March 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes

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Meeting was called to order at 8:02 pm on 3/18/17 at 8 to 8 Cigar in Villa Park, IL. Various possible developments regarding pending FDA regulations of premium cigars and pipe tobacco were discussed. Posters for the upcoming Chicago Show were given along with flyers for the Show to those members who are able to distribute these items to various tobacco shops in the general Chicago area. The question came up as to other hotels in the St. Charles area that would have available rooms for Show attendees as Pheasant Run is apparently fully booked for the Show. It was suggested that those interested in finding alternate lodgings should go to the St. Charles website for information on hotels in the area. Craig Cobine indicated that a coupon book would be presented to all Show attendees paying full admission that would allow them to receive tobacco samples and other tobacco items at the Show as part of the entry fee. It was announced that the pipe making seminar is now all sold out. It was also announced that a new event, a meerschaum pipe making seminar will also be held with spaces currently available. The membership was informed that the Saturday night dinner event at the Show will be undergoing a significant change this year. In the past, a single entry was served, consisting of a filet Mignon with appropriate side dishes for a set price which included a “goodie bag” replete with pipe tobacco, cigars and other tobacco related items that was distributed to every diner. This year, an alternate menu is being provided inclusive of a beef dish but also providing alternative chicken, fish and vegetable dishes, all at lower prices than the previous steak dinner. No goodie bags will be provided, but several boxes of cigars will be provided as door prizes. Also, the tobacco blending seminar will be held this year. There was some question about that due to the confusion surrounding the pending FDA hindrances. Full information on all of these topics can be found on our Club website. Chuck Martin distributed sign up sheets to members requesting as many members as possible volunteer and hour or two, or more during the duration of the Show to help out with various duties to make the Show run smoothly. We are asking our members to please volunteer a couple of hours when possible to help out.

As nothing worthwhile is ever easy, it was noted by Craig Cobine that a newly appointed St. Charles fire marshal has indicated new restrictions to our exhibitor table arrangements in the Expo Center. No tables are to be allowed to be placed in front of fire extinguishers and electrical outlets. Unfortunately, the fire marshal has refused to indicate on the floor plan provided by the Club, how many or which tables are to be removed leaving the Show committee with no idea of how many tables will be available for exhibitors. Repeated requests for a specific table count have gone unanswered. Let us pray.

Upcoming meeting dates:

April 22nd

May 20th

June 24th

July 22nd

Respectfully submitted,

Paul Bender

Acting President – Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club

February 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes

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This meeting of the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club was called to order at 8 to 8 Cigars in Villa Park, IL at precisely 8pm on February 18th, 2017. Birthday cigars were distributed to members who’s birthdays occurred in January and February of this year. Chuck Martin gave a Show report indicating that there were issues with the new municipal fire marshal in St. Charles, IL. regarding the table layout for the upcoming 2017 Chicago Show. Over a dozen tables are currently being required for removal due to proximity to fire extinguishers in the exhibit hall of the Pheasant Run resort. This may balance out, if not remitted, due to cancellations received from table holders. Chuck also passed out copies of “volunteer lists” for this year’s Show. This lists gives and hourly breakdown of each day prior to the Show from Tuesday through the end of the Show on Sunday. Members are asked to fill in their name for whatever hours on whatever days they are available to cover necessary duties during the Show from setting up equipment for various seminars at the Show to helping out at the registration desk, silent auction area and other necessary activities. Everyone who can spare some time is asked to indicate what hours on what days they can work and return the information to Chuck either by handing back the form or by emailing him at cemartin@mc.net. There will be a meerschaum carving seminar this year with an entry fee of $250 which covers the meerschaum block and all necessary instruction and equipment need to complete the pipe. The pipe smoking contest at the Show, which takes place on Sunday afternoon in the smoking tent was discussed. Anyone wanting to register for the contest can do so prior to the Show by going on the United Pipe Clubs of America website at www.unitedpipeclubs.org. The site has a page where you can register for the contest at our Show plus photos and a description of this year’s contest pipe. The entry fee is $50.00 for those belonging to a pipe club affiliated with the UPCA. If you are not a member of a club affiliated withe the UPCA, the cost is $55.00. The contest pipe, which you get to keep, is worth the money plus you may very well qualify for a prize based on your time. The next meeting dates for the club at 8 to 8 in Villa Park are March 18th and April 22nd.

Respectfully submitted,

Paul B. Bender

Acting President-Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club

January 21, 2017 Meeting Minutes

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The meeting was called to order at 8:05 pm at 8 to 8 Cigar in Villa Park, IL. The St. Louis Show was discussed briefly and is taking place on 2/18 which is our next meeting date. My apologies for the conflict. However, attending a show is somewhat more important than missing one meeting. If any one from the CPCC is attending the show, please send our regards to the St. Louis club. Broadway Al Shaw (well, that’s the way he signed the attendance sheet) spoke about the next meeting of Hugo’s Companions which is a Sherlock Holmes club. The next meeting date for that group is 2/15. Contact Broadway Al for more info. Other future meeting dates are February 18th, March 18th and April 22nd at 8 to 8.
We were also very pleased to welcome three new members to the Club at the meeting. They are Kevin Schinagl, Robert Maggio and Tom Colvin. Welcome, gentlemen!

Craig Cobine was unable to attend due to his ongoing health issues, but we are hopeful that Craig will be able to make next month’s meeting and the Club sends Craig our very best wishes for his quick and complete recovery from his recent surgery. Chuck Martin gave a brief Show report where he indicated that the Saturday night dinner was being significantly modified to present a varied menu at more reasonable prices. Allow me to elaborate. For many years the Saturday night banquet at the Show, wherein the new Doctor of Pipes awards are presented, consisted of a steak dinner with all the trimmings (salad, soup, bread and dessert) accompanied by bottles of red and white wine. The meal included a “goodie bag” for each participant which was made up of premium cigars, pipe tobacco and other tobacco related items donated by companies and individuals supporting the Show. The goodie bag was worth the $70.00 charge for the meal. However, over the years, participation at the event was varied with years where the required number of 150 diners was occasionally not reached. Two of the oft quoted reasons for the spotty attendance was that the price was too high, even with the goodie bag, and that not everyone wanted a steak dinner. This year we are offering a varied menu which will provide a choice of beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian items at appreciably less cost than before. No goodie bags will be provided. Instead, we will be offering a raffle for boxes of premium cigars provided by event supporters. Anyone wanting to contribute a box of premium cigars may feel free to contact me. Also, there will be an open bar in the banquet hall where diners can purchase whatever beverages they wish. Anyone found to be unruly or disruptive during the dinner will be taken outside and forced to smoke a machine made cigar composed of synthetic binder material and filler made for chopped up leavings from full leaf filler cigars and shredded newspapers. That should teach them a lesson.

Respectfully submitted,
Paul Bender-Acting President
Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club

November 19, 2016 Meeting Minutes

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Meeting was called to order at 8 to 8 cigar shop at 8pm.  Two new members where cheerfully admitted to the Club. Let’s all welcome Matthew Baker pf Roselle, IL. and Matt Glines of Volo, IL. Matt, I didn’t get your birth month for your annual birthday cigar from the Club.  Please email it to me at your convenience.  Welcome aboard, gentlemen. Chuck Martin gave a short Show report which reiterated that the coming Show is sold out with 9 on a waiting list. The St. Louis pipe show is scheduled for February 25th and 26th of 2017. Paul Bender gave a brief report on the recent West Coast pipe show in Las Vegas, NV at the beginning of November. There were over 100 tables with strong walk-in activity. The Saturday night show dinner was highlighted by Marty Pulvers giving a talk on the hobby. Mike Khalil gave an update on the current status of the forthcoming FDA regulations. These included no more sales of bulk tobacco where the customer simply selects how many ounces is wanted. Everything must be prepackaged in whatever quantities the manufacturer wants to sell. There were other changes covered in Mike’s talk that would take up a great deal of space here. Anyone interested can go to halfwheel.com for a run down on the various pending rules scheduled to go into effect August 15th of 2017. On the bright side, there was a discussion on how the incoming administration in Washington D.C may very well be inclined to substantially mitigate the severity of the new regulations. One may hope.

The annual Iwan Riess trunk show at the shop at 19 South Wabash in the Chicago loop area is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd of this year. Also, for those who already are members of The North American Society of Pipe Collectors, or NASPC, and those who would like to become members and received their excellent magazine, The Pipe Collector, membership renewals and sign ups can be made through their website a www.naspc.org. Also, for out of town CPCC members, it’s renewal time also. Our out of state dues are $20, payable by check or money order made out to CPCC and mailed to me, Paul Bender, at 1005 E. Golfhurst Ave., Mount Prospect, IL. 60056-4322. Please do not make the check payable to me as I will only squander your money on cognac and pipe tobacco laced with large amounts of Syrian latakia. Please include your current contact information including address, telephone number and email address. If you do not want any contact information included in our online membership list, please state as much in a note with your renewal.

Here’s wishing all of our friends, members and fellow enthusiasts in the hobby a very happy Thanks Giving.

Respectfully submitted,

Paul Bender-Acting President

Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club