I haven't seen anything to indicate whether York will be open to non-TCA members, Has anything been said and, if so, where do non-TCA members pay admission?
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Why don't you just join TCA.
I joined the TCA a few years ago. The jury is out on whether I will stay with the TCA. I've been to three York meets, one being a large scale show about ten years ago. Personally, I don't see where membership really means that much. That said, I do like reading the newsletter from my local chapter and the glossy printed one from the National. The other periodical that is thicker with all the meeting minutes, member roster and other non-essential information, to me, seems like a waste of postage.
I haven't seen where displaying my badge at any meets, TCA or not, has given me any sort of advantage, whether buying or selling.
Eddie G: I just non-renewed my membership. I can't see spending $100/year for 2 train shows, IF, I am even able to get to York twice a year. I am an operator not a collector. And, quite frankly, my layout is now overcrowded and I need nothing that I could only get at York.
The map of the fairgrounds in the April 2020 brochure shows the orange, purple, and black halls "open to the public". Seems pretty clear to me.
RJR posted:I haven't seen anything to indicate whether York will be open to non-TCA members, Has anything been said and, if so, where do non-TCA members pay admission?
Did you expect the Eastern Division to send non-members this information?
RJR posted:Eddie G: I just non-renewed my membership. I can't see spending $100/year for 2 train shows, IF, I am even able to get to York twice a year. I am an operator not a collector. And, quite frankly, my layout is now overcrowded and I need nothing that I could only get at York.
Given all that, why are you interested in going? Sounds like a lot of effort to get there when you don't need anything that you will only find there.
-Dave
RJR, It's not $100. a year, it's $50. a year.
IMO, I believe that the membership is good, vendors appreciate the fact that you are TCA and that you will be responsible and also you get treated better since they know that you are a serious shopper. Your TCA # identifies you and they know who you are. Many times I have been at York, overburdened with purchases and a vendor will hold all of your purchases under his table until the Bus from Long island is available to open to store you items. TCA membership is like membership in to a family. I also find when I ask a question to the vendor they know that I have a serious interest in trains that makes a difference in how I am treated.
I think that some people forget about all the things that the TCA does to promote the hobby. If you read your quarterly you will see the programs directed towards young kids, getting them involved in our hobby and teaching them modeling skills that will carry over into other aspects of there lives. They are the future of our hobby. Then you have the museum and the library which you may not find useful but the people that do couldn’t provide the funds alone, ( think public library ). I find the quarterly particularly valuable to inform me of upcoming auctions, events and friends who have gone to the big railroad in the sky. Don’t forget about the great articles and information provided in that magazine. I think that sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget about all the good things that come out of the dues we pay to a good organization like the TCA. I will now step down from my soapbox
Dan Padova posted:I joined the TCA a few years ago. The jury is out on whether I will stay with the TCA. I've been to three York meets, one being a large scale show about ten years ago. Personally, I don't see where membership really means that much. That said, I do like reading the newsletter from my local chapter and the glossy printed one from the National. The other periodical that is thicker with all the meeting minutes, member roster and other non-essential information, to me, seems like a waste of postage.
I haven't seen where displaying my badge at any meets, TCA or not, has given me any sort of advantage, whether buying or selling.
I also was TCA member for a lot of years and attended many York shows in the late 80’s and early to mid 90’s. After learning and finding MTH and how the Postwar stuff was going nuts with prices the TCA seem to be only interested in catering to the high end Lionel collector and not the operators and I fit somewhere in between. Now in my older years with more time and money also living about 2 hours from York I have recently been given some thought to rejoining the TCA just to attend York. But like someone on this forum said $50 plus the cost of the tickets to attend two shows a year seems to me alot. But I do agree with the thinking about the dealers and manufacturers having a different/more positive attitude towards you when they see the TCA badge. Not sure in Their publication has changed much seems to be a collectors magazine still. Just my opinion FWIW!
"Did you expect the Eastern Division to send non-members this information?" ---- YES! ED should notify as many persons as it can.
ED has to induce as many persons as possible to attend, to assure the show runs in the black. Putting on this show is costly. If the manufacturers, and the various dealers and suppliers who rent space in the Orange Hall experience a reduction in customers, at some point they will consider if the real expense they incur in traveling to the show with their products, and renting space, is justifiable in the light of when revenue they reap. These are business persons, and could care less if a potential customer has a TCA badge. This is unlike the situation in the other halls, which would be of greater interest to collectors. The bottom line is that ED must attract as many persons as possible to the show, regardless of TCA membership, in order to keep operating in the current mode. This is not an easy task, given the unstoppable reduction in interest in model trains. I wish ED well.
Mr. RJR...perhaps you could help the Eastern Division of TCA and provide a mailing list of all the possible non-members and YOU send all the non-members info about OUR York meets? BTW..it isnt a SHOW!
Being a non-member of TCA, any snail mail correspondence about attending York will go directly into the shredder, any email into the trash bin...
Rusty
One way to get around tca. Have Ogr take over York.
Admission could be buy an ogr mag. Or donation. Free parking.
Joe Hohmann posted:RJR posted:I haven't seen anything to indicate whether York will be open to non-TCA members, Has anything been said and, if so, where do non-TCA members pay admission?
Did you expect the Eastern Division to send non-members this information?
I'm no longer a member and I received not one, but TWO meet notices.
I joined TCA to help out with the national convention when it was here. The only time I went to York was in connection with that event. It's a haul from here.
I have a much more expensive yacht club membership, but use it almost every day from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
I let my TCA membership lapse... but now they want us to host the National convention again...
Jon 
Why does everyone have to p1$$ and moan about this every York?
If you don't want to go, stay home.
If you don't want to join the TCA, don't.
If you don't like the way the ED is running things, either volunteer or start your own meet.
Give the rest of us a break.
Thank you Joe Hohman and Art Young. A little research by the O.P. would have saved him from posting his thread. The TCA is mostly volunteers...thank you..that said, please join the TCA!
My dear Red Jimmy, were you not so deeply enmeshed in the dismal depths of sarcastic ignorance, you would realize the sheer impracticality of your suggestion. When I furnish that mailing list to the Eastern District, TCA, they would not have the capability to evaluate that list and determine to whom they should send notices. Nor with their treasury be adequate to compensate me for the printing and postage involved in my sending out those notices.
Nowhere in the registration forms sent out by the Eastern District, is it mentioned that non-TCA members can attend. Would it be beneficial for those forms to also encourage recipients to tell their friends about the show and the fact that you don’t have to be a TCA member to attend? Would it be beneficial for Eastern District to approach the large mail order train firms, such as Trainworld, Just Trains, Mario’s, etc., to ascertain their willingness to include, in their mail order shipments, a sheet of paper advertising the York Show and indicating that you need not be a TCA member to attend?
Oh yes, I suggest you take up with the Eastern District the question of identifying the York get together as a show. The District’s website repeatedly speaks of this as being a “show.”
The Eastern District and the TCA have many problems to face. I do not envy them the task of melding their respective interests when it comes to organizing the York Show.
P.S. Notwithstanding your most recent post, I still have not come across any information as to whether paying non-TCA-members can attend the April Show.
