UPCA Annual Meeting
01 May 2025
Chicago Illinois
Meeting started at 1113 due to issues with Zoom
President’s welcome remarks
In Memoriam
Vernon Vig New York Pipe Club given by Andre Tessier
Eric Karloski Furniture City Pipe Society given by Nathan Davis
Hoss Baker Chicago Pipe Collectors Club given by Ron Pecorini
Officer’s Report
President
It has been a great year for the UPCA. There is a new club in Fort Worth. The Regional Contests are going well at the pipe shows in Columbus and Texas. Also the regional in Seattle. At the international contest this past October we sent a full team. Not going to take too much of the thunder on that I am sure Nathan will talk about this in his report. We are working to strengthen our industry connections. We have a lot of fine folks here that have been helping us either with the contests or our premium club membership or our contests. Thank you to them. Not so well this year. New Dues structure has not rolled off as well. Our plan is to get everyone on the same dues schedule instead of having everyone trying to remember what month the dues are due for their club. The roll out could have been better. We hope in the coming years that it will become common knowledge that dues are due in January. We have the two tiers of premium and regular with us trying to make the premium membership worth the extra cost. We are open to ideas on what you think it means to be a premium member club. It certainly ties in to our partnerships with the industry. That brings us to what we are doing the rest of the show. Our contest (National Pipe Smoking Contest) is tomorrow at 4:30. The amazing pipes were made by Greg Polla of Merchant Services Pipes and the pipe tobacco is Spilman Mixture from Iwan Ries. Wanted to honor them and really use it to represent Chicago. We were there yesterday and they would like to let you know they still have a lot of it. Go buy it and go support them. Sunday at 3 will be the Fast Smoke. We did that because people say they want to save their palate. By Sunday at 3 your palate should be wrecked. It is quite the spectacle. Thank you to Missouri Meerschaum for providing the only pipes that could possibly do this contest.
Vice President’s Report
So this year we lost some major support with the closure of Sutliff. They were very strong supporters of the UPCA. Fortunately Max Stokkebye of STG is stepping in to support us. Obviously we went to Poland this year. Mary and myself representing the board and the rest of the team was Mike (Bergstrom), Joey (Hayes), and Les (Young). Other then Mary everyone broke an hour. Although Mary did place 3rd in the world in the women’s division. The team placed 17th out of a 100 or so. We were seen as underdogs and ignored at our table until people were dropping like flies. We were placed at one of the largest and most successful clubs from Italy. They looked down their noses at us until we were beating them. We did fantastic. It was nice that the UPCA was able to do that and bring the team together.
Treasurer's report
We were able to give funds to members of the team to use for airfare and expenses that would have been unable to have done so. We spend money on the website and paypal fee. Twere is one thing that we need to address that came to fruition this year. There was a problem with our non profit status which ended in a $5,000 fine. Our appeal was not granted and it will be coming due this year and that will affect our treasury a bit but it will not impact our overall operations for the year. Just wanted to be transparent. It will affect us but will be over this year.
Tobacco Pipe Council to talk about themselves and what they do and how they help the community. Scott Pearce. Talked about the TPC and what they do. It is a lobbying and advocacy organisation.
Introduction to the Pipe Tobacco Council with Scott Pearce
Amendments to the Charter of the United Pipe Clubs of America
1. Replace “laws of the State of New York” with “federal law” in 4.G
John Lawitzkie of NASPC asked if a lawyer had reviewed the language to ensure that the change in the state to Federal Law was appropriate.. When it was not done he made a motion to table this amendment to have it reviewed by an attorney. Seconded by Les Young of The Christopher Morley Society. Motion carried unanimously
Amendments to the By-Laws of the United Pipe Clubs of America
2. Amend Article I, Section 2 to read, “The principal office of the Club shall be determined by the Board of Directors.”
Motion to accept changes made by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by John Lawitzkie of NASPC. Motion carried unanimously
3. Removal of Article II, Section 3 (removal of individual members)
Question about how many members does this affect and the cost to the UPCA. Tessier answered around 20 or so and under $100. It was then mentioned that they are able to join virtual clubs like the NASPC or the like including online clubs if they decide to join.
Motion made by Kyle Bowen Seconded by Eric Cabrera of Long Island Pipe Club. Motion carried Unanimously.
4. Remove “in writing by mail” from Article II, Section 6
Motion made by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by Tyler Edwards of Texas Pipe Club.Motion carried Unanimously.
5. Amend Article III, Section 1 to have the Annual UPCA General Meeting coincident with the Third Quarter UPCA General Meeting.
Question as to a non profit requiring an annual meeting for non profit status.Lega review was suggested. Discussion ensued about the Annual Meeting being in Chicago and having the face to face contact and the ability to discuss with people in person rather than on a screen. That we get our best work done when we are face to face. It was asked that the language in the wording allows the change in time.Tim Garrity of the CPCC mentions that this at Chicago allows the largest amount of clubs together. Zoom is a great option but face to face allows for better communication. Having it at a show where the majority of clubs has a representative at it.Kyle Bowen then said it was not apparently a voting matter but something that he wanted input from people with some sort of decision. Shannon Hoch of Missouri Meerschaum asked if there would still be a meeting? Kyle Bowen said it may take a different form, maybe a meetup instead of a meeting. Nathan Davis said there would still be a gathering and avoid the business end and have guests and maybe drinks.
6. Amend Article IV, Section 1 and Article V, Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 to remove all gendered language
Motion to accept Kyle Bowen. Seconded by John Lawitzkie of NASPC. Motion carried unanimously
7. Remove Article VI and all Sections therein
Motion by Kyle Bowen seconded by Justin Dombrosky of Indiana Pipe Club. Motion carried unanimously.
Amendments to the Regulations for the United Pipe Clubs of America Pipe Smoking Contests
1. Add Article within Participants Section requiring contestants to leave contest area when out
Motion by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by Micheal Bergstrom of Seattle Pipe Club
2. Remove Article 28 in regards to Advertisement
Motion by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by John Lawitzkie of NASPC . Motion carried unanimously.
3. Remove Club Team Winner Section and all articles within
Motion by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by Ted Vig of Minneapolis Pipe Club
8 for. 2 opposed. Motion carried.
01 May 2025
Chicago Illinois
Meeting started at 1113 due to issues with Zoom
President’s welcome remarks
In Memoriam
Vernon Vig New York Pipe Club given by Andre Tessier
Eric Karloski Furniture City Pipe Society given by Nathan Davis
Hoss Baker Chicago Pipe Collectors Club given by Ron Pecorini
Officer’s Report
President
It has been a great year for the UPCA. There is a new club in Fort Worth. The Regional Contests are going well at the pipe shows in Columbus and Texas. Also the regional in Seattle. At the international contest this past October we sent a full team. Not going to take too much of the thunder on that I am sure Nathan will talk about this in his report. We are working to strengthen our industry connections. We have a lot of fine folks here that have been helping us either with the contests or our premium club membership or our contests. Thank you to them. Not so well this year. New Dues structure has not rolled off as well. Our plan is to get everyone on the same dues schedule instead of having everyone trying to remember what month the dues are due for their club. The roll out could have been better. We hope in the coming years that it will become common knowledge that dues are due in January. We have the two tiers of premium and regular with us trying to make the premium membership worth the extra cost. We are open to ideas on what you think it means to be a premium member club. It certainly ties in to our partnerships with the industry. That brings us to what we are doing the rest of the show. Our contest (National Pipe Smoking Contest) is tomorrow at 4:30. The amazing pipes were made by Greg Polla of Merchant Services Pipes and the pipe tobacco is Spilman Mixture from Iwan Ries. Wanted to honor them and really use it to represent Chicago. We were there yesterday and they would like to let you know they still have a lot of it. Go buy it and go support them. Sunday at 3 will be the Fast Smoke. We did that because people say they want to save their palate. By Sunday at 3 your palate should be wrecked. It is quite the spectacle. Thank you to Missouri Meerschaum for providing the only pipes that could possibly do this contest.
Vice President’s Report
So this year we lost some major support with the closure of Sutliff. They were very strong supporters of the UPCA. Fortunately Max Stokkebye of STG is stepping in to support us. Obviously we went to Poland this year. Mary and myself representing the board and the rest of the team was Mike (Bergstrom), Joey (Hayes), and Les (Young). Other then Mary everyone broke an hour. Although Mary did place 3rd in the world in the women’s division. The team placed 17th out of a 100 or so. We were seen as underdogs and ignored at our table until people were dropping like flies. We were placed at one of the largest and most successful clubs from Italy. They looked down their noses at us until we were beating them. We did fantastic. It was nice that the UPCA was able to do that and bring the team together.
Treasurer's report
We were able to give funds to members of the team to use for airfare and expenses that would have been unable to have done so. We spend money on the website and paypal fee. Twere is one thing that we need to address that came to fruition this year. There was a problem with our non profit status which ended in a $5,000 fine. Our appeal was not granted and it will be coming due this year and that will affect our treasury a bit but it will not impact our overall operations for the year. Just wanted to be transparent. It will affect us but will be over this year.
Tobacco Pipe Council to talk about themselves and what they do and how they help the community. Scott Pearce. Talked about the TPC and what they do. It is a lobbying and advocacy organisation.
Introduction to the Pipe Tobacco Council with Scott Pearce
Amendments to the Charter of the United Pipe Clubs of America
1. Replace “laws of the State of New York” with “federal law” in 4.G
John Lawitzkie of NASPC asked if a lawyer had reviewed the language to ensure that the change in the state to Federal Law was appropriate.. When it was not done he made a motion to table this amendment to have it reviewed by an attorney. Seconded by Les Young of The Christopher Morley Society. Motion carried unanimously
Amendments to the By-Laws of the United Pipe Clubs of America
2. Amend Article I, Section 2 to read, “The principal office of the Club shall be determined by the Board of Directors.”
Motion to accept changes made by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by John Lawitzkie of NASPC. Motion carried unanimously
3. Removal of Article II, Section 3 (removal of individual members)
Question about how many members does this affect and the cost to the UPCA. Tessier answered around 20 or so and under $100. It was then mentioned that they are able to join virtual clubs like the NASPC or the like including online clubs if they decide to join.
Motion made by Kyle Bowen Seconded by Eric Cabrera of Long Island Pipe Club. Motion carried Unanimously.
4. Remove “in writing by mail” from Article II, Section 6
Motion made by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by Tyler Edwards of Texas Pipe Club.Motion carried Unanimously.
5. Amend Article III, Section 1 to have the Annual UPCA General Meeting coincident with the Third Quarter UPCA General Meeting.
Question as to a non profit requiring an annual meeting for non profit status.Lega review was suggested. Discussion ensued about the Annual Meeting being in Chicago and having the face to face contact and the ability to discuss with people in person rather than on a screen. That we get our best work done when we are face to face. It was asked that the language in the wording allows the change in time.Tim Garrity of the CPCC mentions that this at Chicago allows the largest amount of clubs together. Zoom is a great option but face to face allows for better communication. Having it at a show where the majority of clubs has a representative at it.Kyle Bowen then said it was not apparently a voting matter but something that he wanted input from people with some sort of decision. Shannon Hoch of Missouri Meerschaum asked if there would still be a meeting? Kyle Bowen said it may take a different form, maybe a meetup instead of a meeting. Nathan Davis said there would still be a gathering and avoid the business end and have guests and maybe drinks.
6. Amend Article IV, Section 1 and Article V, Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 to remove all gendered language
Motion to accept Kyle Bowen. Seconded by John Lawitzkie of NASPC. Motion carried unanimously
7. Remove Article VI and all Sections therein
Motion by Kyle Bowen seconded by Justin Dombrosky of Indiana Pipe Club. Motion carried unanimously.
Amendments to the Regulations for the United Pipe Clubs of America Pipe Smoking Contests
1. Add Article within Participants Section requiring contestants to leave contest area when out
Motion by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by Micheal Bergstrom of Seattle Pipe Club
2. Remove Article 28 in regards to Advertisement
Motion by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by John Lawitzkie of NASPC . Motion carried unanimously.
3. Remove Club Team Winner Section and all articles within
Motion by Kyle Bowen. Seconded by Ted Vig of Minneapolis Pipe Club
8 for. 2 opposed. Motion carried.
