What is the NIA and how did it get started?

The mission of the National Insulator Association (NIA) is to encourage growth and public awareness of the insulator hobby through collecting, dealing, and education. Additionally, to protect the interests of all insulator collectors and dealers by establishing standards and ethics by which insulator collectors and dealers may fairly deal with one another. To accomplish this mission the NIA needs the support of all collectors and clubs. We need your physical help to serve on committees; we need your ideas and your monetary support through membership dues.

President Ellis presents an award to 
Clay Bledsoe at the 2004 National.

The first national insulator show of significance was held in the Smith Auditorium in New Castle, Indiana on June 20, 1970. In the following years national shows were held in Colorado Springs in 1971, Kansas City in 1972 and Hutchinson, Kansas in 1973. These shows were not the product of the NIA. To the contrary, the NIA was a product of those shows, the enthusiastic collectors who organized and supported them and those collectors who felt an overwhelming desire to see collectors unite for the common cause of advancing the insulator collecting hobby.

The discussions for a national organization began at the Colorado Springs show in 1971. Throughout the following year, discussions took place between collectors who had hopes of forming a national organization at the Kansas City Show in 1972. To some collector's dismay, 1972 would not be the year. The late night discussions at the Kansas City show did however lead to an Organizing Committee chaired by Warren Olsen. The other committee appointees were Ernest Rostock, Pendleton, OR; Larry Harmon, Wentzville, MO; Fred Griffin, Palatka, FL; John Hall, Columbus, OH; Steve Freedman, Wallingford, CT; Chuck Henry, Bakersfield, CA; and .Rodney Wing, Garden City, MI. John Hall took the lead in writing the proposed bylaws and produced a number of drafts which were reviewed and debated by the committee.

The NIA was born at the Hutchinson, Kansas show after the Saturday night banquet on July 7, 1973 when the group of collectors in attendance approved the Bylaws presented by Mr. Olsen's Organizing Committee. That night elections were held and dues were collected. The first President was Fred Griffin. Steve Freedman, Jesse Moreland, and Richard Augustyn were elected to the Board of Directors. The Organizing Committee Chairman, Warren Olsen, had the honor of receiving membership number one.

The major goals of the young organization were to encourage the growth of the insulator collecting hobby and to provide for a large National Insulator Show that would be rotated throughout the various regions of the United States. Since these early days the NIA has evolved along with the hobby to its current day structure and stated mission.

Action on the floor of the 2004 National in Pittsburgh, PA.

What is the governing structure of the NIA?

The NIA was incorporated in 1999 due to growing concerns about liability and other legal issues. The NIA was registered as a non-profit corporation in Arizona, on July 22, 1999. The governing body of the NIA is made up of ten Board members. The Board has approved nine standing committees to assist in accomplishing the mission the NIA.

The Board is made up of the President who is elected by all NIA members. The two most recent Past Presidents serve on the Board to help establish continuity between previous and current administrations and to provide additional expertise to the Board. There are three Region Vice Presidents. Each represents one of the three regions across the United States, Canada and other parts of the world. The Vice Presidents are elected by NIA members in their respective region. They represent the constituents in their region on the Board. The Vice Presidents also have the responsibility to encourage insulator shows within their region.

The President, with advice and consent of the Vice Presidents, appoints an Executive Secretary, to maintain the Corporation's records and other official documents, take and publish Board and General Membership meeting minutes and solicit bids for the National and Region shows.

A Treasurer is appointed by the President, with advice and consent of the Vice Presidents, to handle all the financial affairs of the organization and to file the annual corporate reports. Additionally, the position coordinates the show liability insurance program.

The Information Director, with the advice and consent of the Vice Presidents, is appointed by the President and coordinates the information and publication services of the NIA. One of the main functions of the Information Director is to publish, quarterly, the official NIA publication the Drip Points.

The Membership Director is also appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Vice Presidents. The Membership Director handles all the membership services for the NIA.

The current Board members are Dudley Ellis, President; Tom Katonak, First Past President; Steve Marks, Second Past President; Larry Novak, Eastern Region Vice President; Ed Peters, Central Region Vice President; Howard Banks, Western Region Vice President; Glenn Drummond, Executive Secretary; Jack Roach, Treasurer; Kevin Jacobson, Information Director; and Joe Beres, Membership Director. The contact information for the Board can be found on the NIA web page at www.nia.org or in the Crown Jewels of the Wire Subscribers and National Insulator Association Membership Directory. If you have neither of these you may call me at (770) 957-9928 and I will help you contact the right person.

What are the NIA Committees doing for the hobby?

As incoming President, I selected various committee chairpersons, with Board approval, to accomplish the goals of the NIA. The committees will continue with ongoing projects and incorporate the new administration's goals into their work plans for the next two years. When I took over as NIA President I set new goals for each of the committees in addition to specific projects requested by the Board. My major goal for the committees in general is to increase the committee members of each committee. My reasoning for this is to involve more collectors in the hobby and the operation of the NIA and thus have the benefit of more ideas within each committee.

Within the last few years the Board created the Promotions Committee to develop ideas and initiate programs to promote our hobby. The committee is finalizing a DVD for the promotion of the insulator collecting hobby. The DVD can be used by clubs and individual collectors in presentations made to school classes and professional organizations and can be given to the various news media for their use to promote our hobby. The professional movie will provide insulator history, collecting history and clips from insulator events. I also have asked this committee to place emphasis on developing youth oriented programs to get more youth interested in the hobby. Additionally, I have asked the committee to develop press packets to be used by the hobby to send to local newspapers and television and radio stations. Bob Merzoian, the Committee Chair, is looking for committee members to help in these endeavors. The NIA needs your talents in this area.

I have asked Jacque Linscott Barnes, Nominations Committee Chairman, to establish a list of collectors willing to serve the NIA. She has developed a committee with two members from each region to recruit hobbyists within their respective region to run for NIA officers or to serve the NIA in other capacities. Please say yes when you are approached by the committee and let them know how you are willing to serve.

The Bylaws Committee, chaired by Bob Stahr has been charged with reviewing the minutes from previous Board meetings to be sure that all rule changes by the Board have been included in the NIA Handbook. Additionally, I have asked the committee to review the entire handbook for potential changes. This review would include show standards and show rules. I have asked the committee to coordinate suggestions in these areas with the new ad hoc committee the Board has approved to review insulator show related issues. I will write more about this committee later.

Charles Bibb, the Ethics Committee Chairman, deals with ethical issues confronting the hobby. Charles is good about being discreet. If you have an ethical issue relating to a NIA member you can be confidant that Charles will work with you.

The Historical Committee, Chaired by Rick Soller, maintains an archive documenting the history of the NIA and the insulator-collecting hobby. The Committee is actively inventorying and adding the contents of the archive to the NIA web page. If there are documents or items in the archive that you would like to review please call Rick for arrangements. Additionally the Committee has ongoing museums projects. Rick has spent time with museums in Claremont, lA, Oshkosh, WI, and the Westinghouse Museum in Pittsburgh in the Committee's ongoing efforts to promote the NIA as a source of help and information for these museums.

Carolyn Berry is the Product Marketing Committee Chair. The committee develops and markets products that promote our hobby and the NIA. Some new and improved items are available including etched glass beer mugs with the NIA logo. NIA badges, service bars, shirts, hats and other products are available for nominal cost from the Committee. Pictures of the products, prices and an order form are available from the NIA web page.

The Research and Education Committee is chaired by Bob Berry. The Committee's charge is to actively conduct new areas of research, and publish that information to educate collectors and the general public about the insulator collecting hobby through various means (including maintaining the NIA's Internet website). Lately, most of the Committee's time has been spent on updating the NIA's website www.nia.org . Bob reports that traffic to the website is steadily increasing. This year, the Committee will start posting back issues of Drip Points on line for people to view. The Committee is developing a search feature on the web page to search for old insulator articles in Crown Jewels, Cross Arms, and Old Bottle Magazines. The Committee will continue to add items to the website and is looking for input from the membership.

John McDougald is the Chair of the Authentication & Classification Committee. The Committee deals with the authentication of insulators and related items and from time to time deals with standards issues. The five member committee is moving forward with their review of suspect insulators. During the past year, the Committee has been very instrumental in identifying and exposing fake and altered insulators to the hobby. One of the committee goals is to continue to seek a more accurate test for glass that will give a more definitive answer to glass components and age. Another goal is to better educate collectors on the identification of fake and altered insulators, so that they can make a better purchasing decision.

The Awards and Recognition Committee is chaired by Bill Meier. It is comprised of the following seven members: The Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson, the three Regional Vice-Presidents in office immediately prior to the National Convention, and three at-large representatives, one from each region, to be appointed annually by the current Awards and Recognition Committee Chairperson. The Committee prepares and furnishes awards for NIA Sanctioned and NIA Sponsored Shows. Additionally, they make recommendations to the Board for NIA Lifetime Memberships and Outstanding Service Awards. The Committee has been asked by the Board to review the NIA Exhibit and Judging Rules and make recommendations for revisions.

Dwayne and Ofelia Anthony this year received the highest honor awarded by the National Insulator Association... Lifetime Membership. The award recognizes lengthy dedication and service to the NIA and to the hobby as a whole. It is generally awarded to couples with the knowledge that dedication from one spouse is dependent upon support from the other.

Over the last few years I have read comments on ICON and have been involved in many discussions relative to insulator shows. Some of the comments involved region boundaries, traveling too far to shows, lack of support for some shows by dealers, displayers and attendees, lack of show host interest, shows need more support from the NIA and the list goes on. The Board and I have heard you and we want to work on these issues. The Board has established an ad hoc committee to study these show related issues and make recommendations to the Board for their resolve.

How does the NIA support shows?

The National Convention show hosts may receive up to $500 for show advertising.

The NIA Region show hosts may receive up to $250 for show advertising.

Shows sponsored by an NIA member or by a member club can take advantage of NIA liability insurance coverage at reduced rates of $50 per show day.

The NIA supports insulator shows by providing a complementary "Best of show" ribbon for displays at local shows, a "Best of Show" plaque for sanctioned Regional shows and ten awards for different categories at the annual National show.

What benefits do I have as a NIA Member?

Each paid member receives the quarterly NIA newsletter the Drip Points. Board Members and Committee Chairpersons use the Drip Points to give members updates on their committee and other hobby issues.

A NIA member is entitled to attend the official NIA day at the National Convention. This allows you to shop a full day at the show before nonmembers.

New members receive a copy of the NIA By-laws and Code of Ethics as well as a window decal.

Each member may choose to be listed in the annual Crown Jewels of the Wire Subscribers and National Association Membership Directory.

NIA members receive a discount coupon each year towards a yearly Crown Jewel of the Wire subscription.

NIA members can purchase collectors insurance through NIA sponsored insurance programs.

Show hosts who are NIA members may purchase show liability insurance at reduced rates.

The NIA Historian maintains a large library of insulator documentation that can be queried by NIA members for research and education.

Why should I join the NIA?

Several years ago I went insulator hunting one Saturday morning with some friends. When we stepped out of our vehicles it was eighteen degrees with a light breeze. That is cold here in Georgia. The following Saturday some of us went on another insulator hunt. This time it had warmed up to twenty eight degrees but it was spitting snow and the wind was blowing twenty five mile per hour. I was asked by one of my freezing friends why we were out in this kind of weather. My quick response was that we were paying our dues to the hobby. Well, it sounded pretty good and we went on with our hunt. I sometimes think about those mornings and that profound remark and think about how right I may have been.

Whether we go on an insulator hunt, volunteer to be an officer in our club, host a show, go to a swap, agree to be part of a committee to improve the hobby, aren't we really paying our dues to the hobby that we love? I have held three positions in the Dixie Jewels Insulator Club, chaired a NIA Committee and held two positions on the NIA Board. Sure I get some gratification from doing these things but most of all I feel like I am paying my dues to my hobby.

The NIA needs the support of each one of you who reads this article. You can help the NIA in some way even if it is just by paying your $12 annual membership dues. If you feel so inclined we would love to have you join a committee or volunteer to run for an NIA office. You can make a difference in our hobby. We need your support and especially your ideas on how to improve and advance our hobby. Please provide us your support, starting today!

Dudley Ellis, President
National Insulator Association