I guess I'll jump in here. During our first year (SJSS), we averaged about 6-7 scale folks at our meetings and I was the one who suggested to Bill (over some objection) that we broaden our base to include all stripes of S. The current club has about 50 members, give or take.
I've since moved to PA and now belong to the Lehigh Valley Club which allows for all aspects of S, but actually is made up of mostly "scalers". I don't feel that it really matters how big or little your couplers or flanges are and have always felt that way. There is some excellent modeling being done in the present day SJSG club. They have a very nice highrail portable layout that is out there promoting S at every opportunity. The South Jersey club over the years has also participated with the New Jersey division of the NMRA and my layout was often part of conventions like in 1993 and yearly meets. A prominent HO modeler switched to S highrail during that time and is a very active SJSS member as of right now. My current division is the South Mountain Division (smdnmra.org) and they once had (now deceased) an active member who modeled in O 3-rail. Say what you will about the NMRA, but I always considered them S friendly and wish we were more involved with them, but that's another subject. So, my suggestion is that if you want the new group to be succesful that you: 1- Keep the membership open to all aspects of S. 2- Have a relationship with the local NMRA division. Just my 2 cents, Roy --- In [email protected], "Bill Lane" <bill@...> wrote: > > John, > > > > Congrats on trying to form a new group. I agree with you on a few things. > Keep it light and simple. No dues! Keep those pesky American Flyer fans out! > (:->) You will possibly be an Army of 1 for a while if you do stay true to a > scale group. > > > > When Roy Hoffman and I started the South Jersey S Scalers in 1989 all of > those with any S interest were invited. I was the dictator until the first > election when I was impeached. Bill Moore was president for many years. The > name was changed to the South Jersey S Gaugers as it remains today. They are > still VERY active but I have not been involved for over 10 years. The few of > us that went the pure scale direction faded away eventually from SJSG and > wound up congregating at Bill Moore's house which is also pretty active. > With mine now there are 3 scale only layouts within 20 miles of each other. > > > > While we try and promote unity here the truth is there is not much in common > between a pure A F fan and pure S Scaler. Since this is your upstart you > should decide what your wants and priorities are for forming the group and > try to stick to them. If you want to be mostly a social group the individual > train interests are not as important. If you want people to come over and > help build your layout that is another matter. As Ed L has mentioned many > times that group does not have to be S Scalers on their own but should be > model railroaders. Of course as we know there are infinite shades of gray in > interests here. The opportunity for sharing and learning is endless. > > > > Thank You, > Bill Lane ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
