[meteorite-list] [IMCA] Elections and my status

From: countdeiro at earthlink.net <countdeiro_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:19:18 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <74593.1283015958549.JavaMail.root_at_wamui-haziran.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Hello Greg, other IMCA Members and List,

Greg, most of us who who have an interest in collecting and/or selling meteorites know you. I personally admire the energy and time you put into marketing your inventory, establishing a museum and conducting educational outreach programs, but as regards to your reasons for wanting to be on the IMCA Board of Directors, I have to disagree with you. IMCA wasn't established to do the activist work you mentioned. We must simply read IMCA's own declaration to remind us of its sole purpose.
  
"The International Meteorite Collectors Association (IMCA Inc.) has one primary purpose: helping Meteorite Collectors in their search for Authentic Meteorites for their collections and assisting others in helping to learn more about meteorites. Whether they are new to the Meteorite World or very knowledgeable, we want all Collectors to buy/trade with confidence from our Members, knowing that every item will be exactly what it is represented to be."

The last sentence is the operative one. Think of IMCA as the Better Business Bureau rather than the Chamber of Commerce. The BBB holds it members to advertised ethical standards and the C of C educates the public, is politically active and promotes business.

Regards,

Count Deiro
IMCA 3536

    
 

-----Original Message-----
>From: Greg Catterton <star_wars_collector at yahoo.com>
>Sent: Aug 28, 2010 11:47 AM
>To: imca at imcamail.de
>Subject: [IMCA] Elections and my status
>
>Hi to all. Some of you know me, for those that dont, my name is Greg Catterton. I am a meteorite collector and also sell meteorites.
>There are upcoming elections here at the IMCA and I would like to announce my decision to run for a spot on the board.
>
>What I see and why I want to run...
>I feel the IMCA has reached a point of standstill and the list is virtually dead with no activity. We need to change this.
>I think its a time for fresh ideas and a new level of growth for the group.
>
>What I would like, and my ideas...
>
>I want the IMCA to take a much greater active role in the field of meteorites, for the members to create a group specifically for community outreach and educational work within the respective members towns.
>
>I would like the IMCA to take on a greater role in public and start working with schools, institutions and also governments. As a group of collectors and dealers, we have a unique opportunity that I feel is being ignored. Yes, it will be hard work, but it needs to be done by someone soon, otherwise we will end up losing the ability to have the awesome rocks from space we all enjoy.
>
>The list. We need to get the list more active. I suggest a combined effort to post at least once per week of something relevant to meteorites.
>Even if its a new meteorite we added... You have a meteorite classified, post the testing results to the list. Something, anything more then we are doing now.
>
>I think the member fees and budget should be available for view on the site to show where dues are going and to help to get a fund pool built for projects we wish to take on.
>
>I am working on a museum, yes it will be small, yes it may or may not work, but I am trying to do this and the group has been quite about this. Thats not a good thing. This is something that the IMCA should be discussing and working up ideas and tossing out thoughts. Nothing but silence... This has been very disappointing for me.
>My museum is something that I wanted to use the IMCA name with, to help bring it more public, but I am left wondering why should I if we cant even generate a discussion on the list about it. This is a chance to really break meteorites into a greater public awareness. Sure it wont be on the level of "meteorite men" but its more real then the TV show and something that has the ability to educate the public rather then entertain - far more then the TV show does. Not a stab at the show or the people behind it, but just the truth. Yet again, this list is quite.
>I do want to thank the members that have helped, and this is not about the money, rather then the outright lack of support the IMCA list has shown for this...
>
>I have reached the point where I honestly wonder the IMCA is here for. It is not (or hardly) publicly active, it does not take a predominant role in outreach. Some members do, but I have not seen this from the IMCA as a group.
>
>I feel that changes must be made and growth start, otherwise I may end up leaving the group. I just dont see the value for the dues, other then the fact I get sales from having an IMCA logo.
>
>The recent drama on the metlist concerning the IMCA and its members clearly shows there is a bad impression some have of the IMCA - weather valid or not, caused by a disgruntled former member or not - it is still out there. The IMCA must start taking a more active role.
>
>Greg Catterton
>www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com
>IMCA member 4682
>On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites
>On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites
>
>
>
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>IMCA at imcamail.de
>http://lists.imcamail.de/mailman/listinfo/imca
Received on Sat 28 Aug 2010 01:19:18 PM PDT