Matchbox club

[matchboxmarcel]

[quote="GHOSTHUNTER"]Thanks Ewan.

your points in order...

1. MICA appears to be dying and all it has done over the years for collectors will die with it.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT KEVIN ! I still have great 22 volumes of 6 magazines and good books published by them.
While when a forum dies (like the Cobratoys forum) we LOST thinsg for EVER !)
Therefore I have always been keen on printed material, even that cost money.
After a post is made on a forum in a few weeks mos members are not even remembering it.

marcel

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I am sure like yourself Marcel, most of us treasure any printed material we have had out of a model club, but if the club folds and goes down then no more printed material will come from that club.

An on-line club can suffer from the same fate, as you mention with 'Cobratoys', so both platforms (printed material and on-line material), can lose everything if they are not managed correctly and Mick Flack on 'Moyboyz' has only recently told us he has everything backed-up, so it is relatively safe.

I understand there are some model clubs that offer it's members an on-line or printed newsletter, which is a good idea, if a little expensive to administer, so they probably have to charge members for membership.

There is a general consensus that MICA is nothing like it used to be and with current communication problems between the admin, club members and past club members, it can only lead to it's downfall and if it is not picked-up and properly managed, it will die, sorry Marcel but these are the facts that are emerging as every Day passes and is very sad considering how MICA came into being with official backing from Matchbox and senior members of staff at Matchbox.

If MICA has reformed into 'The Matchbox Club' or something very similar to that title, then great, lets hope it carries on and becomes successful again, but at the moment we are having several members of this forum reporting sad events connected to the new club leaving them in no doubt about where and what will happen to the club.

Can I just add that despite my name being Kevin and my vocal comments about MICA, I am in no way connected to MICA, or any club or members of that club, so I am not standing up for them, I am just a collector who wants to save the MICA name.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Please click on this link...http://moyboyz.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php ... 513#p33832

It is an update to the 'Matchbox Club' by Graham Atherton.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[Tinman]

While when a forum dies (like the Cobratoys forum, we LOST things for EVER !)

marcel

That remains to be seen. Brad has to work out the problems with a long distance personal relocation and then he can work on his web site relocation. We don't know if he has backed up the old forum archives or not ... time will tell as he works on the problem(s).

However, you are correct in your concern about online data easily being lost. The printed material by MICA will live on but the planned replacement, an online magazine, seems to have already died. From all outward appearances the club itself seems to have died from lack of interest by current management.

I totally agree with Marcel that printed material is invaluable and will outlive forums and web sites. Such material does so because it will outlive the owners of such forums and sites (as well as technical failures). Much like the YY models themselves, MICA looks like it's going to fade into history under it's current direction and all that will be left is those club publications and some code 2 models.

[Tinman]

Please click on this link...http://moyboyz.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php ... 513#p33832

It is an update to the 'Matchbox Club' by Graham Atherton.

GHOSTHUNTER.

Kevin, you can only view the post if you are a registered member and logged in. Can you possibly paraphrase the content of the post?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

OK Joe, I'll try a different approach...

Hi Mick.. And fellow Moyboyz

As another year is nearly over, I'm afraid the challenge of resurrecting the club, whilst holding down a pretty demanding 'Day-Job' is still proving to be far more difficult than I could ever have imagined..!!

However, on the good news front.. Membership (which is now free) is well into several thousand...!! And more importantly, we have a large number of international collectors, which includes Asia.. (Who seem to love everything British?) By comparison, there were just over a couple of hundred members when we took over, but we are now well on our way to our target of 5,000 registered (international) collectors..!!

Our new software is also nearly ready for launch and will allow us to finally collate every model issued in one place for the benefit of members and collectors world wide. Although I have not managed to secure any (paid) help from a 'Yesteryear' collector/expert yet, I would ask that you contact me directly via my (day job) office on 0151-653-8844.. Please ask for Yvonne or Michelle and don't be put off by the reference to cosmetics.. We all need to earn a living somehow..!!

I know that a few key members are justifiably disappointed as I have not had time to speak to you directly, or indeed reply promptly, but hopefully I can correct that if you call on the number above..(As I speak much faster than I type..!!) In the meantime please accept my humble apologies as I prioritise my mortgage payments.

Most of all.. Mick Flack made a very wise statement on here very recently.. He pointed out that a 'club' is really a group of interacting members.. And not a business.. I for one could not agree more.. But it may be that 'forums' have now replaced the physicality of actual member involvement.. And this site for one certainly does have the camaraderie of friendships developed over many years.. I don't think our more formal business based organisations (wether charitable in nature or not) will ever achieve the same ethos as we communicate with new members on the dreaded social media sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and even Snap-chat (please someone help me..!!)

For my part I have tried to be as transparent and honest as I can.. But I never claimed to be a collecting expert, nor did I profess to having a lot of time.. just yet.. But I do intend to persevere, but will clearly not be able to do this without your help.. Please do try and think about the enormity of the task we have embraced and if you can offer any 'constructive' advice than please do not hesitate to do so.. We 'are' a 'not for profit' organisation and our mission is to help children.. Please, please weigh this against your own frustration and disappointment at our failings, as we endeavour to make our club (and hobby) more robust and sustainable, as well as having a worthwhile purpose.

During the last year, I have managed to meet up with a number of very helpful individuals, including Gary Mathews, Eric Creake and even Charlie Mack (at his home on Rhode Island) His collection is quite frankly... Terrifying..!! However, I would also be more than happy to meet any of you for a coffee and a chat in the UK..?? Not least as 'verbal abuse' is much more enjoyable when delivered in person..!! (Ha) Although it may be some time before I can get to Sydney.. so Mick may need to wait before he can 'peck my head' personally..!!

But seriously, please do get in touch and maybe we can meet somewhere soon, maybe at a 'swap meet' for an exchange of views and ideas..?? In the meantime, I would like to say a big thank you to those of you who have helped with some sage advice, and technical knowledge. Experience cannot be bought, and your years of collecting contains irreplaceable knowledge.

I sincerely hope that the new web-site, database, shop and forum meet with your approval when launched... Just don't hold your breath just yet huh..??

Thank you and kind regards as always..

Graham Atherton.

Caretaker (and head scapegoat)
Matchbox Club

There, that's better.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[Tinman]

A very nice update to many of the questions and concerns recently brought to light. I think he would do well to issue some updates from time to time (monthly perhaps) to keep members more informed. Communication is the key to success.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Additional to what Graham has said in his '1st Update Post', he is looking for volunteers to supply accurate model information, in particular he wants someone with a detailed overall knowledge of the "Models of Yesteryear" range and Mick Flack of the 'Moyboyz' forum is offering some assistance.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[Tinman]

Additional to what Graham has said in his '1st Update Post', he is looking for volunteers to supply accurate model information, in particular he wants someone with a detailed overall knowledge of the "Models of Yesteryear" range and Mick Flack of the 'Moyboyz' forum is offering some assistance.

GHOSTHUNTER.

Very nice, Mick is the Man!

[nickjones]

I would like to hear what Mick Flack thinks about all this.
Graham who admits he has no time himself and is not an expert on the subject, but he wants others to re-write the MoY guide so he can put it online with his shop. I assume the several thousand members he has are not aware of Micks MoY site?.