Type Pals News

Connecting 449 Members in 34 Countries

Gregory — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:28:33 GMT

I am truly humbled. I did something I haven't done in far too long: I ran the numbers. And the numbers are looking great!

Type Pals connects 449 members in 34 countries!

Think of that. That is truly incredible.

Type Pals has its roots at the beginning of the pandemic. Bob Marshall (Typewriter Muse) and I were just getting started in promoting his local typewriter club when the pandemic struck. The world shut down, and so did our fledgling typewriter club.

In the coming months, many of us went back to work, but it wasn't business as usual. We had to get used to this new concept of virtual meetings. As we got acclimated to this new way of life, meeting people through Zoom or similar software became--dare I say it?--comfortable.

At some point, in a conversation with Bob, he had planted a seed in my mind of meeting fellow typewriter collectors online. In an a-ha moment, I put two and two together. On September 13, 2020--my birthday, of all days--I hosted the first ever Typewriter Club LIVE. The meeting was small--four people on-screen and a few more watching on YouTube--but it was enough to make me see the potential.

The meeting grew steadily to the point that we had a dozen or more people on-screen and dozens more watching the livestream. Hosted weekly and running up to four hours, many regulars would pop in and out of the meetings. Bonds were formed.

The only thing typewriter collectors enjoy more than talking about typewriters is using their typewriters. The natural next step--the origins of which are buried somewhere in those early meetings--was to become pen pals... with typewriters.

The first iteration of what would later become Type Pals started as a simple email newsletter featuring a list of names and addresses of members interested in exchanging letters. Next, we added birthdays to the list, offering just a bit of information to spark written conversations.

The pen pals list grew from a dozen or so to 20, then 30. As it approached 40 people, making for a LONG email newsletter, I knew I had to find a better solution... fast. After much searching, I discovered WildApricot membership software.

With the solution in hand, our typewriter pen pal group officially launched as Type Pals on March 19, 2021. We started right out of the gate with 50 or 60 members representing half a dozen countries. Through little effort on my part--this is, after all, just a hobby for me--we have steadily grown ever since.

I've said from the beginning: "Type Pals is, and always will be, free." That has not changed. Unfortunately, the costs of running Type Pals continue to change. But it is thanks to our paid members and donors that we can continue making valuable connections with people all over the world... with our typewriters.

Thank you for being a Type Pal!

Type Pals: Serving 325 Members in 26 Countries

Gregory — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 21:00:35 GMT

It's been a while since we looked at the countries represented by Type Pals members, so here we go!

United States	218
Canada	29
United Kingdom	20
Germany	12
Australia	8
Brazil	5
Italy	4
France	3
Netherlands	3
Portugal	3
Denmark	2
Poland	2
Sweden	2
Switzerland	2
Belgium	1
Bulgaria	1
Finland	1
Hong Kong	1
Ireland	1
Jordan	1
Lithuania	1
New Zealand	1
Romania	1
Singapore	1
Spain	1
Taiwan	1

These are humbling numbers. We have come such a long way. Thank you for being a Type Pal!

The Welcome Committee Needs YOU!

Gregory — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:38:58 GMT

We need to make new members feel welcome and get excited about being active participants in Type Pals. With that in mind, we need YOU to be a part of the Welcome Committee!

With anywhere from a few to several new members each month, being a part of the Welcome Committee requires commitment and reliability. Members of the Welcome Committee are asked to send a postcard, note, or letter to welcome new members to Type Pals. It requires a significant investment of time and postage, including extra postage for international members.

By signing up for the Welcome Committee, you commit to sending postcards and letters to new members who joined in the previous month. You will need to sign up for the Welcome Committee in each month you wish to participate, so there is no long-term commitment.

Your help in welcoming new members is greatly appreciated!

Find out more here. (You must be a registered member of Type Pals and signed in to view the event.)

22 Countries STRONG!

Gregory — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 03:21:55 GMT

I've been curious for too long about how many countries are represented by Type Pals members, and I am blown away by the results:

United States	164
Canada	22
United Kingdom	12
Germany	8
Australia	5
Netherlands	4
Portugal	4
Brazil	2
Lithuania	2
Romania	2
Sweden	2
Switzerland	2
Belgium	1
Bulgaria	1
Finland	1
France	1
Hong Kong	1
Indonesia	1
Ireland	1
Italy	1
Poland	1
Taiwan	1

Yes, TWENTY-TWO countries are represented. This blows me away. I am filled with joy knowing what we have built together has made it so far across the globe.

Yet, the numbers are concerning. The vast majority of our members are in the United States. This leaves me with a few questions:

How do we increase our numbers in English-speaking countries outside of the US?
How do we reach English-speaking countries that are not currently represented?
How do we make non-English speaking people feel welcome?

I would love to hear your thoughts on these questions. Please email me with your ideas.

Typewriter Club LIVE On Hiatus

Gregory — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 21:16:43 GMT

Unfortunately, the July 30th Typewriter Club LIVE has been canceled. In addition, TCL will be on hiatus throughout August. The goal is to return in September.

This has been an incredibly difficult decision, as I know so many of you look forward to our weekly meetings. Some have called it the highlight of their week, which touches me more than you will ever know.

Alas, I am in need of some time for inner focus. I am hopeful things will look differently in a month. I'll update as necessary.

In the meantime, I hope you will make full use of Type & Talk (No Host). It is a members-only event, so be sure to sign up to Type Pals. It is, and always will be free.

Thank you so much for your understanding. I hope to see you again soon.

A Proper Thank You

Gregory — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 06:21:07 GMT

It's long overdue, but I have added a Thank You page to acknowledge the generous support--either financially or with expertise--of our members, sponsors, and experts. As a token of my gratitude, these members will be entered in a monthly drawing for Type Pals swag. I would love to send each and every one of you all the things, but there are so many of you!

If you're not on the list above, and you feel you have benefitted from your membership, please consider making a small, one-time donation of any amount. It really does help.

As a reminder, Type Pals is and always will be free. Your membership and participation are appreciated more than you know.

Announcing Typo Radio!

Gregory — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 03:43:03 GMT

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Typo Radio, home of the Type Pals Podcast. Episodes of TPP are streamed 24/7, along with bonus content. Of course, you can still listen to Type Pals Podcast on-demand via your favorite podcast service or at podcast.typepals.com. But to quickly enjoy some typewriter-related content, head on over to Typo Radio!

Updates to Site

Gregory — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 20:33:58 GMT

I spent a little time cleaning up the site, removing features that weren't being used. This includes the member chat and public forums. The member forums remain and can now be found under the member menu. These get a fair amount of use, and I am quite pleased with that.

I am constantly looking for new features to add, so if you have ideas, feel free to send them my way!

New Option on Profiles

Gregory — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 21:36:49 GMT

I am excited to announce that I have added a new option on member profiles: Communication Preference. This allows you to select your preference for letters, postcards, or both!

Please update your profile when you get a chance.

Also, if you have ideas for any new things to go on the profile page, let me know!

Podcast? Yes, Please

Gregory — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:08:04 GMT

It's been a long time coming, but thanks to the participation of some of the finest typewriter folks, the Type Pals Podcast is here! Listen to the trailer here:

Want to be on the show? Find out more here.

Share Your Pictures

Gregory — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 10:15:35 GMT

Now members can upload photos to one of three galleries:

Typewriters
Typing in the Wild
Typing Prompts

I can't wait to see what you share! And stay tuned for themed photo contests.

Have an idea for a gallery? Let me know!

Improved Member Area

Gregory — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:13:33 GMT

The member area of the site has been improved! Now the member directory highlights new, recently active, and quick-to-reply members. Send a welcome letter to a new member. Easily discover members who are actively using the site. And if your patience is running low, send a letter to a quick reply member.

Even more exciting is a new chatroom! Between meetings, members can hang out in the chatroom to talk typewriters or anything else. This feature is currently being beta tested, so it is limited to five members at a time.

Are there other member features you would like to see? Let me know.

Watch LIVE on TypePals.com

Gregory — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 19:55:01 GMT

It was just a couple weeks ago that I discovered that the video on the Typewriter Club LIVE page of this site was not connecting to the livestream. After a couple attempts, I have fixed (and tested!) it. So you can now watch Typewriter Club LIVE from the comfort of the Type Pals website.

Better yet, why not join us on-screen via Zoom? Or for the camera-shy, join us in the comments on YouTube.

Regardless, thank you for watching and participating!

Ask Joe Van Cleave Rescheduled

Gregory — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 19:07:25 GMT

I apologize for the technical difficulties today, but I have rescheduled Ask Joe Van Cleave for September 19, 2021 at 11 am Pacific. You can register for the event to receive reminders here:

https://www.typepals.com/event-4480486

Joe has graciously agreed to reschedule. Thanks, Joe!

And--too late for today, of course--the internet issue appears to have been resolved. I had to force some software and OS updates. So fingers crossed!

Our test run will be next week's regular meeting, Sunday, September 12 at 9 am Pacific. Please note the new start time! I hope to see you there.

No Meeting August 1

Gregory — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 13:23:18 GMT

The August 1 meeting had to be rescheduled for August 8. A special Type Pals-related opportunity has arisen that will have me out of the house at the regular time of our meeting. Sorry to disappoint!

No Meeting July 25

Gregory — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 04:39:54 GMT

An opportunity for a weekend getaway fell into our laps, so there will be no meeting on July 25. That meeting has been moved to August 1. Thank you for understanding!

See You 4th of July (and Other July Events!)

Gregory — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 05:48:26 GMT

It was decided to proceed with a meeting on 4th of July. Though I hope to see you then, we will understand if you have other plans. But perhaps you can take part in one of our other July events. We have a lot going on, so be sure to check it all out here.

Most notably, I hope you can support our very own Bob Marshall by attending his event, “Typewriter Muse: Inspiration in Analog", in person or via YouTube.

Thank you all for being a part of Type Pals and Typewriter Club LIVE! I appreciate your support.

REMINDER: No Meeting June 20--Father's Day

Gregory — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 02:29:09 GMT

This is just a reminder that there will be no meeting on June 20 due to Father's Day. I look forward to seeing you again on June 27!

TCL Show Notes Now Easier to Find

Gregory — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 14:04:08 GMT

With the new website, I've struggled finding the perfect place for the Typewriter Club LIVE Show Notes. I tried putting them in the forums, but the forums see very little use. I sent them in an email newsletter, but emails are marked as spam for some members, and the video could not be embedded. So I decided they deserved their own page, easily accessible from the top menu bar. Is this a good place for them? Let me know what you think!

We Hit the Big 5-0!

Gregory — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 04:15:00 GMT

We reached our first milestone with the new site: 50 members. Thank you all for being a part of this. I hope you are finding the site useful for making Type Pal connections. As always, let me know how I can help.

Member Cards Now Available

Gregory — Fri, 14 May 2021 19:00:49 GMT

We just launched Member Cards! Make your membership official by downloading and printing your official Member Card today. Your card can be found on your profile.

We're On Our Way

Gregory — Fri, 14 May 2021 14:26:22 GMT

It's exciting seeing the first several members sign up. And the generosity displayed has been overwhelming. Thank you so much!

I am excited for the future of our club, and I am continually on the lookout for features and benefits to add.

I have squashed a few bugs in the site, most notably the member directory not appearing on the menu. Yeah, that was a big one. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of the site if we can't access the directory. Woops.

If you do see something that doesn't look right, please let me know. I am open to your questions, comments, and suggestions.

Thank you for being here.

Type Pals Just Got Even Better

Gregory — Sun, 09 May 2021 07:46:31 GMT

I am proud to announce the release of Type Pals 2.0! Members now have an easy way to create and update their profile. Offering plenty of room to provide helpful details about yourself, meaningful exchanges and connections come much more naturally.

Type Pals is and always will be free. However, paid tiers have been added for those who wish to support the continued growth of our club.

Thank you for your support and participation. This is going to be fun!