Tom,
        You and I started clubs in different parts of the country, you in
New Mexico (without a beach) andI in Eureka, California, where we have lots
of beaches but cannot collect.  Our club has twenty members, some of which
are "old timers", one dealer with great experience in many area, a few of
us as "amateurs" in the narrowest sense (sensu strictu) and 3-4 who are
brand new shell "picker uppers", who ask the greatest questions and put
lots of energy into the club.  Now, what does a club do with so many varied
levels of interest and knowledge?  Well,  WE announced "SHELL MONTH" for
Humboldt County, California, we put up exhibits in libraries, and had a
Shell Identification Day at the Arcata Museum of Natural History (small
museum).  Several months later we were asked by College of the Redwoods if
we would participate in their Science Night and put up a room full of
various shell related displays for the community. (Over 400 attended the
Shell Room in 3 hours)
        In conjunction with Nature Discovery Volunteers and Volunteer
Center of the Redwoods/Retired Senior Volunteers Program several members of
the club volunteer to talk to Elementary, Jr. High/Middle School, High
School, Community College Students and several community organizations.
(Wow, was that a long convoluted sentence... Sorry!)
        Sometimes we have "Cigar Box Show" evenings at club meetings,
trading evenings and sometimes, as last Tuesday, we sit and plan for our
next educational exhibit for the community. (Thanks to Avril Bourquin, we
have a great outline for a program om Man & Molluscs that we'll give to the
"Alternative High School" classes next month.
        The big question, I guess is, What is each club about?  Collecting?
Taxonomy? Socialness?  Education of the community and our club members?
Or maybe all of the above.
        The Pacific Shell Club's (Los Angeles) news letter, one time, had a
questionnaire asking members what they'd really like to have as activities
and discussions.  The idea was so great that I copied the questionnaire and
gave it to our club members, inviting them (each & every one) to let us
know what they wanted.  TO EDUCATE MEMBERS & THE COMMUNITY!!!
Overwhelmingly.
        Do we have young members?  Yes, I'm only 60 and young is a state of
mind.
Dan Yoshimoto

>>Do I love shells?
>
>No.  I love my wife.  I like shells and they fasinate me (well so does my
>wife and she is tougher to figure out after 34 years than most shells I
>know).
>
>>Do I spend each weekend at the beach in pursuit of shells?
>
>No.  The closest beach (not counting "Tingley Beach" which is a local
>drainage pond alongside the Rio Grande) is over 1,300 miles away.
>
>>Do I plan each and every hard-earned vacation around moon phases and tide
>charts?
>
>No.  Our last vacation was planned around seeing "The Lion King" in New York
>City (a great show).
>
>>Do I belong to a shell club?
>
>Yes I do.  We have a very small, very informal club.  We decided early on to
>try and go with no officers and no dues (almost works).  Our meetings are
>mostly social -- a chance for people with similar interests to get together
>for a good meal (potluck) and talk about shells.  We have a program now and
>then, but our shell related activity level is probably the lowest of any of
>the shell clubs I know.  The point is, this meets the needs of the members.
>We have evolved and will continue to do so as new members want to add or
>subtract to our limited activity base.  We have members who have shelled all
>over the world and we have members who have only walked a beach a couple
>times in their lives.  Now after saying all of that, I have to admit this
>shell club is an infant of two years.  Ten years from now we will see if it
>has held together.  However, after seeing so many clubs struggling, we
>thought that a social gathering might withstand the pressures of time,
>repeated activities, and no real shot at hitting an ocean for an outing.
>Admittedly, we do not have a rule against non-shell related topics and the
>talk is often very far removed from shells.  But we center on shells and it
>seems to work.  At least it has gotten the few shellers in this high desert
>environment together.  I can see Joni's point, but for me, the club fills in
>for the lack of an accessable ocean and has increased my enjoyment of this
>hobby.
>
>Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA

Dan & Hiromi Yoshimoto
Eureka, California
e-mail: [log in to unmask]

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