Definately The Late Post Today

I mentioned earlier that there isn't even a stamp collecting group within my area.
Has anyone set up their own group? Where did you advertize for your group (beside local post offices). Where do you have meetings? Is there a typical place that allows this kind of meeting for free? Do you set them up with Presidents, etc?
I want to keep myself and my son interested. But think if there were more kids his age he could hang with once a month, would be beneficial.
So, if you started your own club...please help me start one here!
Jay

First of all, Jay, where do you live? Knowing this might give me a better handle on your situation. Small town or city? How many schools in your area? Is there a public library?

I've been in the executive of a small town stamp club in the past, and I may have some ideas for you...

I live in the town of Gobles michigan, surrounded by other small towns all of about 500-2500 population. Each town has a library and school. There are several churches. THink I want to start recruiting at the schools next fall, but will put up flyers in all the post offices if they will allow. 3 small town papers I can set an advertizement in. Situated right between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. 3 hours from both Detroit and Chicago. DOn't want a huge club, but one for especially kids, so they can keep the hobby alive.
Any help would be appreciated!
Jay

In my experience, these usually work better if there is more than one adult involved. You've got nothing to lose by checking with your postmaster; a lot of them are collectors themselves. An ad appealing to adult stamp collectors for collaboration makes sense too. By all means, if there are philatelic societies in Detroit and Chicago, appeal to them too -- they may be a good supply of free stamps for the kids. If you know of any big dealers, especially if they handle supplies, try to get them on board -- they may donate tongs, stamps, etc., if you stream business their way for things like albums and stockbooks.

While there may be kids already collecting that you will attract, you will want to bring in new kids as well. Prepare handbills using blow-ups of stamps to create interest. There are a wealth of newer issues that are appealing, such as the Star Wars and Simpsons stamps, and kids find them interesting. Put these up wherever kids seem to congregate as well as at school, the public library, community clubs, etc.

Finding a meeting place is something that should be taken care of in advance of this step; check the public library, or any other "public" building.

The local kids stamp club here meets every two weeks while school is in. Meetings are held in a church's meeting room. The guys in charge of it (there are three) bring in roughly 18-24 boxes of stamps sorted by countries (each box is the size of a #10 envelope box), which are free to the kids. Each meeting usually consists of a good hour of the kids going through boxes looking for stuff for their collections, and then there is usually some sort of presentation done by slide show, after which questions are answered. Another half hour to let them go through boxes, and the meeting is done. There is usually a draw for door prizes (each kid signs in when they arrive on a sheet of paper that is numbered), and at every meeting kids are given club play money, which they can accumulate toward purchases of donated items from adult collectors, such as old catalogues, cast-off albums, magnifying glasses, etc.

You are dealing with the Nintendo generation, so it won't be easy, but if you can get ten members, consider yourself lucky. Never stop trying to get more, though, because there is a new crop of kids every September.

Thank you! Lots of great ideas to pull from. My 12 y/o is fired up to do this so that will help. Going to have to start visiting post offices.
Thanks again!