Clubs - Future

Survival of a club: steps and ideas on how to ensure a club longevity

Overall ideas shared by members: click here

Action for this group talks:  Panel discussion to share strategies;  Discussion on formalize an association of Postcard clubs

Some in depth plan provided by Allan Milbradt - read the description of each point here

#1 — Create a Club Continuity Vault (Shared Credentials & Member Lists)

#2 — Redundant Leadership Structure (Multiple Officers with Shared Access)  - Click here on Club Continuity Vault (Online presence)

#3 — Formalize the Postcard Summit as a Federation

# 4 — Donated Collection Program (Accept & Resell Collections for Club Revenue)

#5 — Expand Social Media to Instagram and TikTok (with Video Content)

#6 — Tap Postcrossing Meetups for Younger Member Recruitment

#7 — Shared Digital Infrastructure (Membership Platform, Newsletter Templates, National Calendar) - Click here on Club Continuity Vault (Online presence)

#8 — Beginner-Friendly Programming (Starter Kits, $1 Boxes, Intro Workshops)

#9 — Postcards in Schools / Education Partnerships - read below

#10 — Partnerships with Libraries, Historical Societies, and Genealogy Groups

#11 — Annual Conference / Show Model (Ephemera Society Style)

#12 — Formal Nonprofit Incorporation (501(c)(3) or 501(c)(7))

The Key Insight Across All Rankings

The suggestions fall into three tiers:

• Survival (do now, free): #1, #2 — Stop clubs from dying.

• Structure (do soon, low cost): #3, #4, #7 — Build the infrastructure that makes everything else possible.

• Growth (do continuously, medium cost): #5, #6, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12 — Attract and keep new members once the club is stable enough to receive them.

Ideas from AI and Michael Bloch:  - Growth of the hobby - Vintage postcard collecting clubs can grow the hobby by making it feel more social, visual, nostalgic, and approachable — especially for younger people and casual history lovers. Here are some practical and effective ideas: Read full details here

• Make the Hobby More Visual and Experiential: Host Public Postcard Exhibits; Create Traveling Displays; Hold “Postcards Then & Now” Events

• Reach Younger Collectors: Use Social Media Heavily, Create Short Educational Videos (See below about Using Postcards to Teach in Schools)

• Make It Easier to Start: Offer Beginner Tables at Shows, Create Starter Kits, Hold “Intro to Postcard Collecting” Workshops

• Connect the Hobby to History and Genealogy: Partner With Genealogy Groups

• Modernize Club Culture: Make Clubs More Welcoming, Add Social Elements, Create Hybrid Online Meetings

• Use Storytelling: People connect emotionally with stories more than collectibles alone: Share Fascinating Stories Behind Cards, Publish Club Newsletters or Blogs

• Hold Community Events: Postcard Appraisal Days, Sponsor Local History Contests, Create Annual Postcard Festivals

• Promote Affordability

• Focus on Nostalgia and Art

Funds preservation

• Ensure that more than one officers has access to the bank account

1. Incorporated the club: not easy and might be expensive

2.  Request a EIN number from IRS (Valid for USA clubs) for unincorporated Associations [ no cost and fast]

• Use a spreadsheet accessible by more than one officer to track expenses and incomes

Action for this group talks: How did club did it?

Donation of collection to clubs and resale:   Some clubs are accepting donation of large collections from members and then selling the collection for a profit for the club

List of club who did it:

i. Toronto Postcard Club

ii. Washington Crossing Card Collectors Club  http://wc4postcards.org/appraisalsandacquisitions.html  

iii. New England Postcard Club – Kathy Alpert (co-founder is an auctioneer)

iv. Others?

Action for this group talks:  trying a panel presentation on how they did it

Postcards as tools for teaching in Schools : some ideas on how to use postcards to teach kids

• Joe Spina and Michael Bloch have some experience on this topic: 

  • Michael's lesson plan: Postcard Adventure Project Click here

• Girl Scouts Postcard Exchange: Scope is to collect a postcard from each state: https://www.facebook.com/groups/201622853623489

• More links and ideas by Tom Reitz:  Click here

Action for this group talks:  trying a presentation by Joe and Michael