Join the discussion on the following article:
Trains News Wire FLASH: NRHS details proposed business model
What is the “current crisis”? The article presumes awareness of facts not presented.
I am not exactly sure I know what the phrase “retire the Chapter model” even means as a practical matter but many NRHS chapters are fairly robust and healthy and are fully capable of carrying on with what they do (with possible changes to names, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and other legalities) without being chapters of a national organization any longer.
But how does NRHS intend to reach out to potential new members and what mechanism will exist to make those members happy and want to renew – without Chapters? Speaking personally when I joined I joined a chapter to do things with that chapter; the National membership was a sort of expensive “extra.” I suspect others feel the same way. And if I want to support historic rail preservation (and I do) if I do so on my own I can deduct every penny; filter it through the NRHS and you might not be able to deduct every penny if the magazine is deemed to be a benefit with its own value. The NRHS has laid too considerable a paper trail about the extraordinary value of the magazine to dues paying members for them now to tell the IRS that it is a valueless pamphlet or newsletter sent to donors.
I have been an NRHS member for over 20 years, and never joined a chapter since I don’t live near any. It’s hard to see why some chapters want to live in their own silo. Without a national organization, the chapters would soon find the need one.
Unfortunately the article above doesn’t include a link to our summary of the new plan. You can read it here:
http://nrhs.com/news/nrhs-reveals-details-proposed-new-business-model
It also doesn’t mention that chapters are invited to continue with NRHS as affiliates; under the new system an organization can choose whether or not to belong to National, and there are defined shared benefits for such an arrangement. But there are many unhappy chapters who don’t want to be part of national, and they are free to be independent with no hard feelings. Likewise, members can participate in NRHS at whatever level he/she chooses – either national or local.
For some background on the situation, John Hankey is writing a 3-part series on NRHS in the “Trains of Thought” blog – part 2 is below:
Hope that helps,
Elrond L.