I have found (quite unexpectedly, and to my delight) that those who
join societies such as the Player Piano Group or AMICA often turn out
to be interesting people in general, with all sorts of fascinating
ideas and enthusiasms way beyond the scope of the hobby in question.

On joining the Player Piano Group here in the UK just, after I finished
at university, I met a wonderful bunch of people.  Some 10 years later,
AMICA's 1995 visit to London showed that the type of person who joined
in America was exactly the same as those here -- and Australia a year
back showed the phenomenon to be world-wide!  You may get a little of
this from reading the MMD, but meeting in person is a quite different
thing.

You can go visit these people and instantly feel at home.  An overseas
convention visitor gets a wonderful base for further travelling, making
the holiday experience way better than the normal tourist one.  And
that's without the marvellous personal hospitality that's so generously
offered.

I would recommend anyone to start by joining the society local to where
they live.  Make an active effort to join in and the society will begin
to encompass your interests as well, not just other peoples'.

Value for money?  In cash terms alone anyone who sees how much unpaid
work goes in to running these societies would never have the temerity
to question the cost.  The intangible benefits are as big as you want
them to be, as I hope I've managed to convey in the sermon above!

Julian Dyer
London, England