dem132
Seasoned Member
Posts: 122
|
Post by dem132 on Jan 22, 2014 8:30:40 GMT
As crazy as it sounds I've been turned away from joining a MES! I won't say which MES it was. Back in 2006 I moved house, and went along to their open day and made enquiries about joining. I was asked if I own steam engine and had a workshop, at the time both answers were no, hence why I went to their open day. Their membership secretary informed me that their society had waiting list for members with and without locos.....! I won't say anymore about them, but reading this thread does show about how difficult it is to attract new young members.
I'm now 30, so really still a "young" member in most MES. I moved to Basingstoke in 2010, and became a member their MES. Welcomed me with open arms, now I have a working engine (Maid of Kent) and couple of projects in the workshop.
|
|
|
|
Post by mattscrutton on Jan 22, 2014 10:07:59 GMT
I also have experienced that and couldn't understand why? Surely more members equals more money from subs etc. Its not like they will all turn up the same day! I wonder if it was the same club.
|
|
dem132
Seasoned Member
Posts: 122
|
Post by dem132 on Jan 22, 2014 10:22:07 GMT
I believe the underlining reason was....Health and Safety, around the number of members on-site for meetings etc. I agree, rarely does the entire membership turn up at once, lucky to see 10% on a Public running day and 20% on a meeting night, maybe 40 - 60% for an AGM. On principal I won't go to their open days now. I wonder in 10 years time whether their attitude will change? I would hate to see any MES dissolve due to low membership numbers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Roger on Jan 22, 2014 10:27:58 GMT
I'm sure these societies wax and wane as members both assets and liabilities shuffle off this mortal coil. A few characters with a good attitude can transform any society as long as it still exists. Those societies that look like dying out can be resurrected by enthusiastic new members so I'm hopeful that most will have a bright future even if they currently appear to be in terminal decline.
|
|
Tony K
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,574
|
Post by Tony K on Jan 30, 2014 14:36:38 GMT
I'm sure these societies wax and wane as members both assets and liabilities shuffle off this mortal coil. A few characters with a good attitude can transform any society as long as it still exists. Those societies that look like dying out can be resurrected by enthusiastic new members so I'm hopeful that most will have a bright future even if they currently appear to be in terminal decline. I agree - and I talked to striplar and he agreed too! |
|
