Large Scale Central

Would You Be Interested in a New Garden Railroading eNewsletter

General Discussion
#1

Would You Be Interested in a New Garden Railroading eNewsletter for FREE?

In the wake of Garden Railways Magazine’s demise, there is currently a “Task Force” of about 27 people representing 13 Garden Railroad Clubs in five states that are putting together an eNewsletter for bi-monthly (every other month) distribution.

At this time the eNewsletter is to be oriented toward the various Garden Railroad Clubs across the U.S., but also includes Canada and Overseas clubs. To date, over 125 Clubs had been identified and as of last week most had been contacted as to joining the Group. At this time, several have “signed on.”

The eNewsletter is compiled from the best articles, builds, suggestions, etc. from the various newsletters of those Clubs within the Group. The eNewsletter is FREE to all Group Club members and can be downloaded or viewed on-line. The effort is to be funded through modest vendor ads, primarily geared toward the “Mom and Pop Shops” that our hobby needs so badly just to stay alive. These people really have no outlet to show their wares, and this provides them the opportunity to reach their target market with their products and services. Additionally, many of these vendors are actually members of the various Clubs across the U.S.

The first eNewsletter is now complete and has been sent to those Clubs identified. If you are a member of one of the identified Clubs, your Club representative has probably already received a copy for distribution to its membership. The current eNewsletter is 42 pages in length.

As noted, the “Task Force” is orienting this effort toward the various clubs, at least for now. I am of the mind that this leaves out a great number of people in the hobby, including some of the best talent and many people who had previously submitted articles to Garden Railways Magazine, who may not belong to any club for whatever reason (e.g., distance, social reasons, etc.). Personally, I would like to see these people included in the distribution, if they want to be included.

So, I have three questions of the Forum group:

Do you belong to an established Garden Railroad Club (Y/N)?

If “No”,

Would you be interested in receiving/downloading the eNewsletter compiled from the various Group Member Clubs’ newsletters (Y/N)?

If “Yes” (to the above),

Would you provide an email contact point-of-contact to receive/download the eNewsletter (Y/N)?

Thanks guys.

#2

Yes…No

#3

Yes yes yes

#4

Answers to questions of the Forum group:

Do you belong to an established Garden Railroad Club (Y/N)?

No - No Club within easy travelling distance.

If “No”,

Would you be interested in receiving/downloading the eNewsletter compiled from the various Group Member Clubs’ newsletters (Y/N)?

Yes - always interested in what others are doing

If “Yes” (to the above),

Would you provide an email contact point-of-contact to receive/download the eNewsletter (Y/N)?

Yes

My thoughts

I would find “How to” articles of great interest but not “This is our running day” articles.

At present I am perusing this site for inspiration/information and have found it interesting, a newsletter along this line would do well I feel.

https://www.familygardentrains.com/primer/index.htm

#5

No Yes Yes

#6

Yes. Yes. Yes.

If there were a fourth Yes I would say Yes again. Besides, if Todd Brody is backing this, I’m in.

#7

John Passaro said:

Yes. Yes. Yes.

If there were a fourth Yes I would say Yes again. Besides, if Todd Brody is backing this, I’m in.

If you answered “Yes” to the first question, your Club has been contacted and you should receive a copy through your representative.

Thanks.

#8

No, yes, yes.

#9

I saw a copy of this months newsletter at our club meeting and its pretty well put together and I think it will gain a ton of clubs support and turn things around as far as helping grow the hobby. Thanks Todd for adding this. Pete, member of ABTO, Arizona

#10

Yes, yes, and yes. I got my copy of the newsletter via my club. As previous posters mentioned, it is very nicely put together!

Eric

#11

Do you belong to an established Garden Railroad Club (Y/N)? - No

Would you be interested in receiving/downloading the eNewsletter compiled from the various Group Member Clubs’ newsletters (Y/N)? - Yes

Would you provide an email contact point-of-contact to receive/download the eNewsletter (Y/N)? - Yes

Sounds interesting.

But i’m afraid, that i would not qualify, neither for receiving, nor for writing.

Living in a country with no other known (to me) Largescalers - there is no Club in sight.

edit.

As you only mentioned “Garden” Clubs, i might found the International Indoors Largescale Lovers Creative Club (IILLCC) to qualify…

#12

Todd,

First, I hate anything that operates on a veil of secrecy platform. So for me that is a big turn off. Why the veil? Are the ‘Task Force’ members afraid to be identified? Not a big vote of confidence. Are these ‘Task Force’ members paid for their services? A bit more transparency is in order before I answer the three questions.

This sounds like Model Railroad Hobbyist eMagazine when it started. This will never be a paid subscription! This will always be paid for by the advertisers. It is now paid if you want any content worth reading.

Forever the skeptic,

Bob C.

#13

Bob Cope said:

Todd,

First, I hate anything that operates on a veil of secrecy platform. So for me that is a big turn off. Why the veil? Are the ‘Task Force’ members afraid to be identified? Not a big vote of confidence. Are these ‘Task Force’ members paid for their services? A bit more transparency is in order before I answer the three questions.

This sounds like Model Railroad Hobbyist eMagazine when it started. This will never be a paid subscription! This will always be paid for by the advertisers. It is now paid if you want any content worth reading.

Forever the skeptic,

Bob C.

Hi Bob,

There is no veil.

The “Task Force” is 27 people from 13 clubs in CA, OR, WA, AZ, and CO. It is largely comprised of a pair of Board members from the various train Clubs including Arizona Big Train Operators; Bay Area Garden Railway Society; Central California Coast Garden Railroad Society; Del Oro Pacific Modular Railroad Club; Denver Garden Railway Society; Inland Northwest Garden Railroad Society; Orange County Garden Railway Society; Puget Sound Garden Railway Society; Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society; Rose City Garden Railway Society; San Diego Garden Railway Society; Sacramento Valley Garden Railway Society; Santa Clarita Valley Garden Railroad Club.

We have a common goal in not wanting to see the hobby die with the demise of Garden Railways Magazine, and that is what spurred this on.

Nobody has received any money. Once the 125+ Clubs have been contacted/logged, most of the force will disbanded. There will be perhaps a couple positions, such as a Secretary, web master, and of course the Editor who puts this together. Vendors would only pay a fraction of what they were paying, and that money would go to support probably a web site/facebook page (eventually), and it was agreed by all that the Editor would receive a small salary for putting everything together every other month. I don’t envy Carla going through what could be over 100 newsletters every other month, and have no problem with her receiving a bit of compensation for this, nor did anyone else. And, as I said, this is FREE to all and will be funded by vendor support. This is not a “for profit” operation.

And, as I noted, the Task Force only wants to address this to Clubs at this point in time. I am going out on a limb here because I feel that those on the various Forums, and anyone who desires, that may not be in an established club, should also be included and want to see if that is in fact the case.

#14

No, Yes, Yes

#15

Yes,Yes,Yes

#16

Todd:

Not sure how typical I am, but I put all my builds here and only occasionally put a couple of pictures and a short paragraph in the BAGRS newsletter. In fact I can’t remember the last in depth build in that newsletter. Some good articles about steam and gardening but only quick wrap-up announcements of build projects.

May be useful at some point to talk about some kind of deal with the forums: a paragraph in the newsletter with a photo and a link to the build would be nice.

Just a thought. I am sure you have a lot of things to figure out just for the newsletter you have described.

#17

It looks like a Yes is in the running for a go, but I myself would say No. I say No because all this information is on the internet way before you would ever get it in print, or however you delivery it. Remember the GRM didn’t make it, pretty much describes the G Scale hobby in general a where it is going. Let’s face it, when us older railroaders are gone, so goes the hobby.

trainman

#18

Yes, Yes, Yes. How do I sign up?

#19

No - Yes - Yes

#20

The Susquehanna Valley Garden Railway Society says “YES” to all questions.