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

From: Greg Catterton <star_wars_collector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:49:31 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <692914.7411.qm_at_web46408.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

Sorry for the metlist post, I did not see Count CCd the metlist. This was supposed to be an IMCA list post.

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, Greg Catterton <star_wars_collector at yahoo.com> wrote:

> From: Greg Catterton <star_wars_collector at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] [IMCA] Elections and my status
> To: imca at imcamail.de, meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com, countdeiro at earthlink.net
> Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 1:44 PM
> "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 a system that is so outdated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
> >
> >
>
>
> ? ? ?
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Received on Sat 28 Aug 2010 01:49:31 PM PDT