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Starting a New Pipe Club

Posted on: Fri, 04/06/2007 - 23:24
Starting a New Pipe Club

I have searched and searched and found no pipe club in my area, not that I am surprised. Living in California, you are almost expected not to smoke. So, time to start one.

I have lots of questions about how to get one going. Dock, I think you are the guy to talk to since you already have a club, but I welcome all comments. How much in dues? How are the dues spent? How often do you meet? What kind of agenda at meetings, if any? Always meet at the same place? You get the idea. I'm sure there are things I'm not even covering that I need to know to do this right.

Thanks for the help.

Rob


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Posted on: Sat, 04/07/2007 - 00:56 #1
Hey Rob, We meet on the 1st

Hey Rob,

We meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month at the same predetermined place though we also have a few "field trips" each year to specific tobacco shops and pipe carvers studios.Club dues are $5.00 and our fee to the hall is $10.00 per person.The dues cover such things as monthly raffle prizes,hotel rooms for visiting pipe reps and misc. expenses.If I were starting a club,I'd get into league with a friendly tobacco shop.They will be your best ally in granting a meeting place for and helping to promote it...

E-mail me privately if you want to talk further about his.I'll gladly help out in anyway possible.... dock76@netzero.net

D.Perry

 

 

 

The Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston... "Keeping The Smoking Lamp Lit Since 1989" www.shpcboston.org


Posted on: Sat, 04/07/2007 - 01:04 #2
Wooops,I forgot to mention

Wooops,I forgot to mention that if you click on the link to our website and scroll all the way down to the bottom you'll find links to a few years of past newsletters.Look through a few of them and you'll have a pretty good idea of what we're about...

Best,
D.Perry

The Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston... "Keeping The Smoking Lamp Lit Since 1989" www.shpcboston.org


Posted on: Sat, 04/07/2007 - 02:20 #3
Thanks Dock

Thanks for the answers. I'll take a look at the newlsetters. I frequent a couple local tobacco shops, so I'll give them a try. I'm sure I'll have more questions for you as I get things rolling. I'll post the progress.
Rob


Posted on: Sat, 04/07/2007 - 03:58 #4
I'll be walking that road in a year or so...

As soon as I get back from Denmark, I plan on walking that same path.  Good luck!...and I am sure that I will be writing to ask what you (will by that time have) learned.
Cheers,
Josh


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Posted on: Sat, 04/07/2007 - 09:35 #5
No Problem..
robgraphics wrote:

Thanks for the answers. I'll take a look at the newlsetters. I frequent a couple local tobacco shops, so I'll give them a try. I'm sure I'll have more questions for you as I get things rolling. I'll post the progress.
Rob

I have no doubt that you'll be sucessful Rob.You may also want to print up flyers to leave around anywhere where pipe tobacco is sold.When I started my club,this practice was very effective in reaching prospective members...

Best,

D.Perry

The Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston... "Keeping The Smoking Lamp Lit Since 1989" www.shpcboston.org


Posted on: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:17 #6
I found this (UPCA) awhile

I found this (UPCA) awhile back and I'm linking directly to their "Form A Club" page. I thought it was rather informative with the advice on how to start a club.

~BBVV


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“The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins.” -Ben Jonson

What is a bootleg bon vivant, you may ask? Well, it’s kinda like a monkey stealing a soldier’s last MRE. You know, that feeling you get when something is forbidden, yet you have to sample the best of the best. Not saying an MRE is all that great or anything, but it’s prime rib to a monkey who is stuck with nuts, berries, and bananas all the damn time. ~ BBVV


Posted on: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:36 #7
There's really nothing to

There's really nothing to it. The biggest challenge is to just get the folks to show up every month. Most people now-a-days are oversheduled to death and even one night a month can be tough for them to do. If you're lucky enough to have a local club PLEASE SUPOPORT IT PEOPLE!. Folks like myself spend countless hours promoting them and really work hard to make them a fun distraction from the world's problems. My own, The SHPC of Boston has been in existince since 1989 and have a loyal following now. We average about 12 members per meeting. We've got collectors like myself who smoke the high end stuff as well as folks who smoke Dr.Grabows and cobs. All are welcome and all bring something unique to the meetings.

Lately we've been meeting at Bertucci's Restaurant at Cobb's Corner in Canton Massachusetts at 6:00 pm and then heading over to our nearby smoking venue.

If you're in town on the 1st Tuesday of any month please come see us. If you need further info check our website at: www.shpcboston.org or shoot me an e-mail at: brothers_of_briar@yahoo.com

Best,
Dock


Posted on: Tue, 08/12/2008 - 14:21 #8
It is pretty simple

Dock, you are so right, it takes a lot of work, usually its one or two guys who handle everything. Calling the members to remind them, confirming the location each time, making sure there is something on the agenda:
pipe collections, exchanges, tobacco tastings, guests from out of town, sponsorship from a local smoke shop (or not), raffles, etc.
The Boca Raton Pipe Club charges an annual fee of $35 and $5 for the raffle, this gives the club a little money for an end of the year holiday party or dinner. As several of the guys visit some of the pipe and tobacco shows around the country, they bring new tobaccos for tasting or Benningtons will supply them. But its so worth it, especially now with the no smoking laws, we can't smoke anywhere we please anymore. We meet at the local Moose Lodge. Some of guys are members, this makes things easier; around here only bars or private clubs are permitted to have indoor smoking.

We post pics of our meetings at our site:
www.bocaratonpipegui...
Enjoy,
Jim

Regads,
Jim


Posted on: Tue, 08/12/2008 - 15:02 #9
Rob, I can also speak to you

Rob,

I can also speak to you via pm if you like lfc@ix.netcom.com. I've been a member of the NY Pipe Club for a long, long time and can offer some suggestions to help you launch a successful start.

One key factor: if you can find a location that allows you to smoke your chances improve exponentially. For example, if there happens to be a Native American Reservation nearby you should be golden. The Seattle Pipe Club meets at a cigar lounge on just such a location so there is never an issue with anti-smoking laws. We at the NY Pipe Club meet at a cigar bar / restaurant that was grandfathered in so we can smoke there - not that the owner doesn't fight a never ending battle with the state.

Here are a few websites to check out:

http://www.unitedpip...
http://www.newyorkpi...
http://www.seattlepi...
http://www.shpcbosto...

Good Luck!

Lou, NY