Introduction

The Association of Collecting Clubs gets dozens of queries from collectors which go something like this, "I collect (fill in the blank) but I've never run across anyone else who collects these items. Are there other collectors? Is there a collecting club for us, or how do I start one?" The major intent of this program area is to help collectors who are in a collecting area not having an organized collecting club, and who would like to start one. We will also compare different types of collecting clubs.

Collecting clubs have been in existence for decades. For most of us in the antiques and collectibles industry, the image of a collecting club is pretty standard. But over the past 10 years many new clubs...and some of these are the clubs experiencing the most growth...are in many aspects "non-traditional." Is this an indication of the future for collecting clubs? Will some of them transition into more traditional club models? Can traditional clubs learn something from some of these newer efforts which can make them stronger in relating to the collecting area they serve?

A Program Advisory Group is developing this program area and will continue to monitor, add to, and refine the information on an ongoing basis. Discussion Forums are available for collectors to gain more specific information from a variety of forum participants. A listing of Resources for this Program Area is provided, as well as a Reference Archive.

Traditional and Non-Traditional Clubs

Although collecting clubs, as we know them today, have many areas of "sameness," things are beginning to change. Many of the older collecting clubs started in the 1950s and 1960s (granted, a few can trace their history far beyond these dates). Most of these clubs supported more traditional collecting areas. The 1970s and 1980s saw "less traditional" clubs organizing - clubs supporting smaller, more obscure collecting areas. Yet, they continued to basically follow a similar formula.

Most clubs had a charter, constitution or bylaws. They had officers. Some had boards and committees. They had dues. A typical club had a newsletter or some other means of member communication. They often had annual conventions. Some had chapters. Many did educational projects of one form or another. Some clubs incorporated, usually as 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations, but still were primarily operated by volunteers from within the membership.

In the 1990's, the newest change transpired when clubs started their own websites, being able to not only communicate more regularly with their membership, but providing an entree to the general public. For some clubs this was literally the first real "exposure" to the masses.

The above is basically the description of a typical collecting club, society or association. Certainly some have added features and attractions; but regardless, most have the structure as listed here.

The mid-1990's - and up through the present - has offered the most change in collecting groups that the antiques & collectibles industry has ever seen, including many collecting groups or `clubs' that don't fit the traditional mold. The debate of whether or not these `new-comers' should be recognized as collecting clubs is basically mute when you ask the question, "Are they helping the collectors in the hobby area they represent?" If the answer is "yes" then what's the difference if they're traditional or "non-traditional?"

OK, so let's explore some "non-traditional" club models.

Internet Collecting Clubs

There are some wonderful Internet sites serving collectors with all kinds of helpful information. Some call themselves clubs. Others refer to themselves as groups, or whatever. It really doesn't matter. These sites are providing good collection information.

Most of these groups do not have any form of bylaws, nor do they have officers. Most don't even have dues because their budget needs are so low.

Internet clubs usually do not have an annual convention - members may not ever meet one another face to face. But through chat rooms, discussion forums and e-mail notes they probably are in better communication with one another than many traditional clubs.

Corporate-Sponsored Clubs

Company-sponsored collecting clubs have become some of the largest collecting clubs in the antiques and collectibles industry, and we're talking about dozens of them. Most of these clubs relate to current collectibles including figurines, dolls, glassware and Christmas ornaments.

So why are company-sponsored clubs so popular? Many offer exclusive limited edition collectibles to their club membership. If you collect this particular area and want the much sought-after limited edition item, you become a member. No other explanation needed. That's it!

Collecting Groups

There are a number of collecting groups who are organized in one fashion or another but have not really become a "club" as yet. For example, the Pie-Bird Collectors have an annual gathering but have, as yet, not organized into a club. The Dionne Quintuplet Collectors communicate among each other but they are not yet organized into a club. These groups are often difficult to track because they are not organized as a club. Often one or two persons are the driving force for these collecting groups.

Privately Owned Collecting Clubs

Some collecting clubs are owned and operated by a single individual or small group of individuals. They may offer club members a publication, website, convention, and other educational benefits like most other clubs. They usually do not have officers, a board, constitution or bylaws. Although this may seem like a great disadvantage, often decisions can be made and things can get done much faster than if it had to "go through committee" or require a vote of the membership.

Starting a Club

If you are a collector of a particular collecting area, and fairly certain that there is no organized club in existence, what should you do to explore the options for starting a collecting club? Here are some pointers.

1. First, do you personally have the interest and the time? Granted, you may want to start out very small, but it will take time, planning, and some money.
2. Determine if there are any other collectors "out there" who would also be interested in a club. Starting out, you don't need large numbers. An interested group of half a dozen fellow collectors can get a club started. Member recruitment for building the size of the club can come later.
3. Probably a website and conversing via e-mail may be the best way to get started. Determine your goals, how you want to go about accomplishing the goals and a time frame.