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[rogerhensley]

I posted this under Model Railroading and I'll repeat it here. In addition to what is below, the Central Indiana Division, NMRA are going to make a kids shake and make a simple car the first clinic at all of our meets for the next year. We will advertise it that way and use the same type of information lised here. Thomas the Tank engine can do for our kides and grandkids what Lionel, Marx and American Flyer did for many of us.

November is Model Railroad month here in the States. In the past, the Central Indiana Division, NMRA has held a regular Meet/Dealer Show at the end of October or early November. But we have never stressed promoting the hobby. This year we are. We are holding a free admission Meet in cooperation with the Pike Township Lion's Club (Indianapolis, IN) Pancake Breakfast (the pancakes cost, the Meet is free).

We will have clinics and portable and modular layouts and an on-going scenery construction project. The first clinic of the day will be aimed directly at young modelers with a car kit construction clinic. They will get to keep the car and some of the simple tools that they used to build it. Everything we do that day will be aimed at introducing the hobby to new people. This was before we heard about Kalmbach's 'Greatest Hobby in the World' program, but it certainly ties in with it.

Why tell you this? I would suggest that there is still time for clubs and organizations to set up something for November. Advertise it! Let people know about the hobby. Don't just put a notice in a hobby shop. That's nice, but it is preaching to the choir. Get something in the local paper, or on radio. Perhaps you might get an active display in a shopping mall. Get some help from a local shop if you have one. The sky is the limit when it comes to ideas. It IS a great hobby, so let's tell people about it!

Roger

Roger Hensley - [e-mail]
== http://cid.railfan.net/ ==
== Central Indiana Division, NMRA ==

[Anonymous]

QUESTION: HOW DO YOU GET SOMETING IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER,WHEN IT WILL BE OVER-CASTED BY WORLD TRADE CENTER HAPPENING,WHEN THEY HAD THE INTVIEW'S WITH THE BIG FOR,THAT WAS GREAT MOST OF THEM TALKED ABOUT GETTING KIDS (CHILDREN ) IN VOLVED EXCEPT MIKE FROM MTH,AND IT DIDNT SOUND TO ME AS IF HE GAVE A DARN IF HE EVER SOLD TO CHILDREN,WHERE IS RUN TRAINS IN A LOCAL TRAIN STORE ON THE WEEKENDS, A PERSON TOOT'S THE HORN ON THEIR ENGINE THE CHILD LOOKS AROUND FOR ABOUT 5 OR 6 SECONDS ,THEN GOES RIGHT BACK,PLAYING WITH THOMAS,TRAINS,WE ARE GOING TO HOSPITAL THIS WEEKEND FOR THE KIDS WITH THE BIG RED BOTTON,I HOPE MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME INTEREST,BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM AS I SEE IT IS COST,LIONEL HAD A GREAT THING GOING LAST DEC.,WHEN THEY HAD A STARTER SET,THAT SOLD FOR AROUND $219.00 INCLUDING TAX AND HAD A SOUND TENDER INCLUDED,THEN IN FEB OF 2001,THEY UPPED THE PRICE>>>>>VERY DUMB HUB

[Anonymous]

Buy em an engine,track,power,a few rolling stock and let em play with it. Simple. Gerald

[BRAKIE]

Gerald:Nicely said.Be sure to buy good stuff,like
athearn,that way it will last along time.

[rogerhensley]

Vincent asked...
"QUESTION: HOW DO YOU GET SOMETING IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER,WHEN IT WILL BE OVER-CASTED BY WORLD
TRADE CENTER HAPPENING,"

I started working on that 3 months ago and this week a reporter from out local paper told me that she would do a bit on two of our model railroads this coming Friday Nov 2nd for Model RR Month. It took two e-mails and a letter outlining what Model RRing is and why someone would want to do it. "Besides, it's fun!" is how I finished the Press Release for our Nov 10th meet/display.

It CAN be done, but 'tain't easy.

Roger