Hello everyone!

I have recently had the inspiration to try and begin a new club in Columbia, South Carolina. I know there are many collectors here, but have never seen anything about a local club.
If you are in the Columbia vicinity, would you please e-mail and express your feelings towards joining?
I think we could have a really great time!!!

Thanks!
Mark
syrinx@sc.rr.com

Nobody on the forum here from SC?

Hi Mark, I am in San Diego now but I will be moving back to Murrells Inlet this Winter. Columbia is a bit far. When I get back I will be trying to establish a club along the Coast. I started to do this before I moved out here. I actually got more dealers involved than collectors. Good Luck with your endeavor. Perhaps in a year there will be two new clubs that can interact. I never have understood how two clubs could flourish in the Greenville/Spartanburg area and not one on the South Carolina Coast???

Sean

"Hang in there" Mark!! When I started my club in October of last year it was (and still is) quite small. Most of the folks who made it to the first meeting came with a "passing interest". Not only had they never heard of "Harbour Lights" but some of them had never visited a real lighthouse....but some type of curiousity and alittle bit of "arm-twisting" brought'em in anyway. Thanks to HL for providing some "goodies" plus a couple of good video's and a latent-fascination on the part of those who attended, the 2nd meeting was even more fun. Its still a relatively small group but now the interest level is rising and we're even discussing a trip to the Virginia coast as well as the Outer Banks. I'm the only true "Wacko" in the group but I can honestly say that I "think" some of that is rubbing-off on the others...or, atleast I hope so.... Some are even commenting that we should go from "quarterly" to monthly meetings...lol ! If I can be of any help to you...please feel free to e-mail me at any time...in the meantime "Good Luck" to you and your club!!! (KTF!)

[This message has been edited by Brent (edited 04-06-2000).]

Hi Mark,
I used to live in Columbia until summer of 1993. That was a little too early for my HL collecting days. I would be the first to join if I still lived there. I haven't found another collector that lives in Utah. I think it would be really fun to be a part of a collector club. Good luck in your efforts. I am sure they will pay off.

Hi Mark,
It takes time when you first start a club. We have an informal club in the Great Lakes Area. I started by contacting HL and our local dealers. With their permission I posted a flyer by the HL display in their store. It took a couple of months, people would call and inquire. Our very first meeting, four people attended in my basement(7/97). Today, I believe we have a group of the nicest & friendliest WACKOS assembled in the Great Lakes area. If you want to talk about clubs email me and i'll give you my phone #, also another person to talk to is Barbara Hupp of NELL, shes runs clubs on more of a professional level than I do, but we swap ideas for various activities.

Thank you all for responding!

As I said in my first message, I know I'm not the only one that collects Harbour Lights here in the metro Columbia area and SC has so much to offer Lighthouse wise. I believe a local club could help with restoration efforts for the various SC lighthouses in need. Also, gathering people who might have an interest in lighthouses but not actually collectors.

Thanks for offering the advice and direction... I may call on your help!

Mark