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

From: Greg Catterton <star_wars_collector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:44:57 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <852471.44926.qm_at_web46416.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

"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."

A breakdown of this...
1. "helping Meteorite Collectors in their search for Authentic Meteorites"
How is this currently being done? I dont see much active work in this area.

2. "assisting others in helping to learn more about meteorites."
How is this currently being done? again, I dont see much active work in this area.

3. "we want all Collectors to buy/trade with confidence from our Members"
Should we not be the IMDA (D for dealers) then?

Any group that is content to settle with what they have and not look for growth will never do what a group with a vision can. Please I dont want anyone to take this wrong, but I am just not happy with what the IMCA actually does and I dont even really see anything of value (again, aside from sales due to the logo) from being a member at this point unless the group does more then they do now.

You make mention of the BBB... a system that is so outdated it is not even thought of a valuable anymore to most people. Is that the direction of the IMCA?

I feel that a new direction is what the IMCA needs to stay fresh. If the current board will not or does not want this and I am not able to get elected to help change the direction, I will start my own group that will focus on outreach, education and community involvement. The museum would be a great starting point for it. I will do it independent of the IMCA as a group if needed.

Aside from growing a member list, what has the IMCA really done in the 3 years I have been a member? The only thing I have seen is buying the EOM, which was a good move, but not enough. Where has the $18,000 in dues ($20 x 300 members) for the past 3 years gone to?
These are questions I would like to have answered and also made public on the site. By doing so, it will show others and perspective members what good the IMCA does and what our dues go to. It will also help to provide a source for the members to pull funds to achieve goals that will hopefully be put in place.

Regardless of the original intent of the IMCA, I would like to see it take a more active role in todays world of meteorites.
The IMCA was started when Lunars were selling for well over $2000 per gram... you can now buy them all day long for as low as $200 per gram. Times have changed and the IMCA needs to change with them, or get left behind. We can amend the US constitution, we can amend the declaration.


Greg Catterton
www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com
IMCA member 4682
On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites


--- On Sat, 8/28/10, countdeiro at earthlink.net <countdeiro at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: countdeiro at earthlink.net <countdeiro at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [IMCA] Elections and my status
> To: "Greg Catterton" <star_wars_collector at yahoo.com>, imca at imcamail.de, meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 1:19 PM
> 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
> >
> >
> >? ? ?
> >_______________________________________________
> >IMCA mailing list
> >IMCA at imcamail.de
> >http://lists.imcamail.de/mailman/listinfo/imca
>
>


      
Received on Sat 28 Aug 2010 01:44:57 PM PDT