I was sitting in the library

[Big_Boy_4005]

....at my kid's elementary school yesterday afternoon. I volunteer to run a chess club after school. While the kids were playing, my eyes and mind wandered, and I focused on the magazine rack.

In the past, we have had a number of topics about getting kids interested in model railroading. We have even discussed the availability of MR in public libraries. Then it hit me.

Why not donate a subscription to your local school??

Of course this isn't for everyone, but if you have the $40, and the passion, it seems like the thing to do.[8D]

[SilverSpike]

An angel must have been on your shoulders!
[angel][angel][angel][angel][angel][angel]

Excellent idea Big_Boy_4005! Giving back to the community is a great opportunity to provide support for others, and spreading the news about model railroading too! I will have to visit my son's school library and see what periodicals they are lacking.

Thanks,

Ryan

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Ryan, I do have my moments of inspiration. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to follow through with it at this time. However, by doing the chess club, I have helped the school raise about $600 in activity fees, this year alone. Those funds are available to the principal to use as he sees fit.

[Anonymous]

Might be able to pick up the World's Greatest Hobby Video", 52 minutes, building your first model RR, I think for about $16.00
Just another thought.
Many schools today have a VCR in the class room.

[SilverSpike]

You know Big_Boy_4005; you got the cogs a turnin’ in my head now! BTW, your chess club is a great volunteer activity! I can feel the steam pressure starting to build; the throttle is quaking to turn it up a notch! Volunteerism is a great thing, there are plenty of local model RR clubs that provide open houses to Cub and Boy Scouts, or youth groups, but do they actually have a way of supporting youth in other ways? Would they provide learning material or periodicals, such as MR? And what about MR and Kalambach, do they have any type of formal "giving back to the community" opportunities? Such as a MR Youth Foundation. Something like that!

Just some random thoughts about giving back to the community and spreading the word!

- Ryan

[cwclark]

great idea!...I used to loan my MRR mags to the boys in my Boy Scout troop when they came over for the Railroading Merit badge seminars i used to put on ....one of the boys actually took it to heart and now he and his dad are building a nice layout....anyway possible to get the word out usually produces good results...chuck

[Anonymous]

Another possibility is to donate any of your no longer needed back issues. Some of the material in these magazines is timeless, so older issues of the magazine would still contain many things that would be of interest to modelers at any time. The only difficulty is figuring out which issues you don't want to keep :-) !

[trolleyboy]

It is a good idea, i'd take it one step further see if any local train museums or local histrical societies are in your area maybe sponser the kids to go to them as a class trip

[steveblackledge]

good idea that one is, i was in my youngest boys pre-school last week and i had a similar thought, magazines would be difficult as they are all under 4yrs but a display on a board would be interesting, as an Ambassador i have the WGH videos, the 15 minuet introduction tape is a good one, give them a copy of the free magazine and a sticker that comes with it for a start, i am thinking of building a small train layout with their assistance of course, just a basic oval will do, as long as it's geared towards 3-4yr olds