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  #31  
Old 04-30-2010, 08:24 AM
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This is the crux of my conundrum.... I am not concerned about the incidental costs and I would say we have enough interested members that might be able to act as officers.

What I am trying to determine is that can we put on shows/contests etc as a SIG and have them be formally announced on the IPMS site. I want to have a formal connection to IPMS - SIG's are officially endorsed but do they have less rights and input into the IPMS framework? I dunno.... I am working with the main Chapter Director and John (sets up SIGs) to get these answers. I want to make sure we are on the right track before I make any final decisions. Its all new to me

To answer a couple of your questions.... The social aspect - right now we have paper modelers that DO put on classes/demos at libraries and such. If we have a more formal body we could do more of this, some funding supplied by the club would certainly help promote this.

I also see a SIG as being very specific to one interest. Our hobby uses paper but it still covers every facet of the categories at a typical IPMS show and I dont want to miss out on other members that may prefer plastic but be looking for a cyber home.

I will defintely spend some time looking at the SIG sites today
Chris
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  #32  
Old 04-30-2010, 08:40 AM
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OK,
I have had a lot of conversations with several people in IPMS USA. Its really 6 of one, half dozen of the other. SIGS can do EVERYTHING that a chapter can do and are considered equal footing within IPMS. I am going to make the formal plunge to go as a SIG rather than a Chapter. However we need to work on our name..... I was told its probably not a great idea to have it so close to IPMS.... look for a new thread in a few moments!
Chris
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  #33  
Old 04-30-2010, 01:50 PM
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Some Society basics, perhaps?

Chris, this may help (based on some of your comments so far...and anyone please correct me if I am off base in any way)

The Society is an international body made up of (top-to-bottom)
1. National Branches (such as IPMS/USA) - check the USA website links to get an idea of what other national branches are up and running. National organizations publish the Society journals, collect membership dues, maintain membership rosters and charter Chapters. The national organization maintains itself per the Society constitution & By-laws with member elected officers, a process that is often mirrored at the Chapter level.

2. Regions - Administrative divisions within the National organization, if needed, to group Chapters together. Usually there are annual Regional conventions that are hosted on a rotating (but volunteer basis.)

2. Chapters - each Branch charters Society chapters within it's area of responsibility. Chapters are rechartered annually based on payment of fees and maintenance of minimum Society membership levels. This is how USA Chapters can exist in other countries and 'virtually', as stated on the USA website (www.ipmsusa.org)

3. Members - fairly obvious, but membership is pretty flexible and inclusive (for example, I know a lot of 'North Americans' join both Canada and USA branches, not to mention the international memberships that are common... especially where a National branch has not yet formed.) To be a member, as you've seen, essentially all that is required is to pay the annual dues. This entitles you to a copy of the Society magazine and entry into IPMS competitions (this is important as some contests are tagged as "open" events but some, such as the National conventions, are closed to the IPMS membership only.) Association with a Chapter is optional, since Chapters do not exist everywhere.

As you can see, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are *not* a part of the formal Society organization. Rather, SIGs are an 'activity' of Society members who wish to "band together" to focus on their, eh, special interests. Since SIGs are typically organized by the interested membership, there is an official recognition and affiliation with IPMS *by association*, but neither is required for the SIG to operate. After all, SIGs are whatever the SIG members what them to be. I'm sure IPMS might 'disown' a SIG if it were somehow not in line with the Society ideals (say a SIG that was for building half-scale replicas of torture devices or focused on pornographic sculptures...) but in general it is a natural extension of the 'networking' that the Society promotes. Looking at the list of SIGs on the website illustrates this point. SIG's are in essence the same as the old USENET Newsgroups or our own Paper Modelers forum - "band of brothers/ sisters".

With regard to your initiative, creating a SIG for paper modeling (which is 'new' within the IPMS corporate culture) is a natural way to connect the large and active network of international paper modelers (both IPMS & non-IPMS) to the (perhaps smaller?) formal IPMS membership of (this is key) the *many* National branches. Since our 'organizations' are not exclusive of each other, the SIG would provide a conduit for IPMS modelers unfamiliar with paper to learn about it, especially if these newbies (such as I am myself) see the high quality modeling "going on" within the community. Conversely, the SIG's affiliation would also allow the paper modeler an outlet into the world of physical competitions, club fellowship and non-paper modeling techniques that the Society offers. I can see a paper modeler working in primarily a virtual community, finding that there is a local modeling club he can connect with - especially if the SIG he is a part of has already laid the groundwork for just such a move.

In my opinion, having a Virtual Paper Modeling Chapter is the same as having a SIG only it narrows the affiliation to one National branch and doesn't do anything more than the SIG might accomplish. Kind of like having a third nipple - two on a man are useless enough.

So, being the systems analyst that I am, I recommend only a SIG to maintain the "mission focus", which appears to be connection & sharing between the modeling disciplines, not creation of a solely paper modeling enclave within the traditionally 'plastic' IPMS (which I hope someday will morph into the "International Scale Modelers Society", to distinguish from the radio control, railroader, etc folks - not to say they can't do a mean scale replica when they want - hey!) As someone already noted, I hope eventually there aren't 'paper' contest categories just modeling.

Ah, once again, I am suffering from digitus vomitus. My sincere apologies...
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  #34  
Old 04-30-2010, 01:56 PM
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Thanks for reinforcing my decision to go SIG its the way to go!
Chris
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  #35  
Old 04-30-2010, 07:02 PM
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All this discussion is way over my head. But sign me in if you don't mind a "Beltway Bandit" who has never been a member of the older IPMG.
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  #36  
Old 04-30-2010, 07:12 PM
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heh heh - welcome aboard older IPMG? Its only 1 day old!
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  #37  
Old 04-30-2010, 08:06 PM
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I'm certainly interested. For me, a virtual association is ideal.

Garland
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  #38  
Old 04-30-2010, 09:19 PM
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Finally got around to catching up on the posts in this new forum. I'm also interested in joining up, in the virtual community extension, as well as finding a physical modeling community within my area. I noticed mention of Maj. Davenport having a strong connection with the IPMS and I know he is near my area (couple hours), and I've seen a number of others on the forum in the Atlanta area as well. I wonder if there are any Atlanta area paper modelers (guess I'll have to accept the term over "card modelers" :p) already involved with a local IPMS chapter...
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  #39  
Old 05-01-2010, 06:21 AM
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Hi!
I am going to get a section going for "looking for people" to help find other local modelers feel free to post there when its ready!
Thanks
Chris
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  #40  
Old 05-01-2010, 08:48 AM
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Sounds good to me!
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