I have been asked to see if it is possible to start up from scratch a local modelling group.
Now i know it can be a lot of work, so I am asking you if you have any ideas on good practice to keep the group from imploding while things start up and if anybody has a good set of club rules ect. would be welcome also
The club at the moment will welcome all who make scale models no matter what they are made from, even the train modellers will be welcome.
the easiest option could be a local IPMS chapter (if that's possible).
Quote from: Hobbes on July 30, 2010, 08:31:31 AM
the easiest option could be a local IPMS chapter (if that's possible).
would be something i would recommend once the group is up in running just to help in enjoyment to get people displaying at shows, and even putting on a show of our own small at first but who knows what the future holds .their is no group in east durham that i know off, the nearest are the middlesbough and the newcastle groups and of course there is the washington group also so i dont think i be stepping on anybodys toes, if this group goes ahead, unless somebody out there knows difrently
It's something I've thought about doing as the nearest club to me is about an hours drive away, doable, but a little far. I don't even know anybody else locally who's a modeller so I wouldn't know how to start.
You might put an announcement in the various modeling forums (ARC, Hyperscale, Modeling Madness, Britmodeler, etc.) asking if anyone lives in your area and would be interesting in starting or joining a local model club. I suspect that a fair number of modelers aren't affiliated with a local club.
Ed
I started and ran a local IPMS branch at Burton around 15 years ago.....we had a core of modellers "imported" from IPMS Stafford which helped set an atmosphere. Anything was welcome, including trains, etc., but after about 3 years the membership drifted for various reasons, so I knocked it on the head. Another group started last year, but again, failed.
Many modellers prefer to model in isolation.
Despite Burton supporting (at the time TWO model shops) there was never enough support for a club.
Here's prety much how those of us who formed the Bedford & District model club got off the ground 7 years ago
1. find out the local demand for a club. (sounds like you have already done that bit anyway)
2. Once you have a few people to start up, find a venue to meet, and decide when you will meet, and how often.
3. elect a small commitee to handle the day to day running of the club. At the same time find a suitable name for the club. Chairman, secretary and treasurer are all you need to get going. Later you can add more roles as and when needed.
4. the commitee draft a simple consitution/rules. they then take the draft to the rest of the membership to discuss and vote on. Keep it simple, it doesnt need to be a massive document. just enougth to cover the clubs back side in a legal sence.
If any of the membership are also members of clubs in other hobbies or sports, see if they can let you have a look at their consitution to give you an idea of how to word yours. (we prety much copied the local model train clubs document with a few tweaks here and there)
The real fly in the ointment here is weather you decide to have junior members (under 18's). If yes. It is advisable to find at least one member who is willing to be CRB checked to take up the role of Child protection officer. A lot of Clubs are saying no to junior memebers as a result. But in the long run, the kids are the key to this hobbies long term survival. Also, If you find some one who has already been CRB'ed. great but the checks will have to be performed again anyway. Its one check per organisation, its not transferable. and its not cheap.
5. the commitee also work out how much to charge in the way of subs and how the sytem will work. IE a charge every meeting or a yearly membership or a mix of both. Again the final decision is put to a full vote.
6. publisity. Once up and running the club will need to recruit more members to survive. The local paper's club news section and the local model shop are quite usefull, also the local libary usualy have a clubs notice bord.
7. enjoy it. and try to avoid internal politics.
im sure others will add to this. It all helps
Quote from: Martin H on July 30, 2010, 01:59:43 PM
Here's prety much how those of us who formed the Bedford & District model club got off the ground 7 years ago
1. find out the local demand for a club. (sounds like you have already done that bit anyway)
done that or should i say the others who approached me did that before they contacted me because they knew that i was active going around shows etc.
2. Once you have a few people to start up, find a venue to meet, and decide when you will meet, and how often.
we have a venue "the local salvation army " who are giving us the room for a year at a peppercorn rent
3. elect a small commitee to handle the day to day running of the club. At the same time find a suitable name for the club. Chairman, secretary and treasurer are all you need to get going. Later you can add more roles as and when needed.
have to talk to the others
4. the commitee draft a simple consitution/rules. they then take the draft to the rest of the membership to discuss and vote on. Keep it simple, it doesnt need to be a massive document. just enougth to cover the clubs back side in a legal sence.
If any of the membership are also members of clubs in other hobbies or sports, see if they can let you have a look at their consitution to give you an idea of how to word yours. (we prety much copied the local model train clubs document with a few tweaks here and there)
The real fly in the ointment here is weather you decide to have junior members (under 18's). If yes. It is advisable to find at least one member who is willing to be CRB checked to take up the role of Child protection officer. A lot of Clubs are saying no to junior memebers as a result. But in the long run, the kids are the key to this hobbies long term survival. Also, If you find some one who has already been CRB'ed. great but the checks will have to be performed again anyway. Its one check per organisation, its not transferable. and its not cheap.
well a few of the people including myself are enhanced crb , some because of the job they do or like myself are certified event stewards, so were halfway their and their is grants in the area to get crb done if we have over a certain number of under 16 in the club
5. the commitee also work out how much to charge in the way of subs and how the sytem will work. IE a charge every meeting or a yearly membership or a mix of both. Again the final decision is put to a full vote.
thanks never though about subs etc. that's why i asked for advice
6. publisity. Once up and running the club will need to recruit more members to survive. The local paper's club news section and the local model shop are quite usefull, also the local libary usualy have a clubs notice bord.
alass the last local model shop has just become yet another shop to close down with no notice in the area so we are now haveing to travel to modelzone in newcastle. but i am sure the local libarys will put up a poster once we up and runing
7. enjoy it. and try to avoid internal politics.
that's the hard part, trying to keep people in the view that this is a fun hobie for all, and they were starters with inch thick paint on their airfix spitfires also.
im sure others will add to this. It all helps
welcome all abilitys. Encourage the rookies and control those who want to allow their ego to rule the roost. Every body is the same...a modeller.
make sure you get at least 5guys willing to help run the club -- open up venue, organise tea / coffee etc.
Displays are great but also take organising a venue, (hobby)shop window space, theme or kits to show.
DON'T become a baby-sitter for parents out on the town -- you may end up taking the kid home or to the polce station !!
Quote from: Mossie on July 30, 2010, 11:21:39 AM
It's something I've thought about doing as the nearest club to me is about an hours drive away, doable, but a little far.
I'm in the same boat as you Simon, nearest branch is IPMS Lincoln, and I just don't have the time (or energy) to spare these days to justify that.
Yeah, mine is IPMS Bridlington & Wolds, which would make it a two hour round trip on club nights. Just makes it difficult to arrange. There's not one in Hull suprisingly, I knew of a guy on another forum (the only other modeller in Hull that I know about, maybe that's the problem!) years back who went to a Model Railway Club as they were quite inclusive & he learnt a lot about scenery modelling & got some great dios together.
I know we could do with a modelling club where I am in the Crook/Bishop Auckland area of Durham.
Good luck with your venture.
Make sure you put "Scale Modelling" in the title, as with just "modelling" you might end up with some very strange characters....
best of luck with it all...................i got no clubs that i know of in my immediate area...........i think the closest is about 25 mile away (an ipms branch with only 6 members!)....if there was one closer i would certainly support it
Best of luck Lenny let us know how it goes. Nearest club to me is the South London IPMS which is based in Woolwich. As I don't drive it's just to much of an awkward journey. The Association of London Modellers in the city was fine whilst I was working but now retired it again is awkward.
Loads of wargames clubs however including the one that runs the Wargames equivalent of the Nats (Salute)
I helped organize an IPMS club back when I was 15. Lived on base and a couple of the local, good modelers, were putting it together (can't remember how I found out about it though). We used to meet at the Base Library for free (always helps) but that limited it to people who could get on base. We ran the model contest for the Montana State Fair which was held in Great Falls. Biggest issue with a Base club is that as people get reassigned or move away, hard to keep it going and that club folded some time after I moved to Utah.
When I did move, the first thing I did was look for the LHS and asked about the local club (knew it existed as they ran a Nats back in 1980). Got the contact info and joined up. Now the internet makes is so much easier as the club can list itself on the National website (if you are IPMS) and in the different modeling forums.
Since you don't have a LHS, put flyers up at the shop you do go to. All it takes is a 3x5 card with your name, phone and what you are trying to do. Once you are organized, you can do the poster thing or a flyer with planned club meetings schedule, location and themes. I would make use of the library if they will help. We did a display for the 100 year anniversary of flight for them and ended up doing several other displays and I even ran a Make n Take for them once.
Quote from: Martin H on July 30, 2010, 01:59:43 PM
7. enjoy it. and try to avoid internal politics.
Good luck........ :rolleyes:
Quote from: Radish on July 31, 2010, 05:12:16 AM
Good luck with your venture.
Make sure you put "Scale Modelling" in the title, as with just "modelling" you might end up with some very strange characters....
even with SCALE modelling you'll end up with some VERY strange characters !!
I'll stick to just a "modelling club" & hope Elle Mcpherson, Meagan Gale etc turn up ;D
I mean, you may have to put up with stuff like this....
they can have life time membership...............apart from the one with the blue feathers.....think she will get black balled ;D ;D ;D
*shaking Head* How the hell does he do it????
Quote from: lancer on August 01, 2010, 03:23:39 PM
*shaking Head* How the hell does he do it????
I'm not sure that I want to know
Gondor
Magnetic personality ;D ;D
More like he smears himself with superglue and sidles up "casually like" ;D
Quote from: NARSES2 on August 03, 2010, 01:46:11 AM
More like he smears himself with superglue and sidles up "casually like" ;D
Isn't there a law against that??
Law against what?
Quote from: NARSES2 on August 03, 2010, 01:46:11 AM
More like he smears himself with superglue and sidles up "casually like" ;D
This is starting to sound like an old western instead of an old dame. ;D
"That'll be the day!"~ John Wayne, in John Ford's classic western "The Searchers".
The line was Wayne's comment throughout much of the film, and was the inspiration for Buddy Holly's classic song, "That'll Be The Day".
One important thing - meet regularly on the same day. For example, the model club I attend meets on the third Tuesday of every month - easy to remember and check on the calender.
Also, the meeting before Christmas, we invite the 'other halves' and people bring along food and drink - makes for a nice pre-christmas atmosphere and shows wives, etc., what we get up to. It also reassures them that they are not the only one married to an idiot.
My club meets third Sunday of the month. Our pre christmas meet is a bring food/drink festive thingy but no spouses. We'll get together for socials with spouses during the summer if they want to come along that is.
Quote from: Nigel Bunker on August 10, 2010, 02:33:19 AM<...> shows wives, etc., what we get up to. It also reassures them that they are not the only one married to an idiot.
Now that's funny right there! (https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi107.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm309%2FChernayaAkula%2FEmoticons%2Frofl.gif&hash=d033122653841027f47eed14fc1622e27513a8e4)