IPMS membership question

Several years ago out West I helped get a small club in a small town going. it was local guys, mostly younger fellers and some Navy guys meeting once or twice a month in a craft shop.  We were not a club until we got commissioned by the city business district leader to do some work for presentation at the coming faire.  Well, they made the check out (expenses, etc) to our "club" but we were NOT a club then.

In order to get this check cashed for our expenses (they would only issue the one check to the group, not individuals) we had to become a club, so we formed ourselves up as such, NON-IPMS affiliated, we even held a couple of contests and gained a few members.   Well, time passes and now that club is an IPMS affiliate, in a SMALL rural town with no hobby shops (craft store closed) and from what I hear it is thriving.  Several of the members have gone on to the Nationals and won thier respective catagories.  The trade off for your dues and the rather rigid IPMS structure (which I personally do not care for, even tho I am an IPMS member and local officer) is the insurance coverage for events and a formalized judging standard. 

For me, it boils down to this: for some IPMS membership is a  monthly magazine (now in color!) and an ID number.  For others, it is a collective group of like minded individuals.   I have been on both ends of the spectrum on this one, so I speak from experience.   I dont visit the IPMS website much (I get more from my Regional Website) andI have no clue what my IPMS number is. I really dont CARE what it is, either.  For me membership in IPMS/ USA is one thing, but membership in my own club here in Baton Rouge, and the 15 dollars a year that I put into our own treasury, means more on my local level because I can tangibly SEE where the money and expenses go.  Sure I know the insurance covers our butts duringour annual Cajun Modelfest, and that here in LA people are absolutely sue-happy, but how many times has IPMS USA put on a monthlong library display, or done day-long demo's like Baton Rouge Scale Modelers?   As far as member-only contests, I have heard of it happening, but have never experienced it myself.

 Like all things, you get from it what you put into it.  If in doubt, save the money supplies and enjoy the shows that IPMS folks are able to put on each year.

 David

This is why I like my local club, RPM (Rimrock Plastic Modelers) Check out the link in my sig.

$3 a month, not bad. No need to be a member to enter contests.

I don't think (unless I move to a big city) that I'll ever join IPMS, I like the smaller group idea.

 

dkmacin wrote:

Who implied anyone got a free ride? Nothing is free. And though the national officers can be a bit touchy when a free ride, once offered is accepted, they are not fools. You left out the part that any club that wishes to become an IPMS charter must not only pay the $10 charter fee per year, but they must have officers that are members of the IPMS in good standing, i.e. dues paid up. That is at a cost of $19 for the minimum of three officers, one of which may be the "IPMS contact."

What part of my post, stating, "...you must be a national member to be an officer in a local chapter or region" leaves out the part that you must be a national member to be an officer in a local chapter or region?

dkmacin wrote:

The insurance offered is a great deal and well worth the price of admission. . .if it is needed. As I pointed out, I live in a rural area, the local club mets at the library for half the year, and at members housed the other half. We do not have contests, shows or meets.We are just some older guys who get together and look at each others stuff, discuss the world of plastic, and solve the worlds problems. Sometimes we run into each other at the local hobby shop, where the owner gives us 10% off all purchases.

That's a nice setup.  But what would happen if one of your club members, or a new prospective member, is injured at one of your meetings? They might wish to sue.  If your club has no charter or insurance, each individual member might be held personally liable. Homeowners insurance might work, but what about the library?   It might not be very likely among a small group of friends, but it is possible.  Flagstaff chartered an IPMS chapter with only five members.

The price of admission to a local or regional contest does not contribute to the national insurance policy.  It stays with the club.  The individual members' out-of-pocket national dues go toward the insurance, and they are not reimbursed by chapter or regional funds.  So non-member entrants to our local contest benefit from the dues paid by members.  That's a free ride, and we are happy to provide it, because it advances the hobby.

dkmacin wrote:

IPMS is not ideal for every club or group of modelers, The membership fee, that some see as the price of a decent kit, that doesn't get them anything they will use, ever [emphasis added], doesn't justify joining. It is up to each individual club to weigh it out for themselves. Don

If you believe membership is such a bad deal, then by all means, don't join.  If you never attend any IPMS function at any level, or are unable to learn anything from reading the Journal, only then is this argument valid.  But if you participate in any IPMS local, regional or national event as a non-member, which your are most welcome to do, it is only because national members dues helped provide the insurance underwriting that made that event possible.  If you want to give back a little to the hobby and to the community, then for some of us, that is justification enough.  And yet, we gladly welcome non-members to our events.

dkmacin wrote:

" src="/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_censored.gif"> Means I cannot write out what it means or I will be banned! IPMS, and yes I was a member for several years, didn't do much for me. Like Scott, I live in a rural area. I attempted to get an IPMS chapter going and was not given much assistance or encouragement. If I could hand over the $$ fine,  if not, the IPMS was not interested in a chapter where I live. If, IF,  I ever enter a national contest, or am able to attend one, the few dollars off admission or entering fee isn't enough to justify the yearly dues. The IPMS Journal cannot hold a candle to FSM, that is not suckin' up, that is my opinion.

I agree, Don, Fine Scale Modeler is a superior publication to the IPMS Journal.  I would expect that from a for-profit publisher compared to a non-profit society publication. However, that does not mean the Journal is without merit, and we are not constrained to choose between the two.  IPMS members are able enjoy both.

My last paragraph addressed the censorable part of your response.  I don't know what you expected IMPS-USA to do for you in forming a local chapter, but clearly you were not satisfied.  That is unfortunate.  But if your opinion is so virulent as to be censorable, it most certainly implies that overall the IPMS is a bad thing, and by implication it disparages those of us who support it.  Be that as it may, you are still welcome and encouraged to attend IPMS events.  Perhaps we could even persuade you to soften your opinion.

And by the way, IMPS-USA membership does not entitle you to a discount on general admission to the Nationals, but it is mandatory if you want to attend seminars or tours, or enter a contest.

Who implied anyone got a free ride? Nothing is free. And though the national officers can be a bit touchy when a free ride, once offered is accepted, they are not fools. You left out the part that any club that wishes to become an IPMS charter must not only pay the $10 charter fee per year, but they must have officers that are members of the IPMS in good standing, i.e. dues paid up. That is at a cost of $19 for the minimum of three officers, one of which may be the "IPMS contact."

The insurance offered is a great deal and well worth the price of admission. . .if it is needed. As I pointed out, I live in a rural area, the local club mets at the library for half the year, and at members housed the other half. We do not have contests, shows or meets.We are just some older guys who get together and look at each others stuff, discuss the world of plastic, and solve the worlds problems. Sometimes we run into each other at the local hobby shop, where the owner gives us 10% off all purchases.

IPMS is not ideal for every club or group of modelers, The membership fee, that some see as the price of a decent kit, that doesn't get them anything they will use, ever, doesn't justify joining. It is up to each individual club to weigh it out for themselves.

 

Don

Well, mostly I've seen a lot of misinformation here.

It's true, national membership includes the magazine and such.  You don't have to be a national member to join a local chapter, but you must be a national member to be an officer in a local chapter or region.

You may enter a regional or local contest as a non-member.  You may attend a Nationals as a non-member, but only at the general admission level.  It hasn't always been effectly enforced, but that's the rule, and for the most part, the honor system works well. 

As a general admission guest, you may view the contest room and shop in the vendor area. Only a current National member may register as a full attendee, which allows you to enter models in the contest, attend seminars, and go on sponsored tours.

I wrote the 2004 Nationals registration software for Phoenix, and, based on IPMS rules, it would not allow a registration unless the person's membership was current.  Therefore, I claim to know whereof I speak.

The biggest advantage to membership is not readily apparent.  Your national dues help pay for insurance underwriting, which makes it possible for affiliated chapters and regions to hold meetings and public events.  Otherwise, the cost of insurance to individual regions and chapters would be prohibitive, and all those monthly meetings, contests, make-and-takes, swap meets, and other activities would cease.  Each chapter pays an annual charter fee to IPMS-USA of $10.  All other chapter revenues stay with the chapters.  That's hardly enough to cover insurance.  Only the income from the National convention/contest [which is shared with the hosting chapter(s)] and national membership dues pay for the insurance.

If you're currently entering local or regional IPMS contests, and you aren't a national member, that's fine, and you're welcome--even encouraged--to do so.  Our goal is the betterment of the hobby. But please don't imply that those of us who provide the free ride are fools for doing so.

Regards,
Bruce

dkmacin wrote:

My wife has that sticker on her car, and nobody comes near her. . .ever. Don

ROTFL!!!

My wife has that sticker on her car, and nobody comes near her. . .ever.

 

Don

I don't know.... chicks dig a guy with a cool "IPMS" sticker in the back car window. 

Don

I would have to agree with dkmacin,s comments.  I also belonged to the IPMS at one, time. What you received for what you paid I found to be quite negligable. I felt it was not worth the money. The local club in my area that I did belong to at one time, I had to leave because they were unable to obtain a location for the  meetings within a reasonable driving distance for me. But when I did belong, the commaraderie and exchanging of ideas, methods and bringing in your models for others to see and peruse was great. Maybe saying that you belong to the IPMS may be considered a status symbol for modelers. Status symbols bore me. Give me a down to earth person with the same modeling interests as me. I,ll take that person over a status symbol any day of the week. The contest I do enter every year in April keeps getting bigger and has new modelers entering every year as well as the old familiar faces like me.It,s a good time for all whether you win or loose and the best thing is that not one person has their nose in the air. That,s my kind of people and contest. I can remember one IPMS contest I did enter, and it was like the entrants thought their you know what did,nt stink. No thanks.. That was the last IPMS contest which if it was mandatory that you belonged I did not enter. The IPMS may be great for some but I personally will pass. Those are my sentiments for what their worth.

Disfunctional, but a family none the less.

 

Don

Hold Guys, to attend a National you dont have to a IPMS member, the only diferent is that you pay as regular competor and not as IPMS Member, you can suscribe to IPMS as member and not belong to a chapter, and you will recieve your ID member, News letters, Bi monthly full coverage Journal and this is the only group totally international. You can found here not a group of member, you will found a family.

Visit us at: http://ipms_pr.tripod.com

If the local club is an IPMS chapter they may require it, depends on how many members they have.
Our local club is not an IPMS chapter so thusly we do not require you to join the IPMS.
We have a hard enough time trying to find a place to meet. The local library just upped the "rent" to use a "public" room.
Anyway check out the FSM list of clubs, an IPMS chapter will identify itself. Attend a meeting or two to see if it is the right fit for you.

Don

So are local modelling clubs "IPMS" affiliated or not, or both some are and some aren't? I've been looking for a club in my area but haven't found one yet, I was thinking about joining IPMS but I don't even know how to go about doing that.

I don't plan on entering contests though...so perhaps I should fore-go the IPMS membership and just look for a local club. Then that brings up the question if I join a local club will they require me to be an IPMS member? Ugggghh too many questions and too few answers!

Means I cannot write out what it means or I will be banned!
IPMS, and yes I was a member for several years, didn't do much for me. Like Scott, I live in a rural area. I attempted to get an IPMS chapter going and was not given much assistance or encouragement. If I could hand over the $$ fine,  if not, the IPMS was not interested in a chapter where I live.
If, IF,  I ever enter a national contest, or am able to attend one, the few dollars off admission or entering fee isn't enough to justify the yearly dues. The IPMS Journal cannot hold a candle to FSM, that is not suckin' up, that is my opinion.
And I kept it G rated.

Don

I belonged to IPMS back inthe 80s when I lived in a town that had a very active club.  Then I moved into a rural area where unless I could teach cows to build models and organize a contest, I never renewed.

Now that there is a National convention in my neck of the woods, I joined back up and am overwelmed with how responsive the leader members are at the website.  I have been getting a lot of support and help with preparing for my first nationals.  So I guess is was kinda worth me joining.

However, unless I was going to Nationals, I wouldn't have joined because I get pretty much all the comraderie, advice, and support I need from the modeling websites like FSM.

Scott

I'm a member of the Dutch branch of the IPMS.

One of the things that can be fun are the monthly meetings that most chapters organize. It's my experience that you do have to invest some time to be "accepted" by the people (as it is with any club), but beeing able to talk, share experience and techniques with other modelers is fun.

you get their magazine. and you also get discounts on entrance fees at regional conventions. If you ever want to enter a model in a National Convention, membership is mandatory.

dkmacin wrote:

Don

 

So is that good or bad? What's with the censored?

Don