These two logos shown above might very well become the start of new era in reel collecting. The great American reel collectors club, Old Reel Collectors Association (O.R.C.A.) and the Dutch Angling Collectors Association (D.A.C.A.) -which is the English name for our V.H.V.- have decided to join forces in an alliance or co-operative agreement. Board members from both clubs worked for more than one year to bring together this concept.

Our long-term objective is to create a worldwide organization by inviting tackle collectors clubs from other countries to join our new group. Together we'll form a database accessible to all members that will enable them to locate just about any item or to get Information about it from anywhere in the world!

O.R.C.A. has over 800 members from all over the US and from eight foreign countries and has been an active  organization since 1986. I believe there's no better way to present our fellow Association than by quoting them:

"The purpose of the Old Reel Collector’s Association, Inc. is education through the collection and distribution of historical and technical data regarding fishing reels, their development and their inventors and manufacturers from the earliest times through the present day. In order to enhance the knowledge of these subjects, the collection and preservation of examples of post production reels is to be encouraged for the benefit of present and future generations..."

You can learn more about O.R.C.A. and what they're offering by visiting their web site www.orcaonline.org .

All O.R.C.A. members receive "The Reel News" published five times a year. Plus the membership roster which is published each spring. Members also have access to a huge library: -over 400- books, magazines and catalogues. The 2001 O.R.C.A.-roster will list both O.R.C.A. and D.A.C.A. members. D.A.C.A. members can get the O.R.C.A.-roster for free either printed, by e-mail or on diskette. Just ask your web master for it… This means that all our members -and their points of interest- are known by the members of O.R.C.A.. Our members also have available to them, the names and interest of our fellow O.R.C.A. members.

Web master Luc de Medts is the D.A.C.A. liaison officer and our D.A.C.A. member Dennis Roberts is appointed to accomplish the same job for O.R.C.A. Please contact them for all your questions!

The present alliance is for a two-year trial basis. At the end of this period, both clubs will evaluate the results. The future is bright for DACA & ORCA as both clubs have made commitments to explore ways to strengthen our relationship and to look into expanding our database. Our main goals are to provide our members with access to other members from different clubs who share the same interest.

Luc de Medts