I hate train organizations

[chuck geiger]

I have been working for the NMRA and The Pacific Coast Region as the door
prize chairperson. These retired train guys are driving me nuts. They want me
to join the NMRA, which isn't a big deal - But they want me to pay for the
convention in May while I voulenteer. I told them they are out of their minds.
The chairman of the convention tells me "There are no free rides". I told
them it's a question of ethics. Why would someone pay to voulenteer. I'm
going to follow through on it and then I'm done with it. Most of these guys
are in it for the social organizational aspects of model railroading and think
it's 1978. Wonder if you guys have had the same kind of treatment from
these types. Besides they are not very freindly.

[Mark5]

Hmm, I think I'm in your camp on this. If you are volunteering support for an event you shouldn't be paying.

[ljudice]

I'm surprised they even let an N-scaler volunteer!

[wm3798]

I dunno, Chuck.  I've been a member of the WMRHS for 25 years or so, and served on the Board of Directors back in the '90's, and helped organize a couple of conventions.  You work like a cooley, I was doing the publicity stuff so there was a lot of running around to printers, newspapers etc., knocking off of work so I could lead a tour through the museum, lots of stuff like that.  Aside from the gift shop discount that all members enjoyed, I had to pay the freight for all the activities I participated in just like the guy who sat on his rump and complained when the newsletter was 2 days late.

It never bothered me, though, because I was working with guys who put in a hell of a lot more time than I did, a couple who are still heavily involved (I'm too far away now, so I just sit on my rump... but I don't complain!).  The money doesn't get split up among the directors.  It goes to pay for the activity of the club.

A couple years ago I had planned ahead, sent in my convention fees, which included dinners, a couple of train trips and the registration fee.  The weekend my son and I were supposed to go was the weekend Hurricane Isabelle pushed the Choptank River halfway up my street.  Fortunately the flooding didn't get us, but there were neighbors to help, power outages to cope with, and messes to clean up.  Long story short, nothing was refundable, and we ended up eating about $200.  I called Stan Johnson just to see if anything could be worked out, but I already knew the answer.  No problem, I told him.

Yes, it takes a lot of volunteer time to run an organization, but it also takes a lot of money.  And believe me, as much as any organization appreciates the hours you put in for them, that doesn't keep the lights on.
Lee

[chuck geiger]

Lee - If they were cool and I enjoyed the group, I would pay. I really didn't know what kind of folks these guys were until I was already in waist deep. Just Model Railroader, NMRA, armchair, let's have dinner and discuss the operating policies of the group to ad-nassium. The lead dog suggested when I started getting the prizes, to keep the good stuff for the Sunday committee breakfast to giveout - Not cool. They should have had two sets of prizes then. There are a lot of other situations that happened that made me uncomfortable. That's why I roll here, like the vibe and it's about next level modeling anyhow.

[3rdrail]

Those aren't "train organizations", they're "model railroad political clubs". By using "train organization", you're lumping them in with groups like the various Historical Societies and real railroad oriented groups that railroaders and rail shippers belong to, which is insulting those groups.

BTW, the National Railway Historical Society has as bad a reputation as the NMRA. Worse, actually, as many chapters own historic equipment they just let rot.

[up1950s]

As a volunteer they should give you a free year of membership , and frequent volunteer miles that can be saved for the next year if you are a repeat volunteer . On top of that , they should give you a special hat and salute you as a sign of respect .  

[jmlaboda]

I wouldn't mind helping a group out at an event but if my time is took up by the event to where I couldn't really enjoy it myself then I wouldn't pay.  If some time to take a break so I could enjoy part of the event, then, maybe, I would be inclined to doing more.

[sirenwerks]

I think I'll keep quiet about nonprofit organizations.

[chuck geiger]

As a volunteer they should give you a free year of membership , and frequent volunteer miles that can be saved for the next year if you are a repeat volunteer . On top of that , they should give you a special hat and salute you as a sign of respect .  

Huh you have to buy the red convention shirts for 25 bones - Pay for everything, food, tours, rail tours on top of the convention fee. http://www.pcrnmra.org/conv2008/

Fares (all fares—except Day Fares—includes banquet and Sunday breakfast)
Please fill in and total: NO REFUNDS AFTER APRIL 15, 2008
Unit Cost Total
Full Registration — March 1, 2008 to and including May 4, 2008 115.00
One Day Fare—Enter the Number of Days in the “QTY” Column and check day(s)

Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday 45.00
Non NMRA member must join NMRA, 6 months Rail Pass 12.95
Non Rail Registration 70.00
Spouse Registration 70.00
Youth Registration (12-18 years or student) 70.00
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Steam Excursion (includes bus transportation,
meal, entertainment & train ride) LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
75.00
Hillcrest & Wahtoke Railroad (includes lunch & transportation to site) 35.00
Shirts—Tan Polo w/ Pocket and Logo (Check Size) XS
S
M
L
XL
25.00
Shirts—Tan Polo w/ Pocket and Logo (Check Size) 2XL
3XL
4XL
28.00
Convention Car—36’ Southern California Edison Truss-Rod Reefer
HO Scale and one road number available ONLY 200 AVAILABLE 25.00
Convention Patch 5.00
Rails to the Loop 1997 PCR Convention Car — HO Scale 57’ UPSP Mech. Reefer 6.00
South Bay Historical RR Society “20 Years of Service" HO Scale Commemorative Car ( 2 #’s) 15.00
Train Show


On top of it, I went to their web site rules in thier division to show them that you don't have to be an NMRA member to voulenteer. You have to be an NMRA member to attend the convention. They have a quandry here. Seinfeld - That is a tad askew!

I just wanted to have some fun and pretend I was Chuck ordering a bale of 55!

[brokemoto]

I belonged to an organisation that hosted an event and made the members pay.  I was not crazy about it, but did pay.  After the event ended, the organisation still had some money in the bank.  They used some of the surplus to refund the fees to the membership.  Despite their doing the right thing, it left a bad taste in my mouth.  Had the event ended in the red, I suspect that the Board would have assessed the membership.  Still, being required to put up the money did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

That is not the reason that I am no longer a memeber of that organisation, but it did not help.

You want me to work, I get a free ride.  If I must pay, then I get to complain about the food at the event.

[Kisatchie]

I'd drop this group like a hot potato.


"Hmm... hot bananas are
pretty good..."

[asciibaron]

there is a reason i belong to very few, and soon, even few clubs.  i see the same people doing all the work and the same people bitching about the work they do not being good enough or how they could do it better.  then when someone tries to help the doer's there is usually a cry that the new helper is trying to change the club and the 4 horsemen are fast upon us. 

i am the president of my local ham radio club and have felt the evil glare from the crowd on a few things i let slip because it had to be done - either someone stepped up to the plate to handle it or it got lost in my juggle of things - you can ask for volunteers only so many times.  i was roped into the board after only being a member of the club for 6 months and now 4 years later i'm driving it into the ground - wait until they see my mismanagement of the Christmas Party  ;D

i quit several model train clubs over the years because of the petty politics - and now it looks like i'll be letting my membership lapse with another one - which is a shame, i really like many of the members *cough cough*

i would expect to pay full fare if i volunteer, but i do expect a free T-Shirt - too bad they never get enough 2XL's and i usually give the shirt to my wife.

-steve

[chuck geiger]

These are good pointers and helps me in my reflection of all this. I didn't even pilfer
one peice of MTL rolling stock or anything else N scale, and they got some prime stuff this
year: We should auction these off an raise money for RAILWIRE. We are a modeling group
with Ed and Lee, Tom and crew. Do I hear 5, 5, 5 1/2.....

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[rswinnerton]

You know, I'm glad I read this thread... Partly because I'm the convention chairman for the Altoona CRHS convention this fall, and partly because I realize how rare it is to find a good group to belong to. I've been a member of several and the CRHS is my kind of people. Not saying they're for everyone, but anyone who's willing and able to help is welcomed. I'm also glad to see that the convention price I have floating in my head isn't unreasonable. I can't reveal it yet, but it's all inclusive (except for the hotel rooms) and that seems to be the way to go. Seems like a lot of groups like to nickel and dime you at conventions?
Russ