ipms member

I'm a local club member, but have not been a member of the National for many years. As an individual, it just wasn't worth it for me.

As a local club member, however, the more folks who are members of the National, the better. Without the National, the local clubs would still be able to exist, but certain advantages, such as automatic insurance coverage for shows and such, would go bye-bye.

In the end, though, being a member of a local club, IPMS affiliated or not, is worth more to me than being a member of IPMS USA. Even if the local club went under, I'd still have a buncha pals to get together with.


Fade to Black...

I've been thinking about it for quite a while, but just never gotten around to it.
Probably because I'm spending too much time on the forum
Paul

Been a member of IPMS USA off & on since it was organized back in the 60's. Sadly, I let my membership lapse a few times so I don't have the original low membership number. Have also been active in the local chapter in the past, but not currently as it's meetings are held quite a distance from my home. If you get the right mix of modelers, the chapter meetings can be fun & informative. For National membership all you get is a bi-monthly mag that is about 50% IPMS politics, 30% bitching & 20% modeling. Still, I think it's worth supporting as it does have some positive aspects.

I recently retired and joined our local modeling club, IPMS, and AMPS. In fact I've just received my first issues of both the IPMS Journal and AMPS Boresight magazines.

It's a little early to judge whether or not membership will be benificial, but to me the magazines alone are worth the annual dues. As has been mentioned above, my membership also helps the local club maintain it's IPMS charter status and that has a bunch of benifits for everyone.

Never would join IPMS, not very interested in their politcs, joined a local and more socialable club, who meet on a saturday night, instead of the uncivilized week night.

Rob.

Although I don't do contests, I am a National member. There is no local club to which I can travel that is close enough (I don't drive).

The main reason that I re-joined was to become a member of their "Review Corps." In the past year, I've received enough in kits to cover the cost of my membership for the next six years.

As for politics, you will find that in any large organization. I'm not influenced by another's opinion, and I don't try and influence others. If someone wants to wrap themselves so tight over trivial "rivet counting" details, so be it. It's their ulcers, not mine.

How on earth can you became of member of the Review Corp?
To Dave Voss I volunteer to review the new Trumpeteer and Tamiya kits, Impartial reviews guaranteed......I am gonna have them for free and mine to keep right?.....

.....nope.......at least not yet anyway.........
when i lived in north Texas, i suppose i had numerous opportunities to join their chapter but, i'm not a politicker and saw some distinct disadvantages because of that (being dictated to as to what to build & how soon to have it finished......eeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkk).......and any club who would have me as a member, i just couldn't face.....................
now, that i'm over here........i'm craving to have 3D contact with anyone who dabbles in styrene..........

by the by.....i voted no and was prompted that i could not vote more than once......is something broke ?[:0]

Can anyone detail just WHAT the advantages would be for joining IPMS?
I've been a member of several car clubs (1:1 scale!) and was amazed and disappointed at the political manouvering/backbiting/snobbery that was evident - I choose not to be a member anymore - can't be bothered with the bulldust.
What's in it for me?

I had joined years ago and somehow my membership lapsed. When I tried to contact them for a renewal they never responded to my request even after multiple tries so I gave up. Since moving to South Carolina I found a local chapter here in Sumter and might look int it.

Richard

QUOTE: Originally posted by leemitcheltree Can anyone detail just WHAT the advantages would be for joining IPMS?... ...What's in it for me?

For $25 per year ($49 for 2, 78 for 3) [as of 1 July 2004], you get,

1. IPMS/USA Membership - Your membership card entitles you to discounted entry fees at most IPMS sponsored shows and competitions. Additionally, there are some hobby shops around the country that offer discounts to IPMS members.
2. The IPMS Journal - a bi-monthly (6 per year) modeling magazine that contains about a 50-50 split between IPMS business information for members and modeling information.
3. Access to the "members only" areas of the IPMS web site.
4. A closer affiliation with like-minded organizations around the world (i.e. IPMS/UK, IPMS/Manila, etc.).

That's what you get.

well i am , in the uk i should of spent the money on a kit instead

I used to be a national member, but I got tired of reading the rivit counter kit reviews, and about the politics. I didn't think it was worth that little bit of money.

I'm not a member.
To be honest, most of what I hear about the organization is negative.
But then again, the only time I hear anything at all about IPMS is when someone is ranting about it, so perhaps over the years I've gotten a skewed impression of the real situation.

Is there an IPMS chapter in Japan?

Non-member, thought about it from time to time. But no local, and really too busy anyways.

Been a member for about 6 years now. Been to a couple of Regionals and a National. I know there are people who have had bad experiences with politics, complaints, disputes, and the like. I've even had a couple myself. But you have that in every group you encounter, its part of this thing we call life. I've met some really good people, and I've met some people I wouldn't walk across the street to spit on if they were on fire. And I'm pleased to tell you the former absolutely outnumber the latter. All in all, it's been worth my time and money.

I was a member years ago
but i dont think its worth it, id rarther get another kit with the money

I am a member of the local IPMS club, but I'm not a member of the national organization. I have heard too many stories about backstabbing and politics to make me wonder if joining would be beneficial for me.

I have to tell you, guys, everything I'm reading here is making me reconsider my original intention to join.
Paul

Not a member. Never have been and never will be. Went to a few meetings in Ca. Was told that because I wasn't a member, I couldn't talk about a new kit that was fixing to come out (Monogram F-106 if I remember correctly) Then I had to sit through an hour and a half of "discussion" about how to reprimand a member who had missed to many meetings, then was asked to leave the room while they voted on said member. When I was told to come back into the room I was told to sit in the back and not to talk. All in all a very shabby experience. I saw one guy leave nearly in tears when a kit he had brought was absolutely ripped in front of him, his crime? he did a what if model. So no I probably wouldn't attend another meeting.

QUOTE: Originally posted by roadkill_275 Not a member. Never have been and never will be. Went to a few meetings in Ca. Was told that because I wasn't a member, I couldn't talk about a new kit that was fixing to come out (Monogram F-106 if I remember correctly) Then I had to sit through an hour and a half of "discussion" about how to reprimand a member who had missed to many meetings, then was asked to leave the room while they voted on said member. When I was told to come back into the room I was told to sit in the back and not to talk. All in all a very shabby experience. I saw one guy leave nearly in tears when a kit he had brought was absolutely ripped in front of him, his crime? he did a what if model. So no I probably wouldn't attend another meeting.

Roadkill,

Needless to say, if your example was the only type of "club" that I had access to, I would not have joined either their organization or IPMS. That IS NOT a modeling club...it's a...well, since this is a family site, I'll leave it at that.

Our modeling club is small, with only about 20 members. Of those, about half are members of the national organization. There is abosolutely no difference between those who are and those who are not national members. Everyone is an equal! Well, except for the club president, but we elected him. I would be the first person to walk out the door if anyone tried to strong-arm people in the way you've described.

My advice would be to check out some other clubs in your area (if available) so you have a broader example to draw from.

As far as IPMS politics putting people off, this has been going on as long as there have been national organizations of any kind. However, there is nothing that says that any member HAS to get involved in the politics of IPMS. About 9 out of every 10 members just do the same things we do here...builds models, talks about them online, and has fun. They don't care about politics and never get involved in that side of the organization.

Take care and enjoy modeling,

Interesting to read the comments about the North Texas IPMS chapters. Glad to know it's not just me. I went to two meetings and played invisible man. Nobody talked to me, and when I tried to talk to them, they scurried away to talk to someone more familiar. There was one person who was friendly - another outsider. We both agreed that the second meeting would be our last. That was years ago; maybe things have improved.

Actually, I would enjoy getting together with people who build models for fun.

I was a national member for a few years until I went overseas and let my membership lapse. Now that I'm back I have toyed with the idea of rejoining - the Journal is not bad - but I'm in no hurry.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChemMan Interesting to read the comments about the North Texas IPMS chapters. Glad to know it's not just me. I went to two meetings and played invisible man. Nobody talked to me, and when I tried to talk to them, they scurried away to talk to someone more familiar. There was one person who was friendly - another outsider. We both agreed that the second meeting would be our last. That was years ago; maybe things have improved.

.....for the most part ChemMan......it was clubbing as usual when i left Dallas in '99........i'd never been to a meeting but, when a groupfrom that club frequented a LHS..............for the most part they were polite but, abnormally opinionated regarding "their" chapter....pretty stuck on themselves....it just gave me an uncomfortable feeling.....individually each was more than pleasant and aimiable....... and they did do a good regional contest and show.......just a shame as a group they tried to exist outside of the mainstream..................
oh well..................
sure wish there was some sort of loose collection of modellers over here..........

Only one branch in my city and the meetings are on the other side of town, racing/rally cars are not greatly enthused over and I also do most of my building in 43rd. However if I wasn't away from home so much (generally 3-4 nights per week) I would probably join just to learn different techniques and ways of doing things eg weathering

Isn't it sad that when we try to organize a group to make something positive, we get caught up in issues that are more "personality" oriented rather than focusing on the art itself. I think the philosophy of the FSM forums is the way to go. No matter what the skill level of modelers, when they post thier work, we give em an "atta boy". IPMS chapters should work the same way. We all strive for acceptance and praise from our peers in this life. One certainly doesn"t join a group like IPMS to be chastised and belittled. If an individual is proud enough to put thier work in front of the world to be judged, then that very act should be respected, and feelings should be protected. In competition, "winning" is everything. I don't feel that we should be gaged by whom some "judge" thinks is the best. I feel that good work should be recognized and shared. I don't have a problem with competitions, but, they should be structured taking into consideration ones experience, resources and age.

Steve

Hear Here crockett..........
The IPMSs' of all strata should read this thread......
ty for Joe for a great idea.