Posted by Bob Read on August 29, 1999 at 19:52:17 in 208.142.225.101:
Jerry Davidson and James Pepper sparked an idea that I have never seen discussed here before. Often the members here need information from outside sources or we seek to influence model companies, H&W, museums, aftermarket manufacturers, etc. How do we now do that?
Well, somebody knows a guy who knows a guy and we try to do things by proxy. Why is that? I think one of the primary reasons is that we are nobody. I don't mean that as a put down. What I mean is that I find myself referring to the association of members who frequent this site as "a group of modelers who discuss things related to the Titanic on an internet website".
Not very compact or impressive is it? What if I said
I was a member of TMI (Titanic Modelers International)?
The name says it all and it sounds more official. When you are trying to talk to bureaucratic types at the institutions mentioned above it couldn't hurt to have a name and perhaps officers. The last thing I'm advocating is some kind of stodgy bureaucracy of our own. I'm just wondering if something like an official organization with a name (I just made the other one up) might advance some of our causes and make getting answers to some questions easier. My hope is that this
post will perhaps spark some discussion, debate and other ideas.
Regards,
Bob Read