A National Organization ???
by Warren L. Olson

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", April 1972, page 3

There has been considerable talk concerning the formation of a national organization of insulator collectors. Currently, some plans are being made to hold an election of officers at the forthcoming National Insulator Show at Kansas City in July.

I personally, am in favor of such an organization, but I do feel that a great deal more information and discussion is needed on the subject, and it may already be too late to start now.

I promised Dora an article on this subject some months ago, and I am just as guilty of dragging my feet as everyone else is. This article may trigger a few words from other collectors on this subject and in that way perhaps some concrete suggestions can be made in time for the July show.

There are several unanswered questions concerning a national organization

Listed below are a few of them that come to mind:

1. Do we really need such an organization?

2. Would such an organization have a real function, or would it be strictly honorary?

3. How could it be anything but regional in its make-up?

4. How and when would elections be held?

5. Do enough collectors care one way or another?

Naturally, no one can answer all these questions and the dozens more that will arise, but this will be a beginning.

Right now we have a healthy, growing hobby, but that is exactly the type of hobby that certain unscrupulous persons are attracted to. We have not yet seen much of fakes and reproductions, but as values continue to rise, it's only a matter of time until this becomes a problem. An organization with an official "mouth" could announce all known fakes and repros to fellow collectors just as soon as they are discovered. Another function would be to choose the site
each year for a single National Insulator Show. If membership were a prerequisite for advertising, then expulsion would be the penalty for incomplete transactions between collectors or between dealers and collectors.

One solution to the possible problem of regional bias would be to divide the country into geographical districts, such as: Far West, Mountain States, Southwest, Great Plains, Southeast, New England, East Coast, etc. and elect a board member from each district. The board could meet at the National Show and elect the officers from the board Itself. Terms of the board members could be staggered so as to insure always having experienced leadership.

It would seem logical to me to have this already established magazine as the official magazine of any newly formed club. Membership fee (say $10) could include a subscription to the magazine. It would also seem logical to suggest that the editor of the magazine also be the National Secretary-Treasurer as well, assuming, that is, that she would be crazy enough to take on such a task.

Perhaps the final questions is: Do enough collectors care? I suggest that those collectors who care enough one way or another take a few minutes to drop a line to the magazine with just an opinion or some concrete suggestions. While you're at it, why not include a name for this proposed organization. Maybe we could have a contest and award a prize for the winning entry.

Warren L. Olson