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Post by Traindiesel! on Jan 30, 2021 21:07:35 GMT
Ahh, who cares about Bentleys or Fords or Chevys? I spent most of my money on trains. The rest was just wasted!
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Post by lionelllc on Jan 31, 2021 16:20:51 GMT
Hey Guys, Stu Rankin here. For those that don't know me, I'm the TCA President-elect and I roll into the President position on July 1. OK, enough about that formality stuff as I don't really care about titles and labels.
I gotta give all you guys credit, 5 pages of comments and it's all been civil and polite. Also, I'm not here to defend the TCA. If anything, I'm TCA's harshest critic.
As so many people on this thread have already stated, there are many reasons to belong to TCA. Of course, there are those that feel that attending York is the one and only one reason for being a member. That's a personal choice and that's OK. Quite honestly, at one point in time, that was probably the main reason I belonged too. However, as others have said, if you look a little deeper, there's multiple other reasons such as the publications, the museum, the library, the local train shows and Division events, the exclusive club cars, the conventions, the established standards, and the protection of member-to-members interactions (just to name a few). There's also the part about being a part of something bigger than any one of us; helping to fulfill the Mission Statement, as pointed out earlier in this thread.
OK, enough of me being a cheerleader. There's several statements in this thread alluding to TCA being stuck in the past; TCA is for the Collector, not the Operator; TCA has not modernized itself and kept up with the times, etc. To those people that think that way: YOU'RE RIGHT AND I AGREE WITH YOU! For a long time, TCA just sat on it's laurels and rode the gravy train. Unfortunately, THAT was the time when TCA should have been reinventing itself and planning for the future. However, TCA had no "vision" then, and still suffers somewhat from a lack of vision.
The first step in fixing a problem is admitting that there is one. Hi, I'm Stuart, and TCA has problems. I assure you, I have let the TCA Board know that the days of doing things "because that's the way we've always done it" are over. To their credit, the TCA Board has recently approved some of my ideas to try to get TCA moving into the 21st Century. Now I have to deliver on those ideas (i.e. they've given me enough rope to hang myself). Pay attention to your TCA eBlasts and publications over the next 2 to 18 months as we finalize some of the new programs .... and yes LOWER DUES (for those people that want to belong for the sole reason of going to York) is one of them.
But let's face it, Stu isn't the answer. Stu will be out of office after his one year term is over (don't know why I'm referring to myself in the 3rd person, but it works). If you really want TCA to change, get in touch with your TCA Division President and read them the riot act. Tell them how you're going to help them get TCA out of the past and make TCA relevant in today's hobby. If that doesn't work, get in touch with me and let me know how, together, you and I can get 'er done.
My final "as previously said in this thread" comment has to do with making change from the inside instead of the outside. How about you give us one more chance. Please maintain your membership for 1 more year. Then upon your next renewal, ask yourself at that time "Has TCA changed in the past year?" That's it, a simple yes or no will suffice. If the answer is Yes, then we're all better off. If the answer is No, then blame *me* for not following through with making TCA an organization worthy of deserving your 14 cents a day.
As a fellow hobbyist, I appreciate the viewpoint that each of you have provided. The TCA can do better, much better, and we can make that happen together!
Stu
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2021 17:34:16 GMT
Stu thanks for the comments. Best of luck in bringing change. I think that most people on here are behind you. Lower dues for York only attendees is a necessity and retains members.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2021 18:47:31 GMT
Stu, excellent commentary! I mentioned a few days ago that the Fort Pitt Division president, (who I have an connection with outside TCA also) emailed me 2 weeks ago to see if I would be interested in getting on the open to all members Fort Pitt officers' Zoom calls and attend any in person meetings after that is allowed here in Pennsylvania. I'm reporting back that I took him up on his offer and asked that he send me the contact information for the call. I also praised the division for thinking outside the box by holding a tent meet in October that followed state guidelines at that time. I had wanted to attend, but couldn't at the last minute.
I'm behind you, Stu!!!
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Post by bluelinec4 on Jan 31, 2021 19:44:01 GMT
Stu Raise my dues I'm still in LOL Who is going to come up with those great club cars now
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Post by jimk on Jan 31, 2021 20:26:29 GMT
Stu,
Thank you very much for briefly commenting on the state of the TCA. I support your efforts for change and if I can help please contact me. I personally love the format of the present publications of the TCA. It is a collectors group though probably most members operate too. Let CTT and other groups have publications dealing with the most up to date items. They do that very well and should continue to do so. I know I have been assisted by the library staff at TCA headquarters a couple of times and they have been delightful to deal with. Compliments to them. I will need to enroll for these E*Blasts as I have not in the past. Once again, best wishes for a successful term in office. I will offer that only a 1 year term seems a little short to me. Maybe some considerations should be given to a 2 year term for the primary officers. Just a FWIW thought.
Train ON
Jim K
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Post by Craignor on Jan 31, 2021 22:26:19 GMT
Jim K.
I agree on the one year term. Should be at least two years.
With one year, by the time you figure out what’s going on, it’s over.
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Post by Adam on Jan 31, 2021 22:31:49 GMT
Agreed. Often it can take a year to determine strategy and develop a game plan. Terms should be 2 years. One year is OK for status-quo but that doesn’t sound like where TCA is right now..
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Post by Traindiesel! on Jan 31, 2021 22:44:55 GMT
Stu, you can now cancel all future elections and take over the whole operation. Oust the dissenters and mold the TCA in your image!! (But we reserve the right to keep our torches and pitchforks!)
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TCA
Feb 1, 2021 16:19:07 GMT
Post by ptc on Feb 1, 2021 16:19:07 GMT
Thanks so much for your response, Stu.
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Feb 1, 2021 17:07:44 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2021 17:07:44 GMT
Stu, On behalf of all of us up here in the far north, thank you. It sounds like your term in office holds great promise.
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Feb 1, 2021 18:30:33 GMT
Post by Craignor on Feb 1, 2021 18:30:33 GMT
Stu, you can now cancel all future elections and take over the whole operation. Oust the dissenters and mold the TCA in your image!! (But we reserve the right to keep our torches and pitchforks!) ...and take over the World!
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