Way Before VacuumLand
There was the VCCC. You paid $25 per year, and got four glorious color newsletters. I still have all my copies, which are also reference tools.
Before VacuumLand, the only way for collectors to 'get together' was either the annual convention, mini meets, or the telephone. I spent many, many hours talking to various collectors on the telephone. No texting, no tweeting, just talking.
The 'old' VCCC conventions were not really a big affair with banquets, and all that jazz. They were about the individual people and not a 'club'. A great example was the first VCCC convention at Bob Taber's garage in Naperville. Everyone brought something to share. Myself and former VCCC member Clay Floyd, brought a van full of vintage vacuums to Share (as in Give Away). This was before eBay, so everyone was very excited.
We played with vacuums (Bob had one little area rug in his garage - it got vacuumed a million times that weekend). We talked vacuums. We dreamed vacuums. And hated to leave our new-found friends when it was over. There were 12 of us.
The following year, about 16 of us (our numbers were growing) went to the Hoover Historical Center as well as the factory. Mike Hays talked them into letting us into the Vaults. I still have many pics of the Vaults from that day. You have no idea how exciting that was. Bob Taber was interviewed by a North Canton newspaper (it was not a flattering article). Back at the hotel, Bob had rented a suite where we all gathered (no Convention Room yet). Like the previous year, people brought all kinds of vacuums to give away to each other. I had the bright idea to remove the bags from the vacuums and spread the dirt around the Suite. We then vacuumed it all up. That was the first "Cleaning Contest". It was a blast, there was dirt EVERYWHERE. Two hotel maids brought old Hoovers from home, and gave them to Stan Kann, who was in attendance.
The next year's convention was where I met Hans Craig, Tania Voigt, Jason Davis, Craig Long, Jimmy Martin, and many others. We went to Ruth Hollander's store, and bought many vintage treasures. The 'cleaning contest' was at my home. I ripped open Hoover type A bags from machines waiting repair at my vac shop. We threw the dirt ALL OVER my living room. I remember Jason Davis's Kirby 1C couldn't handle it, and the dirt stopped the fan. Clay Floyd's BF won for best restored (our first blue ribbons) of a Hoover 700. David Watters won for his Columbus, and my Hoover 61 won for best cleaning and best original. Mike Pletcher was the judge.
Craig Long told us all about his passion for the Lady Kenmore Whispertone canister, and his dream of representing Sears in an ad where he wore a poodle skirt and entered the scene as Lady Beverly Whispertone. I thought Tania was going to leave and never come back. But she laughed along with all of us. Jimmy Martin and Mike Pletcher fixed my Lewyt Electronic (I think Jimmy wound up getting shocked - good times). Clay Floyd judged my Thermax AF as a "rube Goldberg invention' and read that machine to filth. Very good times, with GREAT people.
Each year, more people came to the convention - but we never varied from the simplicity of the thing. We went to the grocery store and bought all kinds of lunch meat, chips, bread, condiments, beverages, everything. We all ate off paper plates, but those were some of the best damn sandwiches. The Rainbow model E had JUST come out, and everyone wanted to try it out. Former VCCC President, RJ Vanik came to this meeting, and we started talking about incorporating the Club and Club By-Laws. In those days, no alcohol was allowed at the Convention and no one under 18. Andy Weter had turned 18 on the first day of the convention so he was allowed to attend. We even had a blind club member travel a great distance to be with us.
Everyone had a great time, because we knew these were JUST vacuum cleaners, and of no interest to anyone but us. We were always very sarcastic with each other, there were no (to my knowledge) straight people in the club, and we called each other "Miss". Movie lines were quoted (I'm not mad at you Helga, I'm mad at the DIRT), and everyone laughed.
Even as the years went by, and the Conventions got bigger and bigger, they never (at this time) lost that 'feel' of being just a few gay guys coming together to play with vacuums, read each other's beads (in a friendly way), eat food, and share STORIES.
There came a time when the conventions got too big, and too commercial. And WAY too many egos who had no sense of humor. It also became costly with banquet fees, etc. Once children and teens were allowed, people had to watch what they said and it was never the same again. Too many "don't touch my vacuums" egos as well.
So when I talk about the "old" VCCC, you really had to have been there. Most current members have no idea what it was really like. Most of the folks from the "old" club are not club members any longer. What made the 'old' club special, the humor and sarcasm of the membership, was the best part.
The VCCC has and will go on, it will change with time and the membership body, and it has leaders (something we didn't need in the 'old' club). Because the VCCC hasn't their own forum, many folks believe that VacuumLand in fact is the VCCC's forum for all their activities and consider them one in the same. They are NOT. The mixture of folks who are VCCC members, and those who are not, confuses many folks.
I love VacuumLand since we can ALL share photos and stories and can communicate with folks all over the world. As collectors die, or lose interest in their collections, I often wonder who will fill those shoes? Not to worry, I meet young people EVERY DAY at the Vacuum Museum who will one day, grow up to be part of the collecting community.
The picture is from the FIRST blue ribbon awards, presented in my living room. Very Good Times. From left: Dennis Cox (best restored), Tom Gasko (best Original & best Cleaning), David Watters (best in show), and Mike Pletcher (judge).
I would consider VCCC before upgrading VL for sure. 
