York should still be a totally closed meet.

bigkid posted:

Joe Hohmann posted:

bigkid posted:

a car brand that only attracts 'old men' (Buick, anyone?) 

Buick also is attractive to Chinese Communists. It's the top seller in China.

The Buicks sold in China are not the same models sold here (the Envoy I believe is made there though), but that misses the point.Buick in the US is known as an old man car, its buying demographics have the typical buyer late 40s and up, and for the long term that isn't good,it is why Olds was shut down. Buick knows that,it is why its advertising leans heavily on 'this isn't your father's Buick', or you see ads featuring these young,hip urban types 'that's a Buick???'.

And the analogy is clear, you don't attract new audience you die off,you need to attract new blood in the long run.

I like old Buicks. Dad had a 1959 Electra 225 and when I was a young man I had a 1953 Super. You could work on those but today's Buicks as well as any other car built today are to complex. 

What good would come out of keeping the interested non-members or future members out of the dealer halls?  Haven't heard anything beneficial regarding what re-closing this part of the meet would achieve.  Educate me.

Come on guys, pick up the pace.  I'm looking forward to page 13 on this thread.  We can do it if we all pull together as a team. (Credit Pink Floyd)

 

How many folks ditched TCA membership at $50, plus York admission, for just paying public admission? There are other factors to consider. 

Hi there,

I did. I was a member since 1990. 

Beyond the one-time guest option, York should set the price of admission to equal the TCA annual dues, and provide a "free" one-year membership for that price.  Or maybe 1/2 dues, with a "free" 6-month membership. 

I just don't get the not-uncommon attitude of being willing to join TCA only as a way to go to York.  Other train organizations (LCCA, LOTS, NMRA) have dues that are similar to or higher than TCA (IIRC, my NMRA renewal was $75), and they offer far less in return, yet thousands of people are members of these organizations.  In addition to meets, trading forums, and publications, TCA is unique in that it enforces standards, operates a reference library, and maintains a wonderful museum that both preserves and displays a stunning array of all kinds of toy trains.  TCA maintains the historical record of our hobby - NO OTHER train organization does anything like this.  This is IMPORTANT and has VALUE.

I joined TCA 30 years ago without knowing about York.  I maintained my membership for many years when I was unable to attend York - going there is a 550 mile trip each way - and I'll maintain my membership even if I stop attending.

IMHO, people who enjoy this (or any) hobby and participate in it should pay dues to an organization that supports it.  Doing otherwise is short sighted and selfish.  

For those who don't like the way TCA is run - join up and volunteer.  Generally, being elected to a local office requires little more than getting to know a few members and volunteering for a position.

christopher N&W posted:

 

How many folks ditched TCA membership at $50, plus York admission, for just paying public admission? There are other factors to consider. 

Hi there,

I did. I was a member since 1990. 

I suspect that there is at least one more former member who did the same.

jd-train posted:

I'm sorry but some of you start from a faulty premise, and this is where it is different from some of the for-profit shows previously mentioned.  The function of the York Meet is NOT to maximize profit, it is to serve as a Meet for TCA members.  It is a function of the Eastern Division of the TCA.  I don't know why some of the gentlemen on this forum have a hard time grasping this concept.  It is rehashed over and over and over again, every six months like clockwork.

I think the Eastern Division and the TCA have embraced whatever makes sense (TO THEIR MEMBERS) to make their Meet a success.  IF the Meet shrinks in size, so be it, as that Meet serves the needs of its members.

Member halls will NEVER be open to the general public, as most Eastern Division members do NOT want this to happen. There are several reasons for this. Among them is the taxation issue, but this is not the only issue.

Dealer halls are open to the public. I think this is a great idea. If there is enough extra revenue to entice the dealers to continue to come to Meet, I think this is a win - win, as this is advantageous to the membership as well.

Regarding TCA membership, this is a members only Meet. If you want to attend (go to the member halls) you must be a TCA member. Again, I don't understand why this is a difficult concept to understand.  The ability to be a one-time guest at the meet, is also a great idea. One can be the guest of a TCA member, or of the TCA itself.  The TCA reports that there were 60 new members joining the organization at the October 2018 meet.  New members can join with a trial membership or a regular membership.

Personally, I think TCA's idea of allowing folks to be one-time guests of the TCA itself is a great idea.  I had always wanted to go to York, but being more of a scale model train operator than a collector of toy trains, had never joined the TCA. I had so much fun at the Meet this past Thursday, that I have joined the TCA.

As a new member of the TCA's Eastern Division, kudos to the Eastern Division for putting on such a fun event!  

Jim

 

 

 

Glad to have you in TCA.  

Hey Paul - You're up to three pages - that's impressive 

Interesting views from everyone!!  I would like to see the yellow hall under the grandstand comeback.  When I joined in 1982 it was nice.  Get everything back to just Friday and Saturday like it was then.   Keep the 1 time guest for the meet.  If like you like it then join the TCA.  My 2 cents.  

dorfj2 posted:

Hey Paul - You're up to three pages - that's impressive 

Hey Joe!! I'm retiring on June 21st!! 35 years and 2months!!  

Rusty Traque posted:

See this thread has shifted to Buick's (which I find the music used in the commercials very annoying,) maybe it's time for this to become a closed thread...

Rusty

No problem, Rusty! I can make that happen, and likely will in the morning. Having too much fun reading all the comments being made by so many who apparently believe they have a better way to run a train meet like the York Meet. And yet, I've never seen any individual, group, or other TCA Division give it a try.

As for me: I just want to thank the tireless and dedicated Eastern Div. volunteers who give so much time and effort to doing something for their members and, in fact, all TCA members.

I always thank Mike Petronella for another fine and fun filled York meet. And I always get a big hug from Debbie Geiser at every York. I used to supply the silver hall registration desk with all kinds of Nabisco goodies but that is in the past due to retirement.

Allan Miller posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

See this thread has shifted to Buick's (which I find the music used in the commercials very annoying,) maybe it's time for this to become a closed thread...

Rusty

No problem, Rusty! I can make that happen, and likely will in the morning. Having too much fun reading all the comments being made by so many who apparently believe they have a better way to run a train meet like the York Meet. And yet, I've never seen any individual, group, or other TCA Division give it a try.

As for me: I just want to thank the tireless and dedicated Eastern Div. volunteers who give so much time and effort to doing something for their members and, in fact, all TCA members.

Allan...no need to wait until tomorrow morning....  Many of the posts here have gone far off the original question....might as well put the thread to sleep...DONE!