Hi Marv; Just returned from my usual weekend in A.C. and read the flap about the tee shirts. I've not seen the shirt so maybe my ititial reaction to it may not be fair. However, my (now unofficial) opinion on the matter is that the club logo should be compared to a company logo..... which is protected. I don't think that ATT, IBM, Microsoft, etc., would appreciate someone else using their corporate logo on a product that was being privately sold outside their organization. As I see it, this issue has nothing to do with exposing the club's existance to the pubic. It has to do with a private individual using the club logo without seeking permission to put on a product that is being sold by an individual. This is one of the things that concerned the club several years ago.... that prompted the policy to allow members use of the logo on the letterheads, web-sites, but that the club logo would not be used by individuals for private gain. We had a manufacturer of albums who approached the club for permission to use the club's logo on a marketing idea he had for putting starter sets of chips in Kmarts and other leading discount stores around the country. Sure the exposure would be good, but should someone make money off the club's protected logo? Permission was denied. This isn't like handing out business cards, letterheads, envelopes or putting the logo with the designated "member" on one's web-site. It is the offering for sale of the club's logo on a commercialy sold tee shirt that an individual has taken some liberty with that some may find objectionable. Yes, the club does offer custom printed tee shirts at the convention. But that doesn't mean that anyone and everybody who wants to can make up tee shirts with the club logo and sell them. Several years ago, the club denied permission to a well-known Michigan dealer who wanted to do polo shirts with the club logo on them. The bottom line is, the logo belongs to the club. Not to individual club members.
It has nothing to do with the "old-timers" vs. the new blood coming into the hobby. To Rene, who has announced that he will be running for office in the next round of elections. I bid him well. If he is successful, and is elected, I would respectfully hope that he will protect what belongs to the club, and sell what belongs to him.