Thank you Carl Zwanzig for a breath of fresh air regarding AMICA
keeping their productions private [060131 MMDigest].

I had begun to think the AMICA elitist attitude had taken over here as
well.  That, in my opinion, is the number one reason this hobby/business
is losing interest: the holier-than-thou, elitist attitude.

It would be refreshing if more of the active participants in this
hobby/business would recall their early days, when even the simplest
music maker was a marvel; the wonder of it all!  So many seem to have
forgotten this as they have aged.  And that attitude is carried over
into what should be a force for good, a force for spreading interest,
not just keeping it close-to-home and for 'the group.'

I've seen this same type activity absolutely alienate people in other
collecting areas.  Then others question, "But why is no one taking as
much interest," etc.  Notice how difficult it is to find a clock repair
person these days?  Few wanted to follow in the previous craftsperson's
footsteps, many times because those same craftspeople were unwilling to
share their mass information.

AMICA needs to do some _public_ relations work; they already have done
the _private_ relations work: it's called "membership".  Does AMICA
truly wish to be a force for good, a font of knowledge for the future,
an encourager of the next generation of collectors?  Apparently only
a very select few, and it varies _widely_ in different parts of the
world.

My 3 cents worth.
Christopher Vermillion