Well, I hate to beat this to death, but when it comes to the cost of
belonging to AMICA I hate to have those who don't know the organization
read all this and feel like we are a big, money-spending organization
with no redeeming qualities.

To me, the cost of belonging to AMICA is much less than most people
spend going to movies, out to dinner, buying cigarettes, or whatever.
I mean, come on, it's less than $4.50 per month!  Coffee and donuts can
eat up that much with no trouble at all.

First of all, you meet the nicest people you could ever hope to meet,
from all over the world, and all of them share the love of mechanical
music.  We have visited and been visited by people from all walks of
life and from all parts of the world.  We have made friends who are
like part of our family.

The information that is available through the organization just by way
of the publications is really amazing, and you are in touch with people
who have restored instruments from the ground up and who, for the most
part, are willing to help you out with information if necessary.

The conventions are really a bargain as far as I can see.  The
workshops alone are worth the cost of registration to us; the
information is invaluable.  The pumper piano contest, which is held
each year, is a lot of fun, and we have spent time until the wee hours
of the morning in the hospitality room enjoying the company of friends
and the piano artistry of many of our members.

We have taken bus trips to homes to view collections that are really
outstanding, along with scenic wonders of the area.  The table favors
are wonderful, and a great souvenir of the visit.  I have to say,
though, that the convention is not a vacation, per se, for everyone.
If you don't really like the instruments or don't care to visit
collections and socialize with super people, you may not appreciate
attending.

The conventions are put on by host chapters, and _all_ the work is
done by volunteer labor. (The officers are volunteers, too, by the
way.)  The cost is kept to as much a minimum as possible, keeping in
mind the different areas of the country and the fact that costs do
vary.

It takes a lot of time, effort, and love to be willing to host a
convention, but it has it's own rewards, too: a sense of satisfaction
when all goes well and everyone is obviously enjoying themselves; the
thank-you's that are sent after the convention acknowledging your
efforts; and just an over-all feeling of pride in a job well done.

All in all, the organization is a great bargain for those who are
lovers of reproducing pianos, player pianos, and all other types of
mechanical music.  Where else can you find people who don't look at you
rather strangely when you show them your collection?  And who don't ask
the age-old question, "Do you ever play them all at once!"

Shirley Nix