Regional AGCA Meeting Puzzle Parley

February 14, 1999

An AGCA Regional meeting for jigsaw puzzle cutters, collectors and enthusiasts was held in New York City, February 14, 1999. Approximately 40 people from around the country, Canada and England attended, mostly new and prospective AGCA members. Activities began the night before when all attendees were invited to the home of Barry Benepe, the meeting’s local coordinator, to socialize and view his old puzzles, followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant and a visit to the home of Amy Scott to view her extraordinary new puzzles which involve cutting her own original art into puzzle pieces.

Chaired by AGCA and Board member, Bob Armstrong, next day’s meeting involved a morning session devoted to issues of cutting new puzzles, buffet lunch, an afternoon session in which AGCA members, Gus & Marty Trowbridge and Bob Armstrong, explained the finer points of 25 great puzzles on display, discussion of what people want in puzzles, and finally the usual buying and selling of puzzles. Perhaps the single most important issue raised was the problem of insuring collections of new and old puzzles (and games) which have expanded to the point where homeowners insurance will no longer provides coverage. Efforts to insure through specialty carriers (i.e. Loyd’s of London) have resulted in quotes well above what any normal collector can afford. The consensus of the meeting was that this is a widespread problem for both puzzle and game collectors and an ideal issue for the AGCA to address on behalf of its members. Making available such insurance at reasonable prices would attract many new members to the AGCA, certainly jigsaw puzzle people.

AGCA member, Bruce Whitehill, also described the current effort of the AGCA Board to review the organization’s name and purpose so as to expand them to embrace puzzle people, both jigsaw and mechanical, as well as game and puzzle people from around the world. His comments were received most favorably by the attendees. By 4 p.m., everyone had had enough buying and selling and went home happy with their new acquisitions.

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