshall CANADA Harry Miller

210 18th St NW 284 Kingswood Road

Bradenton, FL 34205-6845 Toronto, ON M4E 3N7

E-mail 45tarsus@gmail.com harryandmarymiller@rogers.com

Swallows and Amazons For Ever!