Dear Readers,  Like I did on my posting on "fairground organs should
play more modern music" I announce my full support to AMICA President
John Motto-Ros in getting mechanical music "out there".  Like Mr.
Motto-Ros said, "There are many people waiting to join us but we have
not found them or they have not found us".

I would also suggest that where there is an exposition of mechanical
music, information as to our hobby should be placed wherever it is,
like at the Griffith Park Carousel in Los Angeles or Nottingham's Inn
in Big Bear Lake, California.  I know the opposition to this idea is
strong in the hobby in America, but you saw what happened to the Midwest
Chapter of the MBSI after the first band organ rally -- hundreds of
memberships came rushing in.

Another example is the band organ rallies hosted by my chapter of
AMICA.  We have a good crowd at our rallies but the lack of information
of our hobby and our clubs and forums put the reason for a rally down
the drain and so our membership is dwindling because of that.

Another part of keeping our hobby "hidden away" is the lack of large
organs at our rallies.  All I have to say is, the organs were designed
to be outdoors and if we are not using them for their original purpose,
I do not see how that is living up to our hobby's general rule.

A much sadder part of this is the continued abuse of band organs.
I shall question the mechanical music ideas of anybody in our hobby
that thinks, "Well, it's none of my business and it would be a waste
of time to help these organs."

Quite really it is awful that we do not even take up collections and
start programs for the restoration of the instruments that need our
help, such as the "adopt the piano" project in AMICA.  Examples are
the Nevada City, Montana, Music Hall (where the Wurlitzer DX that was
previously in that program is located), Coney Island, Knotts Berry
Farm, Disney World -- the list is as long as it is sad (even sadder).
We really need to step up in order to get these organs going again.
I will even do my best to keep these organs playing/taken care of
(although school gets in the way).

In short we really need to step our hobby up a bit -- it would make
a world of difference.

Cordially,
Justin Senneff