Most of us feel some obligation to help newcomers learn the game. Likewise we might feel some obligation to promote its spread in our home countries. I belong to my country's go association (the AGA) even though I don't play in tournaments any more and don't belong to a go club. I feel paying my dues is the least I can do tosupport the promotional activities of the AGA.
For people of gowan's and my generation I think this attitude was very common. Before there were just too many similar books, I used to try to buy every go book in English, most still unread, just to support the publisher. Like gowan, I also felt obliged to join my go association just to help the finances. I never once thought what I might get out of it, although there certainly were benefits, mainly the BGJ journal and the many tournaments.
I don't think younger people have become any less willing to be loyal or supportive, but such feelings are always finely balanced (there are so many things you can support - which to choose?) and probably the balance has altered in the case of go. If you
and others can get most or all of what you want free from the internet, why support what seems an irrelevant organisation? Even among existing members, the "and others" is important, I think, because, even if we are reluctant to admit it, most of us perversely resent paying for something that others get for free, even if we don't necessarily want it for free ourselves.
In my case, I stopped being a BGA member a couple of years ago by way of a protest. The BGA has an e-mail forum and I got fed up mostly at people telling me they didn't want online discussions because they already got too many e-mails. For no doubt related reasons, most attempted discussions died after one or two posts. Also, some energetic people have tried to organise an online tournament for BGA members. It was popular on paper (and GoGoD, not otherwise involved, provided a trophy and prizes), but it virtually died when a large number of registered players refused to answer e-mails or even give out their e-mail addresses so that games could be arranged! That, to me, is just shooting yourself in the foot, and I see no reason to support such people.
As witnessed by British results in the recent London Open, as well as the declining membership figures, the bulk of the BGA seems to be at the silver end of the spectrum. It's great to have experience and hopefully wisdom in the mix, but with the attitudes mentioned in the previous paragraph so prevalent, there seems to be a disconnect between many of the old faithfuls and the newer generations.
I think the days of national associations are not necessarily over, but they probably do need a big injection of young talent. But it seems, from many postings here, that young people want different things from the older generations. One thing is actual benefits. The idea of a discount for books, mentioned above, seems a good one, though in the case of the BGA. at least, that's surely old hat? Another thing some younger volunteers want is more freedom and responsibility. I have some sympathy with their frustrations. There is probably too much old-style control freakery in some national association hierarchies (I don't think that applies to the BGA, though). Especially with fast-changing web technologies, volunteers must be allowed more often to try and fail.
Another thing younger people seem to want is more recognition for what they do. That's not unreasonable in itself - being able to put proof of "I did XYZ" on a CV is some compensation for volunteering one's time. There is also a human nature angle. I have said before that the way some strong players treat association volunteers like skivvies, there just to organise free trips for them to the Far East, is despicable. Free trips for the volunteers and young are much more important.
but for me membership would seem much more attractive if I could easily buy Go books through the BGA online - since they had/have the best prices available. I guess I'm a selfish person but the retirement of the BGA bookseller and the lack of a replacement is why I let my membership lapse this year. I don't have the time to go to tournaments and am quite happy just playing online.