@romiller49 posted:I personally enjoyed the York meet when it was Thursday and Friday only. It definitely felt special. To me it’s not a show. It’s a train meet for members and guests. The dealer hall today seems more like a Greenberg show selling too many non train related items. Too many gadgets and toys. I don’t think it’s TCA’s job to grow the hobby as some have suggested. I don’t think York is set up to cater to the public. There’s other huge “Shows” that are set up for that purpose.
Re the non-train related items, I don't think that there are "too many". Lots of the toys are either trains for little kids or they are items that go with trains such as cars, etc. If you see something that really doesn't belong, I'd suggest reporting it to the hall captain.
It is TCA's job to grow the hobby. From section 2 of the TCA bylaws: "The purpose of the TCA shall be to promote the sharing of knowledge and the appreciation of collecting and operating toy, model, and scale trains." Promote and share = grow
@Andy Hummell posted:York is the perfect place to make friends in the hobby. When I started going to York, I had almost no friends in the hobby beyond the online-only friends I made here on the forum. At York, I was able to make many of those online friends into in-person friends, and I've also made quite a few friends there that are not on this or any other forum. Some of them are even close enough to home that I occasionally see them outside of York (usually at other train shows). Once all of this happened, York became a social event for me, and my York trips grew from very long one day trips, to two-day trips, to three-day trips, to four-day trips, and currently to five-day trips. And if this Purple Hall "Bandit Meet" turns into a success, it might turn into a six-day trip in the future.
Oh, and if you really like people-watching (and I do, as well), become a table-holder in a member hall and you will see a vast assortment of people of all ages and walks of life to watch.
Andy
@Putnam Division posted:Andy is so right........I didn't have any TCA friends......but, since this Forum started, I have had to fortune to meet many! In 2000-01, we all realized that we "knew each other" at least by sight because we had all been going to York as loners or in small groups for years. Through friends you meet more people, and that's how I have come to know even more people....and, have more and more train friends......
Chuck, if you are coming to York, join us for breakfast on Thursday AM or dinner on Thursday evening at Quaker Steak....you don't have to know a soul.....all are welcome.......SEARCH......York Breakfast with the SEARCH function and you'll see pictures of previous get togethers.
Peter
Amen to both of you. In recent years I have started to attend more of the various meetings associated with York and spend more time talking with people - it has greatly expanded my circle of train friends and enhanced the overall experience.
@Putnam Division posted:Agreed!!!
We need Eastern Division members to come to the Saturday 8AM business meeting.Peter
Can people who aren't members of ED attend / speak at the meeting? IMO, a big part of the issue is that York is important to all of TCA, but it's run by one division that doesn't seem to listen to input and ideas from other members.
