I know I am walking into a huge hornet's nest with one, but here goes. The TCA meet held at the YORK Fairgrounds should be open to the public. Why?, Because such a venue will introduce more people to this wonderful hobby and therfore increasing it's popularity not to mention reducing the ignorance factor in regard to trains. This is hobby of inclusion. In my opinion, keeping it a members only affair is contradictory. I can see membership benefits such as discounts on admission and access to members only items. I feel the current policy is being detrimental to this hobby. It is a major turnoff. The governing body of the TCA needs to review their policies and start making changes. Otherwise, this hobby will continue to maligned and misunderstood. Let the yelling and screaming begin.
ACF1001 This is hobby of inclusion. In my opinion, keeping it a members only affair is contradictory.
This is hobby of inclusion. In my opinion, keeping it a members only affair is contradictory.
I attended York this last fall, and I'm not a member, so the statement "members only" seems to be a little less than accurate.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
You should be bringing this before the governing body of the TCA. In case you don't know, the policy has been reviewed by the TCA BOD, brought before members, and voted on. It was a no vote by members, not the governing body. On further note, York is a meeting for east coast members, it is not a train show. That's the way members want it.
Why the burden is continually put on the TCA BOD is beyond me. Volunteers put in a lot of effort organizing York and giving members what they want. Look at the thanks they get. A pretty thankless job. If I were you, I would walk the talk. Stop whining, organize some help, and put on a show for the general public yourself.
Did you attend as guest of a member (Can only be done once.) or Were you permitted to pay the admission and being able to walk into any hall without some guard asking if you had a badge? If that's the case, then YORk is truly open to the public and I stand corrected.
If opened to the general public the quality of the show would go down appreciably. This would feed on it self and a new members only show would start up. Then somebody would push to make that show 'open to the public' and so on .........
ACF1001 - What you probably are not aware of are some of the rules that attendees are required to abide by. If the venue were to open to the general public, a lot of the ordiliness of the event would get trampled.
Now, that being said, would you like to become a TCA MEMBER...?
It's a very small hoop to jump through to attend the York meet, there are so many ways to attend your argument is baseless. Plus this topic has been beat to death many, many times. If it isn't broke, don't fix it and it certainly isn't broke. If a guy in Iowa from a small town wants to go (which I did) anyone can go, it's as simple as that. No problemo. Even Buckeye went Now there might be a problem if you are from nort caroliner but I doubt it
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Guess what ACF? You're not a member of OTTS either! And if you want to go to one of our events you need to be invited. We don't invite the general public either. The events are strictly private affairs. It is harder to go to one of our events than York. If you want to be a member and go to one of our events send me a check for $2,000. As they say, membership has its privileges.
OTTS - We dicrementate on the basis of where you live, Membership is not open to those in Roseyville, North Carolina.
My Thoughts,
Me, being new to this forum, not a T.C.A. member and having never been to York, Penna., have heard about the York train shows, but I did not know one had to be a T.C.A., or other organizational member.
Now I know better, but I guess if I went to a show I would have been given a courtesy limited pass with the expectation of my joining.
Train enthusiasts are considerate, helpful and kind, just as on this forum.
Thank You,
Ralph
BUCKEYE,
As a Charter member of OTTS, the fee has jumped to $2027.62, because of the nice shiney new paper that BUCKEYE uses to send out certificates to members of OTTS. At all OTTS meetings you have to know the secret handshake in order to get in. YORK doesn't have this yet.
laz57
Bob Keller
Buckeye Riveter ACF1001 This is hobby of inclusion. In my opinion, keeping it a members only affair is contradictory. I attended York this last fall, and I'm not a member, so the statement "members only" seems to be a little less than accurate.
Buckeye, the TCA police are on the way. Since you are a great friend of mine, wanted to give you a warning. Go into hiding. If captured, you will be immediately lined up against the nearest Interstate retaining wall and SHOT. Run buddy, RUN!!!
See, the above is one reason the whole rule thing is a mess. I've been a member for several years and have had badges twice [thank you mister Ioway] but then had to work Bass Pro Shops events. [Better to make several hundred than spend it.] No cameras and no cell phones and no this and that. Now if there is a strong leaning to let non-members in, let them pay a price. Say $50 more [the price of a membership].
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Buckeye Riveter Guess what ACF? You're not a member of OTTS either! And if you want to go to one of our events you need to be invited. We don't invite the general public either. The events are strictly private affairs. It is harder to go to one of our events than York. If you want to be a member and go to one of our events send me a check for $2,000. As they say, membership has its privileges. OTTS - We dicrementate on the basis of where you live, Membership is not open to those in Roseyville, North Carolina.
OTTS= Ohio Toot and Tell Society Wow, what a smelly bunch.
Chief....Only one of our members, Toot.
Getting into the TCA is easy, try getting into the OTTS, man their rules are real tough.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I guess you guys are bored, and are trying to stir up some excitement.
The only folks who have any influence on what the TCA Eastern Division does at their York shows are TCA members. If you would like to suggest a change to show policy, send a letter to the officers of the Eastern Division. Include your TCA number, and let them know whether you are an Eastern DIvision member. Or let them know that you are not a member of the TCA at all. Good luck.
I am an Eastern Division member, and I want the show to remain closed. Non-members are allowed to attend once as a guest of a member. The show folks really do keep track, you will be required to provide some legal form of ID.
Right now to get a table at York do you have to have a Tax #?
In some states a members only swap meet is governed differently than an open to the public event.
GarfieldRight now to get a table at York do you have to have a Tax #?
There are dealer halls and member halls. If you get a table in a dealer hall, you must have a Pennsylvannia tax number. If you get a table in a member hall, you do not need a tax number. If the show was opened to the public, everybody would need a tax number. One of many reasons the show needs to remain closed.
Garfield Right now to get a table at York do you have to have a Tax #?In some states a members only swap meet is governed differently than an open to the public event.
You only need a tax number if you are considered a dealer. That's a big part of why they segregate the dealer halls and member halls.
{looks like I hit the post button a few seconds too late! ;)}
-Dave
I was a TCA member for about 7 years (2000-2007). I have been able to see things on both sides of the fence. One member says I should stop whining, another member basically said I should stop beating a dead horse, and someone else says my views are baseless and inaccurate. I am not putting down the hard work that any of the TCA volunteers perform in preparation, during, and in the aftermath of such an event. The point I was trying to make is this is a golden opportunity for TCA increase it's membership and to help out the hobby in general. I am sorry I have caused such a ruckus. Just trying do to my part.
ACF1001 - no ruckuss caused. A lot of folks think the same, and have the same questions. They get anonymous answers here.
Soooo, why did you leave the TCA?
ACF1001The point I was trying to make is this is a golden opportunity for TCA increase it's membership and to help out the hobby in general. I am sorry I have caused such a ruckus. Just trying do to my part
If you were a member in 2007, where were you when these issues were brought before members and the the ballots went out? If you're going to criticize the governing body, prepare to be criticized. Your original post has no tact. It's a two way street. Now you want sympathy. I'm not a member anymore but I believe people are entitled to have their own organizations the way they want them to be. If I were to have an issue with the TCA, I would approach the TCA, not a public forum.
Lack of funds at the end of 2007 costed me my chance to renew my membership. Hopefully soon I will be able to remedy this problem. But, I will have to start all over again. Then perhaps, bring up this subject again at a meeting.
Sympathy? Absolutely no. But, point taken.
In April and October the Eastern Division of the TCA holds their MEETS in York, PA. They allow other TCA Members (read NON Eastern Division) to attend at a nominal cost. The April and October MEETS are HUGE with well over 5,000 members attending between Wednesday and Saturday. The EASTERN DIVISION is ALLOWING other TCA Members to attend THEIR MEET, they are not holding a SHOW. IF these MEETS were open to the public I doubt highly that the manufacturers would view them as they view them today, and I doubt many of the attendees would show up.We should be THANKFUL that the Eastern Division ALLOWS us to attend their meet, they could decide to allow ONLY Eastern Division members to attend...
I have been in TCA for 35 years. I live in Connecticut, belong to New England TCA division, and as such can and do buy a table at every Eastern Divison TCA York meet. It's nice to be at a meet where I can walk around, look at trains, talk to MEMBERS, and not worry about theft from my table. No member is going to risk the ability to attend any TCA meet by stealing.
Questions and suggestions to Eastern has always been replied to with courtesy. The Dealer halls have long asked to have there halls open to the public, but if they did, all of us would have to collect and report Sales Tax and Income to the state of Pennsylvania and to York County.
I'm a hobbyest, If that was to happen, not wanting to fill out forms and pay taxes in another State just to enjoy my hobby, I would not attend. I would not be the only one.
PS: October York had just under 15,000 members and guests. For information, www.easterntca.org
Don U. TCA 73-5735
There are plenty of train shows open to the public in SE PA (where York is located). In fact, there was a Greenberg Show in the York Fairgrounds "Orange Hall" Jan. 10-11. On Jan. 3-4, The World's Greatest Hobby Show was held near Phila., and was attended by 45,000 members of the public, plus tons of kids under 16 yrs old.
These are the "public awareness" type of shows. The TCA Eastern Division Meets at York are for people who have decided to "get serious" about the hobby by joining TCA.
come on. just join the TCA.
Joe Hohmann There are plenty of train shows open to the public in SE PA (where York is located). In fact, there was a Greenberg Show in the York Fairgrounds "Orange Hall" Jan. 10-11. On Jan. 3-4, The World's Greatest Hobby Show was held near Phila., and was attended by 45,000 members of the public, plus tons of kids under 16 yrs old. These are the "public awareness" type of shows. The TCA Eastern Division Meets at York are for people who have decided to "get serious" about the hobby by joining TCA.
And this is what you think of us on CTT. Quoted from OGR.
"I find it odd that this thread ever got started. I get both magazines, and I participate in both forums. If anything, I've seen more people knocking THIS forum...with comments like: OGR people not helpful, ignore new people, have too much money, etc. Only yesterday, this comment: "Just had to renew the other one (we do not mention not as good)".I agree a forum should not be judged by the comments of a few individuals. I happen to like this one because it is far more "active"."
You want to quote me, turn around is fair play.
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