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TCA
Jan 28, 2021 14:43:41 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2021 14:43:41 GMT
Great idea, Emile!!
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Post by dennym57 on Jan 28, 2021 14:46:45 GMT
Well it appears I opened a can of worms. I shouldn't post things when I'm in a bad mood. After reading everyone's post I think I will renew my membership. I'm glad I know you guys and get everyone's the perspective. Even my wife thought I was over reacting. (Not me ๐)
And just for the record, I'm not a collector, I'm just a guy who runs trains.
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Jan 28, 2021 15:02:39 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2021 15:02:39 GMT
I'm glad to see you renewed your membership, Denny!! I just renewed mine as well.
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TCA
Jan 28, 2021 15:15:03 GMT
mrmeep likes this
Post by ptc on Jan 28, 2021 15:15:03 GMT
Emile, it is nice that you extended an invitation for a high ranking member of the TCA to respond to this thread. I am surprised that it would take an "invitation".
If memory serves me correctly, we have the President Elect of the TCA who joined the OGF this month. I am surprised that he has remained silent at this point. I would think he would want to put the TCA in the most positive light as he soon will have to address all of the issues facing the TCA (and there are many) as President.
Communication is important.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2021 15:16:53 GMT
Denny, I am not a collector either, I just run trains. In fact, I ran trains in HO, N, HOn3, On30, before moving to O gauge 3-rail. So you may deduce I am not really interested in prewar, postwar, MPC era O gauge trains, which is a large part of what a lot of TCA members prefer. That said, I think there is room in the TCA for everyone, even a scale guy like me. I'm glad you renewed. I'm also glad you started this topic. A free exchange of ideas is what America is supposed to be about. If I tell you something that changes your mind, if you tell me something that changes my mind, or if neither of us changes his mind but we come out of the discussion shaking hands, all is the way it should be.
Here is an example from just this week. Someone on the other O gauge forum asked if you can still buy cork roadbed. Of course there were those who said it hasn't been 100% cork for ages. Of course that's right, but you know how some guys can be over there. I commented that I just bought a box of O scale Midwest cork roadbed this past fall. Then others started telling the guy about the benefits of using flexible foam roadbed. Various brands came up, and in the end, I commented that I was old school having used cork for over 50 years, and now wish I had used flexible foam on my new layout instead of Midwest cork. The original poster said he is going to buy foam as well. I'm glad you vented on this topic. We all need to at times.
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TCA
Jan 28, 2021 16:36:12 GMT
Post by thebigcrabcake on Jan 28, 2021 16:36:12 GMT
"If memory serves me correctly, we have the President Elect of the TCA who joined the OGF this month. I am surprised that he has remained silent at this point. I would think he would want to put the TCA in the most positive light as he soon will have to address all of the issues facing the TCA (and there are many) as President." That is who I invited.
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TCA
Jan 28, 2021 16:44:34 GMT
Post by MichRR714 on Jan 28, 2021 16:44:34 GMT
Communication and optics is everything these days in the largely virtual discourse we have.
I'd really like to see the TCA pivot to reflect the overwhelming number of operators that exist in the hobby today.
Looking forward to TCA's future!
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TCA
Jan 28, 2021 17:22:12 GMT
Post by Country Joe on Jan 28, 2021 17:22:12 GMT
Well it appears I opened a can of worms. I shouldn't post things when I'm in a bad mood. After reading everyone's post I think I will renew my membership. I'm glad I know you guys and get everyone's the perspective. Even my wife thought I was over reacting. (Not me ๐) And just for the record, I'm not a collector, I'm just a guy who runs trains. Denny, I'm glad you started this thread. It's been an interesting discussion. I've read every post and enjoyed the different opinions.
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TCA
Jan 28, 2021 18:39:56 GMT
Post by dennym57 on Jan 28, 2021 18:39:56 GMT
Another point I want to make is they opened the dealer halls to nonmembers on Friday and Saturday because attendance is down. The problem with that is people didn't understand it was a place to buy and sell. A lot of them walked around, but didn't buy anything. So dealers didn't make any money.
I think a lot of us are getting too old to travel or have passed on.
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Jan 28, 2021 21:16:40 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2021 21:16:40 GMT
Another point I want to make is they opened the dealer halls to nonmembers on Friday and Saturday because attendance is down. The problem with that is people didn't understand it was a place to buy and sell. A lot of them walked around, but didn't buy anything. So dealers didn't make any money. I think a lot of us are getting too old to travel or have passed on. Denny, It is true that the demographics and attendance numbers of any meet or show change over time due to your last sentence, "I think a lot of us are getting too old to travel or have passed on". During this time of no meets or shows, I wouldn't have attended anyway due to a replaced knee and bulging disks. (This is not a plea for sympathy, I'm doing great). The short 4 1/2 to 5 hour trip compared to yours has been too long in the car the last couple years. I know of others of us who are in their 60s want to travel less or not as far as we once did. That doesn't mention those who are older and of course many faithful attendees have passed on. Younger folks are in the hobby, but growing up buying online may reduce their numbers attending in person events. That is purely conjecture, on my part. As to dealers not making money on folks not buying much, I didn't help many dealers' cause much the two times I attended York. The only one I can say that I did purchase online after seeing their product was Tim Foley of Mianne Benchwork.
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TCA
Jan 30, 2021 14:49:03 GMT
Post by bluelinec4 on Jan 30, 2021 14:49:03 GMT
I can't afford a Bentley and I drive a hooptie. The TCA is alot more than York The museum and the club cars are two thinngs that I frequent and enjoy the benefit.
If york is all you join for then you shouldn't have to join because the Dealer halls are open to everybody What we should do is ask the Eastern division of the TCA to charge those people 50 bucks to come in.
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TCA
Jan 30, 2021 15:24:23 GMT
Post by dennym57 on Jan 30, 2021 15:24:23 GMT
I can't afford a Bentley and I drive a hooptie. The TCA is alot more than York The museum and the club cars are two thinngs that I frequent and enjoy the benefit. If york is all you join for then you shouldn't have to join because the Dealer halls are open to everybody What we should do is ask the Eastern division of the TCA to charge those people 50 bucks to come in. I had to join because I'm a helper in the Orange hall, but I'm not required to go. I also don't know if the guy I worked for is going to have his booth open.
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Post by david1 on Jan 30, 2021 20:07:45 GMT
I have been a member of the Tca since 1985 and I have attended every York since then. I do agree that the Tca is stuck in the past, we need to bring the Tca into the modern era. we can do that by only doing it from the inside not from the outside complaining.
I am also not a collector but that does not mean I don't like trains. I can't afford a Bently or a Subaru, does that make me not worthy to belong to the tca?
We must stop putting labels on everybody when it comes to our Train s and the way we enjoy them. The whole point is to have fun, nothing else matters.
Dave
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TCA
Jan 30, 2021 20:43:53 GMT
Post by thebigcrabcake on Jan 30, 2021 20:43:53 GMT
I have been a member of the Tca since 1985 and I have attended every York since then. I do agree that the Tca is stuck in the past, we need to bring the Tca into the modern era. we can do that by only doing it from the inside not from the outside complaining. I am also not a collector but that does not mean I don't like trains. I can't afford a Bently or a Subaru, does that make me not worthy to belong to the tca? We must stop putting labels on everybody when it comes to our Train s and the way we enjoy them. The whole point is to have fun, nothing else matters. Dave Dave, The Post you keep referencing was "If you can't afford $50., You can't afford to buy trains, and you are not a true collector." was never intended to be an insult to anyone. I know the Poster and I can guarantee that he would not intentionally disparage anybody. He was suggesting that the primary objective of the TCA (Train Collectors Association) is Collecting and that the $50 membership fee is rather low compared to many other similar organizations. I have to agree with him on that. When he wrote "You" he really meant "We" and was writing in generalities, not directed at any individual. I think we all agree with you in that the TCA has come to represent all levels of Toy Train enthusiast, not just Collectors. I don't think that anyone is attempting to put labels on everyone, nor do I think there is any real division. That's one of the best parts of our hobby. You couldn't be more right when you say: "The whole point is to have fun." I know for a fact that the Poster did not intend to offend anyone so I hope we can let this go. We wouldn't want anyone to get the impression there is division where there is none. You make a great point that change is best made from the inside. That's why I'm very happy to have the incoming TCA President as one of our Members. He sounds like a dynamic fellow hobbyist and I can't wait to hear his thoughts on the future of the TCA. Emile
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2021 20:58:13 GMT
IWhat we should do is ask the Eastern division of the TCA to charge those people 50 bucks to come in. Yeah that will go over well and go far in promoting the hobby not. . If you find it a benefit join, if not donโt join. Simple as that. It amazes me that no matter what forum your on the TCA threads like this one generates such strong reactions.
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