narrow categories?

rhydddu009 · July 27, 2009, 15:26

Is it just me, or do other users find the categories for posting a bit narrow (no pun intended)?

There is nowhere for discussion of events, introductions or indeed just a simple 'everything else' section. I am about to ask a question about modelling magazines, but will have to put it in prototype matters (like this post) as there is nowhere to put it.

Maybe long term we might be able to get advance notice of any major additions to the society sales stand (once Brian has recovered of course).

garrywhiting · July 27, 2009, 15:53

Unlikely that "new" items on the Sales Stand will be listed here, essentially because access to the sales stand has to be "a level playing field" with all members having equal opportunities to purchase. To list here would give forum members an unfair advantage, and to list after appearance in the News would serve no useful purpose.

rhydddu009 · July 27, 2009, 16:04

a bit of a nebulous argument really as most people have web access these days! It might also act as an incentive to get more members on here discussing things!

surely something like this would be useful to avoid us all calling/emailing Brian so often to find that he hasn't got the thing we want!

I'm trying to make Brian's life a bit easier.

garrywhiting · July 27, 2009, 16:26

Sorry but no, it is not a nebulous argument. Membership of this forum is currently running at 10% of Society membership. Widespread internet access is still a popular media myth. I would not want a priviledged 10% to have early access to Sales Stand items.

rhydddu009 · July 27, 2009, 16:47

true, but services such as that may well serve to increase the membership. also this forum hasn't really been pushed enough I don't feel in the 009 news, membership will grow yet.

rhydddu009 · July 27, 2009, 16:49

anyway...please let's not forget the initial point of posting - can we have more categories please webmaster?

Graeme Dunbar · July 27, 2009, 18:07

Quote from: rhydddu009 on July 27, 2009, 16:49
anyway...please let's not forget the initial point of posting - can we have more categories please webmaster?

I fear the initiative has been lost. There is plenty of discussion of 009 and more general NG matters on another forum. It is a pity as with me being geographically remote from the active regional "Branchlines" it would be nice to interact with other 009 Society members online.

JulienW · July 28, 2009, 09:33

Quote from: GraemeD on July 27, 2009, 18:07
I fear the initiative has been lost. There is plenty of discussion of 009 and more general NG matters on another forum. It is a pity as with me being geographically remote from the active regional "Branchlines" it would be nice to interact with other 009 Society members online.

I think it is a case with most of the internet fora (and Yahoo groups) that they go through phases of being popular, then suddenly everything stops for weeks (months?) at a time.

Perhaps it is a case that all the people who populate such fora must, occasionally, actually step away from the keyboard to go and do some modelling rather than read about what other people are thinking about doing and feel a need to comment on it... ::)

Perhaps someone should start up a new set of societies for those who do not actually model anything but would rather discuss what they are not doing via the interweb... ;)

As to making contact with other Society members, have you tried putting a note in the News (the prime method of communication within the 009 Society) to see if there are other members in your area who may be interested in forming a group? Someone has to make the first move after all, and whilst using the News (as opposed to anything involving string and yougurt pots) may not be instant I have always belived that good things are worth waiting for.

Quote from: rhydddu009 on July 27, 2009, 16:49
anyway...please let's not forget the initial point of posting - can we have more categories please webmaster?

Please remember that the chap running this is a volunteer, who also has another important Society job and a full time job (to pay the bills from buying at Brian's stand) to boot. If you have any suggestions to make would it not be better (more polite?) to contact him directly to make your suggestions (and perhaps better define what you are asking for) rather than posting your request out in the open where it could be seen as unwarrented criticism of the chap doing the job...

I am sure that no offence was meant though.

Equally, some of the things you are asking for may fall outside of the remit of this forum, which was specifically drawn up to try to avoid problems found elsewhere when things get pollitical. If that is the case then try looking elsewhere, as it would suggest that you are not getting value for money from the free service provided by the 009 Society.

Anyways, enough typing - I've got a layout to build! ;D

Graeme Dunbar · July 30, 2009, 11:32

Quote from: JulienW on July 28, 2009, 09:33
As to making contact with other Society members, have you tried putting a note in the News (the prime method of communication within the 009 Society) to see if there are other members in your area who may be interested in forming a group? Someone has to make the first move after all, and whilst using the News (as opposed to anything involving string and yougurt pots) may not be instant I have always belived that good things are worth waiting for.

Yes, it must be few times now that I have put something in the 009 Society News, over the years. Sadly, the response has not been great. I did get some words of encouragement from Andrew Hastie and I have met another 009 Society member as a result of writing. I have heard that there are other members in the area, but they have kept quiet.

This thread has brought something to mind that might help. I will pass my thoughts on to the Secretary or Journal Editor.

JulienW · July 31, 2009, 08:46

Quote from: GraemeD on July 30, 2009, 11:32
Yes, it must be few times now that I have put something in the 009 Society News, over the years. Sadly, the response has not been great. I did get some words of encouragement from Andrew Hastie and I have met another 009 Society member as a result of writing. I have heard that there are other members in the area, but they have kept quiet.

This thread has brought something to mind that might help. I will pass my thoughts on to the Secretary or Journal Editor.

That is a shame.

I must admit myself that it took a while before I got involved with my local group, and I am sure that there are member in the area who do not attend, including one who I think lives a few minutes walk away and who I have personally invited to meeting at my house. ???

But that is people for you. ::)

At least you have tried to make the effort, which is commendable.

MickT · July 31, 2009, 10:20

Quote from: JulienW on July 31, 2009, 08:46

...............my local group, and I am sure that there are member in the area who do not attend, including one who I think lives a few minutes walk away and who I have personally invited to meeting at my house. ???

But looking on the bright side, that means there is probably a piece of Jane's famous flapjack surplus? Can you bring it to Pewsey if it remains unclaimed and needs an appreciative home? Thanks very much! ::)

Mick

garrywhiting · July 31, 2009, 13:18

Graeme, I know it's been discouraging for you so far, but please don't give up on a North Scotland, or even on an all Scotland, Group yet. Your experiances so far are sadly quite typical. Even in areas with well established groups there are many Society members who are extremely reluctant to come forward and make themselves known. Why this should be has puzzled me for 30 years. Area groups are great fun, sources of inspiration and extremely rewarding in the long run. Sadly it usually requires one member to act as sergeant-major to drill the unruly recruits and initially to act as host. Please try again, it may yet succeed.

Darren Hedges · August 01, 2009, 08:49

Quote from: garrywhiting on July 31, 2009, 13:18
Area groups are great fun, sources of inspiration and extremely rewarding in the long run.

I whole heartedly agree with Garry, but I also have to shamefully admit that it was years before I finally got around to attending a meeting of my loacl area group, and now I regret that I had not done so before. When I ask myself why I didn't I can't honestly answer with anything other the fact that I didn't know if I would like it or be accepted. Now looking back with hindsight I think this was pretty silly of me, after all if I didn't try I wouldn't know, would I?
I can say with some certainty that as regards my 009 modeling is concerned the second best thing I ever did was to join my local area group, and best thing I ever did was join the society in the fist place.

Regards,
Darren.

JulienW · August 01, 2009, 14:55

Quote from: Snowdon Ranger on August 01, 2009, 08:49
<snipped>... but I also have to shamefully admit that it was years before I finally got around to attending a meeting of my loacl area group, and now I regret that I had not done so before. When I ask myself why I didn't I can't honestly answer with anything other the fact that I didn't know if I would like it or be accepted. Now looking back with hindsight I think this was pretty silly of me, after all if I didn't try I wouldn't know, would I?

I think that pretty much sums it up for me too, Darren. It must have been 2 or 3 years of living in Birmingham before I got involved in the West Mids group.

As a suggestion to Graeme, is it worth pursuing the "SWOONS method"?

The start of the South West area group was a meeting in a church hall in Taunton with 3 layouts and the sales stand. Geoff Bowyer went around on the day with a clipboard to get details of anyone who was local and interested in forming a group (much harder to say no to someone face to face ;) ) and had people who had come from Cornwall expressing an interest. By the end of the day he had (I think) around two dozen names, and at least half of those (maybe more) turned up to the first 'official' group meeting a couple of months later.

Brian (Guilmant) would probably have a better idea of the best type of venue, etc. (and it would be a fair way for him to travel which may not be possible just yet) as he was instrumental in twisting Geoff's arm (or so I heard!) so it might be worth giving him a ring sometime for a chat.

Graeme Dunbar · August 01, 2009, 17:37

Thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement. I had better knuckle under and get something ready to exhibit! At the local exhibitions (Inverness, Elgin, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth) any NG is a rarity and every new layout in any scale or gauge is eagerly awaited. The best way forward is to perhaps represent the 009 Society at one of them if I can get an invitation.