TCA Membership

you can start by volunteering to man one of these tables.

If you look at the TCA bulletin, there is a long list of new members joining every month. Trouble is that the TCA s is losing members a bit faster.

Faced with an aging membership base, many of whom have retired, are in ill heath, who have downsized/relocated and are now on a limited fixed income its tough to hold on to members forever.

Like many of you I joined TCA when I was a young man. It was a time where there was no internet, cell phones, computers,video games, and cable TV was just getting started. At that time the new train collectors came from the babyboom generation that saw long distance train travel as prime transportation. Many also owned trains as a youth and wanted to rekindle their interest in them. Today most guys in their 20's and 30's know nothing about model trains and are too preoccupied with all of the high tech stuff of the day. As they get older they may take an interest in dad's trains but few are coming into a hobby that requires some manual labor. Gone are the days of Erector sets, Chemistry sets, Microscope kits, Magic sets and  board games. Point is that the youth of today cannot relate to the older way of amusments. Hence little interest in TCA

Dennis pretty much summed it up - we are largely an AGING demographic - no racial slur intended, but our numbers are mostly old white men, and "the times they are a 'changin" as Bob Dylan (remember him?) once so aptly put it.

 

To be sure, there will likely always be model trains as a hobby, but the future will be dramatically different than the present, so enjoy them while you can!

 

Carpe diem! 

 

Problem is many TCA guys are collectors. How many kids who's dad had lots of mint condition postwar trains and wouldn't allow them to be touched or run because they would loose value have no interest in toy trains now? Betting a lot found something else to do.

I was a member for 25 years, but quit about 6 years ago. I never went to York in all that time.

 

I started in the Rocky Mountain division, and loved it. A great group of guys and great meets. When I moved back to my native Minnesota, I was in Lakes and Pines. And while the guys were nice enough, the organization was dull. Every month the same guys would drag out the same stuff and an hour later it was over. It got to the point where it wasn't worth the drive. I went to a few national conventions over the years. 

 

I guess I got to the point where I didn't feel the organization was worth the dues anymore. Beside, I don't consider myself to be a "collector" anymore. I'm a model railroader and a member of the NMRA, and have been for 37 years.

 

quote:

Problem is many TCA guys are collectors. How many kids who's dad had lots of mint condition postwar trains and wouldn't allow them to be touched or run because they would loose value have no interest in toy trains now? Betting a lot found something else to do.

 

That's a popular myth.

You cannot force anybody to be interested in toy trains or model railroading.

Involving your kids with your hobby is no guarantee that they will take it up.

 

Two of my buddies and I all kept our kids heavily involved in toy trains as they were growing up. None of my buddies kids have any interest in trains.

My older son is interested in HO and N gauge model railroading.

He knows plenty about Lionel trains too.

My younger son also knows a lot about Lionel trains, and is very good at repairing them. He has dabbled with "O", "HO" and "N" gauge trains, but he does not have any interest in doing anything with  toy trains at all.

I enjoyed the TCA.  And as far as I know, I'm still getting older... still in my 40's though.

 

I worked on a TCA National Convention Committee.  I hosted tours of my layout.  I hosted bus trips.

 

I still have my layout, and play with my trains.  But with rising gas prices, food prices, train prices, boat supply prices etc... I started to look around at things I was paying for and not using all that much.

 

The TCA was at the top of the list.  I went to York once, as part of my Convention duties.  I've been to one division show.  5 hours each way. 

 

So it came down to the Quarterly, and was I getting anything out of it that I wasn't getting from OGR or CTT.  The answer was not enough to justify the expense. 

 

And please don't say that I'll only get out of it what I put in.  Been there, done that.  Still have the shirts. 

 

And driving 9 or ten hours each way to York, or 5 hours each way to a Divisional meet (on a SUNDAY!) is just not something that interests me at this time.

 

Jon

This is exactly what METCA (Metropolitan Division of TCA) does.  In fact, this almost sounds like a sales pitch for what we're doing this weekend.  METCA will have a table at the Greenberg show in Edison NJ.  Last month, we had a table at the Greenberg show in Queens, NY.  We also usually have a table at the Dover show in Dover, NJ.

 

All of the operators/promoters of these shows provide METCA with a FREE table to do exactly what you mention ... promoting the TCA and our local Division (METCA).  Other then "selling" memberships, this is not a sales table.

 

So, I suggest that you get in contact with your local TCA Division as well as the train shows in your area.  When you offer your services to the Division, whether they get a free table or have to pay for 1, they'd be crazy not to take you up on your offer.

 

Remember, your local Division Board of Directors is made up of real people like you and me.  Don't ask "them" to do it.  YOU have to do it.

 

If you have any further questions or need help getting in contact with your local Division, feel free to contact me.

 

Stu

President, METCA Division

Not involving them will pretty much guarantee no interest.

quote:

Not involving them will pretty much guarantee no interest.

 

So what makes you think TCA members act as you claim?

I belong to both TCA and the NMRA.  I see TCA membership numbers on a regular basis but I can't recall seeing NMRA membership numbers.  Does anybody know what they are like, what the trend is, or where they are posted?

I wouldn't conflate the trajectory of the TCA membership with that of the O gauge aspect of the hobby as a whole.  There may be some similarities, but TCA has the same challenges that many enthusiast-oriented clubs have: it is being supplanted by online forums and specific publications (online and print) that service the needs of the membership.  TCA has other issues that likely contribute to its demographics challenge, but those discussions will have a tendency to degenerate and so I will leave it there.

It seems C W said his buddies (I highlighted the line) kept their kids heavily involved and they did not maintain an interest.

 

You can't force a hobby on anyone, be it trains, R/C cars, stamps or whatever.  Forcing it is a sure way to turn them away. 

 

Part of a child's growing up process is to develop his/her own interests.  Either they will remain interested or they will not.  Some may come back to the hobby later in life, others will not.

 

No one in my family had more than a passing interest in trains, yet my interest grew organically (much to my parents dismay at the time) from "the Lionel" being set up at Christmas, a smattering of varoius train toys and two train trips from when I was very young. 

 

It didn't hurt that when we moved from the city to the 'burbs, the IC was a half a block away and the Q a block and a half away...

 

I also was once hot and heavy into plastic kits(cars, ships, planes,) an interest that has long since past.

 

Rusty

Reads very much like a relevance issue, saying “the hobby is a bunch of old white guys…” points out very clearly. If that is the case and no efforts are made to reach out to younger and more ethnically diverse populations then yes everything said will become reality – the hobby and the TCA will slowly die out until there are nearly no members remaining in either group.

 

Change is coming and in many ways that should be embraced and celebrated, there is more technology in trains now than ever, with more coming, technology that makes the hobby more appealing to a younger demographic.One cannot blame technology for less interest in the hobby any more than one can say technology through increased life expectancy has grown the hobby by keeping hobbyist alive longer.

 

At the same time with some outreach there are lots of kids who, if exposed, might have an interest.  Lima is spot on that if younger people are not exposed then they will not seek out the hobby on their own – as in how does one have an interest in something they don’t know exists.

 

I joined this year, there is not a huge benefit that I can see, but there is also not a huge cost either. We will see how it goes future forward.

For me, the TCA membership is very worthwhile. I also live a considerable distance from the local Division's activities and York, but when I add it all up considering the overall benefits to this club, having my membership makes good sense to me.

 

Fortunately, I have been to York several times and there are many items on my layout now that give it a special personality that I would have never found were it not for the trips to York.

 

I am an operator and have absolutely no interest in the collecting aspects of our hobby. There are many of us in the TCA that also categorize ourselves as operators. I also congratulate the leadership of the TCA for the recent ballot that included a survey of what the interests are of the members. They are at least trying to understand the direction of the membership.

 

So if you are on the fence about keeping your membership, please do as it will help all of us in continuing the hobby.

Besides a aging (I'm 71) and dying (knock on wood) membership, I think another reason membership is less attractive to non-York goers is the internet. Years ago, the TCA was one of the few links to other "train people". Now Forums like this one, plus sites for information, have taken over. I hate to say it...but if the York Meet stopped, the TCA would be in deep trouble.

I have been a TCA member since 1985 and the only reason I am is for York. This april will be my 57th straight york. Other then York I find nothing else that makes it worthwhile to be in the TCA. 

 

Joe has it right, if I did not go to York I would not be a member of the TCA. 

I think the hobby will survive in some form, and the TCA may also but in a possibly smaller fashion.  Nothing is forever.  If you would have told me 20 years ago that GM would go bankrupt, I would have thought you were crazy.  Times and circumstances change and those who do not adapt, disappear into history.

I was thinking the same thing. Or, more specifically, I asked myself the question: If not for the ability to attend York, would I have joined TCA?  The answer is probably ‘no.”  And that’s not implying anything negative about the organization. Just the reality for me.

I joined the TCA back in 2007 just to attend York. My interest over the past couple of years has switched from O gauge to Tinplate. Most of the other shows have little or no tinplate at all. I enjoy the York shows immensely and when they are over I find myself looking forward to the next one I enjoy the quarterly magazine and fortunately I'm close enough (NJ) to visit the National Train Museum whenever I feel like it. I appreciate the TCA for what I get out of it and will continue to be a member. One day they may be gone, and I could see how that could happen due to waning interest, dying membership, and easier accessibility to train-related subjects on the Internet. But for now, I'm going to enjoy my membership.

I am no longer a member of the TCA because the only reason I joined was for "York". I no longer go there & so I saw no reason to keep my membership.

And that's what got me into the TCA.  I filled out my application at the Metca table at a Greenberg show!

Enough with the excuse that TCA membership, the hardware side of the hobby etc,  is contracting because of "demographics."

 

The fact is no one knows why former TCA membersare leaving faster than recruitments!

 

How's that? Because no one in leadership, manufacturers or hobby press has so much as sent out a survey of past members, subscribers who have let their membership/subscriptions lapse, and asked the question "why have you chosen to leave the Association, etc? Is it because of the Association leadership, recent Association policies or practices, are you still playing w/ trains, building you layout.

 

I submit that it has become far too convenient to blame hobbyists on the wrong side of 60 (myself included) for the hobby's contraction rather than look at what is going on in the business, professional & Association side of O gauge.

Using Jason's stated membership number above and comparing to my own from almost exactly 16 years ago, there have been very close to 23,000 new memberships  during that time period.

 

At the time I joined, the TCA was 43 years old with aproximately 46,000 total memberships.

 

In 1997, the Internet was not really in its infancy anymore, but it was no where near as all encompassing in our lives as it is now.

 

It would seem even with the advances in internet commerce, there is still a steady enough influx of people who decide to pursue membership, but retention may be a bit of an issue.  (and as other's have stated, it's only natural that many of the original early members are passing on since the Association started 59 years ago).

 

-Dave

 

I've been a TCA member for over 25 years and have attended a couple of conventions and been to York twice.  Back in the 1980s when I joined it was pretty much the only game in town.

 

 The website has some good information and if you haven't visited it you should.

It's funny it seems they want your money but never your ideas to try to make things better. Believe me I have tried so they get neither except for my dues So I can attend York.

Wait a minute!  Wait a minute!  I thought dropping the two signature requirement on TCA applications would solve our declining membership problem.

quote:

Wait a minute!  Wait a minute!  I thought dropping the two signature requirement on TCA applications would solve our declining membership problem. 

 

Between dropping the two signature rule and waving the initiation fee, they have made the problem worse. Now folks can join just to attend York, and let their membership lapse in years they don't plan to attend. The next time they want to attend they can just join again.

A number of folks have been honest enough in this thread to admit that they only belong to go to York. (Not that there is anything wrong with that).

Interesting read here.

My wife and I joined the local astronmomy group in Cedar Rapids just for the lectures and not so much as to observe heavenly bodies and their names.  As part of member ship we receive a national publication "The Reflector".  This months articles was how to attract and maintain interest with youth, given their social media, internet interests etc.

 

I in fact wrote the editor commenting his editorial could have subsituted Trains for telescopes, sky charts etc, and would have read the same.  He commented back that he sees the same youth decline in his other hobbies of stamp and coin collecting (FYI, my letter will be published in a Reflector magazine for those who subscribe).  So TCA and train collecting decline isn't just a phenomena peculiar to us "old white men".

I've never been to a Great Lakes Division meet.  The reason:  it is always in Parma, Ohio (near Cleveland) and lasts 6 hours, 5 of which are open to the public, making it a "show".  I can't see driving 6 hours for a 1 hour meet or a 6 hour show.

 

On the children discussion:  I raised 3 boys who, although they seem glad that I have a hobby, couldn't care less about adopting it for themselves.

 

They do like golf though, so that is good.

.....

Dennis

I not even going to chime in on this discussion. We've been through this a dozen times. TCA, do you know what is stands for? As far as I am concerned, The operators of anything past 1969 can form there own club.

  I'm only a member to go to York.

Nor is it by any means restricted to the hobby of model railroading.  There are a great many other "traditional" leading pastimes seeing the same thing.  In fact, I imagine this decline in participation is happening to most all of the hobbies that entail personal involvement of time and individual creativity.

 

You folks who have kids and grandkids can easily look around and take note of what has been happening...it's going on right before your eyes.  No point in lamenting it if you're not trying to do something about it (and most are not).

I'm sure the TCA honchos thought that as well, and I'm sure their intentions were good, albeit not well thought out.  I disagreed with that "incentive" at the time and I still disagree with it.  My guess is it hasn't done much at all to grow the member ranks and I'll go out on a limb and predict that it will, in fact, have a progressively negative impact in the years ahead.  We shall see!

The NMRA (I am a Life Member) is having the same problem as the TCA (and many other organizations) when it comes to recruiting new members.  In fact, they are actively soliciting us long-paid-up Life Members to kick in more $ to help keep things going.  Changing demographics, folks!  Regardless of what some others may think, that is still the leading cause of the downward trend in enrollment.  There are a number of factors involved--age, health, income/discretionary income, satiated hobby needs at this point, etc.--but it all relates to those who grew up in the pre-Baby Boom and early Baby Boom years.

... wait until the rank & file membership starts digging around and starts asking for the fine print details of the up coming Museum surplus inventory auctions.

I'm the opposite of KevinB:  I'm in the TCA but have never been to York.

I joined TCA for York. As for the local Great Lakes Division never hear from them except for the above mentioned show in Ohio. If the York show disappeared so would my TCA membership.