​​Lakes and Pines Division - Train Collectors Association

FROM THE PRESIDENT - September 2019

​Welcome back to the fall train season. I hope everyone had a great summer and are ready to refocus on trains and our Lakes and Pines friendships.

It is hard to believe that it has been 50 years since the Division was formed. There are still a couple of the original founding members in the division! Both received their 50 Year certificates from National at the 2018 Holiday party. On Sunday September 8th, the Lakes and Pines will be hosting a 50th Anniversary party at Murzyn Hall. Lakes and Pines will be providing the food and beverages. The event is open to Lakes and Pines members and a spouse or significant other. Please RSVP as soon as possible to ensure we have planned on the correct head count.

There will be a display table with all of the Lakes and Pines cars, memorabilia and other items that were made over the years. We will have a brief program to discuss some club history / stories and will open it up for the floor if anyone would like to share a memory. Train tables will be provided as always for the membership. There should be a decent crowd and I would expect some nice trains to show up. We will have trains running and feel free to visit and check out the display and train tables. This is what our club is all about. We will have a unique floor plan that will facilitate eating at round tables and still allowing for trains tables for sales.

The convention in Albuquerque was a great time. Updates given by National indicates the club remains financially solid. The National Board of Directors has allocated money for the first time in TCA history for marketing. The focus will be on attracting and retaining new members. It is all of our jobs to ensure the TCA is around for our children and grandchildren and any one that has a love of toy trains.

I was able to bring home a beautiful set of KMT F-7s in CNW colors to complete my AMT / KMT Chicago and Northwestern passenger set. It is an amazing set and I truly never thought I would find the F units. There will be a brief board of directors meeting after the anniversary party to discuss the remainder of the 2019 meets.

See you on the 8th,

Mike Speltz

President, Lakes and Pines