By now you have probably heard that our chapter, HMGS PSW, has tentatively left the National Board, citing the board as non-responsive to the memberships' requests. Our board rep. Steve Verdoliva left his Chairman post, and allowed the national meeting to be held elsewhere than at the Spring Campaign.
So what does this leaving the BOD of HMGS mean? Up till now HMGS has been taking $ 1.00 from your pocket annually for the board. In turn this money is supposed to be used for the advancement of our hobby. So where is the money going? They wouldn't tell us. Even National Director, Clay Smith, admits that the amount of money collected is not enough to do much with. And what does HMGS do for us out here in the West? Well, we are allowed to use the prestigious HMGS name and receive certain tax status. but other then that, not much. Right now, if I decide to go to Tennessee by using HMGS contacts in area, I'll have a local contact point for miniature gamers of the region if I want to take the time to play.
Recently a letter was sent to our board from the HMGS BoD higher ups. Instead of sufficiently answering our questions and quieting our fears, they threatened its with dire consequences if we don't rescind our vote and send in our membership dues. That was it -- nothing else. The mind boggles at the thought.
What dire consequences? Will we not be allowed to purchase miniature soldiers? (Can you see the figure manufacturers going along with the ban.) We will not be allowed to attend miniature conventions? Is HMGS assembling a large army of rabid gamers that will invade California and force us back into the fold?
Fact is HMGS would be hard pressed to get someone to start another chapter here, since all the active miniature players who would have any interest in the project are members of HMGS/PSW. And that membership voted overwhelmingly at the fall convention to stop paying dues until HMGS provided accountability.
What does us leaving the board have to do with you the gamer? Not much. If we cannot use the HMGS name, we can alwaNs call ourself the Historical Miniature Gaming Association et al. We will still have our conventions, our Gamedays, and our different clubs. Oh. we will be $1.00 per member richer then before. And when you think about it in that shortsided way. that isn't necessarily bad thing.
But let's look at the larger picture. With HMGS PSW you belong to large group of like-minded miniaturists. This is a clannish hobby you need bodies to play with. In the LA region especially, it's hard to expand a club since there is so much going on in the city to distract potential members. An HMGS controversy will not help to gather new members as all example. So many ex-members today remember early PSW boards and their difficulties that they are still reluctant to become re-invoked in HMGS.
I took an unauthorized telephone poll (yes, when I was chatting with you about the club. I was really polling you. sneaky, huh?) and found that a lot of members do not care if we are in HMGS or not. Others wanted to stay and some rabidly were happy to leave:
Results of the poll are below:
- Let's Stay: 10 (30%)
Let's Leave: 3 (1%)
Don't Care: 17 (69%)
By Steve Verdoliva pulling out of being Chair of the National Board, we lost our chance to have our Spring Con be the National flagship show, and put our best foot forward so to speak. Already some of the other chapters are knocking us in their newsletters. And I am afraid this is juvenile behavior at its worst.
In attempt to inject some fiscal reality into the picture. I have proposed that small chapters like us get a monetary break with the dues. This would allow small chapters to become more self efficient, and spend the money were it belongs, on games and conventions. Clay Smith has promised to bring the idea to the next major BoD convention.
I'll get off my soapbox now. but the board welcomes your views on the subject
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