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From: Bruce/CO
Date: 12 May 1999
Time: 11:01:22
Someone better clarify the rule #5 as stated.
Right now it just says "member...cannot use the following names" and goes on to give all the companies listed that collectors would normally be interested in.
As stated, no one would be able to advertise something for sale and give specifics on the markings of a piece.
I thought the Society was there to educate members about the 'wares', not create some kind of fiefdom. If this continues we are going to have to have a whole board full of lawyers just to 'protect' the rights of the society.
Also, I do not understand what is behind the drive to get rid of the regional representatives. Right now it is the only way those of us that are not in the "in crowd" have an opportunity to elect someone that is going to pay attention to our concerns. If the general reps thing is allowed to become the 'law' I will guarantee you that we in the hitherlands will have a rep from somewhere in the big frozen northlands. This stinks! It is another indication that the board is seeking absolute control over everything. The board should be seeking was to relax the dissemination of information about the wares, not making a bunch of rules to restrict it. You can't convince me that restricting the information about the convention 'without written permission' is going to increase education. I want my board members to use their time finding ways to let me know more, not less.
Rules 4 and 5 appear to me to be about the almighty dollar, not giving members the freedom to communicate. It looks like the beginnings of the formation of a secret society. Restricting the use of the media "including the internet" is baloney. Millions of people use the internet to write friends and relatives and they would surely like to communicate regarding a trip to the conventions or describing marked pieces they have found. The way rules 4 and 5 are written, they would be subject to sanctions.
What would you prefer--"All members should communicate freely about all aspects of the wares" or a whole bunch of crap that begins with "no member shall".....
The next set of rules we might expect will say that members cannot speak or write disparagingly of the board, the state of Minnesota and Paul Bunyan or we can expect to lose our citizenship.
Many of us were happy to escape the absolute pressure to conform when we left the midwest. Collecting the wares for profit is not the main reason we do it, we also are on a quest to better understand the culture from where we grew up. Some of it is not pretty.