More Flatonia

[Bostet@aol.com]

I met Jim about 1 PM Friday in Bastrop for the last 45 minute drive to 
Flatonia.  Jim cruised along about 60 MPH and all went well.  I think 
driving/pulling on 71 and 95 is a hell of a lot more comfortable than on I-35.

I figured our 2 PM arrival would be more than ample obviously I was wrong.  
Another hassle (in addition to the senior labor force) was due to the wet 
ground.  We couldn't park by the closest door.  In fact after parking on the 
front drive (having to wait for another group to finish unloading) we had to 
move the trailer to a more difficult unloading location (next to the 'Tilt-a 
Whirl).  Both Jim and I experienced touching the earth (mud) up front and 
personal.

Tommy Shults also helped unload and talked the HO people in relocating their 
layout by a couple of feet which gave us more room.  This got us another 
module in both width and length.  All the train types were very cooperative 
with one another as you'd expect.

Though the club was paid by the Festival to attend.  Tommy had to purchase 
personally all the passes (tickets) for the train people.  After a discussion 
with Scott, I attempted to reimburse Tommy for is personal expense.  His 
refusal was adamant.  He said he would accept a membership in TTAT in lieu of 
payment.  I would have given the membership anyway but that's the way Tommy 
wanted it and so we now have another member.

Tommy told me that the total attendance for the two days was virtually the 
same as last year...700+.  I was surprised but accept the figures since his 
wife was doing the counting.

After tear down I drove down to the UP diamond.  Flatonia (I don't know if 
it's the City or Chamber) has constructed a very nice covered viewing and 
photo pavilion.  There is still some grading to be done but the structure is 
complete.  Parked further down on the house track is an SP caboose the UP has 
donated.  There is also a passenger car in Smithville on the LCRA property 
that will be moved down soon.  The City is going to grade an area near the SP 
tower and the UP is going to donate some prefab track sections for these two 
cars.  I don't know the time table on the campground but Tommy's Railroad 
Park is on it's way to completion.

Tommy received commitments from all the other clubs to return next year and 
asked the same of us.  I told him 'I thought' so but would have to get an 
official word from the board.

He said to plan on having exactly the same space as this year (an improvement 
from last year).  He is going to switch the G gauge floor layout and the HO 
modules.  That should give even more viewing area for us.  Of course if the 
pie people moved out, we could have the largest layout we could put together.

Thoughts for next year:

Plan on a noon or 1 PM arrival.  We had to get the vehicles/trailer out of 
the Festival area by 5 PM so with all the other hassles this was another 
inconvenience.  Ira may have substituted modules if the trailer was adjacent 
to the building when we got the extra space.  We need six able bodies for set 
up...with at least a couple of those not being members of AARP.

Member participation could be stronger.

I don't know what everyone else was paid, but I'd like to see us be paid 'no 
less' than anyone else.  More is OK.

Before we commit to a raffle next year, I suggest we review that economics of 
last years raffle.  I noticed the HO people had a donation pot but have no 
idea if anything went into it.

Bob Stettner