For my part I am interested in how to get the society to be recognised and supported by the next generations.
I take on board what Paul Sherwin and Paul Stenning have said and I don't disagree that unless something is done the future is bleak.
A little disappointed with what Pillenwerfer said because when I joined the BVWS although I had been repairing and building sets since before I was 10 dealing with 1920's and 1930's vintage sets and that was different.
I went to my first BVWS meet at Harpenden in 1985 I knew no one.
But in the cafe when I sat to eat my Breakfast I shared a table with an old hand been in the trade all his life. A modest man but imparted his knowledge freely his name was Sid (known as Southampton Sid although that not where he lived when I met him).
He mentored me till his passing and helped me meet other BVWS members who would all become friends.
This is what young people call IRL (In Real Life)
These are not cyber friends but real people who I know.
I have done my best to help members connect at meets and soon it will be my duty to pass on the little I know but to whom?
So I feel we need to recreate a better online presence where these relationships and Mentors can help the current generation to take an interest in this small section of our heritage.
How to achieve this cafe atmosphere will take either specialists in the field or younger members.
After all this format isn't much different to a chatroom
This society IMHO needs to get a new generation in or any work we have done will be lost within a generation, sad but true. Then the name won't matter at all.
Cheers
Mike T