News from UPCA

Videographer: Alain Letulier. See Vernon Vig in a couple of shots and the American team at about 3:30.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PkDv0NDN_U

The results are in! The 2011 World Cup Slow Smoke Team Competition was held in Eindhoven, NL on Sunday, October 16. The UPCA team, consisting of Vernon Vig, Raymond Lykins, Andy Hamilton, and Mike 'Doc' Garr, came in 35th place out of 83 teams. Individual times were Doc Garr at 1:15:20, Andy Hamilton at 1:07:45, Vernon Vig at 47:40, and Ray Lykins at 45:00. The Dombóvár 424 Pipe Club from Hungary came in first place. For more information see http://www.worldcuppipesmoking.nl/pages/index_eng.php

UPCA will hold its 2011 Annual Meeting at 3:30 PM on Friday, May 13, in the Ruby Room on the Second Floor at the Pheasant run Resort. It is important that all Member Clubs be represented at the meeting. All other interested pipe smokers are invited and will be most welcome. No advance registration is required so feel free to show up and participate. Please bring your ideas as to how UPCA might provide mre benefit to its Member Clubs and the American pipe smoking community. CLICK HERE for details. We look forward to seeing you there.

UPCA will host the 2011  U.S. National Championship in slow smoking at 1 PM on Sunday, May 15, at the Chicagoland Int'l Pipe and Tobacciana Show. The contest pipe this year is a very nice Chacom billiard;  the tobacco is Dunhill Early Morning Pipe which recently returned to the U.S. market. We again hope to send the winner to the World Cup competition which will be held in the Netherlands next October. There seem to be more contestants each year as slow smoking contests catch on across the country and more smokers experience how much fun such competitions can be. We  will have places for about 100 contestants this year so we urge all to start practicing and then step up to the challenge. You may register in advance online or at the show. For more information CLICK HERE.
 
Note also that to help prepare for the Championship, UPCA has organized a free "how to do it" workshop on slow smoking which will take place in the tent at 5 PM on Saturday, May 14. It will be led by Raymond Lykins, the 2010 U.S. National Champion, who also placed well in the international competition in Portugal last fall. Whether you are a first-time contestant or a veteran of several competitions, Raymond will have a lot of practical insights and helpful advice to offer. So bring your pipe and tobacco and come to learn from the Champ.

In our ever-changing world of technology, it was time to take advantage of new capabilities. 

This site features:

• A 3-level menu system to make navigation easier
• An online payment system for membership fees and renewals
• A searchable member directory
• Member-maintained profiles including photo albums
• An e-blast capability to easily communicate with our members and contacts

We hope you will enjoy using this interactive information resource. Be sure to check out our helpful page on Using the Site.

THE UNITED PIPE CLUBS OF AMERICA (UPCA)  WILL HOLD ITS EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING AT 3:30 PM ON FRIDAY, APRIL  30, AT THE CHICAGO SHOW. THE MEETING ROOM WILL BE POSTED AT PHEASANT RUN RESORT.

The agenda for the meeting is set out below. The names of candidates for the election of officers should be sent to the Nominating Committee: Pete Prygelski (petepry@bellsouth.net) and Bruce Podolski (info@greatnorthernpipeclub.org). Please also let us know if you have questions, comments or suggestions for additional Agenda items. The Treasurer’s report will be distributed before the meeting. Minutes of the 2009 meeting are available under “Annual Meetings” on the website.

It is important that all UPCA Member Clubs be represented at the Meeting by one or more of their members in order to constitute a quorum and to reflect all views.  All other interested persons and organizations, including in particular those forming new clubs, are invited to attend to learn more about UPCA and its activities. This is an opportunity to meet pipe smokers from many different clubs, to exchange information and to pick up ideas for your own group.

The Annual Meeting permits you to participate directly in a review of UPCA’s purposes and activities – and to help chart its future course. NOTE that there will be a presentation on the new UPCA website and how to use it to your benefit. Please come with your suggestions regarding UPCA’s role and how it might provide greate value to its Members and to the broader American pipe smoking community.

I look forward to seeing you at the Meeting.

Vernon E. Vig, President

AGENDA FOR 2010 ANNUAL UPCA MEETING

3:30 PM Friday, April 30, 2010

Pheasant Run Resort – St. Charles, Illinois

Welcome, Roll Call and Opening Remarks

Approval of Minutes of 2009 Meeting and Treasurer’s report

Report of Nominating Committee and Election of Officers

- President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer

- Executive Committee (2 persons)
- Nominating Committee
- Honorary Members

Report on Smoking Competitions and Other Activities

- International Pipe Smoking Day 2010
- Regional competitions
- World Cup in Pipe Smoking, Debrecen, Hungary Oct 10-11, 2009
- World Championship, Estoril, Portugal Oct 9-10, 2010
- U.S. National Championship, Sunday May 2, 2010

Committee Reports and call for volunteers

- Membership
- Communications/ Blog
- Finance

Presentation by Cam Schutte on the new improved UPCA website: How to use it and obtain maximum  benefit.

- Questions and Discussion

Proposal  to Member Clubs by Gary Schrier of Briar Books Press regarding the new Pipeman’s Library

Other Business/Open Discussion

The Comite International des Pipe Clubs, of which UPCA is of course a member,  has issued a new newsletter about the recent activities of the CIPC. Download a .pdf copy of it here.