I am all for AMICA and I tell most of my customers about it and that
they should join.  Most of them do not have a clue that such an
organization exists.

However, I must address the local chapters of AMICA.  This is where the
National AMICA is at distinct disadvantage.  The main purpose of local
AMICA chapters is to support and build the national organization.  While
many of the local chapters are very active and are busy recruiting people
interested in automatic music, the local one here in St. Louis seems to
be doing everything possible to NOT have any new members.

I have numerous people tell me they contacted the local leadership to
join or go to the next meeting, and after months and months of trying
they got no answer.  Their interest in joining the local chapter is
ignored.  I don't know if the local chapter is doing so well that they
don't need any new members or exactly what is going on.

I have in my employ an AMICA member from the Texas Chapter who is likely
responsible for bringing that chapter back to major vibrancy, according
to many of my friends in Dallas.  He is one of those who cannot get any
response from the local bigwigs.

At over 20,000 square feet, I have been told I have the largest
restoration facility for automatic music in the country.  However,
in over ten years of being a presence in St. Louis, there has not been
one single member of the local AMICA chapter who has darkened my door.
Many of the people on this group have traveled across the country to
visit me but not a single local chapter president or member has called
or come by.  I am wondering if there even _is_ a local chapter of AMICA
in the St. Louis area.  Perhaps they have all died off.

I am sure that this is not an isolated incidence of neglect or perhaps
snobbery.  I can tell you that if National AMICA does not get the local
chapters off their respective duffs and beating the bushes for new
members, this field of interest will die along with the aging population
of its members.

D.L. Bullock
St. Louis, Missouri
http://www.pianoworld.us/