Conventions

[kloveland]

Greg,

I really don't know how to answer some of your questions without naming names and I would rather not do that. Alex (Caligula) knows a great deal of club information since he is one of the founding members. When I first joined the V.C.C.C in 2009, Vacuumland was part of the club benefits because VacuumLand was owned by us. Then in 2013, the V.C.C.C board at the time decided to separate from VacuumLand. I'd rather not go into the specifics of that either and in reality those are past events. Yes we do have a website (see link below) we could build a forum of our own. One of the club member's partners is a website designer. If we did have a dedicated forum for ourselves it would not have the recognition that VacuumLand does. I hope this answers some of your questions. Our website has more information about the V.C.C.C.

http://www.vacuumcleanercollectorsclub.org/

 

[caligula]

Thank you Kenny.

The Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club has a rich history, and has its roots with the Hoover Historical Center, the actual date goes back to September of 1980.

The reason for the club was to dispel the put-down's of family and friends of a young collector, and the off-putting question "you collect what?" The club was designed to put adults who had private collections, but no way to research a given brand, model, or get patent information together. Those original members were starving for the history that companies like Electrolux would not give. The result was the Newsletter in which the assorted back stories were told. We also shared phone calls and learned from each other.

Because we were a small group of guys into vacuum cleaners we never thought it would grow, nor did we see any reason to register the club.

Things changed in November of 1984 when a member contacted me about a gathering of the membership, result the first meeting in my mom's family room in Chesterton, Indiana. Again, we saw no need to incorporate, as we were still too small. But later that year I relocated to Naperville, Illinois, made that house club headquarters and my own collection became the club museum.

The Newsletter was a 3-6 page collection of articles, history of a given company, and a classified section. I was the one who typed, edited, and mailed each issue. Not bad when it was 5 or 10 members, but by 1993 it was becoming the tail that wagged the dog, and by May of 95 I was ready to retire.

I have no idea how, or when the little club John Lucia and I formed went global, there was a forum, but I had no say in any of it, nor do I have any say now. I was merely the one who with John Lucia, got the ball rolling.

And again I say, for further questions I defer to John Long as he knows far more about the merging with Vacuumland than I do.

Alex Taber.[this post was last edited: 1/13/2020-23:00]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Wow! OK, let's clear up some even more misconceptions

WHY all these things?
Well.......
There are TWO forums, because Robert, the webmaster, is the one who started and has a passion for the "washers", thus, Vacuums AND laundry machines.
Yes, were were all one. Robert decided to "go it alone". We separated, BUT, The VCCC has an info website, but, we are graciously still allowed to post in HERE, and, we do. For instance, in 2007, we celebrated Hoover's 100th birthday IN North Canton, Ohio, The Home of Hoover Appliances. We were joined by our members from England, Australia, etc. We were a GLOBAL club. Several members are no longer members. The reasons are described in a newsletter from 2007, (page 3). It seems some are angry, bitter, vindictive, etc. NO need to go into that here, certainly not by me. Yes, there are people who are friends with members of both groups. Totally their business.
However, if/when people say things, do things, call vacuum companies, bashing The VCCC, these things should not be tolerated. Does anyone disagree with that?
But, there's more to that
So, I hope this clears up some of this. Alex Taber and John Lucia started The VCCC, 37 years ago.It is still going strong, although it has changed, grown, morphed, etc through the years, and should.

 

[completenutt]

Sex happens... get over it!

Not sure what your implying about what happened years ago. So without having any details I can add my 2 cents saying that if you get a bunch of men most of whom are gay and have a lot in common into a Room, there's bound to be some sexual tension. Are you saying that people should just ignore that? For propriety?  I'm 99% sure that at most conventions, straight or gay, some people hook up. I'm quite disgusted how you are creating Animosity between groups of people who just want to enjoy their vacuums and live their lives. I will miss this group, it was my 1st outlet to find people who had similar vacuum interests, but as a prior post mentioned there is a lot of snobbery, and clique-ish behavior, and I don't find it a comfortable place anymore.


I wont be renewing my membership next year.  

 

[gottahaveahoove]

to whom are you addressing these comments?

Are you talking to me?
If so, perhaps we can speak on the phone.
I wasn't referring to sexual activity at all. Maybe I'm not the one to whom you are referring.
. snobs and cliques?

 

[luxlife]

“Speak on the phone “ = BAD IDEA!

Don’t![this post was last edited: 1/14/2020-19:04]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

"I" am a minion

.. in charge??
Perhaps you need to re read everything.
I'm a lot of things. THAT is not one of them.

 

[luxlife]

Well...

You’ve made great strides with the whole “passive-aggressive” thing....
Now you just need to perfect the concealment of your your “transparency”. I’m sorry to inform you, but it’s lacking....
Most of it is not really your fault anymore, because you’ve been figured out.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Or............ were youst being silly?

To get a rise out of me?
"What is...... couldn't be further from the truth?, Alex!
I almost fell for that.... tsk

 

[luxlife]

As soon as you became acquainted with Tom A, your agenda practically wrote itself. It’s perfectly clear that you need this rivalry more than anyone. Did you ever consider that if you’re the first to stand down, it could all go away?? Have you ever considered being the first to NOT use an incindiary remark? The other side will typically not respond unless there’s been a particular remark made first. This conflict predates YOU. I’m sorry to tell you this. Bad blood is usually old blood and you arrived late to the party, so get over it and stop trying to prolong the fray.

I first joined VCCC and VacuumLand 2 Years before you and this was happening at the time. I still remember the very first time I ever posted to Tom Gasko on VacuumLand and I could barely get a response from him because the “other” Tom and the “Illinois Organist” were tag-teaming with verbal aggression on a topic thread that didn’t even include them!

Did you really think you were clever enough to decide to promote this ancient conflict???
It was decided for you, because you were convenient, available, and because you were a willing vessel. And THAT, makes you a minion....

 

[madman]

You know what I think?

I think y'all need a moderator, who can... oh, I dunno... moderate? Because like. Seriously guys, nothing actually happened in this thread to warrant all this drama. Looks to me like somebody made a stupid offhand comment (that was immediately apologized for!) and everyone else got upset for various reasons, and they all think that they're right and everyone else is wrong. And there's no authority figure present to point that out and set the record straight, so you get a couple of members ragequitting and a lot of leftover underlying tensions for no good reason at all! If this was my forum, my mods would've shut down this thread so fast.

Consider getting moderators.

 

[gregvacs28]

This is a public and moderated site madmax.

It's not a back alley nor is it a romper-room.

 

[hmc1981]

Well now I’m going to chime in...

I believe it was my post from the past mentioning the snobbery and clique-like behavior. It could be a different post, but I do know that I have made such a post in the past.

There’s a lot of rivalry on here and it shows. It’s uncomfortable and unwelcoming. Not at all the group it was when I joined (non-paid member). I was considering becoming a paid member, but in my personal opinion, paying to have a full membership is only (indirectly) encouraging such behavior to continue.

As far as conventions go, I’ve never been able to attend one, but I imagine they (at least the large ones) are hosted in hotels. I cannot imagine for the life of me anyone doing the dirty during the actual convention, as the hotel would never allow such a thing. If people meet each other and have a liking towards one another, and after convention events have ended they decide to go back to a hotel room that I expect they have paid for with their own money, and they decide to engage in sexual activity, or any activity, it’s on them and it’s nobody else’s business.

I just don’t see the point of this thread.

It’s disappointing to see so much rivalry. I’ll bet that the people who have an axe to grind probably have much more in common with each other than they think.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Wow! OK.........................................

First, John Pecan Tree.why do you continually remove your posts? Just curious. I usually miss them--except for that last one.
Some parts of what you said are absolutely correct. It seems I did "arrive at the party late". I do NOT think, however, that I'm clever.I also do NOT think I'm above anyone, at all. I'm also, not stupid. I've taught students from age 5 to college, all subjects, all levels. I've been a 'model' for two universities (in their education departments). I've also taught blind children. So, I've been around the block, a few times. I've been hired to troubleshoot, edit, correct college reports, etc. I'm paid to be smart.... not cocky. I've also taught at one of the most prestigious music schools in the nation. THEY were cocky.
Yes, I WAS a target here, I was easy, convenient, etc. I've always said, "I simply want nothing to do with certain people, and will NOT respond to them. Certain people have said everything under the sun...causing even a few to 'turn '. It's OK. There is NOTHING MORE that could possible be said to me, or about me that could upset me any more. All it really does is 'showcase' one's ignorance and maybe,even, stupidity.
I'm not putting myself in battle lines of rivalries, etc. I know what I know...and, it's a lot.
I don't even "collect sweepers". I have a passion and respect for all things to do with The Hoover Company, thus, I have a collection of vacuums, as well.
So, I thank Robert for allowing these discussions. I thank so many of you for your support. I'm proud to be a member of The VCCC, even a board member. I'll welcome most into my home, very few exceptions. And, I welcome people to my home during the 2021 VCCC convention, held in Scranton, PA.
So, let's move on, shall we? And, indulge our passion for vacuums.
John Long.. (for clarity).[this post was last edited: 1/15/2020-13:32]

 

[oreck_xl]

Very well put!!!

And I, for one, would be very sad to see you leave this forum. While I do collect other brands of vintage vacuums besides Hoover I consider you a treasure trove of information regarding Hoovers and the once-great company in Canton, Ohio. You yourself, Tom Gasko, Charles Lester (though I haven't seen him on here much lately) are what make this forum "tick." I was sorry to see Tom Anderson go, and shenanigans like these are what drive people away. I'm sure the conventions are conducted in a respectful manner and whatever people choose to do in their own free time behind closed doors is their business. Can't we just get back to the hobby which is vacuum cleaners pure and simple?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Well, thank you, very much.

I have no intentions of leaving. I'm just sorry so many had to witness such a distasteful display. There are loads of printed statements regarding past events, bannings, etc. Available for view...free of charge, even.
BUT........ I'd love to get back to our vacuums.
John