Ken,
For those of you not familiar with the Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA), the LCCA is a not for profit, volunteer organization with thousands of men, women and children who have an interest in Lionel trains. Founded in 1970 by Jim Gates of Perry IA, LCCA members live all around the world, but predominantly in the United States. The purpose of the club is to promote and foster an interest in Lionel trains specifically and toy trains in general and have fun while doing it. If you have an interest in Lionel Trains, this club is a fun organization to belong to. We provide our members with award winning Publications and Website www.lionelcollectors.org, Facebook accounts as well as an opportunity to purchase limited edition LCCA train products made by Lionel exclusively for our members.
Our Premier publication, "The Lion Roars" featuring all original articles written by our fellow members
is mailed to your home 5 times a year. No matter what era of Lionel Trains or area of interest you have, this publication is well balanced. Our members share their personal stories and experience about the hobby, layouts, human interest stories, prewar, post war and modern toy trains, as well as articles intended for our Junior Members. Everyone has one good personal story to tell about themselves and their trains. So, join the club and submit your article for possible publication or listing on our website.
We also have a buy/sell/Swap toy train publication, "The Interchange Track" that our members receive 4 times a year in the mail. In addition, our members have private access to the E-track web based buy/sell/trade section in the Members Only Section of our website. Members can buy, sell and trade 24 hours/day, 7days/week, 365 days per year with thousands of members from all over the country.
Our award winning website www.lionelcollectors.org is our best communication tool that keeps our members up to date with the most current club information. Frequent videos regarding toy related topics, news from Lionel and club business are posted regularly on this site. In our video gallery section of our website, we have posted hundreds of original and exclusive LCCA production video clips on YouTube. Because of our close and special relationship with Lionel, we are able to video record new Lionel products under development, and share them with our members and guests who visit our website throughout the entire year. We have posted several video interviews with Lionel 's CEO Jerry Calabrese on our website. We recommend you designate www.lionelcollectors.org as one of your favorite sites; so you can easily access the most current information regarding club news and announcements.
The LCCA host exciting and well attended annual toy train conventions in different cities all around the country every year in July. This past July we celebrated our 42nd annual convention at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Norfiolk VA, Stay tuned for specific information regarding our upcoming 43rd Annual Convention to be held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel in Chatanooga TN (July 14-20,2013) by going go to our Convention Page in the club's website sometime in December of this year. We will be posting tour and schedule of activities at that time.
Lionel fully supports our annual conventions by bringing their expansive operating layout and display which was designed and built by TW Design of Dallas TX. Every year, Lionel representatives attend our Conventions, host a two hour Lionel Seminar, conduct interactive clinics and live demonstrations. Our members have an opportunity to learn about upcoming product and Lionel's future plans during this seminar.
We recognize that every member can not attend our annual conventions every year, so the LCCA Board of Directors have created a Special Events program with family oriented, fun, toy train related events being held in various cities all around the country throughout the year. This is part of LCCA President Dennis DeVito's plan to reach out and have contact with over 2200 LCCA members and families each year. Lionel sends representatives to support many of these LCCA Special Events. For more information about these fun filled, family oriented activities go to our special events page on this website www.lionelcollectors.org
In addition, because of our special relationship with Lionel, we are able to provide our members with the opportunity to order and purchase, specially designed, limited edition, and collectible LCCA train products. Every year, we offer a unique, specially designed Annual convention car produced by Lionel. To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the great train chase of the Civil war, the LCCA commissioned Lionel to produce a pair of commemorative General steam locomotive engines and tenders. In 2012 we introduced the Texas "Tommy" Special train set as well as a desirable Diamond mint car. Lionel makes these limited edition, unique products exclusively for LCCA members. For information regarding our most recent product offerings, go to the "LCCA store" section or product development section on our website.
Frequently, we offer our members discounted prices on certain select Lionel catalogued items. In many cases, the savings achieved on the purchase of one train item will exceed the cost of a one year membership. In essence, you can purchase a train and have a free one year membership.
Most recently we have developed a national standard with Lionel for Lionel's FasTrack Modular railroad system. We hope this modular concept helps introduce people into the hobby. If people don't have enough space, time or money to have their own fully operating toy train layout, then this module concept may be the answer they are looking for. For mor information about this modular concept, go to the "FasTrack Modular"page on our website www.lionelcollectors.orgMost recently we have developed a national standard with Lionel for Lionel's FasTrack Modular railroad system. We hope this modular concept helps introduce people into the hobby. If people don't have enough space, time or money to have their own fully operating toy train layout, then this module concept may be the answer they are looking for. For mor information about this modular concept, go to the "FasTrack Modular"page on our website www.lionelcollectors.org
There are so many reasons and membership benefits for belonging to the Lionel Collectors Club of America. So why not treat yourself and join the club. We have two membership categories, Regular Member and Junior Member. Regular Members are 18 years old and older and are allowed to vote for our LCCA volunteer elections. For those of you under the age of 18 years, we have a Junior Membership. If you have a friend or loved one who has in interest in Lionel Trains, you can even give them a one a one year gift membership into the LCCA? Try it for a year, we know you will like it. Join the club today and become part of "The Best Toy Train Club on the Planet!". If you have any questions or need more information please contact me at 248-709-4137 or agkolis@comcast.net
Al K.
