Another quick dip into the discussion: I am a life member of NMRA but have
never been to a national convention and very few regionals in the thirty-five
yearssince I joined. Some of it is the expense, but probably more is the
logistics of taking off several days and getting there and back. Probably I am
missing quite a bit of sociability with other model railroaders, but I have
been very active in a fraternal organization for almost as long as I've been in
the NMRA and that largelyscratches that itch, as well as regular connections
with my college classmates and other friends made over the years.
I wonder if one solution to the question might be a nominal one-day membership
for lookers testing the waters, on the idea of those "clubs" in dry areas,
mostlyin the Bible Belt, where one can enjoy mixed drinks in a "private"
setting where public bars/taverns/saloons are illegal? Would that meet the
insurance requirementthat only members of the organization can be covered?
Perhaps even a back issue of the NASG journal could be included to sweeten the
pot.
Much as I believe in charity and philanthropy and the value of volunteering,
any organization that routinely expects people to not only offer their services
(often payingtheir own expenses) and ALSO pony up a registration fee for the
privilege of doing so seems to be expecting more than even the most generous
are likely to accept.Although, come to think of it, that is what adult scouters
used to joke about while they did it (been there, done that--both of my adult
sons are Eagle Scouts and OA,so I suppose it was worth it).
Jace Kahn
General Manager
Ceres & Canisteo RR Co./Champlain County Traction Co.
I was hoping to stay out of the surcharge thing, but our NMRA Region
does a similar thing including the guys giving clinics. I was asked
to give a clinic for the Lone Star Region convention in a
neighboring city.
Although, I've enjoyed every convention, one simply can't afford to
do them all. In this case besides having to handle all the travel
expenses, to give my presentation I would have to pay registration
to give it. Most of the convention was clinics, some field trips
and layout tours and a banquet. I certainly can understand not
giving everything away because most of these groups aren't rich
enough for that, but to charge a presenter seemed pretty far out. I
declined.
Likewise, the Houston S Gaugers were asked to set up our modules
when that same convention was being held here. We were told our
group would be able to "nose around" and attend the clinics during
our operating times. I accepted the invitation based on that
thinking that some of our guys actually might like the group. After
a short time things changed, I was told that we could be there to
operate but we would not be allowed away from our assigned space. I
also declined at that time. I've always supported all the
organizations that supported the hobby but sometimes the costs are
too great and too lopsided for the volunteers.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
--- In [email protected],
Ed Kozlowsky <soldado7264@...> wrote:
>
> Except the surcharge for the 2012 convention is $25.
>
> Ed Kozlowsky
> Sanford, MaineÂ
I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I think a 25 buck
surcharge for non-members is excessive. Especially if they
also have to pay the regular registration fee to boot. (I
don't know, do they?)
Saying you also get NASG membership for that 25 bucks is
akin to forcing someone to volunteer. They might not want
to join. It might be better to reduce the non-member fee
and offer membership on the spot as an option.
I suppose my other question is, does this $25 surcharge
allow the non-member anything else other than access to a
small to moderate swap at show time?
S is a hard sell as it is. Particularly now with the
economy AND our 3 major builders temporarily not producing
anything through no fault of their own.
The casual other-scaler might like to see what S is about,
but not ready to jump scales. At $25.00 he might just as
likely turn around and walk. (Maybe, I'm wrong here...)
If I had to pay an extra $25 for an "exclusive S" swap, I
would have probably said "I think I'll stick with HO,
thank you."
It took YEARS of me going to S-Fests(no surcharges) at a
freinds encouragement before I switched scales. And I
didn't join the NASG until several years AFTER switching
to S.
Now, convention organizers know more that I if the the $25
surcharge is counter productive or not. I could be all
wet. I'm just voicing my opinion.
Rich G(ajnak)
