One thing we agree is that a lot of thought DOES need to be made. I never brought this up before in the other forum, however one post up above here gets close to the main point and that is just how this on-field and/or portable Hobby Shop will handle the permits, licenses and the local sales tax distributions, and just what clubmember will take/have that task and responsibility.

Local Sales Taxes will have to be accounted for in the county, city, etc. as well as the state where the purchase is completed. That could be a nightmare. Lots of paperwork AND time.
What kind of business will it be and who will be the owners, the directors, etc.?What level of business, sole proprietor, partnership, Limited Partnership, sub-chapter S, C-Corp., or WHAT? Who bears the brunt when the stock is burglarized, or provides far less return than the investment/s?

How will the stock be accounted for in the real-world situation. I did own a Hobby Shop on Northwest Highway in Mt. prospect during the '70s. The heart-burn really came when employees performed such tasks as releaving the cash register every so often, then far too frequently, customers I considered friends walked out with merchandise they had no intention of paying for. MODELERS, folks that I always thought were the cream-of-the-crop in reference to honesty and character just seemed to be dwindling in those quality traits. Sadly to say, but in my learned opinion, RC brought a different group of persons into the older aeromodeling group/s.

My main Club has a very nice air-conditioned kitchen and sitting room. We have a cold-drink refrigerator always fully stocked with soft drinks and bottled water. We pay about 6-7 dollars for a case of soft drinks and have an "Honor System" (???) for payment at 50 cents each. That should provide at least $5 profit per case. IIRC, we have never made any appreciable profit on those soft drinks. Oh the garbage cans are full of empty cans, especially when a few of us pick them off the field, off the floors, and the partials left sitting around on the tables. Just how will small or large parts of model airplane accessories be treated by these same people? WHO will be responsible?

Therefore I certainly will not be associated with such an attempt to provide for those folks that can't handle their parts problems. OTOH, I have no problem with GIVING a newbie, or anyone a prop or two, a glow plug or two, and I also have a couple nice trainers that I will supply a beginner with some stick time if he wishes. This is NOT a problem. But when I am expected to support that old "I'll pay you next week," (and next week never comes) well count me out.

Therefore I vote NO to supporting a club with my $$ when I have no idea of who, what, or when is receiving that support from a source that can only bring considerable hurt to a club's financial position.