There are approximately 150 members of Club of Anchor Friends (Club van
Ankervrienden, CVA), including seventeen Americans. The CVA
publishes a Newsletter (Mededelingenblad, MLB) four times a year.
Although the MLB articles are written in the language of the author
(Dutch, German, English -- we would welcome one in French) full English
and German translations are available at no extra cost, except for postage
for the one in German. The MLB always includes a "Buy and Sell" column.
Dues for the CVA are Hfl 90 for Dutch members, Hfl 95 for other Europeans
and Hfl 110 (at present about $55) for overseas members. The dues include
the MLB, and the difference in dues reflects the postage costs. New
members are always welcome. I am most gratified to note that the
Internet has been getting new members for the CVA at the rate of about one
per month.
The CVA holds its meetings twice a year, usually on the fourth Saturday of April and October, at the Hotel Toor in Alphen a/d Rijn, Netherlands. The last meeting was Saturday, October 23, 1999; the next one will probably be held on Saturday, April 15, 2000. Visitors are welcome. I plan to be there, as usual. The last several meetings have had record attendance, with almost 70 members in attendance. The Hotel Toor is moving the meeting to a larger room.
The CVA also puts on exhibitions of Anchor products, including large Anchor block buildings. CVA members build the display models over the week preceding the opening.
The CVA has an Archive, which includes more than 2,000 original documents. Copies are available at no cost, other than copying cost (b/w is usually free) and postage. Color copies are available, but at very high European costs (about $2 per page). I am going to try to get the Archive into the computer age. To me, this means the ability to: 1) scan in documents; 2) print them out in color; 3) even supply copies on CD-ROM. The 386SX-20 now being used will also have to be upgraded.
The CVA has published its Stone Catalog, which covers all of the stone shapes Richter made, plus shapes made by other innovators. Metal parts and most other accessories are included in the catalog. The contents of the sets are also listed. The cost of the catalog sheets (European size paper, intended for loose leaf use) is f 40, plus postage costs, in Europe. I bought two copies at the recent fall meeting, without European four hole binders. The cost in the USA, including postage, is $25. All Anchor people need, and will want, a copy. Owners of earlier copies of the CVA Stone Catalog should contact me. I brought back replacement pages for the catalogs already sold. This is the second set of replacement pages. As before, the replacement pages are free.
People interested in more information on the CVA can e-mail me, in the USA, or write or e-mail the CVA's Secretary: Leo Coffeng, Blauwedijk 2, NL-7218 BK Almen, Netherlands; 0575-431542. Of course, Leo is fluent in German, French and English, as well as his native Dutch. Other European AVs are also adding e-mail addresses.
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