Thanks for your comment Ed; I had hoped not to get into this but I can't let Bill Winans take all the heat for the NASG Board. While NMRA's position and the legal implications lead to our decision, we decided to use this as an opportunity for creating a Dispatch issue devoted to external promotion and, concurrently, move member information to a more secure on-line location. The idea has been around a while; all of this just came together at one time.
The concept was to create an annual "This is S" issue that could be used throughout the year to support promotion and education of people outside of S on the possibilities. My personal belief is the first issue is "spot on" the concept. Dispatch Editor Jeff Madden did a great job in a very short time with the material he had; now it stands to the rest of us to gather better material and keep improving the quality of future attempts. To that end, I'm enthused that Dick Karnes, Ed Loizeaux and Bob Werre have volunteered their time to help with that endeavor. As to the current issue, we had several hundred extras printed. NASG members can request (to me off-line please) extra copies to be used for promotion. Two NASG members, on behalf of clubs, have already done so; one to place them in a local hobby shop that stocks S for prospective converts. The NASG BOT asks only a few rules be followed Use the issues to help those seriously interested in S understand possibilities don't just set a stack on a table at the local train show Show them to brick & mortar hobby shops to educate them too Do not sell them! NASG is making them available for free and absorbing postage and handling costs, we ask you to do the same To that end, we will limit how many issues an organization receives until we get a better handle on the demand. One final comment... The time unpaid volunteers commit to this organization is both impressive and extensive and that is all time away from the modeling they love to do. I don't have any issue with principled disagreements on positions the BOT takes, but I bristle when others stand on the sidelines and throw stones at the work volunteers undertake. Comments that lack constructive ideas and genuine offers of help make it difficult for the hard working volunteers to feel their time and effort is appreciated. I believe I speak for the rest of the Board in saying that we must at times be willing to change our approach to promote the hobby. The "same old ways" just aren't as effective anymore. This BOT remains committed to providing the members with a secure on-line member's only directory. As I'm writing this I'm getting emails from the web master (another volunteer) about progress on that project. I'd ask the membership to have a bit more patience as we move in that direction you might actually like the final product! Remember - You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet... Jim Kindraka Treasurer NASG, Inc. --- In [email protected], Ed Kozlowsky <soldado7264@...> wrote: > > I applaud the attempt to replace the print directory with something related > to modeling regardless of the quality issues, which can be easily corrected. > What I am disappointed about is the elimination of the online member > directory, which I found to be quite useful. Here's hoping it returns in a > form as helpful as the old one. > > > Ed Kozlowsky > Sanford, Maine > sscale.org > ------------------------------------ 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/
