please tell me about the vccc

[dryclean1]

Hi friends,I am new to the forum and I have been really enjoying all the info you folks provide. I have been a washer collector for years and recently got into vintage vacuums. I just started my collection with 2 hoovers. I hear you guys speak of the vccc club all the time. Could you tell me what it entails to join and the particulars of it? Thanks Bill

 

[dysonman1]

The VCCC was the first vacuum cleaner collectors club, but today it is not the only one. It was started by a couple of people who met each other at the Hoover historical center. Over a short period of time, it grew into a proper club, with a president, vice president, and board members. Along the way there have been many different presidents and board members and each one brought a unique point of view. The VCCC charges dues to belong. Other vacuum cleaner collectors clubs do not. The VCCC has an annual convention that costs money for the registration fee. Dues paying club members, who pay a registration fee in addition, can come to a annual convention. Sometimes, a vacuum cleaner manufacturer is visited by the club. While the VCCC is the longest operating collectors club, other collectors clubs also have annual conventions and visit vacuum cleaner manufacturers. The difference is that there aren't nearly so many folks in the other clubs vying for attention. Many members of Vacuumland are not members of any collectors club, and get all their information from the vacuumland forum.

 

[kirbykid]

Im a member of the vccc and I went to the last convention. It did cost a bit of money to get in, but it was well worth the money. Everyone was very nice and very helpful. The convention was nice and organised. They gave away a few vacuums in a raffle and a bunch of cool kirby glasses and stuff. Lots of fun. I definitely recommend joining the club and coming to the conventions. I hope this has helped you a bit.
-Evan

 

[vinvac]

Bill,

As a member of the VCCC, serving for 8 years as president and now as treasurer, I would welcome you to join the VCCC. Our members are very knowledgable and share our resources well with one another.

As with any club, there are dues and fees for being a part of who we are. But with that are many benefits. Our conventions are very well organized and offer many fun activities. Often times meals are provided at no expense to you the member.

We typically have a buy/sell and trade area during the convention where members have the chance to share machines with one another.

We try to keep hotel costs around 99.0 per night (a group our size needs a larger space than most lower cost hotels can provide).

This years convention was no exception, we all had a great time touring Kirby, Cleveland Wood Products and Filter Queen. The planning committee is all ready working on next years convention and I would expect more details about that by the first of next year.

Come join the fun...you won't regret it.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I've been a member since 2008

I 'lurked on the sidelines" before that. My first convnetion was HOOVER'S 100th birthday. I have attended each one since. I've made friendships here thatwill last for my entire lifetime. I've learned a lot, have seen a lot, etc.
It is a great place to meet interesting people, learn about products, sell, buy, trade items, etc. You'll meet many personalities (some from just one person), lol.
You'll agree, disagree, and even agree to disagree on things. I am fortunate to have met and know a fine member known as Terry lattz. He was the Membership coordinator. He met me in Ohio with a big hug. That was Terry: one of the gentlest, kindest men on the planet. Lucky were the others who were CLOSE friends with him.
I am now the membership coordinator. I welcome our new mwmbers. Consider joining the group formally. Perhaps you'll make it to the convention, the pinacle of the club. You'll see photos of many mini meets throughout the contry. Several members gather regularly, once or twice a year, to celebrate, share, learn, play, share a meal, etc. You'll meet many fine individuals here at The VCCC
John Long

 

[dryclean1]

vccc question

Thanks to all for the info on the vccc. What is the cost per year and dues? Also do they have hats and shirts and such for members? Thanks Bill

 

[gottahaveahoove]

The membership dues are

$35.00 annually.... No club shirt or hat. This year, however, at the convention, we WERE issued a Kirby 11 T-shirt. Even "I" wore one (with a nice HOOVER hoodie).

 

[electrolux137]

.
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Is there still a club newsletter?

 

[sukething]

The Original VCCCC

My name is David Watters and I was one of the original members of the VCCC, and a past membership coordinator.

The first meeting in 1993 or 94 was held at Alex Taber's home in Naperville IL. Alex had turned his garage into a museum with all of his wonderful collection around the room and attachments and hoses all around the wall, it was amazing. At that meeting is when I met some wonderful guys and kept in touch with them and still do to this day. I went to several of the meetings those first years they were always fun and lots to see and learn and always new people to meet and get to know.

He was a great host to us all and we enjoyed each others company so much. We played with all of his vacuums in the museum and he even shared many of us his vacuums to take home. He was the most generous guy i had ever met and so kind to us all. The biggest thing I can remember Alex saying back them was that he did not want us to pay dues or ever sell our vacuums, just to be able to share them with others rather than buying them. Many of us back then and still today do not want money for our vacuums but just to share them to people who did not have that model or had always wanted that particular model. Alex so wanted, to just have people come and share stories and vacuum talk, which we did. I still have many of my news letters to this day from those early years and they were awesome news letters, which sadly we do not get any longer, due to cost and finding people who would do the work, which I understand it is very time consuming.

One of the coolest things at the meet was meeting Peter Frye from Switzerland who had at that time the largest collection of non-electric vacuums I had ever seen, he had them on slides which all were stunned and amazed by his marvelous collection. The two I remember the most was the one that you hooked up to running water out of the faucet and the one that hooked up on the back of car in the exhaust pipe, it was from the early 30's that was so cool,

Alex predicted back then if we ever start wanting money or selling our vacuums it would go sky high on prices and that is not what he truly wanted for the club. He wanted us to just enjoy the vacuums and play and learn about them.

What we would pay for is the shipping and that was it. Some of my proudest vacuums I have to this day are from way back then that were given to me and not sold. I do this to this day if I have an extra model of a vacuum or bag that goes to a vacuum, I am willing to share it with someone who does not have that or needs that bag or vacuum. It is from my heart, like Alex, and not for profit or fame.

Yes you young guys, this back before we had computers and ebay....LOL

And yes, I think the VCCCC should have T-shirts, we did at one time and we should have the hats. I am sure the VCCCC could make a nice profit off of the that. It would be nice if they would use that money towards scholarships for those who just cant quite afford to be a member or need help with expenses coming to an event. Since the VCCC has gotten very large over the years and maybe they could find someone to hire to make the newsletters quarterly. Many of my organizations that I belong to here in Denver do this as well with scholarships.

 

[dryclean1]

dryclean 1 hat idea

Guys,I have a nice lady who does my caps for me. I will look on the image embroidery site,I know they have a vac of some type. I am really interested in joining when I have the $ I know the amount is not huge, but we live on a limited budget. Thanks so much. Bill-dryclean 1