How to save a Train Club?

ROGERW posted:

dkdkrd, if you think that she is so great, I'll be more than GLAD to give you her number, being that she is no longer a member of our club!!!...lol........THANK GOD !!!!

So, Roger...  Referring back to my first post in this thread...and I'll quote:

"After trying a couple local clubs (HO, mostly) I, personally, have given up on the 'clubbie' option.  Too political, period!  ('My way or the highway' -itis)"

FWIW you might be interested to know that both of those clubs I tried to participate in and contribute to were all-male, dominated by....hmmmm, how shall I say this succinctly?....pompous jerks, maybe??  Of course, that was about 30-40 years ago, and we've all gained a lot more tolerance towards folks of different genders, races, nationalities, religious and political affiliations, hobby inclinations/paradigms, etc., etc., etc. since then. 

Right?

No, of course not.  In some respects it's all worse now than ever.

I'm sorry for your encounter and experience with a female model railroader. 

OTOH, I would hope that your former member hasn't let HER experience in your group diminish her enthusiasm for this hobby.   (OMG!  Was her first name Sarah???...)

finis

KD

Hello DKDKRD, Her name wasn't Sarah and I won't say what her name is. The problems that I had was when I first started the club. Some of the former members wanted to have sponsors to sponsor the layout. I was dead set against that and my reason why is when you take on sponsorship, it is expected that you will display the layout at many places as possible to make the sponsorship worth while. While that may seem doable on the surface, it becomes a problem for me as I would be responsible for finding places to display the layout. Then you have the problems of not having enough members to load, unload, set up layout, man layout, tear down and load layout, unload layout at my home. The former members and the females who I will not name didn't like the idea that they couldn't tell me what to do. They also wanted to have monthly dues and use the club as a money making project. That is NOT the reason why I started this club! My whole idea (and still my idea) is to make this club as affordable as possible, spread the joys of model railroading in the area in which I live, bring in like minded people whose goals are the same as mine. We have a Club initiation fee and you have to purchase a club shirt. There is NO DUES! When we need something we chip in together and purchase what we need. The majority of the outlay of time and money comes from me. Anytime I can absorb any costs for the club, I will do. Also the other thing that really made me mad is no one in the area where I live would take the time and the effort to start a club. Then all of a sudden you have people that come in wanting to take over what you started. Since those former members are gone, it has been a JOY to have the members that I have. If we're not displaying the layout, we will meet at each others homes to run trains, go out to eat dinner etc. As of right now, I couldn't ask for a great bunch of guys to be a part of a club with than I have now !!!!........rogerw.

Interesting stuff Guys but aren't we getting "way off track" no pun intended, re: Sam's original question. 

Thanks Sam

Lots of family and friends from up here are down there --- and everyone loves it 

If I make it down we will definitely get together

Good luck and thx again

Joe S

I have 2 sons in the South but I like the old Keystone state, thank you. Not all peaches and cream in Dixie.

jim pastorius posted:

Let the women collect dolls and other girlie stuff.  Dolls  make trains look cheap.

You have never been to American (made in China) Girl!

Thanks for all the advice on women. I knew I could get it on the Forum.

CSAM,

Sorry to hear of the problems your club is having. I hope you will be able to overcome your financial problems. I am a big proponent of Model Railroad Clubs. The problem with clubs located in commercial space is the high rent and the danger of the landlord changing or the space needed for another use. There are many clubs that have been disbanded for these reasons. High rent means a large membership is required to support the required expenses. Large membership requires organized leadership and usually involves politics. That is the baggage that comes with the territory. There are a lot of good suggestions here on how to build up membership and lower rent. I won't repeat these. The only thing I can add is to look at town resources for a possible club location. The museums are a good suggestion but also local towns may be able to offer you a low rent location. Approach the town historian and emphasize the history involved in the Railroads. Perhaps offer to model the railroad as it was in your area.  I hope you find a way to overcome your obstacles. I would hate to see another club fold.

ROGERW posted:

C.Sam, I've been close to dismantling my club too! Not having enough members to participate in going to display at train shows, not having adequate transportation etc. But the few who have stuck with me is the reason why I keep going. There were several of the members who wanted to rent space for our module layout, but I've been against it fearing what you are dealing with now. The modular layout is stored at my home to save money on renting a storage unit to put layout in. I wish you the best and do what you think is in the best interest of your club.......rogerw.

Hey Dewey!!! How are you???? It's good to hear from you!!!.............rogerw.

Hi Roger 

I am still kicking.  Age[84]and my difficult health issues as well as my wife's  have really limited my activities in recent years including helping with the Club.  I haven't done any work on my unfinished little attic layout--but it has been wired to run trains since Feb '10 when I hit the wall via a "small stroke". 

I was just admiring the recent thread displaying your covey of Southern and NS diesels. This indicates that I have become mellow in my old age when I admit to admiring stinking diesels.  [Maybe its just my eyesight but I could not spot your lonely Ps-4 steamer in the photos].

You have been tireless and done a great job as president of the Piedmont Triad Club and at substantial personal cost. Those who criticize your comment about trouble-makers in the Club, in comparison to their favorable female member experience, don't have a clue regarding the specific issues that you had to deal with and should hold their tongue.  

Glad to hear from you but sad to hear of C Sam's hard times. He founded and has successfully nourished their Club over time. 

Now that I think about it, you and I have the opposite problems: I'm looking for a decent club where there isn't one, and you're looking for members for a decent club. Wish I had an answer

Hey Dewey, Actually, I've acquired a MTH-Premier N&W "J" and N&W Class A (1218) Steam Engines...all are PS-3. That's it for steam engines!!!!...........................I think?...........lol........rogerw.

New Haven Joe - could not agree with you more. Two of our member's wives are always at the club supporting almost every show. Greeting people, escorting folks around the layout, cooking, modeling, etc. These two women contribute more that some of our male members. 

We need more women in the hobby - might drive more younger folk to join a club. Lionel made a girls set for that reason - maybe we need to take a good look at history.

K

Well there are a number of ways. I would suggest that if you have grandchildren or nephews you should invite them to help out. Get them involved in the hobby.

Sam, your activities list looks like too much of a time commitment for me.  I am not in your area of course but goodness it looks like a lot.  Most of us have grandkids and such too.  Can one be a member with limited time requirements?  Just my two cents.  Bert

Sure Bert - at this point we'll gladly take whatever time folks can give to it!

I really appreciate all of the input here guys; just some fellas playing with our trains. 

By the way, we are not incorporated at all as was decided after consultation

C Sam, sorry to hear of the club's problems.  Work responsibilities got in the way when you first started and now retired, health issues now restrict how far I can travel and participate.  Hopefully, something will come about that will enable you and the others to adequately assess the situation and make some decisions on how to proceed. 

PSU1980 posted:

New Haven Joe - could not agree with you more. Two of our member's wives are always at the club supporting almost every show. Greeting people, escorting folks around the layout, cooking, modeling, etc. These two women contribute more that some of our male members. 

 

It's not whether a member is male or female, it' the quality of the person. We have had male members that were trouble.

c.sam posted:

By the way, we are not incorporated at all as was decided after consultation

If you overcome your diffulties, as I hope you do, you should consider incorporating. Unfortunately, in today's sue first world, if someone injures themselves in your club and you are not incorporated, they can come after your members individually. Incorporation protects the members and their houses and savings etc. We did it a few years back and it's simple and inexpensive. 

jim pastorius posted:

Let the women collect dolls and other girlie stuff.  Dolls  make trains look cheap.

Wow! 

I believe that there are some women who are into model trains. Just because my personal experience with the women who were in my club wasn't good, doesn't mean that all women who are into model trains are bad......rogerw.

Dolls  make trains look cheap.

I don't think there is a lot of difference between collecting trains and collecting dolls (or anything else for that matter).
There are inexpensive dolls and trains.
And there are expensive dolls and trains.

But what do those words, "inexpensive" and "expensive" mean anyway?
My idea of their meaning is going to be different than yours.

So what are we doing now; selling off the Dollies to help CSam save his club?

My wife's Brother-in-Law (I refuse to claim him) collects Barbie Dolls. He was very excited when he scored an all "Original" 1959 Barbie.

I gave him a shredded Man-Card for Christmas... and a roll of Scotch tape.

If this gets any 'sillier' I may have to close/delete this thread!  

Well guy's man or woman dose not matter. I learned a lot from both my Mother and Father with the trains.

Mom was a great builder of some of our store displays. She thought us a lot about building kits. She would make shore each building told a story. She always said it was in the details people were one of the most important thing she would  says.  To this day when she visits my house she is one of my best critics. 

The opinion of pushing the women away from the hobby is like the kid that got the train set for Christmas and dad wouldn't let the kid play with it. Then wonders why the kid has no interest in the hobby. Wonder why??

I look at it this way they can't make it any worse than me. If it was not for the kids I probably would be on the internet. They thought me how to use this thing and they didn't brake. 

Gilly@N&W posted:

My wife's Brother-in-Law (I refuse to claim him) collects Barbie Dolls. He was very excited when he scored an all "Original" 1959 Barbie.

I gave him a shredded Man-Card for Christmas... and a roll of Scotch tape.

I'm not into dolls at all, but I have to point out that there are plenty of people who don't consider it manly to be 'playing with toy trains'...

Sam

You are going to hate me but I just can't help this.

P-51, you are correct, but old guys just don't give a rats *** about playing with toy trains. hee hee

Larry

watch this puppy!!

PSU1980 posted:

New Haven Joe - could not agree with you more. Two of our member's wives are always at the club supporting almost every show. Greeting people, escorting folks around the layout, cooking, modeling, etc. These two women contribute more that some of our male members. 

We need more women in the hobby - might drive more younger folk to join a club. Lionel made a girls set for that reason - maybe we need to take a good look at history.

K

One needs to look at some of ads Lionel had in the 1950's.  Many had mothers and daughters in them.  Maybe not at the ZW, but they WERE there.  Considering the times, interesting!

BTW, last time my nephew and niece were on the layout, guess who entered the train room FIRST!!!!!!  (And there was not a PINK engine on the layout!)

Beautiful layout certainly worth trying to save. As has been suggested getting on the web and searching for some Crowd Funding is certainly worth trying. Your civic and social contributions are a solid selling point.

Another is a swap meet, the Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club maintains a huge and impressive HO layout on very few members. They sponsor an annual swap meet in early November every year and have for the better part of 30 years. When I'm not traveling I make it a point to attend and I work to adjust my schedule to do that. It is always well attended by individual sellers as well as local hobby shops and the crowds are always large. It's been that way forever. Mostly young families with kids and of course lots of us gray beards.

They are currently building a new layout, all this stuff is on the web just copy the name into your browser and stand back.

By the way I probably should be but I'm not a member, I'm one of those dastardly lone wolves. But I always find a way to drop some good chunks of change at their swap meet.

Bogie

One more idea to consider. River City 3 Railers all started with 4 guys running trains at the Chesterfield County Fair. A search of the internet and there ya go the Haywood County Fair in Waynesville, N.C.  Contact the GM of the Fair and see if they will let you setup your modular layout. Priority #1 MEMBERS. The one big negative I'm not seeing is a LHS w/ MTH/Lionel. Maybe I've just missed it. 

Hi Gilly.  We've done the Haywood Co Fair several times but got bumped the last two years by the Red Cross (!) The gal who is in charge of scheduling apologized to us but we never really understood why this happened. We were definitely a good part of the show from comments we would hear.

We even did a one evening set-up for them when they showed the Polar Express two years ago.

At the meeting tonight we have pretty well decided to go ahead and shut down. We'll start dismantling next week and remove personal items. Next step will be to offer the layout itself for sale...

What a shame Sam.   It's hard enough getting members in a populous area like we are in  I can imagine the frustration.   If you or your members are ever up our way stop by and run some trains

So sorry to hear that your club has had to make this very difficult decision. Chiming-in on what Ben said, OGR Forum members are always welcome to run at River City 3 Railer displays.

p51 posted:

Gilly@N&W posted:

My wife's Brother-in-Law (I refuse to claim him) collects Barbie Dolls. He was very excited when he scored an all "Original" 1959 Barbie.

I gave him a shredded Man-Card for Christmas... and a roll of Scotch tape.

I'm not into dolls at all, but I have to point out that there are plenty of people who don't consider it manly to be 'playing with toy trains'...

More than "Plenty" have that idea Lee!!

Ron_S posted:

Rod,

If you Snowbird in the Phoenix area, drop into McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale. We have a large building housing an O, N and HO scale club.  We meet the first Thursday of each month other than July/August, are open 363 days a year, and run on schedule as well as when track is free.

Thepandprr.com will show you our club and venue.

Ron

Ron; I just got back to this thread and read your post. Indeed we do snowbird in Arizona, in the Sedona area, but we get down to Phoenix area often enough visiting friends. I would love to slip over and visit McCormick Ranch, and thanks so much for the invitation. I look forward to that this coming winter.

I note several folks on here said that $100 initiation fee and $50 a month fees are way too high. I am by no means a rich guy, but I would cheerfully pay those fees to support a local O gauge club and keep it healthy, given the option. Funny how perceptions vary!

Rod

To clarify perhaps - When we started we all put up $100 and set the dues at $25 mo which was doable for everyone involved. It's only been this last year that we had a few fellas move and drop out that the dues were raised to $50 which IS unreasonable!

The $100 initiation fee is a 'mere pittance' to pay for the use of the layout considering our investment here...

Anyone out there interested in our extensive layout?   It started out as a modular layout so most of it is composed of 48" x 30" tables with three lines of track and accompanying wiring harnesses. Some of the curves are larger sections that were built in place but could possibly be moved intact. In all likelihood it can be moved with minimal damage.

The tables are 1 x 3 frames with 2" pink foam laminated to 1/4" Luann. Pretty light and strong. Track is  70% Gargraves and 30% Scaletrax. Ross switches and one Ross Dbl Crossover.

Sam,

I am certainly sorry to see you have to close your club and sell the layout!  Not having been in a club before, I didn't have any advice and just lurked on this one.  I can see it can be tough getting a club going and perhaps keeping it going is tougher in a lightly populated area as you live in.  Probably tough in the city too.  I hope someone is able to take on the layout and move it somewhere so other folks can enjoy it.

Ya'll did not consider getting rid of the big layout and just go modular?