With some 40 clubs across the country and Canada, there is always something going on for the collector. At the national level, there are the annual conventions and regional swapfests to which collectors come from as far away as England and Australia. On the local level, clubs are continually holding meetings, anniversary and Christmas parties, hosting information booths at fairs, putting up public displays within their communities, etc. At any of these activities, visitors are always welcome. Learn more about the hobby, get information on how to get started as a collector, make contacts with people who have the same interests as you do.

The Five Major Events:

- The Rathkamp Matchcover Society is the national hobby organiztion, and the annual RMS Convention in August is always the largest activity in the hobby. Convention sites rotate around the country and Canada annually. You can always find current RMS Convention information at Convention Central

- The AMCAL Convention is the largest activity in the West. Put on each April/May by all of the four California clubs in Fresno, it's always an eagerly anticipated event. Current AMCAL Convention details can always be found at AMCAL Central

-The Trans Canada Swapfest is the Canadian entry. In May, it normally features Auctions, trading, and more. Swapfest details may always be found on the TCMC web site.

- The United Eastern Swapfest is the largest stationery get-together in the East. Details are always to be found below as soon as they become available each year.

- The Southern Swapfest, normally sponsored by the Mid-South and Southeast matchcover clubs, is the biggest such activity in the South. Details are always to be found at Southern Swapfest

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70th RMS CONVENTION: August 22-28. Radisson Hotel Nashua, Nashua, NH 603-891-4179

 

LONG BEACH MC OCTOBER SWAPFEST: Oct. 22-23, Motel 6, 1717 E. Dyer Rd., Irvine, CA (949-261-1515). Room: $62.15. Cigar box trading, auctions, lunch, costumes, bingo, and more. FMI: Ellen Gutting, 824 Peachy Canyon Circ., #101, Las Vegas, NV 89144-0907 (702-243-9340)

 

KEYSTONE-LEHEIGH WEEKEND: October 27-31. HI, 230 Cherry St., Morgantown, PA. 610-286-3000

 

PHILLU-QUEBEC SWAPFEST: November 20-21, 2010 at the Blanchet Motel, in Drummondville (QC) 800 567-3823 FMI:

cpelletier43@ sympatico.ca

 

SOUTHERN SWAPFEST 2011: March 15-19. Hampton Inn, 151 North Douglas Ave. Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 (note location change) (407) 869-9000. Room: $70. Further info at www.southernswapfest.com

 

AMCAL 2011: April 28-30. Doubletree Hotel Ballroom, Monrovia, CA; 8AM 6 PM; rooms available at adjoining OakTree at $67.00 to AMCAL participants.

 

71st RMS CONVENTION: August, 2011. Doubletree Hotel, Cleveland South, Independence, OH, 216-447-1300/800-222-TREE. More details coming.