going as a guest question

walt rapp posted:

I am no longer a TCA member but have read here that they opened up the meet to non-members.  I looked at the Eastern Division web site for info and found the below form.  I don't get it - the form has a line for a REQUIRED signature from a TCA member.  I wouldn't exactly call that 'opening up to the public'.

I can probably get one but my question is: can I just go, go to the Silver Hall (assuming it's still there) to register and pay, and get in?  

Would I get a badge to wear (just so I know to bring my holder or not)?

thanks - walt

Walt - that's the form to attend as a guest and it appears you are looking to attend as a member of the public.   If so, just go to the ticket booth inside the Orange Hall.  You can only attend on Friday and Saturday as a member of the public and can only access the Orange and Purple Halls (and Black Hall for the layouts).   I don't believe members of the public get badges - just wrist bands.

If you are re-joining the TCA then yes, you can just go to the Silver Hall to register, pay and attend the meet.   If you just want to attend as a one-time guest contact me offline via my profile email and I can meet you prior to the meet - either at breakfast or in front of the Orange Hall before the meet opens on Thursday.  If you are a guest you get to wear a GUEST badge.

-Greg

Hey Walt,

Dealer Halls are open to the public for an admission price paid at the Orange Hall ( I believe its the Orange Hall but you better check with Eastern Div. ) at which time a wrist band is given to wear which gives you access to dealer halls only.    Member halls are not open to the general public and are only accessible by TCA members and quests displaying  badges.    I would assume if you want to go as a quest you would need to obtain a TCA member's signature on the guest form.   Hope this helps. 

And technically if you were a TCA member and then dropped out, you are no longer allowed to register as a guest.  Unless they changed it, the guest privileges are for one time only.

From the ED York Guest Registration page.

• The meet is open to members of the Train Collectors Association (TCA), their family and guests. We encourage toy train enthusiasts to attend the meet by permitting them to register and attend one meet as a guest.
• To continue attending you are required to join the TCA.

So, as I see it in summary... go as a "public", on Friday or Saturday, Orange, Purple or Black Halls only...or you re-join the TCA. 

Why don't you just contact Diana Hood 814-494-8836 She has all the answers.

thanks all for the help.  didn't realize that a 'guest' is so tightly defined. SO I go as a public attendee not a guest.  Also nice to learn here that registering for me will be in the Orange Hall.

As always, thanks - walt

walt rapp posted:

Also nice to learn here that registering for me will be in the Orange Hall.

 

Since you are no longer a TCA member, how else did you expect to be notified? In any event, there are signs in front of the Orange Hall.

Walt.........it will be great to see you again!

Peter

eddie g posted:

Why don't you just contact Diana Hood 814-494-8836 She has all the answers.

By asking the question here and receiving many replies, he not only helped himself he helped others who might have had the same question.  And Diana wasn't bothered, so she can continue to do her day job.

I did not know Friday was an "Open to the public" day.  So I'm glad the thread was on OGR for me to read.

Have Fun!

Ron

I would like to go as a guest,but i don't know any TCA members

Sure you do, tons of them right here in the forums!

rsymons posted:

I would like to go as a guest,but i don't know any TCA members

Print and complete this form:

You can ask any member to sign it at the meet. You should have no problem getting someone to sign.  

If you go to the breakfast at Round The Clock diner on Thursday (see the thread on this forum) I will be glad to sign it for you.  

Also, myself, along with numerous other forumites, will be in the lobby of the Orange Hall around 10:30 or 11:00 on Thursday prior to the meet opening on Thursday.  You can reach out to me at the email in my profile and we can arrange to meet there as well.

-Greg

Greg Houser posted:

rsymons posted:

I would like to go as a guest,but i don't know any TCA members

Print and complete this form:

You can ask any member to sign it at the meet. You should have no problem getting someone to sign.  

If you go to the breakfast at Round The Clock diner on Thursday (see the thread on this forum) I will be glad to sign it for you.  

Also, myself, along with numerous other forumites, will be in the lobby of the Orange Hall around 10:30 or 11:00 on Thursday prior to the meet opening on Thursday.  You can reach out to me at the email in my profile and we can arrange to meet there as well.

-Greg

that's the form that I referenced = I forgot to include it though.

but, because of help here, i know that going as a guest is not what I will be doing.

- walt

walt rapp posted:

thanks all for the help.  didn't realize that a 'guest' is so tightly defined. SO I go as a public attendee not a guest.  Also nice to learn here that registering for me will be in the Orange Hall.

As always, thanks - walt

Ron045 posted:

I did not know Friday was an "Open to the public" day.  So I'm glad the thread was on OGR for me to read.

Have Fun!

Ron

If you attend as a guest, you can wander anywhere? If you go as J.Q. Public you are restricted to the Dealer Only Halls?

If so it seems better to go as a guest.

That's correct.  Going as a member of the public restricts you to Friday and Saturday only and only the Orange, Purple and Black Halls are available to you.   Going as a guest gets you every hall on all days.

-Greg

I think the guest option is a one time event.  If you've never been before, then I would go as a guest.

Yes - one time event.  But you can save $3 and join the TCA on a Trial membership for $20.  Good for 6 months and can only do once.  Full benefits for the 6 months as soon as you join too.

-Greg

Did Walt Rapp go to York?

eddie g posted:

Did Walt Rapp go to York?

I may have seen him climbing into a window in the Red Hall. 

He was there and we spoke for a few minutes on Friday. He looks well and it was good to see him.
Peter