Sydney N MRRC death knell (Australia)

Sounds like a big mess, there Jason. Also, it sounds there wasn't much of a system of "Checks and Balances" in place either.

 

I guess I'm still confused on why someone who doesn't own trains, and doesn't run trains, would be in a train club let alone want to run a train club
I would think there are other groups he could screw up ... er ..a.. I mean...exersize his expertise in. It seems here those type all run the home owner asociations in the "planned" communities.
DISCLAIMER: No offence is intended to any HOA officers, just observations from personal experiences

 

Im with BALOU LINE.. how did he get voted in as Pres if he has zero interest in trains. I vaguely remember the bloke, but cant say I remember much

but then again its only 20mins from Villawood to Peakhurst...

 

I'll say at the moment I'll be interested in turning up for one last run, but I have 2200 SBY on Fri night so I finish at 0600 on Sat Morning, see how I feel....

 

Your dead right Pat,it failed badly.But how do you fix it,better to just let them destroy themselves.

Just got an email from the meeting,the treasurer wishes to withdraw $11,500 to the general account to cover costs of the move to Peakhurst and the construction of a new Club layout.
Time to walk away....................................

 

Jason, I assume this would have been brought up and voted for at a committee meeting not attended by the rank and file members?

 

originally posted by: Jason

WOW...sounds like the prototype! That is unfortunate. (although I have other words in mind).

[ December 12, 2005, 03:06 AM: Message edited by: Don Rickle ]

 

Your dead right Pat,it failed badly.But how do you fix it,better to just let them destroy themselves.

Just got an email from the meeting,the treasurer wishes to withdraw $11,500 to the general account to cover costs of the move to Peakhurst and the construction of a new Club layout.
Time to walk away.................................... </font>[/QUOTE]is there anyway the layout can be modded to fit the new hall?

12k is a lot of buckx

 

JASON, I think now is the time for you to write a book chronicling the downfall of the Sydney MRRC from a group of friends coming together with model RRing to a group of powerless individuals controlled by a small, but powerful bureacracy.

This is such a sad story, I gladly read a book about it. Does this always happen with large clubs? Doesn't seem like it happened to NVNTRAK.

 

I can answer a little of that. About half of the layout legs and support is 4 inch steel welded pipe
and would be very difficult to move. Thursday I might be able to post a picture. The layout is about 30 feet by 120 feet with many penisulas and details. It might be possible to move, but very difficult.

This issue came up with the Midwest N pioneer layout in the Chicago area. It is about the same size and they did get it moved, but no steel legs and risers.
http://www.midwestnpioneer.org/
In fact, looking at the MNP website will give you an idea of the size on SYD N scale. OTOH, here is the SYD N Scale layout. Both clubs are similar size layouts.
http://www.geocities.com/sydney_nscale/index.html
The Cascade Union and the Cotton Creek are really all one layout; they were built or acquired at different times.

[ December 12, 2005, 06:20 AM: Message edited by: sapacif ]

 

cascade was there when I was a member (I did the website for em), but seems way too good to waste!

 

Matthew,you wouldn't believe it but some weeks ago I was writing up an article about both sites avaliable to the club.The reason for the article was that no minutes of any meetings had been placed up on the notice board for approx 2 years,all the while I was trying to get the secretary to do his assigned job & post them!(BTW still no minutes posted)
Anyway I was doing this article to enlighten the membership of what was happening & that there was a better (in my opinion) option avaliable to the club.
I tried very hard to keep it fair & factual & was going to have it published in the club magazine.
I suspect the chairman got wind of this article & low & behold the editor has been sacked from his job because of so called abusive emails etc......because he forgot to add a chairmans chatter article in the next magazine......something along those lines,it wasn't explained to me very well.

Flash is mostly correct,Cascade has been moved twice before & can be split up to be moved again.But it's not designed to be moved.
Cotton Creek on the other hand was designed to be moved/ & has scenery,wiring & track work made to handle this.
But to cut up & re-use bits & peices seems pointless to me,when we could have had a permanent,purpose built shed able to house BOTH layouts in it & making money from open days once a month in a very well respected model park (the oldest registered model park in the world!)
I'm getting too worked up again.............time to stop.

 

All seems dodge to me... Editor sacked for... Ummmmm.......

I'd ask for copies of these abusive emails

 

Jason

I think the idea of a round robin group is a great idea, Gary and I have been involved in a narrow gauge ) round robin group for a number of year motto run trains and no rules , regs or BS.

See you Saturday

Wombat

 

Create a new club, and buy the layout off the current club.

 

You might get sacked, too. Maybe your president has aspirations of working for UP?

Why don't you all just "sack" him?

 

Jason,
I too was in a dysfunctional club.
It was amazing to see the power trips by some of the members.
The club eventually became a glorified "meet & eat" society and running trains became secondary.
I have since moved to another town only to find another dysfunctional club.
So, I decided to start my own.
There are no officers, dues, or any other of that "happy horse hooey".
Keep the faith Jason, look for something better, and good luck.

 

Thanks Rod,Mathew & others,but alas,it has come to an end............
On Sat A fellow club member & I had the last running session on the remaining layout,someone had come into the premises during the week & removed all of the memory throttle moduals,we had to rig up other throttles to be able to run just 2 trains for a couple hours.
There is now talk of cutting up some of whats left to fit into the new premises.The rest will be scrapped..............
Sadly I didn't have my camera with me,will post pic's of the final insults next week.........

 

Morbid Desire to See Pics

Jason: I think I have a morbid desire to see the pics. It is disturbing to me even after almost a year. I am sort of glad I wasn't there.

Also, maybe you could post pictures of the Waterboard buildings as a before and after the new construction is done. I presume the Waterboard building will be destroyed, too.