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The New England Chapter will be having a meet on Sunday, September 27th at the Hudson elks pavilion from 10 am to 2 pm.  It's enough open space to have an uncrowded and safe meet.

We'll be using pavilion style picnic benches supplemented with conventional tables, and there will be plenty of room for popup tents and shelter for trailer and tailgates sales.

We won't have the usual widespread advertising through flyers at train shows (there are none)  that brings in fathers and their kids, so attendance will be mostly those of us who are really interested in old trains.

If you are outside of New England and might consider driving here for a show, get in touch with me for more info at mlaughlinnyc@yahoo.com or call at 617-489-4383.

If you'd like to be in on conversations about the meet, join NETCA-meets@groups.io.  NETCA members who have an email address on the member list will get our official membership announcement soon.

There will be a giveaway table and a test track and operating layout for anyone to show off favorite old trains.  We'll have an ample supply of masks, gloves and hand-wipes.  

Malcolm Laughlin, Meet coordinator

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This is not great news. I will not attend any train show or for that matter no venue like sporting events, concerts, etc. until a vaccine is released. Why take that chance?

It is Irresponsible to hold a train show of any kind in this medical issue that is still going strong, no matter the size of the facility. 

Sorry if I offended anyone but sometimes the truth hurts. If you go I hope you are safe.

Dave

Last edited by OGR CEO-PUBLISHER

This is a small local meet.   I'm pleased with the planning steps that have been put into place.  With social distancing, face masks, gloves, and being outside in the open air.   I feel safer going to this meet vs. going grocery shopping.  And I grocery shop each week without too much worry.   

In my past and current employment, I wear a gown, gloves and a mask for 8 hours each shift.  So wearing a mask whenever I'm outside of the house for the safety of others isn't a problem.   I don't feel safe is when I encounter people without masks.     

Some may feel this meet is not a great idea and that's okay.  Each individual can decide what the risk / comfort factor is to determine if they attend or stay home.

Last edited by Mike McCutcheon

Outdoors with required masks, keeping a distance is probably quite safe. In an area with not much disease activity. There is little evidence that coronavirus can be spread under such conditions.  As in zero evidence to date.  Obviously if you disagree,  or want to be as safe as possible, don't go.  In life we balance risk with enjoyment all the time.  Some people ride motorcycles, for example.

Last edited by Landsteiner

That's great news.  It's nice to see people not hiding and getting some fresh air.  If it were closer I'd be there if nothing to support the folks that are trying to make a living and live a normal life.  Good to see there will be the precautions in place too.  Folks that don't feel comfortable should stay home without judgement or judging others.

That being said it sounds like it will be a wonderful time.  I hope you can give us a report on how it went.  Post some pictures here too.  While York isn't looking good, it will be nice to see some smaller local meets held where the necessary precautions can be taken.  Hope nothing but the best for your meet!

Last edited by MartyE

FWIW, the following restrictions relative to public gatherings in Massachusetts are currently in force (at least as of 7-6-2020)  until further notice:

"Indoor gatherings are limited to 8 persons per 1,000 square feet of accessible, indoor floor space and never more than 25 persons in a single enclosed, indoor space.

Outdoor gatherings in enclosed, permitted or leased spaces are limited to 25% of the maximum permitted occupancy of the facility or 8 persons per 1,000 square feet  and never more than 100 persons in a single outdoor space that is enclosed, permitted or leased.

Outdoor gatherings in unenclosed spaces are not subject to capacity limitations.

The following outdoor activities are prohibited:  street festivals, agricultural festivals, walk-a-thons, road races and bike races, and other outdoor, organized athletic or recreational events that gather large numbers of participants or spectators outdoors are prohibited until further Order; provided, however, that outdoor gatherings for the purpose of political expression are not subject to this Order."

 

Last edited by Richie C.
@MartyE posted:

That's great news.  It's nice to see people not hiding and getting some fresh air.  If it were closer I'd be there if nothing to support the folks that are trying to make a living and live a normal life.  Good to see there will be the precautions in place too.  Folks that don't feel comfortable should stay home without judgement or judging others.

That being said it sounds like it will be a wonderful time.  I hope you can give us a report on how it went.  Post some pictures here too.  While York isn't looking good, it will be nice to see some smaller local meets held where the necessary precautions can be taken.  Hope nothing but the best for your meet!

Let us all pray for moderate weather with a light breeze, just enough for us to have good air flow but not blowing around the papers..

@Richie C. posted:

FWIW, the following restrictions relative to public gatherings in Massachusetts are currently in force (at least as of 7-6-2020)  until further notice:

"Indoor gatherings are limited to 8 persons per 1,000 square feet of accessible, indoor floor space and never more than 25 persons in a single enclosed, indoor space.

Outdoor gatherings in enclosed, permitted or leased spaces are limited to 25% of the maximum permitted occupancy of the facility or 8 persons per 1,000 square feet  and never more than 100 persons in a single outdoor space that is enclosed, permitted or leased.

Outdoor gatherings in unenclosed spaces are not subject to capacity limitations.

The following outdoor activities are prohibited:  street festivals, agricultural festivals, walk-a-thons, road races and bike races, and other outdoor, organized athletic or recreational events that gather large numbers of participants or spectators outdoors are prohibited until further Order; provided, however, that outdoor gatherings for the purpose of political expression are not subject to this Order."

 

The highlighted text is the key for this one.  Fortunately the pavilion has no walls and thus is open.  The Elks have already been allowed to hold a dinner with 12 well spaced tables, six people at each, which is about 25 sq. ft. per person.   That was OK'd by the local health department.

I'm planning so we 'll have comfortably less than that density.  If we get sellers who want to do tailgate or trailer sales, we'll have a canopy they can back up to.

The New England Chapter will be having a meet on Sunday, September 27th at the Hudson elks pavilion from 10 am to 2 pm.  It's enough open space to have an uncrowded and safe meet.

We'll be using pavilion style picnic benches supplemented with conventional tables, and there will be plenty of room for popup tents and shelter for trailer and tailgates sales.

We won't have the usual widespread advertising through flyers at train shows (there are none)  that brings in fathers and their kids, so attendance will be mostly those of us who are really interested in old trains.

If you are outside of New England and might consider driving here for a show, get in touch with me for more info at mlaughlinnyc@yahoo.com or call at 617-489-4383.

If you'd like to be in on conversations about the meet, join NETCA-meets@groups.io.  NETCA members who have an email address on the member list will get our official membership announcement soon.

There will be a giveaway table and a test track and operating layout for anyone to show off favorite old trains.  We'll have an ample supply of masks, gloves and hand-wipes.  

Malcolm Laughlin, Meet coordinator

Malcom:

Thanks to you and the New England Chapter for organizing this event in a manner that is both safe and compliant with applicable Covid-19 restrictions. I would love to attend, but have prior plans. I hope everyone who attends has a terrific time!

Pat 

I'm sorry to have to announce that the meet is cancelled.  the Governor changed the rules at the beginning of August and now outdoor gatherings are limited and our host won't contract for a meeting that might be more than 50.

We are having some small group meeting in parking lots at public parks.  We now have them scheduled for 9/13 and 10/11.  We're considering sites for 9/27 and 10/25.   The MA state rules now require face masks for groups of more than 10 unrelated persons, but don't local public park authorities are OK with the parking lot meet idea.

So we can't have a big buy and sell event, but we can have some show and tell sessions of our projects and sell from tailgates in the parking lots.

 

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