IMHO, if a group or club brings a layout for the benefit of the convention, they should not be required to register. Example: when the TVRM hosted its 'Railfest' last year, the Coosa Valley Model Railroad Club was asked if they would bring the N Scale layout for display. ALL club members were given free passes for ALL activities. We were also given the museums members discount rate for a very nice local motel close by. The clubs are the ones giving of their time and expenses to come for the convention to make it a better show, and they should not be required to pay additional expenses for reason they are not going there for. (I will use the auctions as an example.) It takes alot of work to move, set-up, operate, and tear down a layout. Not to mention the moneys spent to bring it there. There should be no 'penalties' for coming. Now there does need to be a understanding of who or what is coming so 10 clubs dont just show up and no space to set up all of them. But that shouldnt be too hard to cordinate if the right people were doing it.
I totally agree. We as a club were asked to attend the show. My club is in the Seattle area and is a 3+ hr drive if you drive like I do, pushing the speed limit. With that being said, I felt bummed that I would have been FORCED to pay the registration fee to attend anything above and beyond the show that was open to the public ONLY on Saturday. I can't remeber what the fee was but I think it was something like $45. Plus I had the expense of gas, and traveling, plus food and 2 night in the hotel where the convention was being held which if I rember right was like $125 a night. It all added up quickly and then to expect me to pay the registration fee JUST to attend a layout tour? COME ON! Dont get me wrong, I understand that people on here are more than likely going to pipe in and feel that I was wanting to "crashing" their convention since I wasn't willing to pay the registration fee and I get that, IF and ONLY IF one would plan on attending the events WITHOUT being a part of a group that was ASKED to attend the convention. I hope that all makes sense. Ryan
Perhaps things will change in the future but starting at the convention in Portland when the Houston Committee first met with the NSC officers and all during the following year till the following convention, we tried to get them to accommodate the layout people. We tried to get the "Layout Wranglers" special passes and name tags to identify them so they could have access to the train show only for set up and operations. They would not budge. No pay, no play. There were enough members who attended and brought modules to put together a moderate layout in the end but there were a lot of folks very upset about the way things were handled. Not a good way to attract new members or represent the scale IMHO.
If I recall correctly, when I was in the NMRA, non members were required to obtain a temporary membership (six months?) to attend the convention. It is, after all, an NMRA convention. The public show was almost a separate event, on the last days of the convention. My only recollection is that those involved in layout displays were given a pass to the show. I could be wrong, it was many years ago, and rules could have varied from show to show, as local units managed the convention. I thought the NMRA had real management problems, which is why I left. Sounds a shakeup at the NCE may be necessary. Or perhaps removing them from the picture entirely. But who would manage it then? Train shows are not a big profit center, and very labor and management intensive.
Dont get me wrong, I like being a member of the NSE and I love going to shows. I just think that the more layouts there are in N Scale at an N Scale Convention can only benefit the convention and the hobby. A family vacation with the convention included is not going to attract young modelers to n scale if all they see is guys paying hundreds of dollars for a boxcar at an auction. Now, put them in front of a nice NTrak layout with 100 car trains running around and see what happens.
This thread is stirring up a lot of ill feelings. I'm not saying they're wrong, good points are coming in all over the place. What I don't understand is if a club is traveling & was asked to come, how can they charge you anything? If NSC/NSE has enough money for all the top people to go, why are so cheap & force people they want there to pay for the previledge to set up & operate. GREED? It still costs $$$$ to travel, lets face it, gas isn't cheap, plus hotels. They're putting out a lot of money to help make the convention better. I've been to 3 conventions & to me one of the best parts is the on site layouts. Of course being with great friends is the best. Maintaining friendships after the convention is the ultimate.Making new friends is also a big part. I hope things will be better in Milwalkee than what I've heard happened in Medford. If all goes well, I'll be there. I'd hate to drive out there & be disappointed. Money's tight for most people. Members look forward to this time of year. They plan their vacations around the convention. If the convention continues to be so-so, they'll be coming to a stop. All for alittle greed. If that happens, I will always be gratful for the friends I've made. BTW, I do agree with Kenny, JD, cwwrman & Russ.
Greg, UNW Ntrak was asked by Dean to bring our layout down to the convention. The only problem was that after my run-in Dick Ollendorf in Portland, I'd be reluctant to do anything for that SOB. The other problem was that with Susan's schedule of just coming back from work-related convention in Indy and my health issues just didn't allow for to attend the convention anyway. Besides, the NSC generally looks down on Ntrak layouts, except to provide entertainment. Al Evans
THe primary reason for that is because of insurance, believe it or not! Back in the 1980's when NS was running their excursion program, there was a club out of Cincinnati, Ohio that would do the same thing when you bought a ticket on one their excursions.
Back out from under my rock..... First of all, let me apologize to those that attended the convention, had a good time, and shared their experience and information for those of us that could not attend. Big thanks to John S and others for posting pictures and links, etc. I really appreciate it, as do many others, and I did not mean to hijack a good thread. I spoke out of frustration and I would like to start a new thread to share my thoughts and opinions, as I can see by the replies, that many others share the feelings... Back to our regularly scheduled topic. !
Thanks to everyone who went and posted about it. I really enjoyed John's photos. My favorite part of these conventions in the past has been the unplanned BS sessions that spontaneously erupt in someone's hotel room until late at night. Folks dragging in more chairs from down the hall, sitting on the floor, standing in the corners and just talking. On to Milwaukee.
I think that is the right approach. I am looking forward to visiting Milwaukee next year, and it is a chance for N scale to put its best out in front of MR and Walthers. All the N scale groups should find a way to work together to blow their minds and show them what N scale has for potential!
Look for Walther's (Life-Like) to have something 'special' to offer N Scalers in their own back yard next year. My opinion is Walther's has done very little NEW with the old LL line. This would be their chance provide something 'Really New'!!!! Just a guess and opinion!!!!!
The Z modules were equal to or better than many N-trak modules that you typically see. Z's size allows for more complex track arrangements and is not as rigid as N-trak. The best modules were the ones brought by Robert Ray just for the sheer amount of detail on them. Having Z at a N scale could be considered odd however there was a Z layout at the 2009 Portland convention and I consider the Z presence as more as a MTL tie-in since they are one of the biggest forces in Z today. Peter
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51133738@N02/ The Z Scale starts on page 3 entitled Medfor_Z... This is the general order of the stream: 1. Medford NSE Model Contest 2. Medford Railroad Park and HO club layout 3. Medford NSE Z Scale layout 4. Medford NSE N Scale Layout 5. Medford Train Mountain 6. Medford Area Research-CORP, Yreka Western, items of interest
If you go to the NSE site, the have the winners up from the modeling contest. I think it's funny if you look at the diesel winners 1st place is a UP United Way which is a nice looking unit but it's not a snoot. How does this win when it is not correct??? Just my 2 cents. Congrats to all the winners!!!
Greetings, I am a member of an N scale club here in Milwaukee. We are discussing the NSE Convention in 2013. I have enjoyed reading this thread and hearing all of the talk. I have never attended an NSE Convention. However with Milwaukee hosting the NMRA Convention in 2010 I have some idea of what can happen when hosting a National Convention. Please feel free to send my an email, rather than post here for what things might "blow your minds" next year in Milwaukee. Also if you have any questions about things to do here. No its not cold all of the time and snowing. But we do have Harleys, Beer and Brats. Let me know Keith kschmidt626@hotmail.com
