The banquet that closed the 54th TCA National Convention held a few surprises. One was National President Chris Allen asking me to stand to acknowledge my ten years as your Operations Manager.
It is difficult to believe that I have been doing this for ten years. When I look back, the first thing that comes to my mind is all people I have met during that time. With a very few exceptions, who will go unnamed, a bunch of very nice people. So as to not forget anyone, I will not "name names" but I want to thank all those who offered advice on various issues, offered to help on others or just dropped me a letter, E-mail or telephone call to say hello. I appreciate all of it.
Perhaps the thing I love (and that is not too strong a word) about being your Operations Manager is that this job actually let me discover what I am good at and like most. That is being able to do something or help someone and not have a big deal made out of it. Because of my position I am thrust into the limelight far too often. I would avoid that f I could.
The second surprise came during the distribution of the table prizes. This year NETCA used a Wheel of Fortune format where a spinning wheel determined the winners. On the first spin for the banquet car (a highly desirable item) the winner turned out to be me. But hold there a minute. Someone decided that the pointer had actually stopped between two different numbers. It took several spins to determine the winner. The car went to the person to my left, Quarterly Editor Mark Boyd. A subsequent spin saw me win one of the other two cars on the table. I promptly donated it to the grandfather sitting to my left so he could give it to his granddaughter. We need to get kids interested in trains you know.
Later, I took up President Allen on his open invitation to his suite following the banquet. After talking to a number of members I ended a long day. My plan was to get on the road in time to catch the 0600 ferry from Charlotte, Vermont to Essex, New York. I dropped off to sleep hoping the trip home would be less arduous than the one I had getting here.
30 June 2008
28 June 2008
Smiling Faces
Friday and Saturday of the National Convention sees more tours to various parts of the area of the convention. The trading pits, the public display area and the Kids Club room all open at 0900 on Friday morning. When this happens children become very much in evidence.
Now understand, I do not have any children and, being unmarried I do not anticipate having any, especially at my age. This means that raising children is very much a foreign concept to me but I do know happy children when I see them.
Believe me if you walk through the public display area or the Kids Club Room you WILL see happy children. Seeing the look on their faces when they see the operating layouts will dispel any doubt about a lack of interest in trains.
For me, Friday and Saturday are the best part of the convention. The arduous work of the Board of Directors Meeting is over. This is a time to chill a bit and talk to individual members and their families.
At my first convention in Providence RI in 1998, the two days at the end of the convention was my first indication of just how many really friendly and helpful people there are in TCA. Talking to those people and seeing the look on those kids faces when they see those trains makes all the meetings and long hours worth it.
Now understand, I do not have any children and, being unmarried I do not anticipate having any, especially at my age. This means that raising children is very much a foreign concept to me but I do know happy children when I see them.
Believe me if you walk through the public display area or the Kids Club Room you WILL see happy children. Seeing the look on their faces when they see the operating layouts will dispel any doubt about a lack of interest in trains.
For me, Friday and Saturday are the best part of the convention. The arduous work of the Board of Directors Meeting is over. This is a time to chill a bit and talk to individual members and their families.
At my first convention in Providence RI in 1998, the two days at the end of the convention was my first indication of just how many really friendly and helpful people there are in TCA. Talking to those people and seeing the look on those kids faces when they see those trains makes all the meetings and long hours worth it.
27 June 2008
Board of Directors Meeting
While most of the folks at the Convention were having breakfast or boarding buses for one of the many Convention trips, Wednesday morning found your Board of Directors getting a course in parliamentary procedures prior to the beginning of their meeting.
The Board meeting is a two day affair that, among other things, considers motions that change operating policy, adjusts finances, listens to membership complaints, approves convention cars and accepts nominations of candidates standing for election. With the exception of the membership complaint process, all of this is open to any member attending the convention.
The Board meeting is a two day affair that, among other things, considers motions that change operating policy, adjusts finances, listens to membership complaints, approves convention cars and accepts nominations of candidates standing for election. With the exception of the membership complaint process, all of this is open to any member attending the convention.
25 June 2008
Getting There Is NOT Always Fun
I like to drive. Some say I drive a bit faster than I should. It is a family trait. I hesitate to use the word "flaw" because I do not see it that way. But I digress.
On Tuesday 24 June I took to the road to Burlington, VT. Based upon my calculations, I believed leaving at 0600 hours would get me to Burlington no later than 1400 hours, probably sooner.
Unfortunately, I did not consider "Rush Hour." I hit rush hour in Lancaster, Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, PA. Then came the "Mother of All Rush Hours:" New York City. I crossed into New Jersey and picked up I-287. Traffic had already been bumper to bumper since shortly after crossing the Delaware River. After a few miles it was crawling at 10 mph and then just stopped. It was stopped for 20 minutes. I was not happy.
Finally, it began to move but very slowly. There was another stoppage that latest about 5 minutes. Once again traffic began to move. A few minutes later flashing lights began to come into view. I saw the reason for the long delay. A car had caught fire and now it sat along side the road burned to a crisp. It was fairly large and a total loss.
As I moved farther north traffic began to thin out and then began to get heavier going the other way. This was a sure sign I was around "The City" as we called it when I was in the photo/video business. The pace picked up.
Hours later I was approaching the Charlotte-Essex Ferry. Fate intervened. A crucial sign indicating a turn to get to the ferry slip was missing. I sailed past the intersection. Several miles later (I had some great views of Lake Champlain) two things happened almost simultaneously. One was the realization that I had missed a turn or two to get to the ferry. The other was seeing that the Low Fuel light was lit.
As this car does not have a display that indicates how many miles you can go until "Empty" I have learned how to do some quick calculations. The odometer tracks two individual trips and I always use one of them to record mileage from my last fill up. I did some quick math and realized that I did not have enough gas to make it to Burlington. Now, I was looking for a gas station. The ferry slip could wait.
As luck would have it, I managed to find the most expensive gas around ($4.439 a gallon). Following that, I found the ferry and the rest of the trip was uneventful. While it took far longer than expected, I was finally in Burlington and quickly remembered why I like going to TCA events: I began to see TCA members that I had not seen in a long time.
On Tuesday 24 June I took to the road to Burlington, VT. Based upon my calculations, I believed leaving at 0600 hours would get me to Burlington no later than 1400 hours, probably sooner.
Unfortunately, I did not consider "Rush Hour." I hit rush hour in Lancaster, Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, PA. Then came the "Mother of All Rush Hours:" New York City. I crossed into New Jersey and picked up I-287. Traffic had already been bumper to bumper since shortly after crossing the Delaware River. After a few miles it was crawling at 10 mph and then just stopped. It was stopped for 20 minutes. I was not happy.
Finally, it began to move but very slowly. There was another stoppage that latest about 5 minutes. Once again traffic began to move. A few minutes later flashing lights began to come into view. I saw the reason for the long delay. A car had caught fire and now it sat along side the road burned to a crisp. It was fairly large and a total loss.
As I moved farther north traffic began to thin out and then began to get heavier going the other way. This was a sure sign I was around "The City" as we called it when I was in the photo/video business. The pace picked up.
Hours later I was approaching the Charlotte-Essex Ferry. Fate intervened. A crucial sign indicating a turn to get to the ferry slip was missing. I sailed past the intersection. Several miles later (I had some great views of Lake Champlain) two things happened almost simultaneously. One was the realization that I had missed a turn or two to get to the ferry. The other was seeing that the Low Fuel light was lit.
As this car does not have a display that indicates how many miles you can go until "Empty" I have learned how to do some quick calculations. The odometer tracks two individual trips and I always use one of them to record mileage from my last fill up. I did some quick math and realized that I did not have enough gas to make it to Burlington. Now, I was looking for a gas station. The ferry slip could wait.
As luck would have it, I managed to find the most expensive gas around ($4.439 a gallon). Following that, I found the ferry and the rest of the trip was uneventful. While it took far longer than expected, I was finally in Burlington and quickly remembered why I like going to TCA events: I began to see TCA members that I had not seen in a long time.
20 June 2008
Convention Bound
In just a few days I will be driving to Burlington, Vermont to participate in the 54th TCA National Convention. As is usually the case, the Board of Directors will meet on Wednesday and Thursday and that will occupy a large portion of my time.
My other convention activities include attending the Welcome Party and helping to staff the National information table near the entrance to the public exhibits on Friday and Saturday. I am hoping that many of you will stop by to say hello during the convention.
A very long time ago, I lived in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. At that time I worked for a well-known snack food manufacturer. I always found New England to be a great place to live and work. Almost without exception, everyone I met was friendly and helpful. While I have not visited there for many years I am not expecting that to be different.
My other convention activities include attending the Welcome Party and helping to staff the National information table near the entrance to the public exhibits on Friday and Saturday. I am hoping that many of you will stop by to say hello during the convention.
A very long time ago, I lived in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. At that time I worked for a well-known snack food manufacturer. I always found New England to be a great place to live and work. Almost without exception, everyone I met was friendly and helpful. While I have not visited there for many years I am not expecting that to be different.
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