Question: Why are there so few Model Builder's clubs/groups in Indiana (USA)?

[dragon]

A possible job opportunity (I am waiting for the results of the face-to-face interview) in Northern Indiana had me pondering the question: Why are there so few Model BUilder's groups/clubs in Indiana?  As far as I can tell, there are only 3 IPMS groups in the entire state.  It did not escape my notice that in the winter months, the majority of the entertainment for the locals is indoors.  The majority of the folks in the town I may be moving to (given that the interview went well) is full of people who can work with their hands real well.  More often than not, these types also have hobbies that ensure that their manual dexterity is exercised too.  Granted, I do know that there is more than one "Whiffer" in Indiana, but, with all the above, shouldn't it be considered major development territory for the hobby?

[nev]

Well, I don't know where you mean in N Indiana, but are there any nearer IPMS groups across the nearest border in Illinois/Michigan/Ohio?

[Hawkeye]

Depending where in northern Indiana you're at..I consider anything north of Kokomo northern...its not that far of a drive to Chicago, Kalamazo or even Cleveland all which have decent sized clubs. There is also nothing keeping you from starting a new one in your community. If you build it they will come! Our little club here draws members from over 100 miles away and has done so for more than 25 years! Once you get settled, do some investigating and see what venue works best for you or decide if you need to start a new one.

[dragon]

I am still waiting for the results of the interview.
Prospectively, I would be in the Ft. Wayne area.  As I understand it, IPMS only has 3 clubs in the entire state of Indiana.  The closest to Ft. Wayne would be IPMS Porter (1.5 hours away) and IPMS Indianapolis (2.0 hours away, and home of Whiffer #1 "Supertom"). 
Still, I wonder why it is that there are so few modelers (on paper at least) where "indoor activities" are dictated for several months of the year due to winter conditions.

[Jacques Deguerre]

Maybe it's because of the combination of a few densely populated urban centers with a lot of sparsely populated small towns and rural areas? I notice that other states with similar size and population (Tennessee and Georgia, for example) seem to have similar issues. Basically, outside of larger urban areas, the population is simply too spread out to sustain a modeling club.

I don't know of course, that's just my best wild-a** guess.

[lancer]

Perhaps because it's in the middle of nowhere?

[crunch]

I grew up in Peru, IN, north of Kokomo.

I built a lot of models, especially during the winter.

Never joined a club.

It seemed like many of my friends were into 4H and its activities.

Maybe that's why IPMS and such are less popular. I know 4H had a lot of activities other than agriculture.

Crunch

[dragon]

Interesting.
This would then mean that an IPMS group would be mostly unchartered territory.
IPMS Ft. Wayne could be resurrected- perhaps with an "What-If?" focus?  Ft. Wayne being named after "Mad Anthony" Wayne.
Of course, this is purely possibilities, until I hear back on the results of my interview.

[raafif]

I'm informed by a friend who visits relatives in Indiana (don't know where exactly) that they have an over-developed fear of rabid racoons -- maybe that keeps them from venturing outside in summer, hence no model clubs ??

[royabulgaf]

There aren't that many good kits of rusted out F-150s out there.