 Dear Member HM15902-Alphonse Kolis, Halloween is here! And heard today SNOW in the forecast. Stopped by our local home builders big box store and saw Christmas Trees. Can 2015 be far way? But before I wish my life away looking for Spring, I prefer to think of the positive scenes of us more seasoned members cleaning and tweaking our engines for another winter season and again seeing kids playing with trains. Yes, kids, some experiencing trains for the first time and some playing with trains of their own. What a great vision! Let's make a renewed effort to introduce a kid to trains. And do not forget to pioneer the train hobby with an interested friend. Be sure to check out the club Christmas Car - 50% sold in first two weeks. Order now or risk missing this special car. Expected to be completely sold out by Thanksgiving.
Topics discussed in this issue:
Membership Renewals Due 1/1/2015 - renewal notices for members with a 1/1/2015 membership renewal date will receive electronic notices to renew on Saturday, November 1. I ask all members who receive this notice to renew as quickly as possible. Doing so will eliminate the need for our business office to make multiple renewal requests. If members renew when first approached, the club saves a lot of money, collectively in the thousands of dollars in reduced costs and a lot less work for our volunteers. Help the club and renew early. Early renewal helps the club save money to redirect to member benefits.
To Our LRRC Sourced Members (IMPORTANT!!!) - By now, you have received copies of our award winning publications "The Lion Roars" and the "Interchange Track". You will be receiving our December issue of "The Lion Roars" in early December. IMPORTANT NOTE - to continue to receive copies of "The Lion Roars" and the "Interchange Track" beyond December, you MUST renew by December 31.Lionel and the LCCA agreed that all new members from the LRRC would receive the 3 issues for October, November, and December as part of the transfer of membership. We encourage all members to renew, especially our newest members from the LRRC. You have had the opportunity to see what the LCCA is, what it represents, and how it serves its members and the hobby. You know we will continue our close relationship with Lionel. We are pleased you are an LCCA member and would like you to continue to enjoy what the club is, does, and represents. If you were an LRRC member and if your renewal date is later than 1/1/2015, this also applies to you. Individuals in this classification will be notified in a separate post. Remember if you have any remaining questions, to look at the FAQ and other data on the LCCA website (www.lionelcollectors.org) and Link to FAQ . Remember, any question can be addressed tooffice@lionelcollectors.org.
To All LCCA Members - We have heard from a few of our members that they were sent introductory welcome letters as a result of their LRRC affiliation and have ended up with two LCCA member numbers. If you feel you have received a second membership to the LCCA in error as a result of your LRRC membership, please contact the business office (office@lionelcollectors.org) or Harry Hampson (hgh45@aol.com). Likewise if you receive two copies of this e-blast with two different LCCA member numbers, pls contact us and we will correct our database. Former members of the LCCA who joined us from the LRRC can get their former number back by contacting the business office. LCCA Discount At Lionelstore.com - All LCCA members are now eligible for a 10% discount (with certain limitations) at the Lionel web store at www.lionelstore.com. This site will now recognize all LCCA members. Be sure to check for other LCCA member benefits at this link. 45th Anniversary Celebration - our 45th Anniversary celebration is underway. You have already seen the 45th Anniversary car and the Boston and Maine GP7 set. We are introducing two special raffles with exceptional prizes (see below). We will be announcing new special products. This note details a mint car contest based on our 45th anniversary. We were already planning a 45th anniversary Sapphire Mint car (sapphire celebrates 45 years). There will be a number of special activities in Boston. Participate, if you can, in any of these 45th Anniversary events. Stay tuned as more are announced. Poll Questions - A new set of Poll questions (number 13) have been posted. We now have a Survey Coordinator, Bill Fuller (RM11746) who is posting questions and responses. Results from these polls have already helped the club make decisions. And of course, it is fun and interesting to see what others think of hobby related issues. If you have a question or two you would like answered, ask it and it might be in the next survey. Thanks to all who participate. Click here to take the LCCA Train Talk Poll #13 - How members see and use Accessories.
45th Anniversary Raffles - Reminder the LCCA is celebrating its 45th anniversary all this year. We have two important ongoing events - with tickets available at the LCCA Web Site Store.
First - an expense paid pass for two at the Boston Convention.This year’s 45th Anniversary Convention starts July 20th and runs thru the 26th at the beautiful Danvers, Massachusetts Double Tree Hotel. This year we’re selling raffle tickets to cover Convention costs! The lucky raffle winner will receive: - Seven nights' accommodations at the Danvers Double Tree Hotel
- One paid convention registration
- Two tickets to the Get Acquainted Party
- Two tickets to the LCCA Annual Banquet
- PLUS your choice of any five LCCA Convention tours for two
Raffle tickets are available on the for $10.00 per ticket (or three for $25.00) at web store. Raffle will be held through December 31, 2014 with the drawing to be conducted in early January, 2015. The winner will be announced in the subsequent issue of TLR with details.
The second raffle offers a chance to win an Angela Trotta Thomas Painting - the LCCA has commissioned Lionel® licensed artist Angela Trotta Thomas to create this original 30” x 20” painting (framed) entitled “LCCA 45 Years of Fun" It will be raffled off during the LCCA 45th Annual Convention banquet in Boston MA area on Saturday evening July 25, 2015. Every LCCA member who purchases a ticket will have an opportunity to win this great prize. 
Tickets are available at the LCCA store at www.lionelcollectors.org, by Fax at 815-23-0791, via e-mail at office@lionelcollectors.org, or by USPS see more at this link Product Status - The LCCA continues to offer unique and special products to its members. Our B&M GP7 Boston and Maine set can be ordered now. We also now have 3 of our newest LCCA cars ready for immediate delivery. When you order one of these items now, delivery is assured by Christmas. Be sure to visit the LCCA Store and see all that is available including a number of prior issue LCCA product.  LCCA B&M GP7 Diesels ready to order - The LCCA showed full production samples of its newest offering, a GP7 LionChief Plus diesel with matching dummy in the Boston and Maine Minute Man livery at York. A matching caboose will be offered as part of a 3 unit set. A follow-up matching series of cars are planned for early 2014. The LCCA has had a production sample made to reduce the delivery time from Lionel. These units are currently scheduled for delivery before the Boston Convention. See more at LCCA B&M GP7 set detail.
- Christmas Car - The Christmas car is Shipping! And members are purchasing this car for immediate delivery. Order now and get your car before year end. This car celebrates not only the yearend holidays, but commemorates the LRRC joining with the LCCA! But be advised, ONLY 500 Cars have been ordered (with 50% sold in first 2 weeks). Order forms and more info were in the October issue of TLR and are available at the web store (web info and store link). These cars are expected to be sold out by the end of November. Order now for this car. Be sure to check out our 30 second youtube video.
- LCCA 2014 Convention On Site Car (Wabash car carrier with 4 Lionel die cast 1/43 scale automobiles) are in very limited supply. This car matches the 45th anniversary auto carrier and together they make a great set. This car is available for immediate delivery.
- The 45th Anniversary Car (Wabash car carrier with 4 Lionel die cast 1/43 scale Automobiles) are ready to ship NOW and can be ordered for immediate delivery. If you intend to get one, order it today for immediate delivery.
Junior Membership (JM) - To our new members from the LRRC, if you are under 18, we encourage you to renew your membership as a Junior Member and receive all the benefits of this member class. To all members, we invite you to look at our third club magazine most members never see. All issues of 'The Lion Cub' are available for review in our Link to JM's 'The Lion Cub' archive. Be sure to check out what the LCCA does for JM's Junior Members (JM member code) is a special membership category open to younger members under 18. With a reduced cost of $25 per year, our JM's receive 'The Lion Roars' PLUS 'The Lion Cub' via USPS mail delivered to their home. JM's do not receive mailed copies of the 'Interchange Track' but can see digital copies on line. Because of their age, JM's are not eligible to vote in club elections, nor to purchase items without their parents consent. If you are under 18, take advantage of this special member class. Special Events - A special "shout out" to all our members who attend LCCA Special Events. The Special Event Program continues to expand. We are entering a the next six months when most Special Events occur. Here are the remaining events in 2014. If near any event, be sure to stop by and say Hello. - November 1, 2014 - Carmel, IN - Halloween Train Party at Mr. Muffins Trains - Special Event
- November 7/8/9, 2014 - Milwaukee, WI - Trainfest - Special Event
- November 7/8/9, 2014 - Concord NC - LCCA Joins Lionel at November Open House Event -Special Event
- November 9, 2014 - LCCA At Train Show in Dalton, OH - Special Event
- November 15, 2014 - LCCA Will Be At Granite City Train Show - St. Cloud, MN - Special Event
- November 22/23, 2014 - Hamburg, NY (Buffalo) - LCCA at WNYRHS Train show - Special Event
- November 29/30 - Crown Point, IN (Chicago) - LCCA hosts "Toy Train Club Show - Special Event
- December 6, 2014 - LCCA San Francisco - United Airlines Fantasy Flight - Special Event
- December 6, 2014 - Home Layout Tour, Houston, TX - Special Event
- December 13, 2014 - 10th Annual Christmas Holiday Train Party & Open House in Lewisville, NC - Special Event
- December 20, 2014 - LCCA Holiday Special Event in Leland IA - Special Event
LCCA President DeVito will be attending TrainFest on November 7/8 and 9. This is a unique train show, with numerous layouts and is extremely kid friendly. If you can assist at the LCCA booth, be sure to contact the club. President DeVito invited Santa to be at the November 29/30th Special Event in Crown Point IN. This Crown Point event is special as it is one of the first Train Shows sponsored and put on by volunteers from Multiple train clubs. With the LCCA as originating club, our sister clubs including the TCA, TTOS and a number of local clubs are coming together the days after Thanksgiving. A number of family friendly special events are planned. Be sure to visit with Santa at noon. Try to attend the first of this annual show. Al Kolis, President elect and Special Events Manager, will be at theNovember 7/8/9 Lionel open house. This warehouse event is sponsored by Lionel. Friday night is reserved for LCCA and club members. All three of these events are regional in nature and are worthy of your attendance. Al and I look forward to meeting with you - be sure to introduce yourself. Be sure to review a thank you note sent by Dick Kughn to LCCA members for the plaque given to him by the LCCA. Thank You note from Dick Kughn
To all our members, especially our newest members from the LRRC, you are invited and welcome to attend any and all LCCA special events with your family. All LCCA events are family friendly. Be sure to come down and join in - and remember to ID yourself to the LCCA host! Be sure to check out future LCCA events on our web page, and save the date for upcoming shows later in 2014 and in 2015. See all LCCA events at this link. S-Gauge - for our S-Gauge members, the LCCA has increased its scope into S-gauge. Ed Boyle of ORG magazine has agreed to write a monthly column on S-gauge. We have a few other S-gauge surprises coming. We do seek S-gauge articles to print. Remember, all our input comes from members. If you want more S-gauge, be sure to be part of the solution and submit articles, pictures, or better yet, host a Special Event for S-gauge focused members. Contact Al Kolis (agkolis@comcast.net) or directly to office@lionelcollectors.org 
2015 Boston Convention Update - I am confident the LCCA 45th annual convention will exceed even our successful and enjoyable Indy convention. Boston Bob (formally Indy Bob) has planned our traditional convention events and has arranged for a few surprises. A number of train rides headline another week of great tours. Be sure to save the dates July 19 - July 25, 2015. Convention details will be published in the February TLR. 
Mint Car Design Contest - Our mint car design contest introduced in the October TLR is underway. We seek entries from our members. The entry instructions and rules are available on our website. If you want a clean template for design work, you can download from here. Good Luck. Click here for event rules and a larger template. Enter now and have a chance to have your design made into a Lionel Product. Nominations and Elections - Remember nominations start in February. Not too early to start thinking about the elections.
In Closing - Halloween is here! Kids "trick or treating". Take time to enjoy all the Fall has to offer. Our club has grown larger with a number of LRRC members welcomed into the LCCA. We are one in support of our hobby, enjoying all things trains. To quote our constitution - "The purpose for which the Cor poration (LCCA) is organized is to promote and foster interest, research, education and enjoyment of Lionel Trains from 1900 to the present in particular and by association, all toy trains in general." Take advantage of all that is good, enjoy your trains, hug your family, enjoy Halloween with a kid, and help kids enjoy trains. I look forward to meeting with many of you in upcoming weeks and months.  Dennis DeVito
LCCA President and Fellow Member
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Thank you for your dedication. The LCCA sounds like a great organization, not just member driven for members, but also holding events to show trains to kids, the elderly, and the general public. I am hoping it will be something I want to get more involved in when I retire in 5 years or so. I will plan to be in Pittsburgh on December 13th or 14th!
