Would you join a Society?

Mahross · #1 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 07:34 PM

This is a follow on to my earlier post on why is there no society dedicated to the historical study of WW2. Seeing as there isn't I thought I may start one but want to see numbers for joining such an adventure.

Initially the society would be based around the production of a journal with good quality articles, book reviews and news. However, eventually I would like to see regional groups formed for meetings. By starting it this way I don't see it as effecting any member who are far from a local group as we would all be starting on the same footing.

Ross

The_Historian · #2 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 08:12 PM

Count me in. [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

Mahross · #3 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 09:54 PM

Cheers Gordon. Any more takers? Could be fine. Give you the chance to write about that thing you have always wanted too.

Ross

Otto · #4 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 10:23 PM

I voted Yay. I have something planned for June 6th on this year that might work well with this group. Do either of you two have msn, yahoo or another chat client?

The_Historian · #5 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 10:27 PM

I've got msn Otto.

Mahross · #6 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 10:29 PM

Otto - I have just added you to my MSN.

Ross

T. A. Gardner · #7 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 10:37 PM

Of course, joining would be a matter of cost versus benefit. But, if a journal were published as part of a society and the quality of articles were maintained at a high standard it would be worth joining. After all, publishing still appears far more important to credibility than posting or "publishing" on the net (sorry Otto no insult intended).

Mahross · #8 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 10:51 PM

T.A. - There will be a 'journal' obviously quality of the articles would be dependent on the membership and in the begining the journal would be a homeproduced affair but I see that changing very quickly.

Ross

Machine Gun Nest 1985. · #9 (**permalink**) May 1st, 2006, 11:08 PM

Hi,ive recently lost 50 of my iq could u plz tell wat a society is?/
?
thx

Otto · #10 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 03:33 PM

Roos, I added you to my msn too. Historian, I sent you a pm with my info.

The_Historian · #11 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 03:43 PM

Got it-cheers!

Stevin · #12 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 05:31 PM

It is the darndest thing, Mahross. I have been thinking about starting something like this for the last few months in Holland. I am a member of the Air War Study Group here in Holland, with about 300 air (amateur and professional) historians as member. They publish a bulletin 10x a year. Quality of the bulletin remains somewhat to be desired but it is a great platform for researchers to publish their research, stories, findings and excerpts of up-coming books. Also a great Q and A section, etc.

This is about the air war though and AFAIK there isn't one for the land war. There are some groups, especially around the Airborne museum, which is a very professional group who publish regularly, but mostly the land war enthousiasts are scattered around and very concentrated on their field of focus or area. As I am more and more focussing on the landwar in NW Europe en Holland especially I feel I need to bundle their resources and provide a platform.

Excellent idea Mahross....Count me in too.

Fortune · #13 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 05:54 PM

great ideas men, you could count me in

Erich · #14 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 06:38 PM

Ross you are sure there is no particual society in regards to WW 2 ?

you could be right as it is in the specifics. A Society is dnagerous from that standpoint with too many generalities and again you would have to have a staff the size of fighter squadron to be able to voice and answer questions regarding the conflict.

now if you were going to start up as I put a more specific type of society say ETO affairs or in the MED then I would be interested . .

Stevin · #15 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 06:54 PM

Must say, that is a good point, Erich... My interest would be NW Europe land and air war...pretty broad focus that is in itself....Of course, I "specialize" in land and airwar in Holland and must say that MTO and Pacific, for exmple, don't really come into my scope of things...Danger with "too wide" is that the society gets "watered down" and when too focused, then you only appeal to a niche group of enthousiasts....To strike a balance is the key, I guess...

Mahross · #16 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 06:59 PM

Erich - Yeah I'm fairly certain. Lots of re-enactment society but nothing dealing with the history of the war. As to scope I was going to let it be fairly general with articles on all aspects. In terms of specifics I suppose eventually we could see the formation of Special Interest Groups like they have with some modelling societies. But that sort of thing would have to come from the membership.

Stevin - what can i say but great minds think alike.

Ross

Mussolini · #17 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 07:48 PM

I said Yay too. I think it could be a very interesting...thing to try and set up. Between spreading the word, setting up a structure and rules and a staff and all....

I'm sorta experiancing the same sort of thing with a new publication my school is putting together (i am to be the Editor of it next year, so have final say on everything). The Forum for Undergraduate Student Editors (FUSE) is an online thing. Will contain information on Careers, Internships, Conferences, Resources etc...and not be affiliated with any particular school (or at least, not be run entirely by a school) so its still in its infant stages and we are trying to work out where to keep the website and all this other lovely stuff...

Miller · #18 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2006, 09:47 PM

I would love to join this in a few years when I get a little older and will be able to attend meetings, events etc.

sommecourt · #19 (**permalink**) May 3rd, 2006, 11:34 AM

As I mentioned on another forum, I am very much behind this idea, but personally I would like to see it have very much a British & Commonwealth focus. That's just a personal opinion, of course.

Mahross · #20 (**permalink**) May 3rd, 2006, 08:38 PM

Just so people know i have set up a seperate email for this adventure. It is:

tswwhs@hotmail.co.uk

That is The Second World War Historical Society. So if you have an ideas use this to contact me.

Ross

T. A. Gardner · #21 (**permalink**) May 3rd, 2006, 09:47 PM

Ross:

I could submit several articles right off and would be willing to review other articles for accuracy if you would like.

Mahross · #22 (**permalink**) May 3rd, 2006, 09:57 PM

TA - That is great. Send them through to me to have a look at. Great to see someone is on the ball. It does seem from this site and other that i have posted on that this is a goer. Just got to put some finishing details down and we can get started.

Ross