's idealMoonson posted:Richie C. posted:Moonson posted:Dennis LaGrua posted:Open events will always be in a better position to thrive than closed meets. Just about every show and event that I can name (or attend) for every purpose is open to the public. If York continues as an exclusionary event it will last a few more years, but with rapidly changing demographicsthat business model cannot survive . The objective of a business is to attract as many customers easily as possible. Somehow this message is not getting across. Ignorance can sometimes be defined as doing things the same way and expecting a different result. When Allentown, a show in two adjoining buildings (with an $8 admission) is able to attract half the audience of York, while the WGHOT show draws a higher attendance than York it seems to prove thatthere are still people out there that want to go to train shows. Why not reach them all?
I've high-lited the statements that make especially good sense to me, Dennis, and I support such a good sense approach to the TCA Meet's reality in the 21st Century.
FrankM
Except that the TCA is not a "business".
The TCA is an international non-profit organization of people who operate and collect toy trains, toy train accessories, toy train books, toy train paper, and anything else rail transport related, whose mission is basically to develop an appreciation of, preserve and promote the growth and enjoyment of collecting and operating toy, model and scale trains.
And yet, I smell money at the heart of it all. Such words as "preserve and promote the GROWTH and enjoyment of collecting..." Each of those considerations requires MONEY. No? The more the merrier, too, eh? Huh? And where does it come from in any SUSTAINED way? Less visitors/ Less hobbyists? Being unwelcoming?
So, I guess what I am suggesting is>>>>>>CHANGE what was and is to something NEW and better.
I agree that Money is at the heart of it, but I think there's a distinction between a non-profit organization needing money to sustain itself and promote it's mission versus going into business for itself.
It seems to me that the TCA has done a pretty good job for the last 60 years at sustaining itself and promoting the hobby by raising money through dues and other charitable endeavors - No ?
And why does it fall on the TCA to have to change its fundamental non-profit model, eh ? Let's not forget that York is primarily a "meet" for members all across the world to come together to enjoy the hobby. I'm sure if they start running out of Money, we'll know about it.
If none of the malcontents are willing to step up to the plate and start their own show instead of criticizing the TCA, how about the major manufacturers getting together and forming a trade association and putting on the biggest and baddest train show in the country instead of relying on a non-profitorganization to promote the hobby ?
As far as being "unwelcoming", I have no first-hand knowledge of that and am always skeptical of third-party stories I hear. Besides, I'm from Massachusetts - we're all very welcoming here ! 
