[meteorite-list] glassface1

From: Walter Branch <branchw_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:25 2004
Message-ID: <007301c3f8fe$7a8abc40$fb0bdc44_at_wbranch>

Hi Michael and List

Just in from observing. Finally saw the planetary nebula in M46 tonight
(yea!).

>really, why does the IMCA exist????

You are a member of an organization and you don't even know why it exists?

Actually, there is no such organization as the IMCA. No legal organization,
that is. Here is part of an email I sent to an IMCA board member earlier
this week:

>This is just my opinion as I am certainly no lawyer.
>I have been in the courtroom so many times I had to
>throw away my file of subpoenas to make room for
>other documents in my desk drawer. Legally, it seems
>to me that there is no such thing as the IMCA.

>The IMCA at minimum needs a charter and an ethics
>code and needs to be incorporated in some state, >otherwise legal appearing
decisions would be interpreted
> in a court of law as having been made by individuals
>acting on behalf of themselves and not a recognized
>entity.

>Here is a hypothetical example. If the IMCA (which
>BTW is misnamed as it should be the IMSA - another
>reason why I don't join) makes an adverse decision
>against a meteorite seller, and the seller could prove that
>his/or business had been negatively impacted by the
>decision (e.g., slander or libel) the person would bring
>suite against the individual decision makers, not the
>IMCA as an entity. Whether or not the suit has merit is
>irrelevant as your attorney(s) would not work for pro
>bono and I doubt meteorite sales are good enough to
>cover thousands in legal fees.

The IMCA has no recognized (legal) authority to admit members, withhold
membership, dismiss members, "police" ebay, etc.

One of the reasons why I have not joined. Also, I was (and remain) under
the impression that the reason some people wanted to form such a group was
to increase their sales of meteorites on ebay.

I know this next statement may anger many people, which is not my intention,
but I too am not sure why the IMCA exists. I don't see any activities
related to COLLECTING meteorites. It seems to me that most of the activity
is directed toward SELLING meteorites.

I would think that a COLLECTING organization would be concerned with
activities such as:

-proper curation, storage and display.
-experimenting with different preserving methods
-outreach programs.
-informational publications.
-perhaps a traveling meteorite exhibit with accompanying educational
information for schools.
-programs to encourage collecting among perhaps secondary school students
(the future of the hobby, so-to-speak).
-supplying cut unclassified meteorites to science classes at cost so they
can submit part of the meteorite to a lab (perhaps a designated lab working
with the IMCA) for analysis (at least preliminary analysis) so as to
actively participate in the science of meteoritics and thus encouraging
future collecting.
-providing a list of speakers who are willing to give talks about collecting
meteorites before groups (pro bono or paid).
-negotiating with dealers to get the best prices for certain meteorites for
members.
-negotiating with businesses to get the best prices on collecting supplies
(e.g., riker mounts, jewel cases, desiccant products, lapidary supplies,
etc.) for members.
-negotiating with insurers who specialize in insuring collectables to get
the best prices on insurance for members.
-establishing liaisons with the academic world to try to avoid
confrontations or misunderstandings between researchers and collectors.
-establishing a library of meteorite and related books, videos, and other
media to be loaned to members for their personal education.
-etc.,etc.,etc.

I do see individuals engaging in some of these activities, and I certainly
applaud their efforts, but I don't see the IMCA engaging in any of these
activities as a collecting organization which proposes to represent
meteorite collectors.

-Walter
------------------------------------------
www.branchmeteorites.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael L Blood" <mlblood_at_cox.net>
To: "Randy Mils" <acculabs_at_hotmail.com>;
<meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] glassface1


> Hi Randy & all,
> Since it is not the job of the IMCA to "police" fraudulence, can
> anyone tell me WHAT IS the IMCA's "job?"
> When the IMCA was first started, I was under the misimpression
> that this WAS the point. That is why I joined.
> What is the IMCA for? I have long wondered this - really, why
> does the IMCA exist???? I may want to continue membership, but
> I would like to know the answer to this question, if I am to do so.
> (Oh, and please don't tell me it is to "guarantee" authenticity and
> honesty among members - as we have all seen several members
> who violate such behavior, and they STILL have IMCA numbers).
> RSVP (on the list, please. I believe many may wonder what the
> point of the IMCA is)
> Thanks, Michael
>
>
> on 2/20/04 7:09 PM, Randy Mils at acculabs_at_hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > It is not the IMCA's job to police ebay sellers.
>
>
>
> --
> When Jesus said "Love your enemies" I think he probably
> meant don't kill them.
> Anonymous
> --
> For perspective, try THIS:
>
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html
> --
> cool message fro Ben & Jerry:
> www.TrueMajority.org/oreo
> --
> AMAZING photos of Aurora Borealis, etc.
> http://faculty.rmwc.edu/tmichalik/atmosphere.htm
> --
> Hubble space telescope - AMAZING photos!:
> http://wires.news.com.au/special/mm/030811-hubble.htm
> --
> http://www.costofwar.com/
> --
> SUPPORT OUR TROUPS:
> http://www.takebackthemedia.com/onearmy.html
> --
> Worth Seeing: Earth at night from satellite:
> http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg
> --
> - Interactive Lady Liberty:
> http://doody36.home.attbi.com/liberty.htm
> --
> Earth - variety of choices:
> http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html
> --
> Michael Blood Meteorites:
> http://www.michaelbloodmeteorites.com/
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
Received on Sat 21 Feb 2004 11:43:55 PM PST