If you love models and want to connect to a community of people just like you, perhaps you should join us!

The International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) is a genuinely international, non-profit organization, founded in 1963, “by Modelers, for Modelers”. By joining the Sonoma County chapter of IPMS you become part of a community of fellow modelers who share your interests and speak your language.

IPMS may contain the words “plastic model”, but members build a lot more than that. If you peruse our past meetings, you will find a diverse array of plastic models, wood models, card models, figures, metal game miniatures, and more. You will find planes, cars, tanks, ships, spacecraft, famous people, monsters, mecha, and dinosaurs. You will find models in every scale, from every era, real and imagined. You will find a group of people with diverse interests, and some model the same things you do!

Members and guests of IPMS Santa Rosa meet once a month at Fundemonium in Rohnert Park, California. Meetings generally run from 7pm to 9pm, though members begin arriving at 6:00pm to attend our business meeting. All meetings include announcements from the club president, a show and tell session, a small model raffle, a question and answer session, and a chance to talk with other members. In addition, most meetings include a technique demonstration, model review, and/or event slideshow.

Typical announcements deal with club events, upcoming meetings, local model shows, new kits, and other news of interest to model builders. We even keep track of airshows, military vehicle meets, and similar events.

The show and tell session allows members and guests to bring in and talk about recently completed models, ongoing projects, old favorites, models in the box, books, and other hobby items. Each meeting also features a show and tell theme, as described in the meeting calendar. Every person who brings in a model or item gets a chance to talk about it, field questions from the audience, and even ask for advice. Afterward, everyone present votes by applause for the model that best exemplifies the theme for that meeting. The winner receives a small trophy and a gift certificate..

We actively encourage all members and guests to bring in models for show and tell. Members often bring in underway projects from month to month, giving everyone a chance to see these projects evolve to completion. The monthly theme encourages participation with older models. Everyone who brings in one or more items for show and tell also receives a free raffle ticket.

Most meetings feature a short technique demonstration, performed by a person who fully understands and uses the process. Audience members can see the technique in action and ask questions, a luxury no book can match.