Worth it? Wow! How strongly can I say this? I've been a member for just
over a year, and what I've learned about the Q since joining BRHS is
probably equal to or greater than everything I knew about the railroad
before.
In the crudest financial terms, the retail value of the semi-annual
Bulletins alone comes close to repaying the cost of a year's membership.
Throw in the calendar, Zephers, occasional plans and data sheets, flyers
with hot tips on forthcoming models or publications (often available in
advance to members at discounted prices), and it's quite a deal.
But what's more important is BRHS's work, which benefits everyone
interested in this railroad. John Lewis is absolutely right. Just check out
all the information available on the Society's website. Or in the archives
of this discussion group. Or try asking a question about some obscure topic
and see all the folks who rush in to help you.
Sure, you could get a lot of this stuff without becoming a member. You can
join this discussion group for free, consult the website for free, and
order just those Bulletins or whatever that you want. That's because BRHS
includes some (actually, quite a few) incredibly generous people who gladly
share their knowledge and donate vast amounts of time, labor, and even
money, to help anyone interested in the CB&Q.
But non-profits like this can't survive indefinitely on the generosity of a
few individuals, however dedicated or energetic they may be. Ultimately,
they depend -- at a minimum -- on the support of their dues-paying members.
I think the real question should be not whether membership is worth it for
you or me, but whether the organization itself is worth having. If the
existence of BRHS is important to you, then it's an organization worth
supporting.
descending
from
soapbox,
Jonathan Harris
------------------------
I have just returned to model railroading after an absence of a couple of
years. The CB&Q is my prototype. In fact my father-in-law and his
father-in-law had a combined service of 99 years with the CB&Q.
I'm just rying to find out whether membership in the BRHS is worth it.
Tom Mitchell
tmitchell@c...
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