2014 National Z Scale Convention cancelled

RobertAllbritton Sep 24, 2013

  1. minzemaennchen

    minzemaennchen TrainBoard Member

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    John and Lajos got it right, it's a business decision and therefore I doubt it has anything to do in which place the convention was planned to happen or any other place.
    We all witnessed the dwindling engagement of MTL in Z in the past years, is that not the answer? No investment in the first place doesn't require a ROI calculation...... just my 2 cents
     
  2. ModelWarships

    ModelWarships TrainBoard Member

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    Sorry about that, I saw the name in your post and didn't notice it was a quote. However my comments were in response to yours. Particularly the Podunk remark. If anyone is going to call KC that, it should be those of us who live and work in the area.


    I hope that wasn't another reference to this being a cow town.

    I am sorry the funds were not there to do a convention next year. Hopefully someone else will pick up the ball and run with it. If anyone does want to hold a convention in the KC area, I will do my best to help make it happen.

    To expand Z to greater numbers, your going to have to hold your conventions on both coasts and sometimes in the middle to give all a chance to attend. That means that some of you are going to have to travel further for the good of the hobby.
     
  3. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

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    There is a fairly simple solution. Z-scale is fairly well represented at the NMRA National Conventions. Work with the NMRA, have a few Z-scale workshops, clinics, try to place Z-scale manufacturers close to the Z-bend modular displays, etc... Sacramento was an example, that could be easily converted to a little Z-scale convention on the side.
     
  4. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ah, now that's where politics could easily rear its ugly head.
     
  5. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

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    Actually the NMRA was very respectful to Z-scalers at both, the Anaheim and the Sacramento conventions. I was there.
     
  6. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    Maybe I Missed it but,---- Has their bin a official announcement as to the actual reason the convention was canceled? or Are we all just Guessing?
     
  7. zscaler

    zscaler TrainBoard Member

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    I have an idea. Someone picks a town and rent a hall (or even a church) for three days. We set up trains on the first day and run trains all three days. Or a person could just do one day.
    No excursions. People could volunteer to do a talk on a subject. NO Banquet needed (FFY Fend For Yourself). No awards ceremony.

    We get together and have fun!

    A couple of months/weeks later another town is picked. Another hall rented. Run trains for three days.

    repeat....

    A person could go to every show if they wanted.

    The local Z-scalers help run each show. Local hobby shops or other local sponsors could be found.

    Five or more shows could happen every year. Those who want to attend can. Different parts of the country can let everyone do a show.

    Just thinking....:cool:
     
  8. zscaler

    zscaler TrainBoard Member

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    When the Denver show was going on, I wanted to run trains more than I had an option to do.

    Running trains should be the main thing. Having fun too.
     
  9. Don A

    Don A TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've been to the last 8 or 9 NMRA/NTS shows including Anaheim. Sacramento, Milwaukee, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Hartford, Grand Rapids. In addition Chantilly, Houston, Springfield and the BIG N-Scale convention in Louisville a couple of years ago. All of these have been with Mr Dave George's Z Scale award winning layout. Dave was asked to bring his Z Layout to the Louisville N Scale convention. The N Scale group went out of their way to see if we needed anything. Of all the other cities on the list, that never happened previously. It seems impossible to get anyone from Kalmbach to get interested [except once, and that is a loooong story] that goes back long before Z was on the horizon. This year ZTrack did a nice story on Dave's layout, but I think it is one of the first stories. I don't disagree that NMRA was not respectful, but in practicality they just ignore us -- OTOH I'm not sure what we could ask for.

    ZTrack is about the only one that knows where the Z Scale folks are. OTOH I just ran into a nice ZScale layout in New York that does not subscribe - so that means it is not on Rob's list. Maybe Rob will print a map some day with location of Z-Folks depicted by dots. From there you might be able to draft some potential locations for get-to-togethers.

    In order to get a good convention you need a number of people to work and put a package together. We often complain that nothing is written about us, but it appears no one wants to do the work to write a story. Rob Allbritton got a nice writeup a few years ago, so it is possible - especially with some of the suburb layouts out there.

    Bottom line -- WE have to do some hard work.

    ...don
     
  10. ModelWarships

    ModelWarships TrainBoard Member

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    Perhaps if the clubs could get organized enough, we could have regional conventions. Build up the local areas and then get more national about it. I understand the population density on the coasts means more attendees there, but I bet if you put on a good show, you will draw out the sponsors too. Not everyone will be able to attend every convention, but your going to have to have an independent organization to do it fairly.
     
  11. tjdreams

    tjdreams TrainBoard Member

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    Actually that's not a bad idea and it could work, - - - - Providing you can
    - - 1 find enough people who will not only say they will help but actually show up and help
    - - 2 find a hall to rent for a reasonable cost
    - - 3 find some one or a organization to foot the bill for the Insurance (it's expensive to say the least)

    I don't mean to sound derogatory or negative But I do have some experience in this area.

    I belonged to one club that put on shows twice a year. (not train Related) For 5 years In addition to being Chief of Security, I was in charge of getting all supplies to and from the show Hall + getting everything setup & tore down then cleaning the Hall afterwards. I also set on the Board of Directors of another club for 7 years and was involved with the planning and setup of several events every year.
    And I can tell you first hand Most people don't realize the amount of time, effort and fanatical commitment that goes into setting something like this up.


    Not to say it can't be done, Because with a the right group of dedicated people it can be done quite successfully.

    David
     
  12. jim29t

    jim29t TrainBoard Member

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    It was done in Columbus in 2005. Rob Kluz did a great job. He expects to have a significant prescence in Cleveland next year at the NMRA train show.
    It looks like it is up to Rob and Rob to do it all over again. Don't gripe, just shift gears and let's move on. Jim
     
  13. cape.gauge

    cape.gauge TrainBoard Member

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    That is not the way to encourage people to ship their layout out of town.
     
  14. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, so what do we do, just ignore what happened? While it is most certainly a rare occurance, anyone who ships a layout (or anything else) must realize this is an ever-present a risk. If anything, hopefully my experience will help others by reminding them of the possibility, so they'll work to avoid a similar catastrophe.
     
  15. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Catastrophes happen in shipping. I'd been shipping my architectural models for 20 years and lately my ships without incident, but my first one to Australia arrived looking like it had passed through the jet engine of the plane on its way overseas. Postal inspectors looked at the packaging and agreed it was very securely packaged, and something dastardly had happened to it along the way. It was insured (whew!)--but it took six months to recover the funds. The customer was crushed too, as he had waited a long time. The fact is, you just never know. I can't imagine what could have happened to that package to cause such damage, yet it happened! This was a custom cut styrofoam cradle, reinforced with custom cut stout cardboard in three layers. I design the ships on a computer; it's easy to design the packaging to enclose it securely. It arrived looking like it had been stabbed by a forklift blade, then run over by the forklift, than fed into a jet engine.
     
  16. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well Pete, what do you expect when the companies hire retarded gorillas to do the heavy lifting?
     
  17. emaley

    emaley TrainBoard Supporter

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    They have a special crusher just for packages labeled "Fragile". The USPS uses the same model for anything from a Hobby shop or train vendor.
     
  18. animek

    animek TrainBoard Member

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    This undoubtedly brings up this video, what will surely become a clasic.
    At 1.12 = hilarious

    [video=youtube;tPzRPga6uDg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPzRPga6uDg[/video]

    Ben
     

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