The discussion was about Patch-L and the SPC Facebook Group.  For those that don't know Patch-L is what you might call a list serve (it's now a Google product) whereby you can send an email that goes to everyone that is subscribed to receive messages.  The Facebook Group was set up in 2012 as a place for online patch collectors to meet up and swap.  Patch-L has been around for a long time in the hobby (I don't know when it was started) and has a lot of veteran collectors.

• Official Knife in Box 3 1/2 inches L.F.& C Universal
• 4x Boy Scouts Proficiency Interest Patch Badges
• French Made Spelter Boy Scout on Marble Base
• 1929's World Scout Jamboree Walking Stick
• 1929's World Scout Jamboree Book Signed

 

So the issue was a Patch-L member decided to part ways with a pointed opinion on why he felt the SPC Facebook Group was better.  I will confess that as Brad England and I have shepherded the group along we made a conscientious decision to not be restrictive on posts in the group.  We didn't ban using the word eBay (yes that even came up this week!) or posting things for sale.  It has some times been compared to the wild west with everything from questions, people sharing their collections, and of course selling and trading taking place.

• 100th Fundraiser Red Sash Brotherhood Noquet Lodge
• Wahissa Lodge 1992 Noac Delegate Patch Old Hickory
• Tonkawampus Lodge 16 NOAC 1996 Flap Vice Chief
• Mischigonong OA Lodge 89 10th Anniversary Lot
• Paugassett 553 Centurions Flap RG MG RB CH

 

However, I do want to say publicly that we are not trying to smother Patch-L or for that matter any other organization in the hobby.  When we created the group in 2012 there was no plan to push out more established associations.  In the slang of the Internet the group has just gone "viral" and will likely have 10,000 members by this summer.  ISCA and Patch-L and any of the other established pieces of the hobby are still important.  I think of it more like Glenn Chase's excellent website where under EMail Lists and Discussion Forums he lists 5 of which the SPC is just one option.

• Sheath Knife Leather Handle 8" Overall, 4-1/8" Blade 
• Boy Scout Lot Camp Tesomas and Samoset Council 
• Papago Lodge 494 Order of the Arrow Flap Patch 
• Santee (116) Jacket or Back Patch J-6 100 Made 
• Victorinox 100th Anniversary Centennial Knife 

The conversations I have with Brad England on this topic are more about how can we do more to help further the hobby.  Are there ways the SPC can reach out to young collectors and help them stay interested after a Jamboree?  Are there ways the SPC can get older collectors to share their knowledge and display their collections. There is no bureaucracy within the Facebook Group but we are still talking about ways to keep the hobby growing.  So while everyone has a right to join any list or group they choose I'll just say I think that all of the above is a menu choice that I vote for.

• Totanhan Nakaha S15+X12 Flap Set NOAC 2012 2 pc
• Nawakwa F9 Flap SR Sect. 7A Conclave, Delegate
• Wenasa Quenhotan S36 + X5 WHT NOAC 2002
• Lodge 70 Tali Taktaki S4 Flap (50th Ann 1983)
• Lodge 38 Konepaka Ketiwa X8 NOAC 2006
• Lodge 65 Tseyedin e-1988 Fall Fellowship
• 70 Keyauwee S1 Flap Green Bdr FF Flap