Large Scale Central

RR Club displays and increased membership?

General Discussion
#1

From your view point, what influence do operating displays have, if any, in generating new membership at the club level? What has been your experience in 2011?
Here in abundant recreation/hobby choice Southern California, the relationship between our SoCalGarden Railroad Society setting up displays for garden shows or other commercial or non-commercial events generating new memberships has proven to be negligible. Granted, the two-day display of a huge dog-bone layout plus four separate layouts with controllers for the kids, does capture many questions and interaction – yet, I think we found one new member. Yes, there were accolades for putting on the display and they were well deserved by the numbers of volunteers. Our most immediate presentation example was a giant garden show in south Orange County. Our group was there for two days and a singular new membership was the resulting “perk” from the show. However, before any immediate judgment is rendered: We do the displays for the fun of presentating the hobby independent of membership interest. However, the outcome, considering the abundant appreciative comments, is still puzzling considering why would this activity not generate particpation interest – at least to try out another event with SoCal as a “trial” member.

Your experience?

Wendell

#2

We have a very active club in a prime location. Our weekend operating sessions are attended by hundreds of visitors due to the surrounding restored Depot and Steamboat excursion tours of the lakes…Not one new member as a result. We mostly view the layout as a chance for us to get together in an idealic setting and share with the community.

Kind of like a Circus, lot’s attend, very few run away to join! :smiley:

#3

We have membership applications at all our public displays. We also offer memberships as a cheaper way for a family to get in to our annual Winter Meet. The cost to our club for a new member is the job of adding someone’s name to our email newsletter list (just labor). Our annual dues are $20.00 per year and we are able to pay for most of our annual operating costs through funds we receive by displaying our layout. The Gateway Garden Railroad Club is operated for the fun of the hobby and a common enjoyment of large scale trains that run on #1 track. We have live steamers, detailed scale enthusiasts, extensive gardeners and people that just like model railroading or toy trains. The club is the common denominator that allows all of us to enjoy the hobby more. Some members we see almost every two weeks and some members we only see annually or only communicate to by email or our online newsletter. If your goal is to have a large club or even just a small group of detailed modelers, you may be organized for the wrong reasons. If your goal is to have a club, so the old farts can enjoy the hobby and do nothing, with all the work being done by the young bucks, good luck. If your goal is to have a common gathering place for all that enjoy a little part of the same thing, the club should continue to grow and be successful. I don’t know if the number of members of the club is as important as a goal. But I would say that the fun the members have should be a reason for someone to continue to be a member and will probably attract more people to want to join in. By the way the new members have to also feel like they are part of the club and welcome.

#4

A comment that you can take however you want it to be…We ahve been saying for the last 10 years in “lodge” that we are looking for “quality” and not “quantity”. Men who want to be there and will come be active and contribute proactively. In another gorup I belong to we do demos as well. In schools, in local parks, and at festivals. Rarely do we get folks that are interested enoguh to run away and join the “circus”. However it is fun to come watch us play “medieval”. Really wish the “local” large scale train clubs were closer than an hour away.

Chas

#5

Wendell,
The club I have started is only a year old, we have no dues and of the 30 members on the e-mail distribution only 10-15 are truly active and of those 10-15 that are active only 6 or so actually hold meetings at their houses. We did a modular display in the spring and it seemed that we had a couple people interested, but never heard back from any of them. It is what it is and even if it was just me I would keep on doing it, because I enjoy it.

Nico
www.PMGRRS.com

#6

One of the whole ideas of a club and showing their layout/displays publicly is to promote the hobby… Usually, unless you belong to a club, your model railroad is kept to yourself, and some close friends… I don’t think that the layout/displays should key on acquiring new members, as it should promote the hobby… Times are changing constantly, and people all have different priorities in their lives… One’s main enjoyment should be the sharing of a great hobby… At the shows, the looks on the kids faces and some of the parents are more than enough to satisfy the goals of promoting… If people are interested they will join, but remember in the past few years, prices have skyrocketed, and the economy has gone to heck in a hand basket… There’s not much resources left to purchase/enjoy/persue leisure activites…

#7

We have gained members from three sources. Our meetings are announced in the local newspaper and a few notice. We have a club layout at a nursery and that has gotten a few members. And we have a modular layout that runs at various places including a show aimed at recreation that was at the fairgrounds, an annual swap meet, among others.

I don’t think there is any “best” place in Southern California.

How did we first learn about the club? When Garden Railways had the clubs in the magazine I saw it there! Go figure!

#8

Our club actually signed up five new members at the last meet. The most ever. Our president says that our total membership is now 72. I think these things come in fits and spurts. I’ve only been a member for about two years and found the club by searching the internet and finding the club’s website. The club itself has been around for over 20 years. New members are already active in the hobby, often in smaller scales, and find us often through curiosity. We never promote the club, no public displays, etc. Only the website. However, we have some members with spectacular displays and they are often included in other clubs’ local tours and events. Also, many of the members are active in other smaller scale clubs and there is a cross-over effect.

#9

Due to deaths and illnesses, 2011 has been a bad year for my local club. We were able to stage our public display for Rail Day at the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke, VA. That was our only meeting for 2011 to date.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/14May1101.jpg)

We have attracted some newer members as a result of this display in previous years. Currently our active roster is at 5 members. We hope 2012 will prove kinder, membership wise. Yours, David Meashey

#10

Doug, have you gotten John M. to get with the program? I was approached by the modular guys in OC to build for them but declined respectfully as my “plate” is full already.

#11

That’s like a million miles away! I do plan to pay them a visit during hospitable weather though. http://www.lnwrr.org/

There is one large modular group I have seen over the years at shows, but for whatever reason, it just does not look like an inviting group to join.

#12

Doug Arnold reminded me of a still unaswered question with his statement: “How did we first learn about the club? When Garden Railways had the clubs in the magazine I saw it there! Go figure.”
For me, an unaswered question: Anyone know the reasoning offered for removal of the club listings in Garden RR?

Apparently, any complaints for removal were not large enough – maybe the listing was seen as having little effect on memberships. Considering Garden Railways magazine with 30,000+/- bi-monthly issues, at least the notification indicated the clubs existence and therefore significance.

Wendell

#13

I often wondered the same Wendell. I know my complaints to GR fell on deaf ears!

We’re not a million miles away John, only a half million!

The train club meets about 45 minutes west of us and we are the fartherest out members.

#14

Just curious. Do your clubs meet most often at a community/shared layout or at members homes/private layouts?

#15

Part of the downsides of portable layouts here in SoCal is the lack of shows to participate in. The BTS &SWGRS are the LS shows luckily they are now six months apart but the only small scale shows tend to cluster right around the holidays.

Speaking as one who considered joining one or two club/groups i really liked in the end I had to say no simply because I could not commit the time requirements. I think thats a big factor for alot of people who would like to do more but simply dont have the time to participate in that kind of group activity.

#16

We also belong to UGRS but they only meet once a year. There is an indoor G scale layout at Live Steamers at Griffith Park but it needs a club!

#17

Back in my HO days I belonged to two clubs, the now defunct Pomona Valley MRR Club and the SD&AE club at the San Diego MRR museum. I belonged to clubs for the primary reason of being able to run long trains on large layouts. Probably found out via Model RR magazine years ago.

#18

Wasn’t the Pomona Valley club the one that was at the fairgrounds and then in downtown Pomona?

#19

I belong to one club (Nico started). My main purpose for being in a club is to run trains with others and share projects and ideas. I am not as active as I would like to be but thats mainly because I work saturdays and during the summer season I get every other Sunday off. Off season I am off every Sunday. Most shows are Saturdays so i miss them and then Sundays are the only days I get with my family. My wife is not a fan of standing around watching trains. I try to make every other meeting. I can see why it is tough to get members. Society today is just too busy. People need to stop and smell the flowers. I am no doubt the minority.

#20

Doug, the Pomona club came from West Covina. Originally called the West Covina Brotherhood of Model Railroaders. I thought the fair only had the O scale group and the outdoor display.