The TTOS has been financially strapped for the last couple years. It will be interesting if this does not cause further damage to the club nationally.
Bill T.
I received the most recent copy of the Southwestern Limited paper put out by the Southwestern Division yesterday. It declared that Southwestern Division is no longer part of TTOS National. It claims the following: "At the April 30, 2011 National Board of Directors meeting, Southwestern Division's membership in National was terminated by near unanimous vote. We didn'nt leave them, they left us." The article goes on to say that Southwestern Div.. has been a separate corporation since 1985 but encouraged it's members to belong to National until now. As a member of Southwestern Division, it seems me that it has been left up to us individuals as to wheather or not we wish to join the National organization. I guess more will be revealed as time goes on. I have belonged to both organizations since the early 70's. However, I dropped out for several years while I was unable to attend and rejoined after I retired.
SPMan
I don't know why this seems to be a problem with TTOS but this is the second Divison that I am aware of that has had a problem with National in the last few years.
All the problems seem to be with divisions west of the Mississippi. Don't know why: I'm not making a value judgement, just an observation.
I joined TTOS some 17 years ago because they made nice S gauge commemorative cars that I wanted to buy and the local Division had excellent local meets that attracted different dealers than other organizations. If they stop making S gauge commemorative cars and/or if the quality of the local meets deteriorates, I will find other things to do with my time and money.
National dues are not high and are quite reasonable for what services the National Organization provides. I know the Cal-Stewart meet is huge on the West Coast, but if it wasn't connected to TTOS, I wouldn't know about it, or care about it either.
I hope this whole thing works out amicably, but I suspect that it is probably a "personalities conflict" and will probably get uglier before it is all settled. It is sad, really.
Little Tommy
fifedog Not a member, so I don't have a dog in this fight. I will offer that once the words "bylaws", "procedures", and I 'll throw out there "Robert's Rules", become the focus of a group, it is obvious that they have lost sight of the reason they joined said organization.
Not a member, so I don't have a dog in this fight.
I will offer that once the words "bylaws", "procedures", and I 'll throw out there "Robert's Rules", become the focus of a group, it is obvious that they have lost sight of the reason they joined said organization.
I agree and I don't have a fight with this dog..either, other to simply comment that it seemed odd that other members not directly involved either, (other than by membership )were being asked to intercede on behalf of National to convince Southwestern to amend it's ways when it looks like the ball is in the court of National..It reminds me of the situation at TCA, wherein you need two signatures from current members to be a member, which some members strongly disagree with, among other things.
"The entire situation stems from the Officers and Board members of Southwestern not requiring division members, officers, and board members to be members of TTOS National as required by our Bylaws and Policy and Procedures Book."
The question I have is..is this rippling effect of internal organizational disputes in the two major players in the hobby caused by the miserable economy, or something else? Old school versus new school?
Its just a shame and maybe a sign of our times.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
I received this e-mail from the TTOS National, looks like problems between the National and the Southwestern Division. It will be interesting on how this will affect Cal-Stewart. I believe the Southwestern Division is one of the stronger divisions within the TTOS.
Dear TTOS Member,
I am sure that by now most of our Southern California members are aware of or have seen the recent letter and continued emails sent out by Bruce Lazarus of the Southwestern Division of TTOS. The purpose of this letter is to explain the ongoing situation with Southwestern from the perspective of TTOS National. As of today, June 3, 2011 the Southwestern Division has announced it is no longer part of TTOS. This decision being made by a handful of board members without vote or consent of their membership, which is a violation of their own bylaws and California Corporation laws.
First of all TTOS has no intention of taking Cal Stewart or the associated cars from Southwestern. Nor is there any intention of preventing Southwestern from holding the Cal Stewart Meet. The entire situation stems from the Officers and Board members of Southwestern not requiring division members, officers, and board members to be members of TTOS National as required by our Bylaws and Policy and Procedures Book. Every other TTOS division is working to ensure that all of their members are National members, and we expect Southwestern to do the same. We are asking for your help and cooperation in communicating to the Southwestern Officers and Board of Directors to abide by the same National Bylaws and Policies as everyone else, and require all participating members to pay their National dues. By doing so all TTOS members and divisions are on the same footing and this situation is resolved.
Best Regards,
Brian Fields
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