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.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
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 .
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
selectorParticularly when he's a large and loud person to whom people around him routinely defer.
Living the dream.
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.
PRR8259Regarding 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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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
BRAKIEThe 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?
joe3232) 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.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
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.
I did not join a local club for 2 reasons
1) One of the officers made a stereotypical remark about a certain ethnicity.
It was not a welcoming environment I have not been back but I am willing to look at other clubs.
Joe Staten Island West
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
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. 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.
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.
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?
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.
PRR8259Imo 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.
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.
tstageLarry, The OP stated that they are "down two members" rather than "to two members"... Tom
Tom,My bad with appolgies..Thanks for correcting that.
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.
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 .
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.
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
rockymidlandrrMaybe 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.
rockymidlandrrFor 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. 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..
Maybe its time to shutter the doors on the DC club and start a new DCC club?
7j43k rockymidlandrr The members that are pushing for a simpled wiring system with DCC, and the elimination of the the hundred DC blocks for DC operation... My recollection from my old block wiring days is that you throw ALL the blocks to one cab (the DCC supply) and you're suddenly DCC. Done! What am I missing? They want to keep the 30 year old dual mode system on the layout that has a failure everytime it is set up. What is a "dual mode system"? And why do you guys allow it to fail every time it is set up? Is no one there competent to do wiring? They would rather keep the 30 year old track plan, with nothing being renovated an have useful industries and a purpose for each and every track. Yeah, I can imagine. I'd recommend getting DCC working first, before redoing a buncha track. I gotta agree, the word "dysfunctional" does seem to fit. Ed
rockymidlandrr The members that are pushing for a simpled wiring system with DCC, and the elimination of the the hundred DC blocks for DC operation...
They want to keep the 30 year old dual mode system on the layout that has a failure everytime it is set up.
What is a "dual mode system"? And why do you guys allow it to fail every time it is set up? Is no one there competent to do wiring?
They would rather keep the 30 year old track plan, with nothing being renovated an have useful industries and a purpose for each and every track.
Yeah, I can imagine. I'd recommend getting DCC working first, before redoing a buncha track.
I gotta agree, the word "dysfunctional" does seem to fit.
What are you missing? Is that the current configuration is closing in on 30 years old, the wiring is tired after 30 years of set ups and tear downs. There are shorts and unpowered sections in the track now due to the current wiring that could be fixed and simplified.
We have the capability to control any track at any time on one of three lines power source from a panel, and each panel has its own DC power supply for DC operations. Through this, there are over 1000 solder joints on the many many rotary switches that control each and every section of track. These switches all have some degree of corrosion on the contacts Due to their age.
Of course we have competent people, they're just not allowed to mess with the wiring. There are two people who handle the wiring, both in their 80s, and wont allow anyone else to touch it. One of them is one of the guys that made the system we have now, but is unwilling to admit that its too much of a hassle to keep up with now.
Paul3 rockymidlandrr,When does a club because dysfunctional? It's when the majority of members believe that their personal egos are more important than the club. I've been a member of a large club for 25 years. You'll always have conflicts, big or small, but conflicts do not equal dysfunction. It's when these conflicts cannot be resolved that it becomes dysfunctional. The members have to learn how to lose gracefully; they aren't going to be able to get their way all the time. At some point, one has to realize this and live with less than ideal results for the benefit of all. Sure, one can fight (and fight) until one wins...but what good is winning if the rest of the club members walk out the door, never to return? One should always think about the good of the club first. This is a cooperative effort; one needs to learn how to cooperate in order to flourish as a club. Something I would suggest for any club is to do non-club things together for the purpose of building friendships. For example, at my club we have an annual pool party every summer and an annual X-Mas party every December, both held at member's houses. We have club trips on Amtrak or to railroad museums. We have had banquets at the club with families, we travel together to big train shows like Springfield, and so on. All clubs should have activities in order to build a fellowship between the members, which is actually Rule #1 at our club. Rule #2 is to build a model railroad, but that's only after we obey Rule #1. As for DC vs. DCC, the club should really have a vote to resolve the issue. It's what my club did; the final tally was 41 to 10 for DCC-only. Of the 10 members that didn't vote for DCC, only one quit because of it (mainly because he's cheap). The rest either coped, became DCC users themselves, or don't run trains (not a big deal...these guys didn't run trains in the first place). One result of the debate was that we hold a monthy DCC installation clinic at the club since 1999 (when we voted). One member maintains a collection of DCC decoders & LED's, and these can be purchased off of him at the clinics. BTW, our club has a roster of some 50 locos (of all kinds) that belong to the club. All have DCC decoders. Anyone who can't afford DCC (or locos at all) can certainly use our club-owned equipment; that is what it is there for. We also have a number of club-owned DCC throttles which serve the same purpose as well as being a back up for any member who has a throttle die during a show or operation session. Graham Line,Brass should have nothing to do with it. I've installed DCC decoders in dozens of brass locos, and it's actually easier than doing an Athearn BB. tstage,At our club, we have committees and the committee chairman is responsible for everything that committee does. The Electrical Committee Chairman is the one that decides on the wiring standards. If it isn't up to snuff, it is done over until it is correct. Same goes for the Benchwork Committee, the Scenery Committee, Trackwork Committee, etc. Overseeing all committees is the Chief Engineer, who is annually elected by the membership and serves on the Board of Directors. If the Chief Engineer doesn't like what the committee does, he can overrule them as he is in charge of all layout standards.
rockymidlandrr,When does a club because dysfunctional? It's when the majority of members believe that their personal egos are more important than the club.
I've been a member of a large club for 25 years. You'll always have conflicts, big or small, but conflicts do not equal dysfunction. It's when these conflicts cannot be resolved that it becomes dysfunctional. The members have to learn how to lose gracefully; they aren't going to be able to get their way all the time. At some point, one has to realize this and live with less than ideal results for the benefit of all. Sure, one can fight (and fight) until one wins...but what good is winning if the rest of the club members walk out the door, never to return?
One should always think about the good of the club first. This is a cooperative effort; one needs to learn how to cooperate in order to flourish as a club.
Something I would suggest for any club is to do non-club things together for the purpose of building friendships. For example, at my club we have an annual pool party every summer and an annual X-Mas party every December, both held at member's houses. We have club trips on Amtrak or to railroad museums. We have had banquets at the club with families, we travel together to big train shows like Springfield, and so on. All clubs should have activities in order to build a fellowship between the members, which is actually Rule #1 at our club. Rule #2 is to build a model railroad, but that's only after we obey Rule #1.
As for DC vs. DCC, the club should really have a vote to resolve the issue. It's what my club did; the final tally was 41 to 10 for DCC-only. Of the 10 members that didn't vote for DCC, only one quit because of it (mainly because he's cheap). The rest either coped, became DCC users themselves, or don't run trains (not a big deal...these guys didn't run trains in the first place). One result of the debate was that we hold a monthy DCC installation clinic at the club since 1999 (when we voted). One member maintains a collection of DCC decoders & LED's, and these can be purchased off of him at the clinics.
BTW, our club has a roster of some 50 locos (of all kinds) that belong to the club. All have DCC decoders. Anyone who can't afford DCC (or locos at all) can certainly use our club-owned equipment; that is what it is there for. We also have a number of club-owned DCC throttles which serve the same purpose as well as being a back up for any member who has a throttle die during a show or operation session.
Graham Line,Brass should have nothing to do with it. I've installed DCC decoders in dozens of brass locos, and it's actually easier than doing an Athearn BB.
tstage,At our club, we have committees and the committee chairman is responsible for everything that committee does. The Electrical Committee Chairman is the one that decides on the wiring standards. If it isn't up to snuff, it is done over until it is correct. Same goes for the Benchwork Committee, the Scenery Committee, Trackwork Committee, etc. Overseeing all committees is the Chief Engineer, who is annually elected by the membership and serves on the Board of Directors. If the Chief Engineer doesn't like what the committee does, he can overrule them as he is in charge of all layout standards.
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.
As for putting this issue to a vote, it has been attempted several times and proposed to go all DCC, and for those not wanting to convert the club will buy 2-3 decoders and install them into the resisting members engines and teach them how to use it so that they will still be able to run their trains. Every time it is shot down. They want to keep the 30 year old dual mode system on the layout that has a failure everytime it is set up.
We have broken things down into a few committees, but unfortunately the Renovation/Planning committee has became a scapegoat for the electrical team to blame the failures on. They would rather keep the 30 year old track plan, with nothing being renovated an have useful industries and a purpose for each and every track.
There has been a push over the years to have true operation sessions as well, with several getting on board for that but again there are those certain members that want nothing to do with that and resist that as well. When the members (mostly the younger crowd, ages 15-30) who have attended true operating sessions and have ran operating sessions on their personal layouts as well (I have a 20 by 20 layout, large enough for multiple "jobs" running at once), they're brushed aside like they don't know what they're doing.
Paul3 BTW, our club has a roster of some 50 locos (of all kinds) that belong to the club. All have DCC decoders. Anyone who can't afford DCC (or locos at all) can certainly use our club-owned equipment; that is what it is there for. We also have a number of club-owned DCC throttles which serve the same purpose as well as being a back up for any member who has a throttle die during a show or operation session.
Pretty much the same story at my former club, though we had nowhere near fifty locos. Probably ten or twelve or so. And three or four extra throttles. Plus, there were dozens of freight cars stored all over the layout in industries and in sidings. One could spend a perfectly enjoyable evening borrowing one of the club locos, grabbing a throttle, and going around the layout picking up a decent string of cars. And then putting them all back again.
The point is that members can fully participate in club activities even though their home equipment is not compatible with the club layout, or even if they have no equipment whatsoever.
IRONROOSTEROnly thing to do is have 2 layouts - 1 for each of you.
I have often thought about this... One SGRR in 1954 and one in 1968. That might be the true path to happiness.
But then, we know how John Allen's interest in HOn3 faded when he tried to do both.
rrinker IRONROOSTER <snip> Now you know why so many of us don't belong to clubs. Oh I know there are many advantages, but the "club of one" has no arguments. <snip> Paul I dunno, I argue with myself all the time.... --Randy
IRONROOSTER <snip> Now you know why so many of us don't belong to clubs. Oh I know there are many advantages, but the "club of one" has no arguments. <snip> Paul
<snip>
Now you know why so many of us don't belong to clubs. Oh I know there are many advantages, but the "club of one" has no arguments.
Paul
I dunno, I argue with myself all the time....
You must have one of those split personalities.
Only thing to do is have 2 layouts - 1 for each of you.