mxdata wrote:Yes, I am critical of the national organization for their lack of leadership and support for the chapters, and their reluctance to try anything new or different to appeal to the interests of younger railroad enthusiasts and the general public. I have also been to the meetings with the officers hosted by several of the chapters and offered my suggestions along with those offered by many others. The people who attended could pretty much see that for every suggested action there seems to be an equal and opposite reaction.
MX
I can pretty much agree with MX on this one. I think the NHRS has overspent its resources and it badly needs new
leadership. I do not see this happening anytime soon. I was a member for over 40 years but the last two exorbitant dues
increases for the national organization have chased me out. I did not really want to do this but they offer no break for
those of us who are basically living on a pension. The conventions have become a gathering of the rich and I do not choose
to lend any financial support to these events. They maintain an office in Philadelphia when there are areas where they
could probably obtain space at much less cost.
There are a couple of people in the national organization whom I hold in high regard but unfortunately they are stuck with
the people who are in the top leadership positions who will just continue on as we have done for many years.
As for the future for the NHRS, I think some of the chapters that have their act together and have good leadership will
survive and do just fine, I do not think the national will, it is just a question of when. The money I have saved in dues will
buy me a couple of tanks of gas for my trips here and there.
I don't take pleasure in stating these remarks.
Noel Weaver