I don't know how many of you belong to AMPS, IPMS, MAFVA or other clubs, but I just want to put in a little plug for all of them and ask you to support them with your membership.

Most of the shows we all attend are sponsored by one of these large clubs. The work that goes into a major show such as the MAFVA, IPMS or AMPS International shows, and even regional shows, is huge. A few people volunteer their time for a year or more to bring you these shows. Long before you arrive they have spent hundreds of hours preparing every detail. After you leave they are cleaning up, figuring out how to improve next time, and maybe even planning a little rest.

If you enjoy going to shows please consider being a "good modeling citizen" and support one or more of these groups by joining up. You can sign up or renew your AMPS membership at: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/membership.aspx

In addition to shows, these clubs also bring members some pretty good journals. This is another volunteer effort. AMPS also supports coalition troops serving in Iraq with hobby supplies and kits; we've sent over 1,600 kits so far, with more on the way. I know many other clubs are doing this also. Remember, model clubs are not churches - you can belong to as many as you want

So step up and help out if you can. Join or renew your membership, and maybe volunteer to help out with some project. You might find it is really a fun thing to do and make some new friends along the way.

Thanks for reading.

Danny Egan
President
AMPS
Home page: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/default.aspx
Membership: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/membership.aspx

Let me add one thing to Danny's excellent post.

When you attend a show, go to the registration table and ask for the guys in charge. Then volunteer to help judge.

You don't have to be an expert on anything. In fact, an expert is not necessarily the best judge, since he may be more concerned about the absolute accuracy of a model over the construction and may be biased towards his favoprite subject.

Nor do you have to be the best modeler in the room. any set of eyes can see what's good and not so good on the table. You will be intructed on what the club is looking at and you'll be paired with more experienced judges.

I can pretty much guarantee that judging will improve your skills.

And probably most importantly, you'll be making friends with these folks.

I could not agree more. Sitting across the judging table with a few guys you've never met is a terrific way to make new friends. I've been fortunate enough to meet guys from all over the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe this way. Next time you are at a show, don't judge with the friends you came to the show with - sit down with the friends you haven't met yet.

Judging definitely improves your skills and makes it more likely you will do better in future competition. You get an opportunity to hear and see what other judges look for, and spotting the good and not-so-good on other folks' models is good practice for critiquing your own.

In the AMPS system, every model gets a judges' comment sheet returned to the modeler. These sheets contain comments on what the judges saw on your model - so you know exactly where you gained or lost points. It isn't perfect (no system is) but it gives you a lot more feedback than you normally get on a model. The point of this is to help everyone improve.

Upcoming AMPS shows include AMPS East (Connecticut, September), KC AMPS (Kansas City, this fall), AMPS Atalnta (in combo with the Atlanta figure show, Feb 09), CVAMPS/IPMS Richmond (in cooperation with IPMS Richmond, Feb 09), and of course the mother of all AMPS shows, the AMPS International, in Maryland April 09. We are working on an AMPS West (California) show but I can't promise a date yet.

If you want an AMPS show in your area, whether you are in the US or elsewhere, help us organize one and it might happen. Join us at: http://www.amps-armor.org.

- Danny