From: Association of Collecting Clubs
18222 Flower Hill Way #299
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
301.926.8663
Info@Collectors.Org

To: Digital Reprieve, Inc.
From: Association of Collecting Clubs

Subject: ACC Update, Vol 4, No 3, February 7, 2006

Atlantique City Show Coming Up Soon
===================================

The March 2006 Atlantique City Antique & Collectible Show is only a matter of weeks away - Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

The Association of Collecting Clubs will again be at the show promoting collecting clubs - Booth #1995 directly across from the main food court. The ACC show booth will be providing THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE REPRESENTATION OF COLLECTING CLUBS IN THE ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES INDUSTRY.

If your club is not already represented at our booth, its easy to participate and costs you nothing. Just send us approx. 50 promotional fliers or membership brochures promoting your club. If you have an upcoming club-sponsored show and have promotion fliers, these are welcome, too. Send your materials to: ACC, 18222 Flower Hill Way #299, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 by March 10.

Atlantique City is the world's largest indoor antique & collectibles show. The ACC booth is traditionally a popular stopping place for show-goers. There is no easier way to recruit new members than by being represented. If your collecting group has never participated and you have any questions, please contact us at: AtlantiqueCity@collectors.org or call 301.926.8663.

For the nearly 250 clubs who have participated in the past, we will be checking inventory during the next two weeks and will let you know if we need new materials.

Mr. Peanut Turns 100 - Celebrates at Atlantique City
====================================================

The Atlantique City show is known for its special highlighted features at each show. Planters Peanuts is 100 years old in 2006 and will be featured at the March show, including Mr. Peanut and his famed Nut Mobile - and hopefully lots of peanuts! The Atlantique City Show management is working with the staff at Planters, and the Peanut Pals (Planter's Peanut collectors) will be providing some of the significant historical memorabilia from the private collection of Anthony Scola, president of Peanut Pals. Scola explains, "Each item will include an explanation of its history and significance. Planters has always been a leader of marketing and packaging. So much of what we take for granted in advertising today Planters was at the forefront of. They were extremely savvy about how to sell a product."

This is an excellent example of how a collecting club can utilize their knowledge base to help inform the public about their particular area of collecting...and hopefully at the same time recruit some new members for their group.

End of an Era
=============

We seldom discuss our own personal collecting "habits" or our collectibles business, Americana Resources, however January 31 was an end of an era for us. After over 15 years in antique malls we vacated our last 4 booths at the end of January. In our "prime" we had 17 booths in 7 malls. We still have our warehouse in Gaithersburg, Maryland and fixed price website at amres.com but the malls are now "history" for our business.

Club Conventions
================

The past two ACC Updates have each carried several articles on club conventions. This newsletter will complete this series with the following three articles.

If your convention is not yet listed, simply fill out the submittal form on the schedule.

Making the Most of Your Club Convention
=======================================

Although ACC finds great variety in the 2,000 or more clubs with which we work, most collecting club conventions are remarkably similar in what they offer. Usually there is club hospitality events and "sharing" sessions (which go by various names). Normally a show or bourse (closed or open), auctions, workshops, banquet, awards, business meeting, and often new officers. Side trips or tours and other "fun" things are sprinkled in, or offered as pre-convention or post-convention options.

No doubt all of these areas are very important to the club...or they wouldn't be offered year after year at the convention.

Tradition is wonderful. Members attend a convention, have a great time, and expect more of the same at the next one - so that's what is offered. Oh, every convention committee does some "tweaking" to leave their personal mark on that year's event, but it's amazing how many of the conventions are almost exactly the same year after year. We know, don't monkey with success!

Club Convention Survey
======================

ACC feels it is time to do another Club Convention Survey in 2006. We will be sending the survey form out to all collecting groups we know are having annual conventions, probably staggering them to go out within 1-2 months after your event.

If anyone has suggestions for the 2006 survey, please send them to: info@collectors.org

Conventions - Liability Insurance
=================================

It really doesn't matter where or when you have your convention - you need liability insurance coverage. Some clubs feel because their convention is "closed", i.e. for members only, that liability insurance isn't necessary. Wrong! We cannot honestly think of a reason not to recommend that a club be covered. In fact, many hotels, convention centers and other sites require coverage.

Through a special arrangement with the Association Insurance Administrators (AIA), the Association of Collecting Clubs endorses either of the following two options:

- Per Convention or Show. The premium must be paid prior to the show or convention so that the certificate of coverage can be issued prior to the show.

- Annual Policy. An annual policy covers all your shows, conventions and regular meetings.

You can also contact the Association Insurance Administrators (AIA) directly. Tell them you are an ACC member club and interested in club liability insurance. Call 1.800.287.7127 or e-mail: Insure@AntiqueAndCollectible.com or write to: Association Insurance Administrators, P.O. Box 4389, Davidson, NC 28036.

ACC News Service
================

Don't forget to send your club news to the ACC NEWS SERVICE - the only News Service totally placing emphasis on the news of collecting clubs and groups. Send releases to: NewsService@Collectors.Org. The ACC News Service exists for your benefit...to promote your club, to recruit new members and to report club activities. Use it.

That's all for now. Let us know any time that we can be of assistance.