Bill (and anyone driving up from ZoCal) are welcome to 'pit stop' here in the SF Bay Area or crash a night or so at my place to check out our local BAZ BoyZ habitat. For my political statement, I could care less who is hosting the 'party'. Let's all get together and have fun. It is great that someone is stepping up to form any type of vocalization for the Z scale community, even if it is initialy underwritten by a company. We need this type of presence to continue what other scales have already implemented and usualy offset the dates of the NMRA annaul meets, thus increasing our exposure. Their certainly is more than one Z scale manufacturer that will be there and there will be more each and every year as we, the Z scale community continue to evolve. Especially with the hole that Märklin has dug. It is a great sunny day here, my 12 minutes on the computer are up. Call my mobile if you need me .
No Bill, pie we got, but roaming the streets with Z guys like Robert could be interesting. I'm not sure how loitering is defined in this town?
i've been thinking about his National Z Scale Convention discussion and all the point-counterpoint of the various opinions. i've been into Z for about 3 years now, i think, but whatever conventions were held or attempted in the past were before my time. NTS in Anaheim in June 2008 was my first real taste of attending a great gathering of Z folk. i really liked it. now MTL wants to get something on track for successive years. it doesn't matter to me whether AZL did this, or MTL, or the BAZ boys, or whomever -- just that there is an initiative to keep Z on the front burner year after year is a positive thing. i hope all the vendors and suppliers are there. i hope new manufacturers will emerge and participate too (even if they come just to scout out the possibilities of their own involvement). when you think about it, why should MTL do this? i'm sure it keeps Z going, and that translates into product sales, so maybe it's just part of doing business. but to pour some real money into the event, and not just skim the cream of the sales, is a positive twist! it seems like they really like us -- we who model Z scale and buy their stuff. maybe they see real hope for the future of Z because of the people who are getting into it. maybe joe has lobbied the mucky-mucks at MTL to take company involvement to a new level. i don't know. but it feels good to have something going and growing, when so much of the news in the world is how things are winding down and falling apart. i think if joe, or MTL, had simply called it "the first in a NEW succession of annual Z scale conventions" everyone would have gotten the point without feeling the need to dispute it. i like new beginnings, and re-beginnings. so whether this is the 2nd "first" or the fourth or fifth "first Z scale convention" -- it's a first for me, and the first of a long succession of Z scale gathers, i hope. we all have more to gain than to lose? i'd like to think this is the first step to a scale wide, manufacturer wide, effort to bring Z folks together. so that's my 2 cents on this discussion. dave f.
Beautifully stated Dave. I stand with Dave and hope to see as many of you guys as possible, in Medford, Oregon. I can't wait! Bill Mock
Dave, that was more like 25 cents worth and well worth it. About the only thing I can think of that will be missing that NTS 2005 had will be the actual train show. True, that was a big part of it and it sure was great to see all those modules put together. The excitement was high and the entire week's events was well worth the experience. Rob's convention before the NTS train show was the greatest with lots to see and do and fun was had by all. That was the first time for me to get to meet so many of the very well known names in Z scale at that time. Now there are many more who want to meet and greet other unseen names we all visit with each day on the forums and PMs. I was the very fortunate show attendee that was hosted by Don and Judy Avila several days prior to the conventiion and NTS. After a week of visiting, train shows and travel I flew home emotionally and physically spent,.......but the 'glow' lasted for a long long time. That is what we should all be after......the 'glow' that you experience from a gathering of some of the best Z folks you would ever want to meet. And who knows, we just might learn something too? Never can tell? If ever there was a time to venture out and see some of Oregon and have lots of fun with Z scale, now is the time. It's being built, so you better come.
1% chance? Boy... I'd really like to make this. But... from my location and financial situation, I can't justify making the trip for only this reason. IF by any chance I have any other requirement to be in the U.S. around this time... I'll add it to the trip. But... being I haven't traveled to the U.S. in more than 3 years for any reason, I seriously doubt I'm going to be able to make it. I am still interested in joining any newly formed national (or international) Z organization or society, especially if special imprint cars are made available to all members, not just attendees.
This sounds like a whole lotta fun I am likely to miss as it is so far away from me but I am sure those in the west will make if memorable to say the least and take lots of photos. I will make Milwaukee with Mister Dave but school is still in session that weekend and it is a long train ride there and back and You still have to find away to get from train to Medford and the Rogue River Valley. Don't think I have enough airline miles left for a flight the far either. Oh well I can dream cheerz Garth
Lets see, Winnipeg to Medford, United Airlines Xpress 731.00 round trip X 2.....................plus Hotels, car rental, meals, buying of goodies............ Could be done. Goodbye Florida winter Holiday??????????????????????????????
The good news is all that want to be included in the fun we will be having, have 8 months to budget the time and funds. I would whole heartedly suggest taking out a loan, THEN quitting your job to make sure you had the money and free time to attend! ...That's what I would do? haha!
I find it funny (that's funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha) that one of our most frequent posters, someone who writes about every itch and twich of his company, and the distributer of a major Z Scale line has chosen to remain silent about the up coming convention in Medford. Just an observation. ---Steve from the other Phoenix
If you are referring to Rob Kluz, he is on vacation on an island in Lake Erie which has limited internet connectivity.
Well those of you that can't make next year's soon-to-be-annual event, need only wait another until 2011. Then you will need double the excuse as July 2011 will be NTS in Sacramento (ya, der Govenator State) so you'll be more than close enough then ! .
Man, all my vacation time is going to be taken up for the next two years! But I'm not complaining. ;-)
I have enjoyed all the conventions I have attended. Seeing the different modules. meeting all the great z people and even breaking bread with them. I have many fond memories. My brother lives in Medford, but even that does not make it possible to attend any more conventions. My wife and I have our health problems which limit our travels. I will be thinking of all of you as you participate in these coming conventions. I would dearly love to be with you all; meet old friends and meet new people. Good luck to all. Jim Thomas
I've never, ever...given anyone, ever, a cold shoulder at a show. Ever. Don't confuse being busy, or tired or distracted after flying thousands of miles, working on little sleep for weeks or dealing with a booth full of people...a cold shoulder. I give 150% at work every day, and I give 150% to my customers and friends (and family most of all). I don't ignore people and I'm not playing into a manufactured "feud" being used as an attempt by some to torpedo this before it has a chance to get off the ground. Read my post again. All we are doing is giving it a kick start...if you want to run the thing, step up and take over...please....but it sounds like you are busy...which seems to be everyones problem...and that's why we decided to do the heavy lifting and get it going. I'm sorry Tim, I am just getting really tired of MTL being the bad guy all the time...No matter what we do, we are wrong or are up to something or want to hurt someone. We do things too fast or too slow... Walk a few feet in my shoes at work one day and I think you'll see what motivates us to do what we do. I've worked for nothing but Fortune 500 companies before I joined MTL and not one of them...including the Mouse House showed more concern and respect for it's employees and families than they do here. We don't sit around trying to figure out ways to screw Rob or AZL or Harold, or you, we make decisions that keep the doors open and our families fed, like you do... nothing more. Joe
