Today, 15 March, is the 13th Birthday of the TMA!
Fifteen years ago on this date the TMA became a bonafide Association, Chartered in the State of Michigan.
This did not happen overnight!
A few of the Founders actually shared the thought of this Association amoungst themselves as early as back in August of 2004, at a time when it was strongly felt that there was indeed a need for an Organization with all things being "Traditional"....even the camaraderie, and the fellowship.
There were originally 150 Charter Memberships offered...with no more Charter Members ever to be offered, once those were sold.
The original "Charters" deserves the majority of credit for the TMA ever becoming a viable Organization.
It was through their 'extra' $10, that every Charter Member paid for their Membership, that we were able to raise funds for our then new website....they trusted us to do that, and that is just what we did
We had a lot of ups & downs with our web site in the very early days.
A member named Hota provided us with our very first web site, but thanks to members like "Smoked" that volunteered to be our first real "Admin or Web Master" we were then able to clean up a lot of the bugs and get a smooth running site...but that wasn't to last for all that long, and during our 4th and 5th years in existence we were literally plagued with down times, black outs, and whatever else bad....it seemed that if bad could happen, it did.
We have had a lot of absolutely great members come through our doors, but sadly along the way, we have also lost a few, may they RIP.
Still yet, through the thick & thin of it all, we have survived to be one of the premier web sites for all things traditional.
I would like to send a personal heart felt thank you to the many great folks that has stuck with us through all we've been through.
At the same time I would like to send a warm Welcome to all those who may have joined up with us in the last few years.
It is through members, like yourself, that the TMA is much more than just a web site...we actually speak people.
It has not been an easy ride by any stretch, but it has been one with a lot of accomplishments, and enough good memories to last a fella a lifetime.
Thank you very much, and God bless you!
Respectfully, Uncle Russ...
TMA President