Matchcover Clubs
There are many clubs for collectors. Some are national, some are regionally
based. Many of them publish newsletters with new and interesting collecting
information. Joining at least one is a great way for beginning and experienced
collectors to learn more about the hobby, meet fellow collectors and expand your
collection.
FEATURED
CLUB
Great Lakes Match Club 
Great Lakes is based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area. It was
formed to promote the hobby and maintain the elements that have made this a
great hobby for so many years, especially trading. Meetings are informal and
normally start with a short business meeting followed by a "Show and
Tell" session, raffles, Chinese auction, freebie table, snacks and lots and
lots of match talk. Members are encouraged to make a display for each meeting
and to bring any favorite albums or covers to share with others. Dues are $10
for the first year and $8 for renewal thereafter, and includes a newsletter. For
an application drop a line to Membership and Records Director Denise Alliegro,
3702 Sun Terrace, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, thealliegros@usfamily.net.
Membership
application.
Here are some of our other favorite clubs:
The granddaddy of them all is Rathkamp Matchcover Society. Members receive a
bimonthly newsletter filled with information on covers, people, and tips for new
collectors. You'll get a roster listing the thousands of members so you can find
other collectors sharing your interests to trade with. RMS also sponsors an
annual convention and swapfest in a different city each year. The fee for
membership is only $15 per year. For information or to join, write to Terry
Rowe, RMS Membership Secretary, 1509 S. Dugan Rd, Urbana, OH 43078-9209. E-mail:
trowerms@ctcn.net.
Long Beach is based in California, but has national membership. Dues are just
$5/year, and a regular newsletter is published. Write to Emily Hiller,
Financial Secretary, Long Beach Matchcover Club, 2501 W. Sunflower #H-5, Santa
Ana, CA 92704.
American Matchcover Collecting Club
This club is geared to the more experienced collector. Bill Retskin published
a very complete newsletter titled the Front Striker Bulletin which is published
four times per year. Dues are $15/year. Contact Bill Retskin at American
Matchcover Collecting Club, PO Box 18481, Asheville, NC 28814-0481. Phone:
704/254-4487. Fax: 704/254-1066. Click here
to check out the AMCC web site.
Empire Matchcover Club
A regional club serving greater New York
City and adjacent areas. Meetings are held the 1st Sunday of every other month,
except in summer. Dues: $5.00 US and 6.00 US for International members; five
bulletins annually. Contact Bob Hughes.
Serving greater Philadelphia, PA, and surrounding areas. Contact: President Fred
Costanzo.
Lone Star Matchcover Club
Primarily a regional club serving the Houston, Texas area, but open to
collectors around the works. Dues are only $7.50 per year, and they publish a
bi-monthly newsletter. Contact Membership Secretary LaJuan
Melendy.
This Seattle-Portland area club offers the normal meetings, newsletter and chance to meet and trade
with other collectors. But in addition, it maintains a web site with a unique
internet auction which give you another way to buy and sell covers. Contact
Ed Brassard, 101 Kristiana Way, Belfair,
WA 98528 (360-275-4140)
Serving the Sacramento -San Francisco area. Contact Janet
Johnk.
A regional club serving the province of Ontario. Contact Robert
Reed, Vice President.
When writing to any of the clubs, include a self-addressed stamped
envelope, and please be sure to mention that you discovered them through
Hobbymaster. For a very complete club listing check out the Rathkamp
Matchcover Society site. They list more than forty of them!
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