Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

How to know your train club is Dsyfunctional?

6852 views
82 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, August 27, 2017 6:52 AM

rockymidlandrr
For the members that don't want to have an all DCC layout, they don't run trains anyways 90% of the time. When they do bring stuff to run, its all Athearn BB engines with BB ANd tyco cars. The members that are pushing for a simpled wiring system with DCC, and the elimination of the the hundred DC blocks for DC operation all operate Much more detailed trains, mostly all DCC Sound Engines and detailed cars.

And there lays the core of your problem I've seen it before and its a sad tale that usually leads to a sad ending for the club...The old bullheaded BB gang vs. the younger DCC gang.Sad I'm sorry but,I know of no other way of saying that.

Seems the club has bent over backwards with the idea of buying and installing decoders for the resisting members..IMHO that's more then fair.

You said earlier the club is down to two members..Sad

Maybe its time to shutter the doors on the DC club and start a new DCC club?

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,250 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, August 27, 2017 9:18 AM

rockymidlandrr
Maybe I should of added in the original post, we're down two members but its heading for a split if something doesn't happen.

Larry,

The OP stated that they are "down two members" rather than "to two members"...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,553 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Sunday, August 27, 2017 9:51 AM

I would not dictate which power option to any club I joined.

Imo the club is also dysfunctional if they wont allow responsible children to join.

What most clubs stupidly fail to realize is that in this day, the kind of kid who would actually want to join is NOT the kind who would touch let alone damage trains belonging to other members, so their precious personal trains are actually safe.

So I say any club who blindly excludes children based solely upon age without considering the individual case is cutting off their nose, their future, despite their face.

That, besides the dc/dcc battle, is why my local club is dying, and also why myself and my very well behaved oldest son never joined.  Now it is too late as his time goes to baseball and chasing girls, and trains are not something he does anymore.

The local idiots threw out good members based upon petty dcc related arguments.  I hope they die.  I helped build a layout with the guys they threw out of the club.  The guys thrown away were great people.

John Mock

  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 476 posts
Posted by j. c. on Sunday, August 27, 2017 10:31 AM

rockymidlandrr

Like I stated in the headline, what makes a club dysfunctional?  Mine has taken 4 years to renovate an area of the layout that is about 2.5ft by 12ft long.  All the while trying to simplfy the wiring of the layout to a more DCC friendly arrangement with the DC folks fighting every step of the way and ending up winning in the name of appeasing them.

 

the only word of advice i can give is QUIT. if you that disafied with things then walk out the door .

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, August 27, 2017 11:58 AM

tstage
Larry, The OP stated that they are "down two members" rather than "to two members"... Tom

Tom,My bad with appolgies..Thanks for correcting that.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Sunday, August 27, 2017 2:29 PM

PRR8259
Imo the club is also dysfunctional if they wont allow responsible children to join.

What most clubs stupidly fail to realize is that in this day, the kind of kid who would actually want to join is NOT the kind who would touch let alone damage trains belonging to other members, so their precious personal trains are actually safe.

To your first statement, please tell us how a club is supposed to determine if a child is responsible?  Based on a statement by a parent who publically says that he hopes some of the other members die?  Good luck with that.

To your second statement, that's a bunch of wishful thinking.

Club I belong to recognizes full well that there is a need to have young people interested.  However, we recently revised our rules to not allow membership to anyone younger than 16, and not allow full membership to anyone younger than 21.  What we used to do was allow participation by young folks so long as their parent was at least an associate member.

We did that a number of years ago with one individual.  What happened was that the adult member, who had no interest in model railroading, would accompany the youngster to the meeting.  Then he would disappear until it was time for everyone to go home.  So the club members ended up being babysitters.  And that individual had no problems grabbing whichever train was available and running, rather "racing", it around the railroad.  And other members were justifiably annoyed having their "precious" models rear ended.  That experience left a bad taste in everyone's mouth for a number of years.

About two year's ago, we tried again.  This time we felt sorry because the father of one young man had been killed in a hit and run, and his mother approached us about joining as a member so that her son could participate.  At the same time another mother approached us, also about joining, so that her son could participate.  And concurrent with that, a gentleman with three sons asked if he could join.  Because I had been a member during the first bad experience, I was reluctant, but agreed to go along with the other three officers who were willing to give it a try.  Everything was explained to all the parents, including our concerns, and our expectations that the responsible parent would be on-site will the youngster was here.

We had the same result as before.  Little Jimmy's mother would ask "is it okay if I go out because Little Bobby's mom is here to watch them".  Or all the moms would leave.  Or they would sit in the club room and kibbitz while their kids were out on the railroad unsupervised.  And then things would be found to be damaged.  Amazing how many kids are named "not me".  Finally the other clubmembers had enough and we were forced to eliminate the problem by denying membership to the adults.

The entire kids as members "problem" doesn't seem to just be isolated at our club.  The club president has asked at other local clubs and has been told that they have had the same issue.

As an aside, our club is in Pennsylvania.  It seems that an adult member of an organization is not allowed to discipline, in the absence of a parent, any individual under the age of 16, without potentially getting dragged into court for child abuse.  And then it becomes a he said/she said discussion of who got yelled at by whom.  It seems that if you or your organization might have the opportunity to deal with kids under the age of 16, everyone is required to take a training course of some sort to avoid getting caught in a lawsuit.

Please come back and talk to me after you come up a solution to these issues.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Sunday, August 27, 2017 2:49 PM

Our club (long gone, back in the day) had a special open house announced through the local hobby shops.  We wanted more members.  I was president.  A kid shows up.  I spend a good bit of time checking him out.  Towards the end, he mentioned that he was 16.  Our club rules had a minimum age of 18.  So I informed him that he was wrong.  He was really 18.  Sadly, he didn't come back.  That kid was good.

I do realize that there could have been nasty legal problems.  Didn't then.  But I did recall being a 16 year old modeler.  And the last thing that I would have done was screw up someone else's layout/work.

There really are kids who are good/great model railroaders.  The trick is to find out if the one in front of you is one of 'em.  And also to avoid some incredible legal and financial problems if things go south.

 

 

Ed

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 206 posts
Posted by rockymidlandrr on Sunday, August 27, 2017 8:56 PM

Well when it comes to our Jr members, we only have one and I have a story to tell there as well.  He's been a member along with his Grand father for 3-4 years, both are in good standing.  The Jr member brings trains to run, respects the run schedule, and does help out with setting up and tearing down the layout, and helps out as much as he can for as long as he has been a member.  

WIth our club by-laws, it was always a grey area on whether a Jr member could vote in club matters.  Ever Since he joined he has always been allowed to vote in club matters, make motions, etc.  We had a vote one night this year after a member who was trying to stop all work moving forward on the layout as determined by the Renovation/Planning/Building committee and approved by the club membership, had his right to vote revoked by the member who was trying to stop all process in the first place.  It was revoked because he was voting with the younger members who wanted to keep the progress moving forward.

 

How was that fair for that Jr member?  

Still building the Rocky Midland RR Through, Over, and Around the Rockies
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,553 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Sunday, August 27, 2017 11:03 PM

Maxman--

I am in Pennsylvania.

Not the members themselves.  I meant that I hope the local club dies.  They are indeed dysfunctional, and threw out multiple good people who did a lot of the scenery work and layout reconstruction...ostensibly because the new president was on a power trip and simply did not like where some members stood on the dc/dcc issue.  They weren't stopping people from using dcc, but there were many issues with converting the layout over to dcc operation. 

The new El Presidente was bull-headed and had to have his way, and simply threw people out who disagreed with him.

Various Live Steam aficianados trusted my son with their $5000+ large scale engines because they knew he was so utterly fascinated he would get right up next to them but never ever touch them.  Mom taught him well not to touch other people's stuff.  He has been good at that since AGE 2.

And I would have joined the club as an active participating, contributing member and not simply dumped my kid for baby sitting while I took off.  Now both my children have chosen other hobbies.  Perhaps if the local club would have been even slightly hospitable (these curmudgeons are not) things might have been a little bit different, but we will never know.

John

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,899 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Sunday, August 27, 2017 11:09 PM

Robert Petrick,
The reason why our club has so many locos is that we've been collecting them here and there for 40 years or more.  Smile, Wink & Grin  Most of our club fleet are suped up Athearn BB's, but we do have a small number of sound-equipped BLI engines (steam & diesel) that folks have donated to the club.  Our biggest hang up right now are getting decals made for our home road. 

I think club equipment (locos, cars, & throttles) is something every club should invest in.  Not everyone can afford to buy stuff while also paying monthly dues.

rockymidlandrr,
One thing I have to ask: who runs your club?  At my club, we have a monthly business meeting for all members.  This body has the ultimate authority in the club.  We do have a 9-person Board of Directors (Pres., V. Pres, Treas., Sec., Chief Engineer, & 4 directors that serve alternating 2-year terms), but they ultimately work for the members.  Any decision the BOD makes can be overruled at the next Business Meeting by the members (it's rare, but it does happen).  Any member can propose motions, all according to Robert's Rules of Order.

I commiserate with you about those that are holding your club back from improving itself.  We've had some of the same attitudes present from time to time.  I will admit that we've had to work around the edges a bit to get things voted for.  And by that, I mean first going to the opposition singly and flat out asking them why they are resisting.  If your counter-argument doesn't work on them, then go to those that are borderline voters one at a time and try to convince them why your argument is more valid than the opposition.  Hopefully, they bring that enlightenment to the next meeting.  It doesn't always work, but it can if you really do have a better way.  We've found that some people vote with whatever the majority votes for, and approaching them one by one can work to change their minds or at least not "go along to get along".

BTW, is your club a portable layout?

Why can't you guys do your own operation sessions at the club?  Let the sourpusses pout on the sidelines while the rest of you have some fun.

John Mock,
Um, no.  Sorry, but the lack of youth members is not a feature of club dysfunction.  My club no longer allows under-18 members, and we have very logical reasons for doing so.  Since we moved to our new location, we have a full-on wood shop in the club, with a table saw, planer, chop saw, drill press, bandsaw, disc & belt sander, etc.  We'd have to constantly secure these tools (not to mention all the hand tools) to prevent young members from hurting themselves or others.  Because if they did, you know the first thing would be, "You let a kid run around with power tools?  Lawsuit!"

Another reason is the possible accusations of wrong doing of any kind by a member against a youth, true or false.  We must protect the club first, because one accusation would be fatal to the club as we're in a town-owned building (the town would kick us out which would mean we'd probably fold).  There's a reason why the Boy Scouts have a strict 2-adult rule that they didn't have back in the 1980's.

The last reason, frankly, is that we don't have anyone willing to lead a new youth program.  We do have several current and former scout leaders in our club, but they already have two hobbies (scouting and model railroading) and they appear to be reluctant to add a third.  In my own case, I live 30 miles away and I already make two trips a week to the club.  I'm also the Operations Chairman, Layout Design Chairman, and Registration Chairman (plus I do electrical/DCC work).  When I'm at the club, I'm usually working, not gabbing.  If I became the youth group leader, I know I'd have to commit to it full time.  Instead of enjoying my hobby of model railroading, I'd become an unpaid babysitter.  Worse, I'd be paying to be an unpaid babysitter.

BTW, I was a youth member in the last youth group we had at my club, and I was in wood shop in 8th Grade and all through High School.  I know perfectly well that under-18's can be responsible in a club and operate power tools safely.  I did.  But in all the years we had a youth group, with all the kids that went through it, just 4 ever became full members, only two are still in the club, and only I am an active member who shows up every week.  Even then, our youth group folded before I became a member because the head guy passed away who was running it.  I spent the last two years before I turned 18 as a "guest" of my father's, who joined when I was 15.  (This practice of being the guest of another member is still allowed, BTW)

So for all the effort we put into a youth program from the 1970's to 1990's, the end result has made exactly zero difference to the club.  I would have joined anyways, and the other ex-youth member we have (also the son of a member) would have joined, too.

All the other youth members we had when I was in?  AFAIK, not one of them is still a model railroader.  One hired on with a real railroad and burned out of the hobby.  One collects and sells die cast cars.  One sells new full-size cars, another is a cop, while another is in the Navy (none have time for a hobby with jobs and kids).

So what is the point?  We do all that work and produce exactly zero new adult model railroaders and zero new members that wouldn't have joined anyways.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,553 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Sunday, August 27, 2017 11:19 PM

Paul3--

So far as I know, the local club has no "guest" rule.  And, when I have "visited" during their winter open houses...well they were very curmudgeonly, period.  I also don't want anything to do with a club who simply throws people out on a whim (I helped the former, long-time members who were exiled build a layout for a charitable organization). 

I have refrained from mentioning the club's name on here, but from what I have heard, they are not doing very well membership-wise, which is no surprise to me at all.  I will never again darken their doorstep.

 

Regarding clearances, I have all the required background check and child abuse clearances in PA to work with children, since I actively assistant-coach baseball.  It's really not hard for honest relatively normal people to get them, does not take much time, and does not cost much money.  It also protects the kids.

John

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
  • 1,734 posts
Posted by joe323 on Monday, August 28, 2017 6:43 AM

I did not join a local club for 2 reasons 

1) One of the officers made a stereotypical remark about a certain ethnicity.

2) That same individual wanted to have new members pass a minimum modeling skills test to join and I was a raw beginner at the time.

It was not a welcoming environment I have not been back but I am willing to look at other clubs.

Joe Staten Island West 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, August 28, 2017 7:22 AM

 How's this foor disfinctional? There once was a local club, located in the basement of an office building in a well-knoown business park. One of the members was the son of the owner of the business park. As such, they paid electric and for materials to build the layout, but no rent. Free rent - in a well known business park with plenty of parking and all that. Very nice space.

 However, said son, no teenager, mind you, managed to tick off his dad so much that he kicked the club out. They eventually found new quarters (twice) and the son was no longer welcome as a member, and as such they turned things around incredibly and were recently featured in MR.

 So while it may be disfunctional today - it doesn't necessarily spell the end.

                             --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, August 28, 2017 8:46 AM

joe323
2) That same individual wanted to have new members pass a minimum modeling skills test to join and I was a raw beginner at the time.

Unbelievable any club would ask that..What's next a locomotive and freight car tests to ensure the prospective member knows the difference between a SD70 and SD60 or a FMC from a SIECO boxcar?

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 28, 2017 9:23 AM

BRAKIE
The difference between a SD70 and SD60 or a FMC from a SIECO boxcar?

.

I cannot answer either of those questions!

.

I can tell a GP-35 from a GP-40. And I can tell a PS-1 from an AAR boxcar?

.

Does that do me any good?

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,500 posts
Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Monday, August 28, 2017 9:29 AM

A lot of consternation regarding this club. Is there a charter or something? Rules? Bylaws?

If the ogres are acting like ogres, then consult the Rules. If they persist, then remove them. Otherwise, leave and don't look back.

Robert 

LINK to SNSR Blog


  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 172 posts
Posted by Lonnie Utah on Monday, August 28, 2017 9:38 AM

All of this is very interesting reading to me as I've contemplated joining the "local" club here. They have a family membership ($30/year) that would cover, me, my wife and the boy. The only downside is they meet almost 1 hour away, and stay up later than our guys bed time. I'm not sure how many meetings we'd actually be able to attend during the school year. 

They have no age requirements, but request kids be under 10 for layout tours (adult supervision requried). That's a bit tricky/touchy for me as our 6 y/o can run pretty much all aspects our HO layout by himself. I get the idea behind it, but each kid is different. 

 

The reason to do it for us would be I'd have a local resource here for troubleshooting problems with our layout.  

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Monday, August 28, 2017 11:10 AM

BRAKIE

 joe323

2) That same individual wanted to have new members pass a minimum modeling skills test to join and I was a raw beginner at the time.

Unbelievable any club would ask that..What's next a locomotive and freight car tests to ensure the prospective member knows the difference between a SD70 and SD60 or a FMC from a SIECO boxcar?

 

 
Some times I think there is some validity to this.  At least the minimum modeling skills part.  I would think that anyone interested in Model railroading would at least be able to assemble an Athearn Blue Box or Accurail car with Kadee couplers.  We already have enough members who just sit around and gab.
 
Our club even had a membership requirement at one time where a member was required to make a donation to the club once per year to remain in good standing.  The donation was to be a car, structure, or other railroad related item that could be used on the layout.  In theory this meant something that the member had built.
 
We long ago removed this requirement, mainly because there became a yearly argument about what was "railroad related".  An example being a bag of toggle switches.
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, August 28, 2017 11:25 AM

This is why I avoid groups.  As much as I am a social scientist, I have found that being in groups is often a very serious avenue toward frustration, even anger, for me.  Invariably, the biggest ego (fattest head?) rises to the top, particularly when he's a large and loud person to whom people around him routinely defer.  That doesn't work for me. Deference often leads to indifference, appeasement, or what is called 'social loafing' (you can look it up).  Tasks that get done are what the boss wants done.  Those who have little to offer go along with those plans and the organization takes on the intended look and modus of the Grand Fromage (the Big Cheese, as the French call it).

This is not to suggest, for a second, that there are no good, dynamic, inclusive, and evolutionary organizations; of course there are.  But, they are always led by gifted and service-oriented people who have a well-developed set of leadership skills, even if they have an agenda to fill.  They know how to include people, how to get work out of them, enthusiastic contributions that build that whole which is greater than the sum of its parts.

Sometimes, though, it's really best to just light out on your own.  That way, good or bad, success or fail, it's yours.  I think many, if not most, in this particular hobby are aligned with that thinking.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Monday, August 28, 2017 11:26 AM

PRR8259
Regarding clearances, I have all the required background check and child abuse clearances in PA to work with children, since I actively assistant-coach baseball. It's really not hard for honest relatively normal people to get them, does not take much time, and does not cost much money. It also protects the kids.

It's nice that you have all that.  Obviously you enjoy assistant coaching.  Possibly you have youngster in the league?

As I understand it, all the members of the club would have to take this training since not all the members are present all the time.

I consider myself to be relatively honest and somewhat normal.  However, in my personal case, I have no desire to spend my time and my money, nor do I have the patience, to learn how to be a substitute parent.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, August 28, 2017 3:01 PM

Regarding talking instead of working:

In my old (small) club, I found the best way to get people to start working was to leave the assembled masses, and go start working.  If that didn't disperse the group, I would ask one of them for a bit of help.  Sometimes help that wasn't technically needed.  Generally, by the end of the night, there was a lot more working than talking.

At another club (later) that I was thinking of joining, I dove right in on a task that looked like it could use my help.  Awhile later, I was called aside by the president.  Some members were complaining that I wasn't socializing with them.  Those would be the ones who were standing around talking ALL the time.  Buh-bye.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, August 28, 2017 3:14 PM

selector
Particularly when he's a large and loud person to whom people around him routinely defer.

.

I, myself, am EXTREMELY large & loud!

.

Nobody ever defers to me. I must be doing something wrong.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, August 28, 2017 5:52 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
selector
Particularly when he's a large and loud person to whom people around him routinely defer.

 

.

I, myself, am EXTREMELY large & loud!

.

Nobody ever defers to me. I must be doing something wrong.

.

-Kevin

.

 

 

No problem.  We just gotta change a CV value.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, August 28, 2017 5:59 PM

I belonged to the MD Hydronauts, a scuba club, when I was a teenager.  I thought it worked pretty well but then again, I was young and stupid.

Everything I have been assoiciated with since, including business partnerships, hospital committess, clubs and home owners associations have been incompetence, malfeasance and nepotism, usually found in third world dictatorships.  Pirate

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Monday, August 28, 2017 7:30 PM

selector
Sometimes, though, it's really best to just light out on your own. That way, good or bad, success or fail, it's yours. I think many, if not most, in this particular hobby are aligned with that thinking.

I agree. I always found the individual thing works best for me. Plus, I did the group thing for many years at work.  Even when the group works well (which it did when I was in charge), it was never as satisfying.

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, August 28, 2017 7:55 PM

maxman
Some times I think there is some validity to this. At least the minimum modeling skills part. I would think that anyone interested in Model railroading would at least be able to assemble an Athearn Blue Box or Accurail car with Kadee couplers. We already have enough members who just sit around and gab.

Here's the rub..It appears the younger modelers are more into railroad specific detailed locomotives and detailed correct cars then generic freight cars.

As far as  those of us that has a weekly gabfest do we not pay our dues that helps pay the bills?

When the jobs are past around we may not be included in the work detail even though some of us are skilled modelers in certain areas and have even ask if they still need help and was still turned down.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, August 28, 2017 9:30 PM

I am in Free-mo.

It's a club.

Because there are standards, regular meetings, and general mutual support.

It is not a club.

Because there are no rules (official standards, yes.  But no organizational rules), no officers, no dues, no fixed club layout.

 

 

I find my Free-mo buddies to be extremely helpful and supportive.  

I will be going to a setup on Saturday.  I am expecting to have a great time.

 

Again.

 

 

Ed

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Monday, August 28, 2017 11:21 PM

BRAKIE
As far as those of us that has a weekly gabfest do we not pay our dues that helps pay the bills?

Yes, that part is correct.  But it would be nice if they did some things without being asked.  Like sweeping the floor, picking up the trash, straightening up all the little people that have fallen over, cleaning the track, and so on.

And if there is a problem, it would be nice if they tried to identify what was wrong, rather than saying "hey, Dick, the turnout in Bumville is broken" and then walking away without offering to help.

It would also be nice if they made an effort to show up to support the club and help out during the five weekends of our annual open house.  The only skill they exhibit is making themselves invisible.

Many years ago I also thought that having a large number of Minos (members in name only) was a good thing because they did help pay the bills.  But our club rules require a quorom of voting members to have a business meeting.  Which we were unable to do because the Minos couldn't bother to show up for the business meetings.  On those nights they did their gabbing elsewhere.

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, August 28, 2017 11:52 PM

BRAKIE

 As far as  those of us that has a weekly gabfest do we not pay our dues that helps pay the bills?

 

 

Perhaps clubs should have a special membership class  (let's call it Class A), where you pay your membership, but you don't have to do anything.  Of course, you don't get a vote.  But you do get to stand around and talk, if you keep out of the way.

Looks like a win-win.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 3:41 AM

maxman
And if there is a problem, it would be nice if they tried to identify what was wrong, rather than saying "hey, Dick, the turnout in Bumville is broken" and then walking away without offering to help.

I've been a member of several clubs over the years including one where you reported electrical,track or scenery problem to a committee and one of the committee members would address the issue. You did not touch or repair anything unless you are on the appointed committee.

Sweep the floor? The only times I recall seeing a floor swept in any of those clubs  was before a open house. As far as track cleaning..All of those clubs except one used a track cleaning car/locomotive that was pushed by 2 locomotives around the layout. The yard,passenger and engine terminal tracks was cleaned by the member that signed up for one of those jobs.

All of those clubs only certain members could repair a electrical problem.All other members stand clear.

What  I hate the most is not the members that shows up on a weekly bases to gab but,those key carrying members that shows up only on operation nights and arrives early enough to sign up for the jobs I mention above.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!