Many of you may have already heard that we KSONS have been tossing around the idea of hosting a convention in Louisville. At our last meeting we voted to move ahead with our plans. So this is our official announcement: The 2008 National N Scale Convention will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 25-29, 2008. We have informed our NTRAK leader, Jim FitzGerald, of our intentions. We know of no conflicts that will interfere with our plans. The material that follows explains our proposal, and we hope that many of you can come on board to make this work. We have discussed what is needed, and I have every confidence that we can work together to put on a fantastic convention. Please look over the proposal and contact me with any questions or concerns. We are ready to sign contracts, so for those clubs who have indicated that you would like to be a Financial Partner, we are ready to accept your help at this time. Thanks for your support. The KSONS look forward to your partnership in our grand endeavor. Partnership Proposal for the 2008 National N Scale Convention June 25-29, 2008 Louisville, Kentucky Hosted by The Kentuckiana Society of N Scalers, Inc. (KSONS) The KSONS are seeking clubs, organizations, and individuals to become our partners in hosting the 2008 National N Scale Convention. It is a monumental task for one organization to handle all the responsibilities of hosting a National N Scale Convention. The KSONS organization will retain the leadership role, but we will depend upon our Financial and Operational Partners to assist us in the production of the convention. While our organization is very capable and strong, we do not have all the manpower or expertise to successfully execute the convention on our own. Our partners will make the convention possible. We have been developing strong relationships with many clubs, organizations, and individuals over the past several years, and we are confident that this network of N Scale modelers will be able to cooperate to do what it takes to have a successful convention. As was shown at the recent 2005 NMRA National Train Show, we can work together with amazing success. Financial Partnership. The primary cost of hosting the convention is that of renting the convention space. The KSONS have chosen the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), a modern facility located in the heart of downtown, comprising over 300,000 square feet of Class A convention space. The KSONS have reserved Hall 2C (78,000 square feet) and eight meeting rooms. Before we can execute the contract, we are responsible for a 25% deposit. We will have a “first right of refusal” on an addition 68,000 square feet of adjacent space for a total of 145,000 square feet should we require it. Beyond the cost of the convention center, we anticipate costs for printing of promotional materials, publicity and various other deposits prior to the start of the convention. Those wishing to join our Financial Partnership may send funds in any amount to the KSONS National N Scale Convention Committee. Any seed money sent to the KSONS by our financial partners will be used to cover convention center expenses and others as they occur. It is the intention of the KSONS to return all money sent to us following the successful conclusion of the convention. If a profit is realized, a portion of that will be returned to Financial Partners as well. Operational Partnerships. The KSONS will provide the organizational leadership for the convention. We will coordinate the responsibilities assumed by others to insure that all aspects of the convention are being adequately covered. The KSONS will provide local support to our out of town partners as needed. We are asking for clubs, organizations, and individuals to take responsibility for portions of the preproduction responsibilities and operation of the show. Everything that goes into a successful convention will be open to partnering. A detailed list is being developed as to what will be needed, but we are open to suggestions. (ie: dispatching, DCC/Analog operations, layout tours, prototype tours, family events, banquets, etc.) Why Louisville? Louisville offers a wonderful location for our convention. The chosen hotel, the locally owned 4 star Galt House, has recently undergone a $50,000,000 renovation on all of it’s 1200 rooms and suites. It is located on the waterfront only two blocks from the convention center. They have offered a rate of $99 per night for our convention. A new entertainment venue, Fourth Street Live, boasts restaurants, nightclubs, live music and shopping. Attractions including the Waterfront Park, the Belle of Louisville Riverboat, the Louisville Slugger Baseball museum, the Fraiser Historical Arms Museum, the Louisville Science Museum, and the new Muhammad Ali Peace Center are all within walking distance. The Louisville Bats AAA baseball team will be playing on the river front a few blocks from the hotel. The Kentucky Railway Museum, home of a former L&N K-1 Pacific #152 and a Monon BL2, and the Old Kentucky Dinner Train, pulled by two RJ Coreman FP7’s, are only a 45 minute drive from Louisville. Also in that area are several bourbon distilleries offering tours. To the north are several wineries in Southern Indiana. Other local attractions are historic Churchill Downs, which will be running their spring meet, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, featuring several world class roller coasters, Caesars Riverboat Casino, just in case you didn’t spend enough money on trains, and great shopping and fabulous restaurants. We look forward to hearing from our N Scale colleagues in creating partnerships for the purpose of producing the 2008 National N Scale Convention. Those needing additional information or wishing to enter into partnership with the KSONS should contact Paul Downs using the information below. Paul Downs 209 Gibson Rd. Louisville KY 40207-3913 (502) 895-6578 pauldowns@insightbb.com
Hey Paul, great news, though probably too early to make travel arrangements from Germany But it will be the perfect excuse to come to Louisville! Cheers Dirk
Hey, Dirk, Are you the same Dirk I met at Chantilly? And who needs an "excuse" to travel anywhere to run trains?
Looks like a lot of work to get something like this off the ground but you guys have the organization to do it. I will keep watching and see if I can work it to make it up there with a few modules.
Russ, You had better bring them! I rode through them in Chantilly, and I want to have a chance to do it again! Here I am on your module:
Hey Paul, yes, the same Dirk. ) And of course you are right, no excuse necessary and no travel too far to see trains. I have just returned from the San Diego show and it was awesome.... Cheers Dirk
Do you have a web site yet, Paul? I'd be willing to donate server space if you acquire an appropriate domain name. I can provide the DNS as well.
Good choice of location, Paul. That's a beautiful part of the country. KSONS is a class-act organization from what I've seen from Chantilly and Cincy. I hope I get to attend this event. Good luck, and I'll see if I can contribute in some way! Adam
Well, Louisville is only a one-day ride from here. I would definitely make it. Also, anything you need done insofar as advertising, design, etc. please let me know. I'd be glad to help out however I can. Ray
Just curious... is this going to be in conjunction with the N Scale Collector's convention as per Chantilly and San Diego, or are the two going to be going their separate ways for 2008? Or is this not yet known? Unfortunately, I doubt that I'll make it in any case (limited funds and unlimited competition for them), so no vested interest one way or the other.
Jerry, Thanks for the offer to help! This is what is needed to have great conventions happen for our n scale community. We are working on how we want to approach the web site. I know that registration won't be up until about a year out so as to not confuse anyone registering for '06 or '07. Our KSONS website is very much out of date for a number of reasons, but that is currently being addressed. I'll keep you up to date on how things progress - we may very well call on your expertise.
This National N Scale Convention will combine general N Scale, NTRAK, the NSC, and World's Greatest Hobby into a single unified convention. The WGH and layouts will be housed in 146,000 square feet of Class A convention space. Clinics/contests/displays will be in the same building. We will encourage the participation of those in other scales through some non-scale specific events. There will also be other scales represented in the layouts at the WGH show. We are way ahead of the game here, and we have the help of many other great clubs from this region. I'll keep the list posted as we progress toward the show.
Ray, Thanks for your offer to help with advertising work. We are getting geared up for our PR campiagn. I'll get you in touch with the others who will be working on it. Paul
I'll enjoy coming to Louisville. It's been awhile since I've been there. Stay cool and run steam...........
146,000 square feet of N-scale? And maybe more, if there is enough demand? This could be VERY cool... I have stayed in the Galt House on several occasions, and look forward to doing so again in 2008. So, how many NTRAK modules do you anticipate/expect/hope for? Any chance of building the world's largest modular layout in L'u'ville? I can think of several people who are probably thinking: "If I can get a big enough truck, I'd be happy to bring a couple scale miles of modules..."
Combining with the WGH on Tour??? Brilliant! The one in Chantilly was in conjunction with Greenberg's show... To join in with WGH will make it a much bigger draw. Look forward to hearing more. Adam
Paul, - This sounds like a Great combination for all involved, so long as some N scale only events such as the N scale Manufacturers breakfast continues, and of course N scale 'How to' sessions, etc. Will the N scale manufacturers be 'lumped' together in a common display area? Steven S&R Models
Steven, We plan on following the "Chantilly Model" for much of the convention. Yes, all of the traditional events will be there, lot's of N Scale sessions, but we may also have some non-scale specific clinic sessions for modelers of other scales. We will have as much as 20,000 for layouts of other scales, so we might as well have some events for them as well. This is yet to be worked out, however. We will have early sales to convention delegates, and we can work with WGH to set aside an area primarily for N Scale vendors.
