I hate train organizations

[wm3798]

Offering a small ad in exchange for a donation should be a no brainer.  It's apparent to me that the organizers of this thing aren't familiar with how a non-profit stays in the good graces of its public.

But Chuck's advice is good...  Go, pay the fare, and decide when it's done if it was worth it.  Base your future decisions on that outcome.

Lee

[Denver Road Doug]

We will just have to disagree .. I drive 700 miles to bring modules, which will go into their layout, which they will charge the public for to see, then tell me that I have to leave right after I put my module into the layout .. unless I register .. I think not .. I have no problem paying for the convention . if I wanted to participate in that stuff .. its not a matter of the money,  but the principle .. I hope they have a good show ..

But now you are talking about something different.  I'm not sure how all shows work, but the local shows I've been involved in pay for layouts displayed.  My former club got a sizeable chunk for displaying their layout at shows.  Not sure how that works for a huge n-trak setup though.  There may be gray area there as you are also gaining benefit of having your "artwork" displayed for all to see....I'm not arguing that point, just a consideration.  But in any scenario, you still would pay entry fees or convention fees.  Compensation for layout presentation would be separate. 

I understand where you are coming from, and I think you SHOULD be compensated at some level for displaying a layout.  But I still believe that EVERYONE pays, regardless...it's too hard to account for and to easy to have abuses of priveledge otherwise.  So even if the convention fee was $40 and they offered to pay $40 for you to bring your modules, you still follow standard registration procedure, in my opinion, and pay to register then get your money for the modules separately.  I'm not saying there aren't gray areas or situations where it's handled that way (or some other manner) but I'm saying as a general rule that's what I think has to happen.

Volunteering is just that...volunteering.  Most good organizations will RECOGNIZE volunteers, but compensating at any level (outside of refreshments maybe) kinda defeats the purpose.  For commercial donations like Chuck's case, they should RECOGNIZE all donors, but a free ad exceeds the boundaries, in my opinion.  The "compensation" for volunteering is the ability to feel good about supporting the hobby.

[Ryan87]

"Volunteering is for suckers. Did you know that so called 'Volunteers' don't even get paid?"
Homer Simpson.

[shark_jj]

I was surprised to read Chucks post about having to pay for an ad after making a donation.  At our upcoming Canadian convention, we have asked local hobby shops and manufacturers for raffle donations, in exchange for which they get an ad in the program booklet, and a free table at the Train Show.  It is only good business in both directions.

[Iain]

As some of you may know, I volunteer at the North Carolina Maritime Museum.  Volunteers still have to pay for most things, although they get a discount.  The various classes are free for volunteers save the cost of materials, if any.


Coming up in a couple of weeks is the wooden boat show.  Part of the show is boat rides for paying tourists.  If a volunteer wanted a break from something else, he or she would have to pay to ride in the boat unless he or she mans the spritsail.  However, the volunteer sailing the boat does not have to pay.

[bsoplinger]

Since my other part time hobby is wargaming, I know how it works for most of those small very much so no deep pocket organizations. Volunteers, either those who man the registration desk or snack area, etc and those who run some number of games during the event get in free. Seems only fair. After all, if one was paying to attend that person could go to an event every time period, just like with a train event. But if that person is working they aren't going to be able to attend anything at the same time. And I'm talking small events sometimes, less than 200 people and they still manage to find a way to let those who help not pay.

Seems to me that is a just, fair system. The organization running the event gets the things they need (events for the gamers, modules and support for the train organization) and the people providing that get something back in return. After all, there is nothing stopping those helping out from paying for the event also if they feel the organization deserves the money.

Anything else is just abusing suckers. Getting something for nothing. The American way, getting something for nothing but I just don't play that way

[wm3798]

Re: Chuck's donation, it is very common for donors to be recognized in accordance with the size of their contribution.  My wife runs our local Christmas parade, and the organizations that contribute thousands get their name on the Santa float.  The folks along the route who throw $2 in the bucket when it passes get a warm smile.

Lee

[chuck geiger]

I  should clear up a small misnomer on this. Chuck should not got a letter about buying an ad. They did put FRTS on their web site. They (the group) are confused. They should be asking for vendors to by an ad if they dont send product. I will let them know that next week. Now I have to email all 200+ people coming and asking them to bring door prizes. What if you donated an old blue box and then won it. Sucks to be you.

[bobcat]

To the venders and manufacturers who support an event, there should be a sponsor page/ad automatically.

If that was done, then I wouldn't see a problem asking those sponsors if they wanted to buy another ad.