To start off the convention on the right foot, I invite each of you to participate in our free President's reception on Sunday evening, 7-14-13 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the most up to date plans for our convention week, while having fun with other conventioneers, both first timers and veterans. Come and enjoy this casual and fun evening get together event.
Another benefit of belonging to the LCCA is our close relationship with Lionel LLC. Lionel's new VP of Operations, Howard Hitchcock, Michael Phillips, Tom Nuzzo, Mike Reagan, Matt Ashba and Tammy Candeelis will all be attending and participating in our convention this summer in Chattanooga TN. On Friday, 7-19-13, Lionel will be conducting their annual seminar about new Lionel train products. Come and meet with the new Lionel team. You will have an opportunity to ask them any Lionel toy train related question you want. Lionel has committed to bring their large operating layout and display for viewing in the main lobby of the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel. This layout which was designed and built by TW TrainWorx of Dallas TX demonstrates various levels of layout scenery techniques and showcases new Lionel train products in operation. The interactive buttons on the side of the layout that operate Lionel operating accessories are very entertaining for kids of all ages. Lionel's Tom Nuzzo will be demonstrating how to operate Lionel's Hand Held Legacy Command Control operating system. I am certain ( if you are nice to him) , Tom will give you a chance to operate the hand held controller and let you run the Lionel trains on their impressive layout.
Also on Friday afternoon, 7-19-13, make your plans to attend the LCCA General Membership meeting at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. You will be able to learn more about our club activities and see some of the new LCCA operating accessories such as an operating coal ramp and other products currently being developed. Come and see the new "100% Made in America" LCCA product offerings. We are very proud and excited to be introducing new LCCA product that will be totally assembled and manufactured here in the Midwest United States. We are counting on you members to appreciate and support these projects. This is a significant undertaking by the club, but we think it will help secure supply, enable on- time delivery while maintaining high quality standards on newly designed products that will appeal and be enjoyable to our members.
In an effort to enhance your convention experience, the LCCA will be hosting 4 free Seminars during our 43rd Annual Convention. On Monday evening, July 15, LCCA member Dr. Richard Banz will present an entertaining and informative talk about the Great Train Chase of 1862. Dr. Banz is the Executive Director of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive history in Kennesaw GA, the home of the famous "General" Steam locomotive. Later in the evening, OGR's Ed Boyle will make an informative presentation about S-gage trains. On Wednesday evening, 7-17-13, LCCA new elected Director and nationally renowned layout design/ builder Roger Farkash of TW TrainWorx in Dallas TX will demonstrate how to build model mountains and scenic techniques you can apply to your own layouts. Following Roger, Lionel's Tom Nuzzo and Mike Reagan will be giving a demonstration and talk about Lionel's Legacy system and their Customer Service operations. These interactive seminars are certain to be spontaneous, informative and most of all fun!
On Wednesday Morning, 7-17, a designated local Make-A-Wish child will be the honorary Engineer for the day at Lionel's operating layout and display that will be set up in the beautiful main lobby of the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Local dignitaries will be on hand, provide us with some genuine southern hospitality and welcome all of us LCCA'ers to the city of Chattanooga. We hope you can be there to enjoy this event.
As you can tell, we have numerous LCCA Special Event activities and projects currently underway for all of our members to enjoy.
Al Kolis
