Want to attend but not in TCA

Andrew, I wont be attending this meet, but you have done the wise move posting this here, quite a few members belong and are willing to help you get in on a one time "try before you buy" deal as you may attend once without being a member! Hope you get to attend and enjoy yourself!

There is another post about how to get people into the hobby.

 

Making anything "members only" seems like the opposite to me.  

I suggest contacting the folks running the Eastern Division show about attending as a guest. Here is the contact web page. I believe they will help you.

 

 

Better yet, there is a web page specifically about guest registration.

C.W. Burfle, I saw the page about registering as a guest, but, having read everything, it appears I need a host. That page doesn't explicitly say that, but it is stated elsewhere.

I'll contact Eastern Division folks once I'm done class, but does anyone know if I can attend as a guest without a host?

On the forum in class?  Listen to the prof so some day you can afford this hobby.

I think Nancy will help you find a host (sponsor).

                         LMAO

Please research the interaction between the Eastern Division and the Pennsylvania tax authorities, and you'll understand why the York meet needs to remain "members only".

I think the only options are to join TCA (which I think you can do at the meet) or get someone to sponsor you as a guest.  I don't think they allow "unaccompanied" guests.

 

Try visiting your local train store or a club in your area.  Meet some people and explain your situation, and you'll probably find someone willing to help you.  

 

Technically, the sponsoring member is responsible for his/her guest's actions at the meet, so it's unlikely that someone will sponsor you without knowing you.

Please research the interaction between the Eastern Division and the Pennsylvania tax authorities, and you'll understand why the York meet needs to remain "members only".

How about summarizing it in a nutshell?

 

Here's my understanding from reading the info that ED has made available.  Please forgive me for any inaccuracies.

 

In the mid 80s, PA tax authorities wanted to require ALL sellers to obtain a tax number and collect/remit sales tax on all sales.  ED was able to avoid that scenario by arguing that York is a meet where members of the non-profit organization get together to swap trains.  If open to the public, this agreement would no longer be in force.

 

As a side note, TCA is wrestling with a similar situation for the trading floor at the national convention in NJ this summer.  Every tableholder needs to get a temporary sales tax ID for NJ.  Who wants to go through all that hassle?

 

Thanks, Mallard.  Agree on the worm can.

Andrew B: I would be more than happy to sponsor you. Just let me know what I have to do. I am already registered for the event. That probably doesn't effect it either way but I don't know as I've never pre-registered a guest. 

 

My email ill addy is in my profile.

You can download a guest registration form from the TCA website, or, if you still have your registration booklet, or newsletter, there are guest forms in those publications. You need the guests information, and $12 fee before March 9th, $20 after that. Send to:

Jim Kronz

Eastern Division TCA

PO Box 504 

Arnold MD 21012

Guest badges can only be picked up in the silver registration hall. Guest must have proof of ID, drivers license. Hope you can beat the deadline, and enjoy the show.

Don

OK. Sounds good. Andrew contact me offline and send me the $12 and I will register you for the meet. I would rather mail it in now because the lines are really long and I am only going for one day (Friday). No offense but there is a lot to see and I hate to waste time there standing on line.