You know, I had thought I had commented on this before, but I didn't. I would have said for sure that is why I joined years ago, but being that I found myself scouring the ads last year for things, that makes it a no I guess. I've made 2 purchases from the ads on the TCA site, and I do find myself browsing occasionally when the newsletter arrives. Why, I guess just curious to see what all is out there. I doubt I will be attending October York this year(if held) because of other reasons. That being said, I most definitely will be up for York come 2023(I hope, lol).
I joined solely for York. The "local" TCA meet is many hours away so not worth the trip. For me, no trip to York, No TCA.
I joined because of the history and resources TCA has to members one of them is the York meet. TCA does alot for the hobby worth every penny. If you joined for the meet only shame on you.
Initially, Yes.
Since 1996, other that the 3 cancelled due to Covid, I missed only two "Yorks", attended - 54 in all. York is 255 miles from my house.
But I found that I love "The Quarterly" mag - that and York keep me as a member
@Shawn_Chronister posted:I joined because of the history and resources TCA has to members one of them is the York meet. TCA does alot for the hobby worth every penny. If you joined for the meet only shame on you.
Agreed. The research resources are the best out there, including the ability to reach out to the membership for answers to questions. The York meet is great, but secondary to the massive amount of information available.
PD
Sorry, York is the only thing that TCA has that I'm interested in. I am sure that TCA national realizes how tightly coupled they are to the Eastern division York show. My division meets are rotated once a year among four cities. And they are 80, 245, 210 and 470 miles away.
But then I only go to DQ for a blizzard, nothing else.
And don't forget the museum - it preserves and presents a wide range of items that most of us would never be able to own.
York is 550 miles each way, and it's been well worth the trip. But even without York, I would support TCA for everything else it represents. IMO, everyone who enjoys toy and/or model trains owes it to each other and to future generations to be a member of at least one of the organizations that support the hobby.
I joined so that I could purchase inventory for the store. Going to York and spending two days with my friends twice a year was the greatest. I never have had so much fun as I did at York. I believe the first time I went was in the fall of 1976. A friend of mine from Blairsville, PA. went with me. That year, I bought all American Flyer S Gauge.
I joined the TCA to attend York. It turned into a 3 day vacation, twice a year from work. Leave the phone off, and no contact from home except emergencies. Only stipulation wife had was to be home Saturday Morning for the children's soccer games. Travel, room, and board is cheap without wife. Trains were expensive.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I used my 2020 Spring pass at the last York, no problem at all. You could have most certainly reused the pass for the next York show that didn't fall victim to COVID.
I asked about using my FALL pass and was told NO. It was the blue one which would have been for the first meet canceled due to Covid.
@Michael Hokkanen posted:I asked about using my FALL pass and was told NO. It was the blue one which would have been for the first meet canceled due to Covid.
I think if they allowed that then everyone who went to the Fall show could just reuse that pass for the upcoming Spring show.
Actually, the three meets cancelled for COVID were as follows.
I have a record of all my reservations, cancellations, and attendance. I can assure you if the meet was held on any of those slots, I would have been there.
Attachments
Initially, yes I joined so I could go to York.
As others have said, I enjoy the magazine and I feel the inexpensive membership fee (it really is people), I'm happy to support the organization. I didn't buy much at this past Fall meet, but my daughter (who is also a member) and I had a great time!
I first joined in 1990 and was a junior member under my Dad (he joined in 1966) before that, so TCA membership is a fairly long family tradition. Yes, the ability to go to York is a big benefit of membership, but if that is the only reason you pay your dues, you're missing out. Admission to the York meet (or any TCA meet) is not mentioned anywhere in the TCA mission statement. If I never go to another York meet, I will remain a member of TCA until I die as I believe in what the organization stands for and believe in supporting the organization that does so much to promote our hobby.
As for the "2 signature rule" for membership, I would like to see that reinstated. There is nothing wrong with a sponsoring / vetting process for new members. Many organizations have this in place. It places value on membership and adds a degree of security at events like York (which I'd like to see go back to members-only), where there is a lot of inventory and money changing hands.
John
@Frank Mulligan posted:I think if they allowed that then everyone who went to the Fall show could just reuse that pass for the upcoming Spring show.
The Fall show I had the pass for was cancelled. Nobody attended it.
As I've just passed my 20th year as a member, I get most of my benefit from being active in my Division. Desert Division is small, but we are likely the most active Division in TCA. Most of my closest friends in the hobby are in Division. As a result, TCA has transcended trains and is all about the people for me. I came into TCA as loner HO modeler and have broadened my knowledge and my interests greatly by learning what drives everyone else in this hobby.
As for the two-signature rule, I authored the motion that went before the national board as a director at the time to eliminate the two signatures and it was passed both by the national board and by the membership. I believed then as I do now that requiring two signatures was a way to keep people away from the hobby rather than expand the broad tent that it truly is.
As the Eastern Division event, York is fun. No question about it. However, it is not the reason I belong to TCA. It is simply another benefit should I choose to take advantage of it. If I lived closer, I would try and be there more often.
@GG1 4877 posted:As I've just passed my 20th year as a member, I get most of my benefit from being active in my Division. Desert Division is small, but we are likely the most active Division in TCA. Most of my closest friends in the hobby are in Division. As a result, TCA has transcended trains and is all about the people for me. I came into TCA as loner HO modeler and have broadened my knowledge and my interests greatly by learning what drives everyone else in this hobby.
As for the two-signature rule, I authored the motion that went before the national board as a director at the time to eliminate the two signatures and it was passed both by the national board and by the membership. I believed then as I do now that requiring two signatures was a way to keep people away from the hobby rather than expand the broad tent that it truly is.
As the Eastern Division event, York is fun. No question about it. However, it is not the reason I belong to TCA. It is simply another benefit should I choose to take advantage of it. If I lived closer, I would try and be there more often.
What was the purpose of the two signature rule in the first place? Membership in the TCA has been on a steady decline now for a long time. I'm not sure removing the two signature rule has made much of an impact.
Just a thought: I felt at the time when I joined that having the two signature rule made membership in the TCA special and prestigious. Removing the two signature rule, while it had great intentions, perhaps took away some of the prestige of becoming a member. Now its just another club like lots of other clubs.
@Madockawando posted:What was the purpose of the two signature rule in the first place? Membership in the TCA has been on a steady decline now for a long time. I'm not sure removing the two signature rule has made much of an impact.
Just a thought: I felt at the time when I joined that having the two signature rule made membership in the TCA special and prestigious. Removing the two signature rule, while it had great intentions, perhaps took away some of the prestige of becoming a member. Now its just another club like lots of other clubs.
The original purpose of the rule as I understand dates back to the early days when TCA was a small club and members truly knew who they were sponsoring. As TCA grew to its peak of over 20,000 members, the two signature rule became anachronistic as anyone would sign anyone's application to bring in a prospective member. One perspective is two signatures speak prestige while another perspective is they speak elitism. I can be objective and see how both sides of that coin can be perceived.
It is a bit ironic in my personal situation as my sponsors were my father and my uncle and I am proud to be third generation model railroader. I also became a member at age 32 which is considered a child by today's standards.
@GG1 4877 posted:The original purpose of the rule as I understand dates back to the early days when TCA was a small club and members truly knew who they were sponsoring. As TCA grew to its peak of over 20,000 members, the two signature rule became anachronistic as anyone would sign anyone's application to bring in a prospective member. One perspective is two signatures speak prestige while another perspective is they speak elitism. I can be objective and see how both sides of that coin can be perceived.
It is a bit ironic in my personal situation as my sponsors were my father and my uncle and I am proud to be third generation model railroader. I also became a member at age 32 which is considered a child by today's standards.
I can see how the two signature rule could be interpreted as elitist. I would also concede that the TCA was more of a closed group of buyers and sellers back when it was founded and perhaps it made sense to have members you know and trust.
I also think that towards the end the spirit of the rule was violated by people signing for total strangers.
The slow and steady decline of TCA membership is probably due more to demographics than any membership processes.
@Madockawando posted:The slow and steady decline of TCA membership is probably due more to demographics than any membership processes.
Completely agreed. I don't see this as necessarily a TCA or even a model railroading issue. There is a trend away from joining organizations or societies. I see in my profession as well.
