I had a fairly lengthy telephone call with Eastern Division President Dan Danielson a couple of days before the October Meet. Highlights of that call follow.
Dan initially indicated that only three decisions have been made by the Eastern Division regarding the York Meets. First, the April 2020 Meet will be Friday and Saturday. (Friday and Saturday hours in the dealer and member halls will be the same as they have been under the three-day Meet schedule.) Second, there will continue to be April and October Meets each year. Third, the Eastern Division was not prepared to keep the current three-day format for a once-a-year October Meet, although that alternative was raised by a number of individuals, including myself.
Dan indicated that the Eastern Division is very interested in getting input concerning the format of future York Meets from any and all TCA members and dealers who are interested, and from all TCA Divisions, not just the Eastern Division. I belong to METCA. Dan further indicated that the Eastern Division is also reaching out to the four manufacturers, as no approach concerning future York Meets will work unless the manufacturers are all in. Dan also indicated that it is entirely possible that the Eastern Division will go back to a three-day Meet format in the future, although it might be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, rather than Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Like others, I was surprised when Dan indicated at the commencement of the Meet on Friday that the two-day format was a permanent decision, but I suspect he was just echoing the "party line" unless and until a different decision is made.)
Two final points. First, Dan indicated that the Eastern Division's principal concern is attracting more members of the public to the York Meets and then converting them to become members, as the membership in the TCA ages and continues to decline, and will not be replenished from within. They figure that the best way to get the public there is on the weekends. Second, the Eastern Division recognizes that they have to advertise the Meets better than they have in the past, and in that regard they will be working with the Worlds Greatest Hobby Show principals to develop a marketing plan. This is very encouraging, as the Eastern Division has been unwilling to engage in such efforts in the past.
