The Culture Of Stamp Clubs/Societies

Alrighty then!

I might resemble one of these older club members and, not surprisingly, I'm not complaining about having made it this far down the roads of time. While it does have some drawbacks, I'm still pretty certain it beats the alternative.

While I do agree there are some people who tend to be stuck in a certain milieu, that is the exception and not the rule.

I've been the president of our club for the last several years. I'm constantly looking for ways to bring more collectors into the club. We have a lot to offer. Not only do you get to meet and talk with people who also do what you do (collect stamps), you get to see material from other collectors' collections when we have the monthly program.

We also have a monthly sales circuit from the APS, a monthly auction where members can sell their duplicate material or items which they are no longer collecting. There also the weekly chance to just swap, sell or buy one-on-one with other collectors.

We have all ranges of people in our club. But yes, they tend to be older. We've got a couple of youngsters in their 30's or 40's but most of us are sextagenarians, septagenarians, octagenarians or nonagenarians. I don't believe we have any centenarians, but we've got one member who is getting close!

I've sent letters out to all the APS members in the area, trying to get them to come for a visit, but most people have the same attitude about not wanting to take a chance. The pity is this doesn't help either the clubs or the collectors.

This is one area where our national motto really does apply: United we stand, divided we fall....

As a resident of Western North Carolina, I'd love to know more about that presentation.

KirkS

Hi Kirk,
That would be mine.
Don

Edit: I will see about converting the presentation so it can be posted online. txphl - It was great to meet you and thank you for attending our club meeting. http://ashevillestampclub.com/

Ikey: That's some 'local club'you belong to! Thanks for the link; when I get time I hope to look at the Steinway presentation.

JK: I assume you referred to me with the phrase, 'Nice friendly people, like yourself' Thanks, I try to be although sometimes I come across as otherwise. Like all of us, I am a work in progress.

Finding The Holston Stamp Club in NE Tennessee 2 years ago has been the best thing I have done in Stamp Collecting in years. You are all invited to stop by some month. For those closer to Knoxville, I hear that their club has wonderful meetings, though I have never attended one.

You only need to be a member of a club if you need something that club provides with the exception for those that are more generous types that support things they like even if they do not get great benefit.

Any organization depends on the members and this can change dramatically over time. Yes, I know one collector who introduced himself to me, gave me his card with email address, and then ignored every email from me. I later was told he is that way.

And, when you get a few people together, club politics can be a factor.