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There are many avenues one must travel down to understand the value of the TCA.  I'll try a simple list, and I am sure I won't hit all the points.

 

Primarily, the main value is a permanent train museum with NATIONAL roots that show case trains from their infancy (circa 1900 and earlier) to the present.  The concentration is on O gauge, although new displays showcase American Flyer and G gauge.  This marvelous collection has just undergone a major restructuring and has new layouts, with ALL of the work performed by TCA volunteers.  TCA does not pay anyone except perhaps a cleaning staff to maintain the displays.

 

2.) A phenomenal research library, where one can find factoids not available elsewhere about their trains, advertisements, billboards and other ephemera.  I believe one of the few paid TCA employees is a librarian who is there to help you research your trains or train related material in addition to maintaining the library.

 

3.) A very fine full color publication dedicated to informing members of current events in the train world through excellent articles on the history of sometimes very obscure trains published 4 times a year.  I believe you can opt out of receiving a mailed issue.

 

4.) A set of standards that protect individual purchases made at TCA sponsored train meets.  These protections are mainly protection against fraud, restoration with 3rd party parts, and repaints, especially rare color combinations.  Just a few topics of a broader purchase protection, largely self-policied by those valuing their memberships.

 

5.) A annual National Train meet with a little bit for every attendee, be they train people, or non interested spouse people.  These meets are awesome, and it is hard to attend one without coming away with new friends that you found that live in your own back yard.

 

6.) The OPTION to receive a membership listing, where one can search for local trains operators/collectors with similar interests.

 

7.) Whether you use it or not, a buy and sell forum with the above mentioned protections built in.

 

8.) At times and at conventions, special rolling stock and the occasional locomotive.

 

9.) Occasional publication of train books that would not be published by a mainstream publisher.  Refer to their excellent guide to pre-war trains for one example.

 

10.) Typically a special gift for convention antendees from cars through rolling stock and cast iron trains.

 

11.)  There is more value to the TCA simply due to its existance as an organizations helping members with train related matters, and train manufacturers gauge what their potential market shares might be in a variety of ways.  The membership is a great spoke in the marketing wheel for the train manufacturers.

 

The TCA does not host the York train meets, the Eastern Division of the TCA does that.

 

For all you complainers, spend a year as a TCA staffer or officer, then tell us of their inefficiency and mismanagement.  It seems the wheel that squeaks the loudest is the one who does the least at ALL things, such as volunteering for Church, Boy Scouts, Soccer Dad's, Little League Coaches, Day Camp Leaders, School Field Trip Docents, Handicaped Children Sporting Events and on and on ad nauseum.

 

$50 annual dues for the value is undeniably a bargain when one measures it to the fullest against any similar organization.

 

I pay more than $50 for a radio speciality publication that provides no value other than the publication.  Time to stop, smell the roses, and count your blessings.

 

 So this is for all the "small" people out there, and also to help the "big" ones understand more about their club.

Last edited by donhradio
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David, this post was intended to help those who had difficulty with the dues increase.  A lot to do about really very little, given the things you have the option to take advantage of.

I certainly would hope that hobbyists feel they can support a real museum for their models at the very least.  It is fun to visit, and features many operating station points

for the younger fans.

 

I believe some of recent major expenses have been a new roof, a forced new septic system, the cost of redone displays and signage, and a repaved parking lot.  Could be wrong about these, and could also have missed some.

Last edited by donhradio

I joined the TCA a few years ago when they did away with the initiation fee. I thought about it for a few years prior to it, but that was the prod I needed to get me to jump. (I misread the notice and thought it was only waived for about a month, not a year and a few months...)

 

In that three years, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Quarterly and even the Headquarter News. I have been to York three times, and am planning on attending again this fall. I've been to the museum once (and once before I was a member). I even peed in the the new bathroom and septic system. I have bought some very nice trains on the online buy/ sell board. (Very good there is close to like new on eBay for some reason...) I went to the national convention in St Louis last year. That's where I found out the dues were going up by $15 and was asked not to tell until it was officially announced; I think they were kidding?

 

The TCA is a good fit for me. I will hopefully be a member for some time to come.

 

J White

 

66568

 

Originally Posted by donhradio:

.............  This marvelous collection has just undergone a major restructuring and has new layouts, with ALL of the work performed by TCA volunteers.  TCA does not pay anyone except perhaps a cleaning staff to maintain the displays.

 

Don,

 

I'll start by saying I liked your post.  It was a breath of fresh air far better than what normally goes into most recent TCA related posts (many by people who have never even been members, but would like to drive the bus from the outside).  Hopefully this thread can stay on your points for a while before the usual suspects start reiterating what's been on every thread since last year regarding the dues.

 

One minor correction to the above though.  Reading Bob Obara's departing President's Message in the May HQN, he states the actual painting and carpet laying were contracted to professionals.  All of the dis-assembly, packing for storage, unpacking from storage, and re-assembly of all the displays was 100% volunteers though. 

 

-Dave

 

 

 

 

 

Last edited by Dave45681

I'm not sure that I agree that $50 is an Undeniable Bargain, but I do think it's a fair price. I think Don is correct about the loudest complainers being the least involved. Anyone who joined TCA simply to attend York, probably sees the increase as a rip-off. They are wrong. If you pay to enter an amusement park, but only go on 1 ride twice and then leave, it's not the parks fault.

 

Emile

What? The Librarian is NOT a TCA member? This is an OUTRAGE! I'm going to talk to some people!...right after I deal with the local gas station owner who drives an electric car and the butcher who is a Vegan and the Lawyer who doesn't have a Will and the overweight Doctor who drinks too much. We can not tolerate hypocrisy among the ranks of the American Librarian! 

There is no objective answer. Either it suits your needs and\or disposable income or it does not. This is not rocket science or debatable in any manner except for debate for the sake of debate. If thats your cup of tea, then flail onward. Nothing personal but a lot of these threads ask the unanswerable. 99% of the time it's up to the poster to make up their minds. 

Originally Posted by david1:

The one thing for me is to attend York. I have been a member since 1985 and I could care less about any of the other benefits. 

 

The $50 annual fee is still a bargain for those that can make full use of what the TCA offers.  

 

I agree with David. I think that any organization can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people and it is up to the individual to get out of it what they want to get out of it.

 

If some people want to do research or want a museum type arrangement, that's fine. And I certainly don't mind part of my dues going to support that. But that doesn't mean it adds value for me.

 

Gerry

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