Why I am not an NMRA member...

I was a member for many years until my marriage five years ago, and at that time finances became such that I had to choose what was important.  Because I felt like I didn't belong in the group because of the way The then superintendent reacted to me and the way others treated me.  I never felt like I belonged.  whether it was the condescending attitude and mannerisms of one prominent member or the "I'm better than you" of another... I felt like they were treating me like I was retarded and stupid.  I admit to not being rich like they are, or like to make everyone think they are, but that is not the way to act.  An organization's life blood is it's members and truthfully membership has value most when you can share the expertise of members.  I never benefited from such, and in fact, still have not finished my first layout because when I needed the help it was not there. If you wonder why members leave and why people visit meetings and  then don't join, it is because the piedmont division is one big closed clique.  It is not worth any amount of money to be treated as low class or worse.   I just wish I had said something sooner because I have wasted the last 5 years and still have not finished my layout...