It is true that special interest organizations are not attracting the
members they once did.  For instance, the Amateur Rocket Builders group
once had 3000 members and is now around 600.  This occurred during the
very good economic times of the '90s.

Today's youth have many diversions that steer them away from older
technology.  Additionally, I sense a different attitude among the high
school students.  There seems to be great emphasis on latest fashions,
cliques, and gadgets such as cell phones, iPod.  Academic standards
have fallen extremely low.  Music and arts are included in the budgets
any longer in many, if not most schools.

However, AMICA continues to publish an interesting magazine appealing
to a wide variety of ages and backgrounds.  The membership includes
some teenagers.  The bi-monthly publication has articles on roll
artists, instruments, technical texts, classified ads, and letters.

For those who enjoy get-togethers there are chapter meetings in private
homes where the instruments can be heard and technical information
exchanged.  But wait, there's more!  The international AMICA Directory
of people and their instruments makes it possible to connect to others
around the world.

Special offer if you act now!  If you are not familiar with the AMICA
International organization and would like to find out more, send me
your mailing address I will mail you information about AMICA.  My email
is below.

Bill Chapman, AMICA Membership Secretary
53685 Avenida Bermudas
La Quinta, CA 92253-3586  USA
tel.: 1-760-564-2951
shazam32@earthlink.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]