Our History

The Hot Foot Teddy Collectors Association (HFTCA) was founded in 1995 by retired fire captain specialist, Jim Van Meter of California.

Debuting on July 1, 1995, the first issue of the Hot Foot Teddy Collectors Association newsletter was an attempt at providing "a formal method of reaching lovers of Smokey Bear across the country".

The goal of the club is "to find, collect and preserve memorabilia and share information concerning our country's number one fire prevention symbol, Smokey Bear".

The Hot Foot Teddy Collectors Association logo, a bear cub with bandaged paws sitting beside a charred tree stump, was unveiled in 1997. This was drawn by the late member-artist Rudolph Wendelin, "caretaker" of Smokey Bear. That same year, the club hosted its first national convention, attracting over 80 members.

HFTCA Presidents

1995 Jim Van Meter, founder

2000 Bill Schultz

2002 Robert Rouse

2006 Jan Fite

2010 Fred Turck

Hot Foot Teddy Conventions

National conventions are held every two years. These are three day events that allow for members to meet, share ideas, showcase collections, hear guest speakers, attend workshops and trade. Past guest speakers have been Ray Bell, Dorothy Guck, Fred Pfingsten, and Dr. Jean Pablo, historian.

In addition to conventions, one day regional get-togethers have been held in northern, southern and central Oregon, northern California and the Mid-West (Illinois).

Past National Conventions

1997: Smokey Bear: Past, Present and Future Sacramento, CA

1999: The Birthplace of Smokey Capitan, NM

2000: Smokey in the Heartland Columbus, OH

2002: Viva Las Smokey Las Vegas, NV

2004: Preserve His Past, Maintain His Present & Protect His Future Reno, NV

2006: Smokey and the Cowboys Capitan, NM

2008: Smokey in the Rockies Colorado Springs, CO

2010: Smokey In The Ozarks Branson, MO

*******************************************************

HOT FOOT TEDDY ARCHIVES

Above is the front page of the first issue of the Hot Foot Teddy News printed in July 1995. The club was first refered to as the SBCA: Smokey Bear Collectors Association. It was changed to the Hot Foot Teddy Collectors Association in the March 1997 News, volume 2, issue 2.

Our club logo first seen on the front page of volume 2, issue 3 of the HFT newsletter in May 1997. It was drawn by Smokey artist Rudolph Wendelin exculsively for the HFTCA.

The August 1997, volume 2, issue 4 featured pictures from "The First Annual (Historical) Smokey Bear Collector's Convention". It was held in Sacramento, CA on June 4 with more than 50 collectors in attendance. Convention souvenirs included a mug, tote bag, and lapel pin.

This pumpkin stencil, printed by the South Carolina Forestry Commission, was submitted to the June 1998 HFT Newsletter volume 3, issue 1 by member Ken Laaker. On the opposite page of that issue is a picture of the pumpkin the Ken carved which took him " six hours from start to finish and turned out great!"

Page 11 from the April 1999 News is for those of you that haven't won a Smokey Bear clothespin from the trivia contest but would like one for your collection.