Questions for ALL HMGS members and BoD's to Ask themselves:

How important is 'growth' to HMGS? What exactly is the Growth Plan for HMGS? What are the HMGS "GOALS" for growth of the hobby, and what objectives will indicate successful growth? What is the HMGS priority for expenditures on growth?

Current HMGS 'expenditures' include things like: An academic Scholarship Award .. (a noble, tax-exempting endeavor). Is more capital needed to stimulate growth? Is there too much already? Maybe HMGS-Capacity needs to Grow 'up' (efficiency) before it needs to grow out (fatter in cash).

Are organizational and membership-value improvements are more needed than amassed capital? Perhaps there are some other ways to expend resources, that will actually benefit a GREATER population of the membership.

Who will "Grow the Hobby?"

Should HMGS take the lead? Can HMGS HELP ... "grow-the-hobby' more than the (immeasurable) good it does now. HOW? Not by just throwing money at gamers (figuratively) but by wisely "investing" resources in priorities that "grow the hobby." This is not ONLY in getting numbers, but first "investing" in organizational efficiency and "membership value." There are many things HMGS spend capital on,

HOWEVER, Some of the more professional expenditures that would really promote the QUALITY and QUANTITY of Historical Gaming elements haven't yet to materialize. Some suggestions would be:

MEMBERSHIP VALUE

1. Only a small MONTHLY informative HMGS administrative, business, planning, (and ok, politics) newsletter for organizational issues.
2. A quarterly (at minimum) *professionally produced* Magazine or glitzy gaming Newsletter, separate from the HMGS admin. newsletter. This would not only pay for itself, it would turn a profit in Advertisements.
3. A professionally produced "HANDBOOK OF THE HOBBY" for Historical Gaming, a one-time guidebook of Vital information and historical gaming goals and techniques for local clubs given to all members.
4. Plan ahead for HMGS to eventually BUY it's own Magazine OUTRIGHT (even MWAN and/or Courier, and professionally augment and up staff them to represent HMGS) AND make it ALSO turn a profit. All members get a subscription, all subscribers get a membership. To have a Nationally represented group this big and fat and NOT have a NATIONAL Magazine is TERRIBLE. It's just plain ignorant and abusive of a supportive membership.

   CONVENTION QUALITY ideas:

5. Peak efficiency thru DELEGATION, and professional hired assistance. [if Andon/Origins can do it for profit, HMGS can do it for its members.]
6. Professionally produced/collected Convention Program, and PEL with full advertisements, photos and articles (which would pay for itself).
7. All 'established" Con-Gamemasters registered free at Conventions,
8. 1st Time Gamemasters given special incentives (see #6) and reimbursement.
9. Convention Registration fees lowered to a token amount for MEMBERS.
10. More compensation for convention staff and hired professional help for certain duties.
11. Simple Criterion for room compensation for PEL reserved gamemasters (say enough games run to produce 50+ game slots).
12. RESOURCING an 'Organized Recruitment Drive' with special incentives, events and multi-level approaches. (see "HOW GROW THE HOBBY")

Now if an HMGS BoD went out and did all of these at once they would have nothing left to invest. The trick would be to HAVE A GROWTH PLAN. SOME GOALS, SOME PROGRAMS, and SOMEONE in charge of that program. GROWTH is important, HMGS is either growing or dying, it cannot stand still. Also, To survive HMGS must grow. #1 thru quality.... then and only then #2 thru Quantity.

This is a veritable principle: "Rise and Expansion" requiring first a "Rise" in group and organizational quality which will induce a natural "Expansion." You can have rise without expansion, but expansion without rise will be a mess. (and not true rise since it will factionalize in discontent.)

HOW GROW THE HOBBY?

Considering it's excellent *resources* the HMGS has the worst PR and recruitment I have seen in 25 years of club organization. (OK, I can think of one I was in, but that's a secret I can't tell you.) Anyway, historical end of the hobby is growing in spite of itself. Ever wonder "Why are alt.games so comparatively successful?" They are well MARKETED ... period.

Undeniably: If Historical Wargaming got 10% of alt.game professional marketing (from the ground-up like GW does) even Walmart and Sears would be carrying Historical Wargames (just like they used to carry Avalon Hill Games in the 1960's; and carry military models now.) ALSO Game shops would thrive better too! This is not an exaggeration. It happened in 1966, and in the information age it is prime time to happen again. It just needs a big concentrated push.

But HOW? well, here are some "amateur methods" that have worked in various groups across the USA, each is an isolated success story, but without a real PLAN, they are still 'isolated.' Most of these will take some "INVESTMENT," but ... tell me [please] What *ELSE* is there to spend money on? if not the future of the hobby?

Some Methods of MEMBER RECRUITMENT:

1. Organized 'recruitment' drive, with special events and a convincing recruitment flyer. (current flyer is colorful, but 'unintelligible' and uncompelling.)
2. Subsidization for HMGS *recruitment-oriented* projects at all local clubs.
3. Subsidization of *recruitment-oriented* 'Primo-Spotlight' games at promotional events at Malls, Schools, Museums, historical sites, and special events.
4. Subsidization of *recruitment-oriented* historical games at non-HMGS Cons
5. "NEW MEMBER" incentive programs for first time/new HMGS members. Things like: six month's free trial newsletter and membership, a free set of rules (Courier does this) with coupons for starter figures in 2-3 top periods.
6. Recruiting Incentives for Members: Free membership extension for recruiting several new members.
7. ALL Convention's graphically Advertised in all Historical and gaming Magazines.

So HOW grow the hobby? #1 thru quality .... then and only then #2 thru Quantity. This is a veritable principle: "Rise and Expansion" requiring first a "Rise" in group and organizational quality which will induce a natural "Expansion." (which would also provide more sources for individual quality in more key positions.) You *can* have rise without expansion, but ... expansion without rise would be a mess. (and not "true rise" since it will factionalize from discontent.) So there are a few Ideas for getting a plan together. But why do all that? Don't we just want some figures and some local friends to play against?

WHY "GROW THE HOBBY?"

My philosoph friend Tom has said: "HMGS has outgrown itself." (or was that grown despite itself?) There *are* those who vehemently advocate keeping a smaller HMGS and thus a small hobby.

Numerous/smaller Conventions is another issue.) A small hobby? Would this eventually put us back to the OLD days of: (a) modifying plastic Airfix Britons to resemble Zulu's, (b) playing every game with either a disinterested family member, or the ONLY other wargamer in town (who spoils it for you). and (c) Never reading Historical Accounts with O.B and Scenario data.

I would identify some reasons [beneficial to us all] for 'growing-the-hobby' to include:

1. Increased demand = increased supply, types, variations available.
2. Increased volume = increased suppliers: locations and sources.
3. Increased volume = decreased markup: costs drop.
4. Increased finances = resource improved Convention and Club QUALITY.
5. Increased Quality = increased games/gaming events.
6. Increased gamers = increased choices in scales/periods/types available.
7. Increased groups = increased INFORMATION on gaming ideas and projects.
8. Increased gamers = increased 'gene-pool' of 'your-type' players.
9. Increased familiarity = increase acceptance/respect for hobby.
10. Increased gamers = multiply propagation of #1 - #9.

Some will not want 'all' of these. Some call for: "Some figures and some local friends to play." (Why join a group in the first place then?) Some won't want them at the expense of having to deal with "too much POLITICS." [THAT's why Admin-Updates MUST always be kept separate from Game-related Newsletters] Then, the hobby will seem small and friendly because, only the politicians will bother with the politics. The rest can enjoy the benefits listed above.

This is not my "plan" or "manifesto" ... it is just a bit of philosophy intended to stimulate some thought and growth activity. Friendly comments welcome!