(EMAILWIRE.COM, April 19, 2006 ) DENVER, Pa. – On March 31 the newly formed Figural Cast Iron Collectors Club held its inaugural general meeting at the Holiday Inn in Denver, on the Adamstown (Pa.) antiques strip. Nearly half of the organization’s 160 charter members attended the “meet and greet,” with 15 of those individuals joining at the door.

Members hopped from table to table to socialize with both old and new friends, and made return visits to the buffet table. The event was lighthearted, with formalities kept to a minimum. At the midpoint of the evening, the FCICC’s president, John Smith, spoke briefly on the club’s goals, noting, “We felt there was a need for a figural cast iron club, and by the size of the turnout, it appears we were right.”

Collectors of all types of figural cast iron – from doorstops and bookends to doorknockers and bottle openers – have joined the FCICC. Smith announced to the gathering that 33 states are represented in the club’s membership rolls so far. George John, who came from Kansas, was identified as having traveled the longest distance to attend the get-together.

Education is emphasized in the club’s ongoing activities. Already, the FCICC has established an excellent, informative Web site (www.figuralcastiron.org). The first edition of its newsletter is expected to be released in June and will include articles about collections, reproductions and cast-iron specialties, with experts from within the club’s ranks providing much of the content.

Next year’s convention, which will feature many additional activities as well as opportunities for buying and selling in hotel rooms, will be organized around suggestions offered by the club’s members. The evening’s emcee, Karen Novak, noted that the nonpartisan club has already secured sponsorship for the convention’s opening reception for the next two years. Following in the footsteps of Diamond International Galleries, which hosted the inaugural gathering, the Antique Trader and its parent company, F W Publications, will sponsor the 2007 meet-and-greet; and in 2008, LiveAuctioneers.com will do the honors.

Membership in the FCICC costs $30 per year. To join, e-mail membership@figuralcastiron.org, log on to www.figuralcastiron.org or write to FCICC, 2833 Quaker Valley Road, New Paris, PA 15554.

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