The chairman can now hear you all…

[Steve FlintParticipant]

Good afternoon everyone,

Date of this post is 16 January 2025.

I have finally gained access to the email account for: chairman@emgs.org

Not quite sure why it took me nearly a year to connect to it, though it seems I didn’t ask in the first place!

So apologies to anyone who emailed the chairman in the past 12 months and heard nothing!

Any member wanting to email me can now do so on: chairman@emgs.org  and hopefully they will receive an answer.

[Richard SlipperParticipant]

On Steve Flint said

Good afternoon everyone,

Date of this post is 16 January 2025.

I have finally gained access to the email account for: chairman@emgs.org

Not quite sure why it took me nearly a year to connect to it, though it seems I didn’t ask in the first place!

So apologies to anyone who emailed the chairman in the past 12 months and heard nothing!

Any member wanting to email me can now do so on: chairman@emgs.org  and hopefully they will receive an answer.

Sorry Steve, but I really cannot believe I am reading this. A year. Surely your experience at PECO and elsewhere  would have meant it was noticed by somebody at least  Have the rest of the committee not emailed you? Has the issue not be raised? Is the society so backward that all this email is far too futuristic? The lack of forum activity here, compared to the levels on the Scalefour Society’s web forum, certainly suggests that online engagement might be something this society needs to address if younger people are to be attracted to the society and it is to remain relevant in the modern world.

 

[Steve FlintParticipant]

Hello Richard

Thank you for getting in touch. I sense a distinct whiff of cynicism and disapproval in your post. Are you dissatisfied with the running of the Society? Have you not read my write-ups in the the latest Newsletter (No 243) and also my summary Chairman’s report in the AGM notices?

You will see therein that we are steadily making advances to the running of the EMGS. It is not something we can do overnight, as all of the society officers and members work voluntarily, freely giving their time.

The Society needs more members to help out in this way, though we cannot compel anyone to do so, hence we have to proceed as speedily as we can.

If you have any specific concerns about the EMGS please do not hesitate to contact me personally by email via chairman@emgs.org which is now fully operational.

Regards

Steve Flint

[Richard SlipperParticipant]

Thanks for replying Steve.

I would seem that your OP has generated more activity on the forum than anything else for some time, well at least amongst three of us. 🙂  (Merely observational and in no way cynical I assure you.)

Dissatisfied with the running of the society? No, my experience has been too short for me to develop a definitive opinion although again, observationally, the lack of activity on the website & the lack of any Social Media presence (that I have found) does cause one to wonder whether apart from an excellent and enjoyable exhibition in May last year, and receipt of the journals since then – when I joined – there is much else. (What does one expect? I’m not sure)

Now of course, nobody gets much out if they don’t put much in. But where would a person start? We live in an instant world – like it or not. How does one make contact with other members who live nearby? Who are they?

Looking back at the last 10 journals (on line) there appears to have been almost 228 new members listed and 41 who died. A net gain of 187 – which it is not unreasonable to expect to be generally younger and more ‘switched on’ than most of those who were lost and who one would expect to be generally older and less familiar with modern communication methods (although this is no guarantee!)

The actual number of members doesn’t seem to be mentioned in the journals or website, unless I’ve overlooked it, so what proportion the above numbers represent in unclear. Would 2000 members be too far out? So why has there been an absence of suitably skilled volunteers? I’d be surprised if there were none amongst that number. Could it be uncertainty? Could it be wondering where to start? There can be a tendency (and this is not critical of any individual) for committees (and sub committees) to become ‘warm to their role,’ perhaps a little inward looking, remote, a bit important, and well…. pompous about knowing best, while going round in circles, gaining minutes and losing hours. All organisations from Government to Playgroups suffer. Maybe that’s another reason. Once bitten etc.

Your editorials and articles describe, while not imminent, an existential threat to this society. A threat that undoubtedly also exercises the minds of the officers of other ‘niche’ railway modelling societies. Competing societies can be a distraction but it seems that more ardent or politically motivated modellers (than I) feel that their creed is better served by specialising. Perhaps it’s the power and status 😉
I wonder how many members of EMGS are members of S4S and vv. (I am.) (and GOG and S7S) It may of course be that the niche societies have no future beyond their current membership. But 187 net new members over the last 10 journals would suggest otherwise. You don’t join if pessimistic although you might not renew if the mood changes.

The EM Gauge Society had always struck me as a more traditional and conservative – small ‘c’-  association. But when I attended Expo EM last year I found a more friendly and open atmosphere than I had anticipated – one of the reasons I parted with the membership fee on the day. Another simple fact, that the society can provide ready to lay points shows both a progressive and forward looking culture does exist. Access to a hobby needs to be easy especially for those with little experience.

Engaging with the membership and potential members is ‘marketing’ – informing, advertising, keeping in touch, – websites, social media, email campaigns, paper for those who prefer.  All takes time of course and relying on volunteers is always a challenge but for those with the skills it doesn’t take long to do. For example – social media posts of adverts (say for exhibitions) can be prepared all at once and then posted automatically at intervals. This is how a lot of professional third party PR providers work and can then service a wide portfolio of customers. Each might get a day or half a day service a month.

In your reply to Steve Firth you mention ‘without the need for them to have knowledge/command/experience of the software processes.’  

That could sound disingenuous to those members who already post frequently on RM Web, Western Thunder, S4S, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (Twitter) (perish the thought,) TikTok, Bluesky, FlickR etc etc which require absolutely no specialised IT knowledge. Then there are no doubt some who write and read blogs using WordPress/Jetpack or other platforms – writing needs a bit, reading none. Plus there will be those who are familiar with end user apps and software in the workplace and so on, who work or did work in IT or coms etc etc

It could also be read as that ‘conservative association’ appearing (perhaps unjustly) as really out touch with or patronising to its members who I suspect are far more capable and open to change than the statement implies. Programming DCC is not the most straightforward pastime.

If the right skills don’t exist in the society’s present cohort of officers there might be a son, daughter or grandchild who’d appreciate some extra pocket money – undergraduates often need projects as part of their degree course.

Think I’d better end there.

Written with the best of intentions.

Richard

 

 

 

 

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Richard Slipper.

[Stuart FirthParticipant]

I think it is certainly an issue going forward – on RMWeb recently there has been discussion about the trading practices of some of our smaller suppliers, to the effect that people expect to be able to view and purchase anything they want on-line. Now my view is that many of our suppliers are ‘one man band’ enthusiasts who do it for enjoyment not to get rich (!) and they shouldn’t be expected to have to set up a website with on-line purchasing if they, frankly, have better things to do with their lives. I’m perfectly happy to pick up the ‘phone or even send a cheque through the Royal Mail…

Nevertheless there appears to be an increasing number of people who don’t consider such things even as an option, refusing to buy the products because it might involve them having to talk to someone. This illustrates just how vital an on-line presence is for the Society, because, unlike those traders, the EMGS needs to promote interest and attract new modellers all the time.

The slow progress of the Forum on this site has been discussed before, and some of us try to keep it alive, but it can feel like a pretty thankless task sometimes, and it would be good if some of the bigger names in the EMGS were more prominent on the Forum, because I think it would help.

 

[Steve FlintParticipant]

Hello Stuart,

I agree that we need to bolster the EMGS on-line presence, but as I alluded to in my (printed) write-up on page 243-4 of the January Newsletter, running a website requires different skillsets; technical, artistic, promotional, literate and so on. Whilst there are individuals within the Society that are adept at some of them, no single individual has come forward to volunteer their services as an all singing, all dancing fully skilled ‘webmaster’.

We do have a website sub-committee/working party examining the various elements. It is a work in progress at the moment.

A key requirement is to improve access for members to post news etc, without the need for them to have knowledge/command/experience of the software processes. Typically a ‘forum’ style of access will probably be the model and indeed we have just opened a topic thread under the ‘miscellaneous category’ for Area group News. The notion behind it is to alleviate the present need for members to email their ‘news’ to either of the Society Officers with ‘backroom’ access, who then have to upload it verbatim using the software: a two step process which we hope to transform into a one step process.

However, not everyone wishes to use forum style communications; and the Society cannot compel its members to participate if they do not want to; perhaps they prefer to do some modelling instead?

Anyway its work in progress with the Society Website: “Site under construction…please call back later”

[Stuart FirthParticipant]

Richard the area groups are a great resource for members, why not check out your nearest one and see if it is within range? Most of the groups do a report in the newsletter.

[Trade OfficerKeymaster]

There is also a map based on geographic post code on the website that shows where those groups are and clusters of members. Go to Members Area>Area Groups and you will see a link to the map. It is a google map so you will be able to pan and zoom. If you click on the EMGS icon it will tell what is the area group

Whilst we can’t advertise individual members it should give you an idea of how near your area group is and the sort of numbers of members in your vicinity

John

 

[Richard SlipperParticipant]

On Trade Officer said

There is also a map based on geographic post code on the website that shows where those groups are and clusters of members. Go to Members Area>Area Groups and you will see a link to the map. It is a google map so you will be able to pan and zoom. If you click on the EMGS icon it will tell what is the area group

Whilst we can’t advertise individual members it should give you an idea of how near your area group is and the sort of numbers of members in your vicinity

John

 

Thank you John. I had discovered the information about area groups the website. More report in the journal of course. I had also examined the map on the website having explored most of it.

Although 19 members are listed in the Norwich (NR postcode I presume) this area is approximately 3500 Sq Miles (70×50) which gives a density of 1 member to 184 Sq Miles.

I would suspect that of those that are actively modelling most would be ‘lone modellers.’ I’m not aware of any layouts or sub groups within any of the local Model Railway clubs. To be honest to see an EM or P4 layout on display in this area (NNAG S4S excepted who have been out with Cade’s Green and hopefully with North Elmham in due course) is a rare event. EM is marginally more common than P4 but any appearing is remarkable.

For those working alone and for those who are located more remotely (Norfolk currently has only 1 dual carriageway of any length – the A11 – the next longest are the Norwich Southern bypass and the Norwich Northern Distributor Road) on line support is now essential. The days of writing ‘Dear Sir’ letters, waiting weeks for publication and then maybe replies are long gone. RM Web, Facebook Groups, S4S Forum, Western Thunder et all all show this to be the case.

There is an active private FB Group – ‘EM Gauge Modellers Group’ with 416 members. I have never found anything similar for P4. Online forums are fine when they stay on topic and contributors make meaningful submissions. Too often some, for me, become ‘derailed.’

I think I’ll leave the subject the there. 🙂

 

 

 

[Richard SlipperParticipant]

On Stuart Firth said

Richard the area groups are a great resource for members, why not check out your nearest one and see if it is within range? Most of the groups do a report in the newsletter.

Thanks Stuart. 🙂

[Author]

Posts