Re: Downtown Layout & Raffle

[<mgraziano@austin.rr.com>]

Ricky,

I'd like to add to this.  I'm very happy to see the changes in the club mentality over the last few years we have been downtown.  I remember the apprehension I was initially greeted with when I first suggested hosting the club in a downtown space.  And I further remember the hesitation on everyone’s face when I recommended renting out control of a train for a certain period of time.  Everyone was afraid their trains would be damaged.  Now, I think the membership looks forward to the downtown layout; and not just for the revenue (and the upgrades to the layout that result).  It’s a chance to expand the hobby beyond the typical clientele at a train show.  And it’s an opportunity for club members to interact with kids of all ages, and draw them into the hobby we love so much.  And the younger kids (as compared to the adult kids) LOVE the opportunity to run the trains.  Every year, we make a lasting impression that can only help to revitalize this hobby.

For those of you at the last annual meeting, the growth in club membership should be apparent.  For those that weren’t there, a brief glance at the club roster will show the growth we’ve experienced in just the last few years.  I’m proud to have been a part of that.  Good job guys.  I hope we maintain this momentum for years to come.  


-Mike



---- rick <rbd1949@aol.com> wrote: 
> 
> 
> Trackers,
>  
>  The raffle set was awarded to Adrian Hughes and his grandfather will pick it up Saturday. Adrian, can you please post this on the website. Ed, you might also put it on the facebook page.
> 
> The raffle was very successful this year. We sold 108 tickets for the set. We have also been very successful in the Junior Engineer program renting the trains. We have had at times all four trains rented out. The train with Scott's camera car and my dad's military train have been very popular! Being open on Sundays this year has also been very successful. 
> 
> So thank you all who have come out to help downtown and make it such a big success! Especially to my dad, Rick who has been there every single day we've been open. Now we still have 5 more days we are open. So come on down and play trains!
> 
> Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!
> 
> Ricky Dolifka
> 
> 
>