Imformal survey

I will not be renewing. Now that both my wife and I are retired and on fixed incomes I couldn't even afford it at $35. If you have the $50 then fine but I just don't have it to spare.

I am in the same boat. In these times you have watch every cent. I support their efforts and members but it has been 4 years since I made it to york..

Ahh I have come across this before Dave. It is the credit card service company (who provide the card machine) won't insure for the use of foreign cards. Mind boggling in this day and age isnt it.

Best thing I every did was get a US bank account to avoid all this nonsense.

I am on the fence.... To those of you who know me, it's MY opinion the biggest downfall this organization has is "our world class museum" and the high paid staff in the business office!  I was at the first mortgage burning of the TCA museum, oh, what's that? yes we had payed off the museum in full, how many of you remember that or just how long ago that was? It has been "MY" opinion that it was built in the wrong place! And to be honest, we should NOT have built it in the first place! At the time it was built, the economy was pretty good, we all seemed to have pretty good jobs, and it looked as though the sky was the limit! Flash forward to today... anyone think this economy is great? The TCA is simply not going to survive with this albatross hanging around our necks! Do any of you know what we are paying the "Paid" staff at the museum or the business office? NO! We the members are NOT allowed to know what these people are paid, how much paid vacation they get per year, or how much we pay for there medical insurance! Really? I asked several folks at various levels of our group, and it simply is not to be common knowledge! We the dues paying folk's are not allowed to have this information! Why? would there be a revolt if these things would be revealed to the group? Are we over paying? I think the question answers itself....  

You know at one time, the TCA pretty much owned the field as to available information concerning toy trains... not anymore... this fine magazine and others, as well as the internet can allow you all the information the world has to offer.. for much less, or for FREE! Yes, I do still attend fall York meet, and enjoy meeting with friends I have made over the years,  and I do still like the publications, and at this point in time I can still afford the dues....  Just not sure it's still worth it.... 

Al Kusmira Jr,   TCA# 77-11263

I'll pay it for now

Al,

B-I-N-G-O!

I joined in '95, and will not renew in the hopes that those like me will send a powerful message.

Back in July i posted the following: "

Undecided because the TCA has had what amounts to at least a decade long history of inept financial planning. The trend of decreasing membership has been evident for at least five years now, and what planning for it has been done? NONE. The aging of the membership has been a known fact for well over ten years and what planning has been done for it? NONE. Has the TCA shown any concrete plans for becoming a viable organization with 20,000 of fewer members? NO. How can an organization justify a 30% increase in dues when the annual rate of inflation for the last 5 years has been less than 2.5% per year? My indecision is based not on the value of TCA membership, but on how long am i willing to support an organization so lacking in long term financial vision.

jackson

TCA 84-21538"

In reading the most recent TCA Quarterly it appears the leadership is merely giving a fresh spin to the same old excuses as to why they need more money. When my renewal comes up the end of this year i will need some very powerful convincing from them to continue my relationship into what will have been its 30th year.

jackson

I will not be renewing at the new rates. Only reason I held out this long was the now bygone "no longer pay dues" for seniors after 20 years and over 65, only to find out it no longer is available. Since they did away with that, they now send those members letters asking them to donate. Kinda like the government, they pay you Social Security and then tax you on it if you make more than poverty income. York is just too expensive, bargains can be had elsewhere. And the magazine is for those who collect tinplate and are over 75 years old. The cars and TCA logo items they offer members are way overpriced. Just not enough benefits to command the $50.00 year when you are on fixed income. Sorry, but it's time to bow out. At least I won't have to listen to all the in-fighting and backstabbing any more.

Pay.

Originally posted by "Old Uncle Al".

____________________________________________________________________

"Do any of you know what we are paying the "Paid" staff at the museum or the business office? NO! We the members are NOT allowed to know what these people are paid, how much paid vacation they get per year, or how much we pay for there medical insurance! Really? I asked several folks at various levels of our group, and it simply is not to be common knowledge! We the dues paying folk's are not allowed to have this information! Why? would there be a revolt if these things would be revealed to the group? Are we over paying? I think the question answers itself...

__________________________________________________________________

Old Uncle Al's comments are interesting in that it has always been my opinion that tax exempt, non profit organizations had to have "open books".  Why is our BOD so afraid to open the books to the membership?  Are they possibly violating Federal Law? 

Also, in the correspondence from our TCA president, not one word of mention of cutting back on spending, a new budget to reflect our present situation or a reduction in staff to cut costs.  It appears as in the past, going forward, our loose spending and loose budget or lack of one at all, will only intensify our present situation.  Does our organization have a solid business plan going forward addressing cost cutting, probably not.  Many organizations in the past have literally spent their way out of business.  This could happen to the TCA if we don't get our act together.

Am I going to pay, probably for one more year hoping some very positive action will be taken to resolve our problems.  If not, I am out in 2015.

Jim Lawson  TCA 88-28251

{bolding mine just to pick out the points I am referencing}

Call me illogical, but it would seem eliminating a benefit of free membership once someone hits 65 and has 20 years of membership would be a good way to narrow a budget gap, considerring how many members fit into that demographic (as mentioned in many posts, the membership is aging).  However long that went on had to cost quite a bit in lost dues.

Such a thing is only sustainable with large bases of members of the age where the dues will be paid.  The TCA is "top heavy" in the age department, so how long could that model be expected to survive?

As to the magazine, even though I am not a collector of most items written about, I do appreciate it and consider it a benefit to membership.  I'm just slightly north of 40, a few years left to get to 75.

-Dave

if there was a membership where you could just receive the quarterly magazine, i'd subscribe to that, but i see no benefit in supporting a museum on the other side of the country.  that function should be a self sustaining entity supported by local members.  i belong to a number of live steam clubs as a non-resident (usually more than 100 miles distant) member.  i get their publications and am always welcome at the club, but at a fraction of the cost for someone who utilizes the track on a regular basis.

pay