Is anyone familiar with the Rossica society of Russian Philately? I used to be a member at one time but lapsed out a few years back. They have some good features however their publication only comes out once or twice yearly. It just seemed a long time between issues. It also seemed to me that there was a strange culture in that group- perhaps I should not go into specifics but a few things I noted bothered me - and led to my lapse from membership.
I was on their site today and now note that it appears they will only sell their books and literature to members only. Seems sort of shortsighted if so. Most groups want to generate interest in their specialty.
Sounds like they may be related to the rosicrucian order. There is more than enough speculation
about whether this group is a cult or just a bunch of weird people. If your gut feeling told you to
drop out, you probably did the right thing.
Google their organization and try to find out more about them. Also it is good that you asked on
here since they too have an interest in stamps.
It is smart that you are investigating them before you return to the 'fold'. Some cults can be very
good at brainwashing methods and control tactics and can be difficult to quit them. Some victims
even require psychological counseling in order to get their lives back.
Do not believe the theory that you have to be of very low IQ or a moron to be sucked into their
web. They are extremely clever and dangerous. Cults are serious trouble.
NEWS FLASH!!! I just googled this: "is Rossica Society related to the Rosicrucian Order", and
guess what? On the first page there were two links that had both of those words in the text
describing those links. If I were you, make sure your firewalls and virus protection is up to date
before proceeding with you inquiry.
My virus protection is circa WIN98 so I will not go to any website that may pose a risk to me.
There are so many good groups to join, that I personally would avoid these folks. Good luck
with your inquiries.
I can't hear you talk so I cannot tell if you had you tongue in your cheek when posting that.
Seriously there were some things that did seem to be a bit odd about them. They have an active discussion board and when I belonged I could access the section for members. There was a fellow they expelled for 'slander against the society'. Seems he'd gone on another board and been critical of the people running it. Members were told not to have anything to do with him. Not even to email him, they didn't say what would happen if you got caught but it just seemed to be Stalinist.
They have an interesting history, founded by some old 'white' Russians back in the 30's.
I don't seriously feel there is anything sinister about them especially now as that element has pretty much died out. While a member I bought a CD with all their journals up to 2005 or so so decided that was enough to satisfy me for now and elected not to pay rather high dues for the one journal a year they'd been issuing. It also seemed a bit advanced for my collecting level.
I think they're a reasonably bona fide group, and the stories of banning members are about par for the course (think all the fuss made about our Aussie friend over at 'Boards). I managed to access something I was researching in their journal a while back and looked at their indexes to see if there was anything else that might help me, but there wasn't. People just aren't that interested in stamp design!
I didn't sign up because at the price I doubted I'd get much out of it.
My girlfriend just checked and said my tongue is in fact not in my cheek....she has it.
I have a strong hunch that they are in some way connected to the Rosicrucian Order.
I once dated a girl who was a refugee from Jehovah's Witness, and had to break it off.
She was totally messed up and could not function in a relationship of any kind. Her own
children would not even speak to her. It turns out that she was told that if her children
were not members, she could not be around them or even speak to them, ever.
My sister knew someone who was a Jehovah's Witness, and said that they are very nice.
She is an idiot, I told her to join them and then tell me how nice they are. People on the
outside of these cults have no clue what they are like, unless they know someone who
escaped their influence and control.
Getting back to your query, I guess they are probably okay, but sound very pricey to join,
for what you can get out of it. They probably have some ego-centric leadership to have
shunned a member just for saying something negative about their leadership.
