Club dedication

[Anonymous]

I have been a member of a local modular railroad club for the past 3 years and am current vp. The club has been around for over 10 years and the membership averages around 15. We set up and do 2 public shows a year. There a very few complete modules. Many are the wood and foam hills that they were at the first public showing in 1995. We have held work sessions with few participating. All the members seemed to talk about was "if we only had a building to set up in". The club just purchased a DCC system and a member located a building to temporarily set up in and prepare for our next show this fall. Only 4-5 members consistently showed up and worked hard only to run out of time and not get everything accomplished that had to be done. The ones that did not show up are the ones that NEEDED to show up the worst.
One would think that almost all the members would show and be excited to see the DCC that everyone wanted so bad. This lack of dedication by many of the members has really hurt the club over the years. People join all gung-ho and end up dissapointed for the lack of progress of the club. Good dedicated members then drop out because the club is going nowhere. Just hard to believe........

[Anonymous]

I have been a member of a local modular railroad club for the past 3 years and am current vp. The club has been around for over 10 years and the membership averages around 15. We set up and do 2 public shows a year. There a very few complete modules. Many are the wood and foam hills that they were at the first public showing in 1995. We have held work sessions with few participating. All the members seemed to talk about was "if we only had a building to set up in". The club just purchased a DCC system and a member located a building to temporarily set up in and prepare for our next show this fall. Only 4-5 members consistently showed up and worked hard only to run out of time and not get everything accomplished that had to be done. The ones that did not show up are the ones that NEEDED to show up the worst.
One would think that almost all the members would show and be excited to see the DCC that everyone wanted so bad. This lack of dedication by many of the members has really hurt the club over the years. People join all gung-ho and end up dissapointed for the lack of progress of the club. Good dedicated members then drop out because the club is going nowhere. Just hard to believe........

[Anonymous]

No it isn't. I've been a member of a club on 2 occations and I can tell you from experiance, there is always a core of people that want to run everything and when they don't get thier way, they play politics and force people out that don't agree with them[:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]. Furthermore, it's very hard to get 5-15 people to agree on anything. this is where the problems start, and results in little dedication by more than 2, maybe 3 people. Don't feel bad, this is reason for the LONE WOLF CLUB, and believe me it will be years b4 I ever join another club. It's just not worth the agrivation.[:(!] Don't feel bad, do the best you can and when youv'e had enough, walk away and don't look back.

[Anonymous]

No it isn't. I've been a member of a club on 2 occations and I can tell you from experiance, there is always a core of people that want to run everything and when they don't get thier way, they play politics and force people out that don't agree with them[:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]. Furthermore, it's very hard to get 5-15 people to agree on anything. this is where the problems start, and results in little dedication by more than 2, maybe 3 people. Don't feel bad, this is reason for the LONE WOLF CLUB, and believe me it will be years b4 I ever join another club. It's just not worth the agrivation.[:(!] Don't feel bad, do the best you can and when youv'e had enough, walk away and don't look back.

[Paul3]

rocky451 wrote:

QUOTE: The club has been around for over 10 years and the membership averages around 15...Only 4-5 members consistently showed up and worked hard...This lack of dedication by many of the members has really hurt the club over the years.

That is a common lament. The saying goes that in any club or group, 20% of the members do 80% of the work. That you are getting 4-5 out of 15 is above average, really.

My qualification on clubs: I've been a full member of my club (the South Shore Model Railway Club, in Hingham, MA) for 10 years, and was a junior member (under 18) 3 years before that. My father is also a member, and has been since 1990. Our club (www.ssmrc.org) is 65 years old this year, one of the oldest HO clubs in the country, and currently has a membership of 53 Regular members, 2 Life members, and 14 Honorary members.

I was also a member of another, closer, HO club before I was 18. This was a brand new club, and had about 12-15 members.

The old club was not building anything new at the time, just operating the ca. 1953 and ca. 1978 era layout. It was fun, but I was looking to build. The old club also seemed "stuffy" to me, as it had all these rules and regulations: you couldn't do this, you couldn't do that, you had to get sombody's permission to change anything, etc. And they had all these meetings...

The new club, as I said, was fresh and full of potential. You could do what you want when you wanted, and there were no "rules". There was also no layout, but we figured we could come up with something. And we didn't have meetings, we just sort of came to a general consenus of what we wanted and went with that.

Guess which club is still around and which one disintigrated within 5 years? Since I already told you I was still a member of the old club, it shouldn't surprise you to learn that the new "no rules" club fell apart.

I've spent a lot of time wondering why that was. How could a stuffy, "rules and By-Laws" club survive while a no-holds barred "let's just have fun" club just collapse?

The conclusion I came to is that the old club had something the new one lacked. Call it fraternity, espirt de corps, whatever, but in my old club there is a genuine feeling among the majority of the members that the "club" as a whole is the most important thing, not individual club members.

At the new club, we were just a bunch of guys that had a common interest: model railroading in HO scale. We didn't really know each other, nor did we really want to know. We just wanted a railroad, darn it. [:)]

In the old club, we are not only a bunch of guys that have a common interest, but we are also friends. We go to wakes and funerals of close family members, we go to weddings, we send "Get Well" cards, etc. Not everybody in the club does these things, but enough do so to show that we care.

To cement these kinds of fraternal bonds, we have an annual Christmas party, an annual summer cookout/pool party, an annual club & family pot-luck banquet, we have at least 2 club weekend trips every year (sometimes more), and we usually get a few guys to go out every week to a pizza joint/bar after a club meeting to relax and review the day's events (not to mention the 2 train shows we do each year).

Does this mean we always get along? Abosolutely not. We've had some flare ups that can last for weeks... But give it a few days or weeks after it's resolved, and the hard feelings are forgotten, and we can all get back to work on the layout.

But I would recommend to you that you try to build up your club's espirt de corps. Spend some time with your fellow members away from club activities if possible. Try going railfanning, or go to a big train show together. Have everybody over for BBQ, have a fun time. Just remember that belonging to a club isn't just about building a layout, it's about being with friends. And friends will want to stick around through the bad times that are coming (and bad times always come around).

Put it this way, in the past 65 years our club has suffered through floods, theft, embezzlement, World War II, and a host of other problems that happen from time to time. But, we are still here. Why? For me, I put up with the BS because I don't want to lose touch with the 55 friends and the 2 dozen or so really close friends of mine in the club. Friends are more important than trains.

emeraldisle wrote:

QUOTE: Don't feel bad, this is reason for the LONE WOLF CLUB, and believe me it will be years b4 I ever join another club. It's just not worth the agrivation

To each his own. At this time, let me point out that not everybody should be in a club.

There is a kind of modeler out there that wants it his way or the highway, and those kinds never get along well in a group (not saying that you are one of these people, emeralisle, just generalizing here). To be in a club, one must be able to compromise, one must be able to recognize that one's idea might not be the best idea, that other people might have a better idea, and that even if one doesn't like what the club tells him to do, that person is still able to do it anyways.

If a person can handle that, then he can be in a club without too many problems.

My point is that clubs are not for everyone, but they can be a heckuva lot of fun if you can find the right group of guys...

Paul A. Cutler III
*************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*************

[Paul3]

rocky451 wrote:

QUOTE: The club has been around for over 10 years and the membership averages around 15...Only 4-5 members consistently showed up and worked hard...This lack of dedication by many of the members has really hurt the club over the years.

That is a common lament. The saying goes that in any club or group, 20% of the members do 80% of the work. That you are getting 4-5 out of 15 is above average, really.

My qualification on clubs: I've been a full member of my club (the South Shore Model Railway Club, in Hingham, MA) for 10 years, and was a junior member (under 18) 3 years before that. My father is also a member, and has been since 1990. Our club (www.ssmrc.org) is 65 years old this year, one of the oldest HO clubs in the country, and currently has a membership of 53 Regular members, 2 Life members, and 14 Honorary members.

I was also a member of another, closer, HO club before I was 18. This was a brand new club, and had about 12-15 members.

The old club was not building anything new at the time, just operating the ca. 1953 and ca. 1978 era layout. It was fun, but I was looking to build. The old club also seemed "stuffy" to me, as it had all these rules and regulations: you couldn't do this, you couldn't do that, you had to get sombody's permission to change anything, etc. And they had all these meetings...

The new club, as I said, was fresh and full of potential. You could do what you want when you wanted, and there were no "rules". There was also no layout, but we figured we could come up with something. And we didn't have meetings, we just sort of came to a general consenus of what we wanted and went with that.

Guess which club is still around and which one disintigrated within 5 years? Since I already told you I was still a member of the old club, it shouldn't surprise you to learn that the new "no rules" club fell apart.

I've spent a lot of time wondering why that was. How could a stuffy, "rules and By-Laws" club survive while a no-holds barred "let's just have fun" club just collapse?

The conclusion I came to is that the old club had something the new one lacked. Call it fraternity, espirt de corps, whatever, but in my old club there is a genuine feeling among the majority of the members that the "club" as a whole is the most important thing, not individual club members.

At the new club, we were just a bunch of guys that had a common interest: model railroading in HO scale. We didn't really know each other, nor did we really want to know. We just wanted a railroad, darn it. [:)]

In the old club, we are not only a bunch of guys that have a common interest, but we are also friends. We go to wakes and funerals of close family members, we go to weddings, we send "Get Well" cards, etc. Not everybody in the club does these things, but enough do so to show that we care.

To cement these kinds of fraternal bonds, we have an annual Christmas party, an annual summer cookout/pool party, an annual club & family pot-luck banquet, we have at least 2 club weekend trips every year (sometimes more), and we usually get a few guys to go out every week to a pizza joint/bar after a club meeting to relax and review the day's events (not to mention the 2 train shows we do each year).

Does this mean we always get along? Abosolutely not. We've had some flare ups that can last for weeks... But give it a few days or weeks after it's resolved, and the hard feelings are forgotten, and we can all get back to work on the layout.

But I would recommend to you that you try to build up your club's espirt de corps. Spend some time with your fellow members away from club activities if possible. Try going railfanning, or go to a big train show together. Have everybody over for BBQ, have a fun time. Just remember that belonging to a club isn't just about building a layout, it's about being with friends. And friends will want to stick around through the bad times that are coming (and bad times always come around).

Put it this way, in the past 65 years our club has suffered through floods, theft, embezzlement, World War II, and a host of other problems that happen from time to time. But, we are still here. Why? For me, I put up with the BS because I don't want to lose touch with the 55 friends and the 2 dozen or so really close friends of mine in the club. Friends are more important than trains.

emeraldisle wrote:

QUOTE: Don't feel bad, this is reason for the LONE WOLF CLUB, and believe me it will be years b4 I ever join another club. It's just not worth the agrivation

To each his own. At this time, let me point out that not everybody should be in a club.

There is a kind of modeler out there that wants it his way or the highway, and those kinds never get along well in a group (not saying that you are one of these people, emeralisle, just generalizing here). To be in a club, one must be able to compromise, one must be able to recognize that one's idea might not be the best idea, that other people might have a better idea, and that even if one doesn't like what the club tells him to do, that person is still able to do it anyways.

If a person can handle that, then he can be in a club without too many problems.

My point is that clubs are not for everyone, but they can be a heckuva lot of fun if you can find the right group of guys...

Paul A. Cutler III
*************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*************

[BRAKIE]

I am very lucky.I belong to a club that operates twice a week.The layout is finish and has been for the last 7 years-we still ad mini scenes from time to time.The last major project was adding 2 stagging yards...We have 47 members we average 40 members per meeting.When we call a work Saturday for maintenance and all round cleaning we have 40-43 to show up...We do not and will not use DCC as the general membership feels the DCC is not necessary for club operation.

The reason we have such a strong membership is because of the dedication of the members and the fact that 35 of the 47 members does not have a home layout and the club layout is "their" (if you will) home layout....

[BRAKIE]

I am very lucky.I belong to a club that operates twice a week.The layout is finish and has been for the last 7 years-we still ad mini scenes from time to time.The last major project was adding 2 stagging yards...We have 47 members we average 40 members per meeting.When we call a work Saturday for maintenance and all round cleaning we have 40-43 to show up...We do not and will not use DCC as the general membership feels the DCC is not necessary for club operation.

The reason we have such a strong membership is because of the dedication of the members and the fact that 35 of the 47 members does not have a home layout and the club layout is "their" (if you will) home layout....

[RicHamilton]

I wouldn't worry about giving up on the club if you so desire. I belonged to one that sounds very similar. We had about 20 members as well, had a very cheap place to set up our under construction modular layout when i joined in 1996. The club then purchased a used 3'x7' sceniced N scale layout to take to shows until our modular HO was ready. We had regular monthly meetings to go over what needed to be done on the layout, set up work sessions for the next month and then did the usual political stuff involved in a club.

The club's bank account was never large until we held our first regional convention and then we had some funds that would allow the club to purchase the necessary materials to get some scenery and possibly a DCC system for the club's HO, fini***he cab wiring that had already been under way in the twelve foot yard and hopefully scenic the clubs modules that were plywood praries. Our club members modules included plywood praries, quick type scenery modules and then about 4 fully sceniced modules belonging to myself, a friend and one other person. Each member was responsible for his own module that he purchased from the club and the club owned the four corner modules and the yard modules. Four or six of us would regularly show up on the work sessions and after our montly meetings everyone but us would be standing around talking and not doing. We were constantly asking for the other members to help.

Then a friend became president and I became sec/treas of the club and we and the other three working members wanted stuff to change. We tried changing the monthly meetings to work sessions and would report banking activity and take care of necessary voting type stuff on those nights instead of the full committee reports by each section of the club. We solved every problem that came up as to reasons why people were not working on the layout. They complained that they didn't know what to do (we provided a list), it was too cold in the winter (we got and installed a used furnace), the club room was unorganized (everything was moved and filed and boxed in an appropriate place). We bought some scratchbuilding material for buildings, a turntable and roundhouse, wood to build the yard, scenery materials and track to fini***he yard. At our next annual meeting where a full itemized spending report was required, the non working members berated us for spending the money on stuff that was appearing upstairs on the layout. Not once in the 5 months leading up to the meeting had any of them inquired about the materials that were 'magically apperaing' on the layout. I asked where they thought the stuff was coming from and they replied that they thought we were donating it to the club to which non of them had done anything.

I left the club in 2001 and have never looked back for the most part. From the time that I walked in there in 1996 to the time I left in 2001, not much had changed on the layout that I did not actively participate in. I do miss the friendship of those people and the association of like minded folks but I have moved on. The club membership has now dropped to six after my departure. Mostly due to people fed up with the political bull and lack of things being accomplished other than some of the committee heads hearing their own voices when they speak.

Ric

[RicHamilton]

I wouldn't worry about giving up on the club if you so desire. I belonged to one that sounds very similar. We had about 20 members as well, had a very cheap place to set up our under construction modular layout when i joined in 1996. The club then purchased a used 3'x7' sceniced N scale layout to take to shows until our modular HO was ready. We had regular monthly meetings to go over what needed to be done on the layout, set up work sessions for the next month and then did the usual political stuff involved in a club.

The club's bank account was never large until we held our first regional convention and then we had some funds that would allow the club to purchase the necessary materials to get some scenery and possibly a DCC system for the club's HO, fini***he cab wiring that had already been under way in the twelve foot yard and hopefully scenic the clubs modules that were plywood praries. Our club members modules included plywood praries, quick type scenery modules and then about 4 fully sceniced modules belonging to myself, a friend and one other person. Each member was responsible for his own module that he purchased from the club and the club owned the four corner modules and the yard modules. Four or six of us would regularly show up on the work sessions and after our montly meetings everyone but us would be standing around talking and not doing. We were constantly asking for the other members to help.

Then a friend became president and I became sec/treas of the club and we and the other three working members wanted stuff to change. We tried changing the monthly meetings to work sessions and would report banking activity and take care of necessary voting type stuff on those nights instead of the full committee reports by each section of the club. We solved every problem that came up as to reasons why people were not working on the layout. They complained that they didn't know what to do (we provided a list), it was too cold in the winter (we got and installed a used furnace), the club room was unorganized (everything was moved and filed and boxed in an appropriate place). We bought some scratchbuilding material for buildings, a turntable and roundhouse, wood to build the yard, scenery materials and track to fini***he yard. At our next annual meeting where a full itemized spending report was required, the non working members berated us for spending the money on stuff that was appearing upstairs on the layout. Not once in the 5 months leading up to the meeting had any of them inquired about the materials that were 'magically apperaing' on the layout. I asked where they thought the stuff was coming from and they replied that they thought we were donating it to the club to which non of them had done anything.

I left the club in 2001 and have never looked back for the most part. From the time that I walked in there in 1996 to the time I left in 2001, not much had changed on the layout that I did not actively participate in. I do miss the friendship of those people and the association of like minded folks but I have moved on. The club membership has now dropped to six after my departure. Mostly due to people fed up with the political bull and lack of things being accomplished other than some of the committee heads hearing their own voices when they speak.

Ric

[steamage]

We have a small club layout with about 12 members located in the basement of a city owned building for about 5 years. The membership size is good because we live in a very small town, even kids are welcome to join, but need to have one of their folks with them.. The layout was built in about 6 months as a flat top doubel track railroad with a scale mile loop, all the scenery is finished. It may not the greatest layout ever built by far but the idea was build it quickly to keep members interested get trains running. We have no rules or formal meetings, we just meet to run trains on Tuesdy nights and BS with everyone, members also have their own key so they can run when ever they want. At our club Model Railroading is still fun. [:D]

[steamage]

We have a small club layout with about 12 members located in the basement of a city owned building for about 5 years. The membership size is good because we live in a very small town, even kids are welcome to join, but need to have one of their folks with them.. The layout was built in about 6 months as a flat top doubel track railroad with a scale mile loop, all the scenery is finished. It may not the greatest layout ever built by far but the idea was build it quickly to keep members interested get trains running. We have no rules or formal meetings, we just meet to run trains on Tuesdy nights and BS with everyone, members also have their own key so they can run when ever they want. At our club Model Railroading is still fun. [:D]

[cmrproducts]

Well I have been a member of a club for 19 years. Our Club averages about 30 plus members with 10 to 15 that do the actual work. This has been this way from day one when the club began in 1983.

The Club is incorporated and has it's 501c3 status. We have one major show plus 2 smaller ones a year. We have been in our present location for 10 years. We have 4 layouts (Lionel, HO, N & G scale) and adding an S gauge layout. Our major income comes from the one major show as the town has a local festival which attracts aroung 75,000 people per year.

We have just receiently added a Hobby Shop to the club operations. This is to benefit the club members. We give discounts to members according to the hours they put into the club work sessions and help at shows. We also sell to the general public.

I have been President and presently the Treasurer. I usually run the Hobby Shop and let the other members work the layouts. We also go to the train shows as a group and visit other area layouts.

A number of our members are building their own home layouts for serious operations. The club layouts are setup for continious operations for shows, so this is the reason for the home layouts.

We have gained and lost more than 4 or 5 times the average number of members over the past 20 years. Many had no idea what a club was about. They wanted to join to run trains but found that there was more to the club than running trains during the shows. So they lost interest. But the core group has kept the club focused, expose the public to trains.

We usually get 1 good member a year that really likes trains and wants to do some work on the layouts. But we have had those that joined to take over the club for themselves. They soon left as they found the members would not stand for that. Soon after that we made some rule changes so this would not happen again!

A club is not for everyone but is a lot of fun getting together with other modelers helping them with problems and learning some new things yourself.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[cmrproducts]

Well I have been a member of a club for 19 years. Our Club averages about 30 plus members with 10 to 15 that do the actual work. This has been this way from day one when the club began in 1983.

The Club is incorporated and has it's 501c3 status. We have one major show plus 2 smaller ones a year. We have been in our present location for 10 years. We have 4 layouts (Lionel, HO, N & G scale) and adding an S gauge layout. Our major income comes from the one major show as the town has a local festival which attracts aroung 75,000 people per year.

We have just receiently added a Hobby Shop to the club operations. This is to benefit the club members. We give discounts to members according to the hours they put into the club work sessions and help at shows. We also sell to the general public.

I have been President and presently the Treasurer. I usually run the Hobby Shop and let the other members work the layouts. We also go to the train shows as a group and visit other area layouts.

A number of our members are building their own home layouts for serious operations. The club layouts are setup for continious operations for shows, so this is the reason for the home layouts.

We have gained and lost more than 4 or 5 times the average number of members over the past 20 years. Many had no idea what a club was about. They wanted to join to run trains but found that there was more to the club than running trains during the shows. So they lost interest. But the core group has kept the club focused, expose the public to trains.

We usually get 1 good member a year that really likes trains and wants to do some work on the layouts. But we have had those that joined to take over the club for themselves. They soon left as they found the members would not stand for that. Soon after that we made some rule changes so this would not happen again!

A club is not for everyone but is a lot of fun getting together with other modelers helping them with problems and learning some new things yourself.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[Anonymous]

interesting thoughts and comments, I often thought of joining a club, but was afraid of just the things most of you folks have mentioned

[Anonymous]

interesting thoughts and comments, I often thought of joining a club, but was afraid of just the things most of you folks have mentioned

[RicHamilton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainwreck2

interesting thoughts and comments, I often thought of joining a club, but was afraid of just the things most of you folks have mentioned

Don't be afraid to join your local club because of what I and others have said. We all had different reasons for leaving or not liking it. I only had one option for a local club. I tried it, found it wasn't for me and left. That option is also available to you. I know the club I belonged to, you could come for two meetings with no obligations before you joined to see if it is something you would like or not. Go, take a look around and ask the questions, how long to get to this point, what does the club pay for and what is expected of members at shows inside and outside of the clubhouse. You have nothing to lose by joining your local club. You get to meet some local modellers, learn new tips and ideas and you probably will enjoy it if the club is worth going to.

Ric
Berwick, NS

[RicHamilton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainwreck2

interesting thoughts and comments, I often thought of joining a club, but was afraid of just the things most of you folks have mentioned

Don't be afraid to join your local club because of what I and others have said. We all had different reasons for leaving or not liking it. I only had one option for a local club. I tried it, found it wasn't for me and left. That option is also available to you. I know the club I belonged to, you could come for two meetings with no obligations before you joined to see if it is something you would like or not. Go, take a look around and ask the questions, how long to get to this point, what does the club pay for and what is expected of members at shows inside and outside of the clubhouse. You have nothing to lose by joining your local club. You get to meet some local modellers, learn new tips and ideas and you probably will enjoy it if the club is worth going to.

Ric
Berwick, NS

[Anonymous]

To Paul3's responce, I guess after two 5-6 year stints in this same club and putten up with same politics by the generally same clickish bunch that think that the layout belongs to them instead of the whole club, I've had enough and unfortunatly so have a lot of other people in this area. Believe it or not, this area sports more LONE WOLVES than probably anywhere else in the country, all do to POLITICS. Sad but true.[V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V]

[Anonymous]

To Paul3's responce, I guess after two 5-6 year stints in this same club and putten up with same politics by the generally same clickish bunch that think that the layout belongs to them instead of the whole club, I've had enough and unfortunatly so have a lot of other people in this area. Believe it or not, this area sports more LONE WOLVES than probably anywhere else in the country, all do to POLITICS. Sad but true.[V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V][V]

[Anonymous]

I have felt like I needed to apologize to some of the newer members that I have recruited. They feel like they are waisting their time and money being in a "stale" club that is going nowhere. Back when the club first formed, a friend and I were invited to a meeting. At the meeting the powers in charge at the time noted that there were a few visiters. The stressed the point that "this is NOT a place that you come to run you trains" and we were basically were not welcome. Several years later, I was invited by another member who knew that I did not have a home layout (which I do now). I told him of the earlier time I attended. He said that the jerk (being nice) who thought that he owned the club was no longer a member.
I went to a few meeting and was welcomed and greeted by a few of the members (who were not around the last time). The meetings were well organized, with some silly arguements. and I ended up joining as an associate. I invited the friend that had went with me on our first visit years ago. This meeting was terrible. They were arguing over the craziest things. One was the official club name!!!!! You would think that this would have been settled a long time ago since the club had been around for 6 years or so. And during the discussions, certain members wanted to here themselves tell all about "me, me, me, I want this and that, and I have decided this is what we will do.......etc.
My friend (who finally joined this year) pointed out that many there did not care, or wanted things their way or no other way, and were not progressing. For goodness sakes... they can still not agree on a name after all this time.
Some key members with high motivation finally gave up and quit. And one of the most hospitable members toward visitors passed away. And a newer president would barely recognize guests. The meetings were unorganized and if guests were introduced, you could not hear for the private conversations.
The dedicated members now are hoping the dead beats will inprove. We don't necessarily want them to leave because we have a good set of guys. We just want some form of progress. I am the only one who has a home layout now so I expected the others to be more into the club that I am.
At our shows, I here the viewers saying this lookis the same as last time and it has not changed. Recently one of our completed modules was unavailable due to a member not being able to show and nobody wanted to take on the responsibility of hie beautiful and large module. The crowd was really disappointed when the massive bridge was not there. It is a shame when three to five modules out of 22-26 modules are the only ones worth looking at.
This is embarrasing. And I think the whole situation looks bad not only for the club but hurts the hobby. People who may want to get into the hobby are turned off. Part of the main reasons I want to have a good showing is to share the hobby with others. Get new people interested and the hobby will grow!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I have felt like I needed to apologize to some of the newer members that I have recruited. They feel like they are waisting their time and money being in a "stale" club that is going nowhere. Back when the club first formed, a friend and I were invited to a meeting. At the meeting the powers in charge at the time noted that there were a few visiters. The stressed the point that "this is NOT a place that you come to run you trains" and we were basically were not welcome. Several years later, I was invited by another member who knew that I did not have a home layout (which I do now). I told him of the earlier time I attended. He said that the jerk (being nice) who thought that he owned the club was no longer a member.
I went to a few meeting and was welcomed and greeted by a few of the members (who were not around the last time). The meetings were well organized, with some silly arguements. and I ended up joining as an associate. I invited the friend that had went with me on our first visit years ago. This meeting was terrible. They were arguing over the craziest things. One was the official club name!!!!! You would think that this would have been settled a long time ago since the club had been around for 6 years or so. And during the discussions, certain members wanted to here themselves tell all about "me, me, me, I want this and that, and I have decided this is what we will do.......etc.
My friend (who finally joined this year) pointed out that many there did not care, or wanted things their way or no other way, and were not progressing. For goodness sakes... they can still not agree on a name after all this time.
Some key members with high motivation finally gave up and quit. And one of the most hospitable members toward visitors passed away. And a newer president would barely recognize guests. The meetings were unorganized and if guests were introduced, you could not hear for the private conversations.
The dedicated members now are hoping the dead beats will inprove. We don't necessarily want them to leave because we have a good set of guys. We just want some form of progress. I am the only one who has a home layout now so I expected the others to be more into the club that I am.
At our shows, I here the viewers saying this lookis the same as last time and it has not changed. Recently one of our completed modules was unavailable due to a member not being able to show and nobody wanted to take on the responsibility of hie beautiful and large module. The crowd was really disappointed when the massive bridge was not there. It is a shame when three to five modules out of 22-26 modules are the only ones worth looking at.
This is embarrasing. And I think the whole situation looks bad not only for the club but hurts the hobby. People who may want to get into the hobby are turned off. Part of the main reasons I want to have a good showing is to share the hobby with others. Get new people interested and the hobby will grow!!!!!

[CP5415]

Stupidity & politics are what keep me from joining clubs in my area. You either have to run brass or DCC. I have one brass loco, but it needs work & it's not high on my "things to do list" & having more than 30 locomotives, DCC is out of the question.
There's one club in Scarborough, On. one guy pretty much laughed when I mentioned
Athearn. It's idiots like this that don't allow the hobby to grow. No kid I know can afford
a brass, Kato or an Atlas locomotive.
Because of this, I plan to keep to myself, my layout, locomotives & rolling stock & invite friends over for operationg sessions.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[CP5415]

Stupidity & politics are what keep me from joining clubs in my area. You either have to run brass or DCC. I have one brass loco, but it needs work & it's not high on my "things to do list" & having more than 30 locomotives, DCC is out of the question.
There's one club in Scarborough, On. one guy pretty much laughed when I mentioned
Athearn. It's idiots like this that don't allow the hobby to grow. No kid I know can afford
a brass, Kato or an Atlas locomotive.
Because of this, I plan to keep to myself, my layout, locomotives & rolling stock & invite friends over for operationg sessions.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[cmrproducts]

When ever a visitor comes into the club we try and make them feel at home. Usually more than one member will thek them on a tour of the club.

During the shows we can usually spot a potential new member as they are the ones that spend a lot of time looking at the different layouts. Then the members will take the time to begin talking to them. This breaks the ice and keeps them there a little longer. We then hand them a club application.

Our policy with potential new members is that they can join the club free for 3 months. This way the members can get used to them and the new members can see how the club operates without spending any money.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[cmrproducts]

When ever a visitor comes into the club we try and make them feel at home. Usually more than one member will thek them on a tour of the club.

During the shows we can usually spot a potential new member as they are the ones that spend a lot of time looking at the different layouts. Then the members will take the time to begin talking to them. This breaks the ice and keeps them there a little longer. We then hand them a club application.

Our policy with potential new members is that they can join the club free for 3 months. This way the members can get used to them and the new members can see how the club operates without spending any money.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[ironhorseman]

LEADERSHIP.

If anything, that's probably what some of these clubs I read about above lack the most. I've been to many model RR shows and once in a while I see members in a club layout not get along, and I'm not talking about the guys that joke with each other sarcastically.

Here are some options:

1) RECRUIT SOMEONE into the club that has leadership capabilites and likes to model railroads. Someone that knows how to organize a group, communicate, motivate, and resolve conflicts. They don't necessarily have to be the president of the club but could at least give advice and show the way. But DON'T pay a professional to come in because 1) you'll risking wasting club money for 2) someone that's not interested in the hobby and won't give you the results you desired.

2) LEARN TO BE A LEADER. Maybe you can't find someone that's a natural leader, but there are, ocasionally, leadership workshops. If you live in or near a big city or university or even a community college find out when and where leadership classes or conferences are going to be held. The best ones don't have to cost hundreds of dollars, they're usually free or require a very small fee. If it's a college course you might have to pay the credit/hour tuition, but this is well worth it.

3) RETREAT. Corporations, organizations, office groups, etc. take a weekend retreat once every year or two years. This is a way for everyone to spend some time away their work and distractions in a foreign environment and just get to know each other, have fun, and work on GOALS and OBJECTIVES.

4) GOAL SETTING. What does your club hope to accomplish? Is it to organize for the next train show? open house? buy equipment? finish a certain portion of the layout? Set DEADLINE for these accoplisments.

5) RESPONSIBILITY. Divide up the chores.1st, let people volunteer for each chore. If that doesn't work you then start assigning duties. This way everyone feels included. Some people don't really care which job they do, they're just happy to help. They do better being told what to do than trying to think of something. It's like, in my family, when givin a choice of where we want to go out to eat no one can make up their mind or agree where to go. Too many options. But when someone lays down law and says "where going to eat here" nobody gives any argument. Find out if and who these people are in the club and work with them accordingly.

These are just some of the building blocks for a successful organization. There are many books on the subject at libraries and book stores. I have been on at least three different organizations while in college and I was an athlete for four seasons in college and combined with my people skills I gained while working at my campus job for four straight years surrounded by exceptional advisors, coaches, and supervisors I feel I know enough about working in and getting along with members of an organization to say all this.

I was just recently invited to join model railroad club and hope to join in the coming weeks at their next formal meeting. I met some of the guys the other night and they seem like a good group. I'm not the best model builder, but I hope to learn from some experinced hobbiest and I look forward to meeting the challeges and obstacles of the club hobby. If anything that I do have to offer, I'm confident I can provide my organizational skills when and if they are needed.

NEVER QUIT: when you refuse to give up you turn around the forces against you to your favor.

Jeff Smith
B.S. Criminal Justice
Wichita State University

[ironhorseman]

LEADERSHIP.

If anything, that's probably what some of these clubs I read about above lack the most. I've been to many model RR shows and once in a while I see members in a club layout not get along, and I'm not talking about the guys that joke with each other sarcastically.

Here are some options:

1) RECRUIT SOMEONE into the club that has leadership capabilites and likes to model railroads. Someone that knows how to organize a group, communicate, motivate, and resolve conflicts. They don't necessarily have to be the president of the club but could at least give advice and show the way. But DON'T pay a professional to come in because 1) you'll risking wasting club money for 2) someone that's not interested in the hobby and won't give you the results you desired.

2) LEARN TO BE A LEADER. Maybe you can't find someone that's a natural leader, but there are, ocasionally, leadership workshops. If you live in or near a big city or university or even a community college find out when and where leadership classes or conferences are going to be held. The best ones don't have to cost hundreds of dollars, they're usually free or require a very small fee. If it's a college course you might have to pay the credit/hour tuition, but this is well worth it.

3) RETREAT. Corporations, organizations, office groups, etc. take a weekend retreat once every year or two years. This is a way for everyone to spend some time away their work and distractions in a foreign environment and just get to know each other, have fun, and work on GOALS and OBJECTIVES.

4) GOAL SETTING. What does your club hope to accomplish? Is it to organize for the next train show? open house? buy equipment? finish a certain portion of the layout? Set DEADLINE for these accoplisments.

5) RESPONSIBILITY. Divide up the chores.1st, let people volunteer for each chore. If that doesn't work you then start assigning duties. This way everyone feels included. Some people don't really care which job they do, they're just happy to help. They do better being told what to do than trying to think of something. It's like, in my family, when givin a choice of where we want to go out to eat no one can make up their mind or agree where to go. Too many options. But when someone lays down law and says "where going to eat here" nobody gives any argument. Find out if and who these people are in the club and work with them accordingly.

These are just some of the building blocks for a successful organization. There are many books on the subject at libraries and book stores. I have been on at least three different organizations while in college and I was an athlete for four seasons in college and combined with my people skills I gained while working at my campus job for four straight years surrounded by exceptional advisors, coaches, and supervisors I feel I know enough about working in and getting along with members of an organization to say all this.

I was just recently invited to join model railroad club and hope to join in the coming weeks at their next formal meeting. I met some of the guys the other night and they seem like a good group. I'm not the best model builder, but I hope to learn from some experinced hobbiest and I look forward to meeting the challeges and obstacles of the club hobby. If anything that I do have to offer, I'm confident I can provide my organizational skills when and if they are needed.

NEVER QUIT: when you refuse to give up you turn around the forces against you to your favor.

Jeff Smith
B.S. Criminal Justice
Wichita State University

[bfsfabs]

ironhorseman,
Regarding your 5) Resposibility

Do not forget to assign the adequate amount of authority necessary to accompli***he given task. Ya know, helpers, weapons, funds and a key to the club room. Like that.

Responsibility is way too often assigned WITHOUT the required authority. Leading directly to frustration and failure.

[bfsfabs]

ironhorseman,
Regarding your 5) Resposibility

Do not forget to assign the adequate amount of authority necessary to accompli***he given task. Ya know, helpers, weapons, funds and a key to the club room. Like that.

Responsibility is way too often assigned WITHOUT the required authority. Leading directly to frustration and failure.