LCCA 's 42nd Annual Convention in Norfolk VA

My wife and I will be there starting sunday July 22nd.

Neal Jeter

Neal,  We look forward to seeing you there.  I am certin we will have fun.  The train show on Saturday should be good too.  The donations will go to a good cause too!

Al K. 

LCCA 7-28-12 Toy Train show in Norfolk VA to Benefit Ronald McDonald House.

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) will be hosting a Toy Train Show on Saturday, July 29, 2012 at the Marriot Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, VA during or 42nd Annual convention.  The show will be open on Saturday to the public from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.  The donations we collect from the public and LCCA members will be donated to benefit the local Ronald McDonald House (RMDH).

The Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for those families whose child is in the hospital receiving much needed care for their serious illness. Lionel is donating a couple of train sets to the house and all the monies raised will also go to the local RMDH to help defray their expenses and operating costs. "Ronald" will make a public appearance during the trading hall on Saturday, along with the Lionel/LCCA's own "Lenny the Lion". These popular characters will be available for pictures, so be sure to bring your camera and a BIG smile!

I will be there living only ten minutes away would be hard not to go.

Welcome!  Have you been to any other LCCA conventions?

Al K.

This will be the first and I just recently joined the lcca

Welcome to the club!  Did you sign up for any activities?  Call me at (248)709-4137 if you want to talk about all of the fun events we have planned for the week.  I think you will find them to be very enjoyable.

Al Kolis

Immediate Past President

Lionel Collectors Club of America

Lionel's CEO, Jerry Calabrese has accepted an invitation to meet with Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) members on Friday 7-27-12 at 4:00PM for a personal Question and Answer session during our 42nd Annual Convention.  LCCA Members who have a question they want to ask Jerry should submit their question in advance to the Ask The Expert section on www.lionelcollectors.org  Ask the Expert.  Please specify that your question is directed to Jerry Calabrese and to be answered during our convention.  Jerry is willing to answer and discuss any topic relative to Lionel and the hobby.  No subject matter is off limits for legitimate questions.  This will be a great opportunity for our members to hear answers directly from Jerry.  We are certain our members will find this session to be both informative and entertaining.  Thank you Jerry Calabrese! for giving this tremendous opportunity to our members.  This is just one example of the many benefits for belonging to the Lionel Collectors Club of America, the best toy train club on the planet!

Ed Boyle, LCCA member, O-Gauge Railroading (OGR) Partner and columnist of OGR's Collector's Gallery will be making a S-Gauge Presentation in Norfolk,  Ed has promised a comprehensive and concise look at 1:64 scale trains and why our two rail S-Gauge brethren should become more important to us at the LCCA. As Ed points out, many S Gaugers are Lionel collectors too, and we need to welcome more of them into the ranks of the LCCA.  LCCA is S friendly, and having S-Gauge hobbyist play a more prominent role in our activities will enrich the toy train hobby experience for all of us.  Stay tuned for additional details about this S-Gauge presentation

Bring your shorts!!!  We've had some record-breaking temps down here already this month.  I think the heat index was 106 yesterday

Bob,

Yes,  it will be hot in July in Norfolk.  Fortunately our tour busses are air conditioned.  It seems to be hot everywhere and all kinds of temperature records are being broken.   We will be recommending hydration.  All of our members  staying at our host hotel, the Martiott Waterside will receive two complimentary bottles of water each day in their room.

Al

Will the big Lionel layout be a part of the toy train show? I'm 2hrs away in NC and a  couple of us are thinking about coming up on Sat.  How much are the non-member admission fees for Sat. events?  Thanks.

Steve A.

Steve,

Yes, We will have the large Lionel layout (minus towers), plus the Pittsburgh Hi-Railers  modular layout and we are  also introducing the new Lionel/LCCA Fastrack modular layout.   On Friday evening, (6-9PM) 7-27 the train show is open to LCCA members staying at the Marriott hotel at no charge.  On Saturday July 28, the train show will be open to LCCA members only from 8-9AM.  The train show will be open to the public from 9:00AM to 3:00 PM?  The train show is free admission, but we are accepting donatations for the  benefit of the local Ronald McDonald House foundation.   This foundations help families who have family members in the hospital with serious illnesses.  This is a very worthwhile cause.

I suggest you also attend the Lionel seminar on Friday afternoon, plus the rare public appearance of Lionel's CEO Jerry Calabrese.  We are having a Q &A session with Jerry.  If you have any questions for Jerry, please submit them to the "ask the expert" section on our website www.lionelcollectors.org

The Saturday evening banquet is also a very fun event.  Typically, everyone will walk away with a desirable train product.  One lucky recipient will win a rare and highly collectible LCCA limited edition banquet table prize.  It is very fun.

I look forward to seeing you there.  If you have any questions, please call me at 248 709-4137

Al K., 

Al K, my wife and I are planning on attending the convention.  I'm excited and she's very excited.  She's attended train events with me in the past; however, this will be the first LCCA national convention she's attended.  Looking especially forward to the question and answer session with Jerry C. 

Not going allow the heat to bother me.  It can't be no worse than stacking hay in the barn loft when we were younger. 

Hope to see as many of us charter members who will attend.

Wishing traveling grace and mercy to all who attend.

My wife and I will be there.

That is great news.  I look forward to  seeing you both in Norfolk.   We have a lot fun activities planned for the enjoyment of the entire family, some train related and other not so train related.  

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) Board of Directors, Convention Manager "Captain" Bob Carter, "Captain  Chaos" Lou Caponi and the volunteer convention team are working hard to finalize some of the details for our upcoming 42nd Annual Convention.  LCCA Members and convention registrants will have the opportunity to enjoy many Free Activities and Lionel products.

Our members will enjoy the beautiful Marriot property located downtown Norfolk near the waterfront of the Chesapeake Bay. There are all kinds of restaurants and local attractions within walking distance of our host hotel. Make your plans now for your family's summer vacation. There are plenty of train and non-train points of interest to see before and after our convention. For information about attractions, restaurants and more visit www.visitnorfolktoday.com.

Convention Co-managers Captain Bob Carter (formerly Cowboy Bob of the 2011 Dallas LCCA convention), Lou Caponi,  Jerry Calkins and the entire volunteer team are planning numerous fun activities and tours that can be enjoyed by the entire family. For details go to our convention page of our website www.lionelcollectors.org . Due to the overwhelming success during last year's convention in Dallas TX, we are planning several FREE clinics, workshops and seminars throughout the convention week.

On Sunday, 7-22-12, 6:30 PM, President Dennis DeVito is planning to host a FREE Welcome Party. LCCA Convention Registrants and their families are welcome to attend and share in some complimentary light snacks. Meet with President, Dennis, the Board of Directors and the convention volunteer team to learn more about all of the activities and surprises planned for later in the week. There will be plenty of train and non-train related activities that should be of interest to the entire family scheduled throughout the week.

Steve,

It is my understanding that Lionel is binging  the layout in the video link below (minus the towers)

.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...youtube_gdata_player

Al K. 

Welcome!  What tours/events are you planning to attend?

Al K. 

If any of you are planning on visiting Colonial Williamsburg before or after the Convention; you're welcome to come see my layout.

We live one mile from Colonial Wmsburg.

My email in profile

My wife and I will be there.  This will be our second LCCA convention.  We had a ball at the first and are looking forward to more fun!!

Pete,

You may want to post your invitation on the club's Facebook page.  Go to our website www.lionelcollectors.org, and the click onthe Facebook icon.  Thank you for the invitation. I am sure some of our member's will take you up on your offer.

Al K.

Al & all

I am not a member of LCCA but I am planning to attend the public part of the train show and visit the layouts.  I would also like to meet some of you that participate here on the forum.  Will you have any type of disignation on your name badges that might identify you as forum members?  Also I've never really considered joining LCCA, I'm more of an operator than a collector, is there a local chapter in the Va/NC area to be a part of?  Or are the conventions and publications about all that is offered in this area.

Steve A.

TCA # 87-26095

Steve,

Most of our members  are operators as well as collectors.   I invite you to join the club and try it out for  a year.  If you don't like it, then you don't have to renew.  You can join on-line at our website www.lionelcollectors.org   We presently do not have any plans to identify forum members on their name tags.  OGR's Ed Boyle will be making a presentation at our convention.   Ths would be a great meeting for  all of the Forum members  to attend.  Stay tuned for more specific information about Ed Boyle's presentation.

We do not have local chapters.  We are a national, volunteer, not for profit organization.  Our constitution does not allow for  local chapters.  However, we have been hosting LCCA Special Events in various cities all around the country.  We will be planning local special events in the Norfolk area within the next year.  If you have any questions, you can call me at 248 709-4137.

Al K.

CORRECTION!   The correct start time for the Presdent's reception on Sunday evening, July 22 is 7:30 PM,not 6:30PM.  Sorry for the typo.

Al K.

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) had an opportunity this past Spring to talk with Lionel Licensed Artist and LCCA member Angela Trotta Thomas. Click on the video link below and learn about what Angela is working on this year and Lionel's upcoming Angela Trotta Thomas Box car and building.

http://www.lionelcollectors.org/lcca-newsstand/lccanews/newsStory.aspx?id=326&catId=13


Angela will be conducting another "Learn To Draw A Lionel Train" drawing class at the LCCA's 42nd Annual Convention to be held at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Norfolk VA July 23-28. On Friday, July 27, Angela will be conducting this Lionel drawing class from 2-4 PM. LCCA members of all ages are welcome to participate. Junior members and family members are encouraged to come and make a Lionel train drawing. This is a real fun event for all!. We hope to see you there in Norfolk!

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) had an opportunity this past Spring to talk with Lionel Licensed Artist and LCCA member Angela Trotta Thomas. Click on the video link below and learn about what Angela is working on this year and Lionel's upcoming Angela Trotta Thomas Box car and building.

http://www.lionelcollectors.org/lcca-newsstand/lccanews/newsStory.aspx?id=326&catId=13


Angela will be conducting another "Learn To Draw A Lionel Train" drawing class at the LCCA's 42nd Annual Convention to be held at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Norfolk VA July 23-28. On Friday, July 27, Angela will be conducting this Lionel drawing class from 2-4 PM. LCCA members of all ages are welcome to participate. Junior members and family members are encouraged to come and make a Lionel train drawing. This is a real fun event for all!. We hope to see you there in Norfolk!

The Lionel Collectors Club of America ( LCCA) will have three impressive Lionel Toy train layouts operating at the Marriott Waterside Hotel during the day starting on Wednesday, July 25 through Saturday, July 28 at 3:00 PM.   There is no charge for admission.   Bring the entire family,  people of all ages will enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Lionel trains running around the track on these exciting layouts.   Lionel is an American iconic company that has been producing  toy model trains and entertaining operating accessories since 1900.   Representatives from Lionel and the LCCA will be available to answer your questions pertaining to Lionel trains.  Please note, we will not be able to provide you with train value appraisals.

The LCCA also invites you to  participate in a free toy train show and swap meet to be held at the Marriott Waterside Hotel on Saturday July 28, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  People will have an opportunity to purchase old and new Lionel trains from LCCA members. This show is open to the public with no charge for admission.   Donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the Local Ronald McDonald House. Bring the entire family and enjoy the show.

The Lionel Collectors Club is a not-for profit, volunteer organization with thousands of men, women and children who have an interest in Lionel Trains.  Founded in 1970, by Jim Gates of Perry IA, LCCA members from  all over the country will be in Norfolk celebrating their 42nd annual week long convention in the Marriott Waterside hotel.  The purpose of the club is to promote and foster an interest in Lionel trains specifically and toy trains in general.

We invite all of the local people of the Norfolk and surrounding areas to come and experience the Magic of Lionel Trains.   Bring the kids, we will have F.U.N!  For more detailed information about the fun and exciting activities/ tours scheduled for the week,  visit our  website  www.lionelcollectors.org<http://www.lionelcollectors.org> or contact Al Kolis at 248 709-4137.

Folks,

The S Gauge Presentation designed for the Convention has been finished and it looks great, to my unbiased eyes anyway.

Will make arrangements to put it on the LCCA website after the convention. Maybe we can get someone to video the Q & A session after we screen the video.  Any volunteers?

Anyway, the news is good on the S front for LCCA.

Ede Boyle

Ed,  thank you for doing this.  I am excited and I look toward to seeing your presentation.  Ths will be a great opportunity for the OGR Forum members to get together in person.   I look forward to seeing you all there.

 There.

Al K.

Your email is notin your profile.  We are going tobein Williamsburg today(Thurs). How do Iget holdofyou?

LCCA Special Event Makes Local News in Norfolk VA

On 7-24-12, the LCCA had a great Special Event tour at the Children's Museum of Virginia. Cameron, age 5, of Make-A-Wish foundation was the honorary engineer for the evening. Cameron and his family enjoyed the evening by playing with all of the trains and meeting with other LCCA members. Everyone enjoyed a southern barbecue dinner and the impressive operating layout and train collection. LCCA President Dennis DeVito presented Skip Novak of the Children's Museum with a LCCA Norfolk and Southern Vulcan switcher convention registration gift engine. Thank you to the Children's Museum of Virginia for their accommodations and providing a great setting for an enjoyable evening. Thank you to all of the LCCA members who participated in this special, and inspirational event.

Click on the link below to Norfolk's local NBC affiliate news channel to view Cameron of the Make-A-Wish Foundation be the honorary engineer at this LCCA Special Event.

Make a Wish Child

http://www.wvec.com/community/...25-28-163717686.html