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Who runs the
affairs of the Society?
ANSWER:
The Society is a non-profit, all-volunteer, qualified 501 (c) 3 organization. The
Society does not employ hired staff. The Board of Directors is responsible for
all business functions of the Society. All Board positions are elected by the
membership. The 12-member Board consists of 6 at-large Directors, 5 Officers
(President, VP of Operations, VP of Finance, Treasurer and Secretary), and the
immediate past President. The Board establishes formal committees on an
as-needed basis for special projects, such as cataloging the archives. The bulk
of the day-to-day jobs, including management positions such as Company Store
Manager, Archivist, Membership Chairperson, Convention Chairperson, etc. are
performed by dedicated volunteers, most of whom hold full-time jobs elsewhere
and help the Society in their spare time. Go to Contacts in the Navagation
Bar above to see a current list of Board members. Clicking the back
arrow in your browser will generally return you to this page.
How can I
volunteer my time to help the Society?
ANSWER:
We are always glad to have helping hands! There are several areas where help is
always needed, including the Company Store, working on identifying and
cataloging old B&O materials through our Archives component, helping with
setting up our conventions and mini-conferences, and helping to develop special
projects and grants. The easiest way to get started is to contact the Society
at PO Box 24225, Baltimore MD 21227-0725, or via e-mail at Information Contact,
indicating your job preference and availability. We also like to keep an
inventory of special skills, interests and talents of our diverse membership –
there’s a space to provide this on the membership application form when you
join, or on the interest profile section of your renewal notice.
What’s the
difference between a Regular and a Sustaining membership? What
do I get for a Sustaining membership?
ANSWER:
Sustaining membership is for those who would like to provide a higher level of
financial support to our Society than do Regular members. Much of the dues paid
for the Regular class membership pay for The Sentinel, postage and
administrative overhead costs, while most of the extra money Sustaining members
pay goes directly to support the Society's historic and archival projects. As a
benefit to those who wish to become Sustaining members, you will receive a
Society calendar each year. Regular members must pay for a Society calendar.
Both classes receive quarterly issues of our Society publication, The
Sentinel, as well as periodic Short Blasts newsletters,
convention flyers and other announcements throughout the year. Go to Calendars
in the Navigation Bar above to see our current calendar and several of
its pages. Go to Sentinel Magazine to see our current magazine
issue and several of its pages. Clicking the back arrow in your browser
will generally return you to this page.
When are the
calendars available? If I join as a Sustaining member, will I get my free one
right away?
ANSWER:
Calendars are usually printed in time for the annual convention, which
typically occurs in early to mid-October each year. Any member who retains the
Sustaining grade or who attains that grade anytime within a calendar year will
receive a free calendar the next year. Those Sustaining members receive their
free calendar automatically through the mail with shipment usually made in late
summer/early fall. New members joining at the Sustaining grade after the new
calendar has been mailed also will receive a free calendar for the next year.
Summary: If you are a Sustaining member anytime in one year, you receive a free
calendar for the following year. You get one calendar for each year you are a
Sustaining member.
What benefits does a Student Member receive?
ANSWER: A student member receives a discounted member rate and 4 issues of the
Sentinel. Student level members are also entitled to membership discounts
on company store purchases and may attend society functions as a member.
They are highly encouraged to participate in society events such as modeling
exhibitions, train shows, archives sorting sessions, contributing to the
Sentinel, mini-conventions, and annual conventions. Student members however are
not eligible to vote or run for office in society elections at this time. We
are a registered 501c3 organization so participation in certain activities may
count towards community service graduation requirements for some school
districts. It's best to check with your school to make sure.
I have sent
my membership application into the Society, but I haven’t received anything from
the Society for several months. Whom should I contact?
ANSWER:
Please send all membership-related inquiries to the attention of the Membership
Chairperson, BORHS, PO Box 24225, Baltimore MD 21227-0725, or via e-mail at membership
Chair.
When do I
have to renew my membership?
ANSWER: Renewal notices are sent out 30 to 60 days before an individual's membership is due to expire. In addition, all members due for renewal who have not yet responded in 6 months are sent an additional reminder in their Sentinel. If a member does not renew their membership via the either mailing within three months of the "last chance" letter, the member will be dropped from the roles of the Society and will not receive any further magazines or other announcements from the Society.
I might have
been dropped by the Society by mistake. How can I get help?
ANSWER:
Members who feel they were dropped from the Society’s roles accidently, or wish
to reactivate their membership, should contact Membership Chairperson, BORHS,
PO Box 24225, Baltimore MD 21227-0725, or via e-mail at membership
Chair. Please provide current contact information so we may get back
in touch with you. The Society is here to support everyone who is interested in
the history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. We do not want to accidently
lose any of our members.
I recently
renewed my membership. Why didn’t I get a new membership card?
ANSWER:
We do not issue membership cards for renewals – only for new members. There is
no expiration date printed on the cards – only your name, month and year you
joined, and membership number. This policy allows the Society to save the cost
of printing cards each year. If your card is lost or damaged, and you need a
replacement, we’ll be happy to do so upon request to the Membership
Chairperson.
I rejoined
the Society after a lengthy absence. How do I obtain all of the back issues of
publications that I missed?
ANSWER:
You need to purchase any items you missed during your absence. You can obtain
back issues you want through the Company Store. Please keep in mind that the
Society eventually does run out of printed The
Sentinel and calendar
stock. The further back in time an item is desired, the higher the risk that it
may be out of print.
Can I renew
my membership for more than one year at a time?
ANSWER:
As per the Society policy, memberships are renewed annually.
How can I
pay for my membership?
ANSWER:
You may pay by check, money order, or if you pay through our web site, you may pay by credit card.
Will my
personal data be shared with other members or organizations?
ANSWER:
We do not share any of the data on our membership database with any outside organization.
Mailing lists are generated for Officers, Directors and our publishing staff
for internal use only. We also are evaluating the possibility of offering a
published directory for distribution to members who opt to have their name
displayed in it. The new member application form and renewal notice provides a
place to indicate whether or not you wish to be included on the directory – no
response defaults to a "no" choice.
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