2014 Frisco Convention?

Discussion in 'Announcements' started by FriscoCharlie, Sep 18, 2013.

  1. mvtelegrapher

    mvtelegrapher Member

    Kevin and Steve,

    I am still interested in helping out with the convention whether joint or not. I helped out with the tour by the group from Northwest Arkansas and something like that again I know would be enjoyed by all. Joplin has a vast amount of railroad history that has not been tapped and if you add the entire Tri-State lead and zinc region it can be explored for many years. The entire four state region has some of the richest railroad history of the entire central part of the U.S. but it has hardly been touched in publications or by the railfan community. This is exactly the type of event thats needed to help show how interesting this area's railroad history is. Thank you for taking on this task.

    John Chambers
     
  2. SteveM

    SteveM Member Frisco.org Supporter

    John, I hope you can help us find some presenters who can start revealing that rich past. I'll start working on the facilities. We will try to have equal Frisco-MP topics, which probably means some simultaneous presentations, but I would think many could be joint, such as covering some of the mining history.
     
  3. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Thanks, John. We will certainly keep you informed and involved. The railroad history in the Joplin area is very unique. I look forward to learning more about it at the convention. Hopefully, other members of this group are as excited as I am.
     
  4. wmrx

    wmrx MP Trainmaster

    Steve Marquess and I have begun some initial planning for a joint convention between this group and the Missouri Pacific Historical Society. Currently, we are on the hunt for a suitable facility in the Joplin area. In the past, it appeared that there was a good amount of enthusiasm for such an event from several members of this group. But, as of today, I am not sure that is still the case.

    The MPHS will have a convention in Joplin, next year, no matter what. As President-elect of that group, I can assure you that we are very interested in having a joint convention. Several members from both groups have already offered to participate in the planning for such an event. What is still lacking, at least in my mind, is an attendance commitment from members of this group.

    The dates for the convention are October 9-12, 2014. This is a firm date and, due to MPHS policy, it is unchangeable. Attendance at MPHS conventions have averaged between 50 and 60 people for the last two or three years. If we could count on an attendance of 100 or more for a joint affair, we would have many more options in creating a memorable event for all attendees. I promise, as convention host for the MPHS, to make this interesting for all attendees. The content will be 50/50 for both interests and there may be opportunities for separate presentations, if the attendance numbers are high enough to justify the increased logistics.

    It is my understanding that there will be other activities in the Joplin area at the same time. Therefore, we need to get an agreement with an appropriate facility as soon as possible. As others have mentioned, there are lots of good reasons to have a joint event. If you are interested please let us know, now.
     
  5. john

    john FRISCO.org Supporter

    I will plan to attend. Even if I didn't like the idea of a joint convention (and I actually DO like the idea) I think it would be a shame not to have anything for the FRISCO again next year. This might be just the opportunity needed to bring together enough people to put on an exceptional event.
     
  6. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    I will plan to attend. I am also a MP fan.
    William Jackson
     
  7. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy folks,

    Since it is 2014, I thought I'd kick the sleeping dog about a 2014 convention. From reading the posts, I think a joint Frisco-MoPac convention is in the works. I think. If so, how will the convention schedule be planned, e.g., Frisco one afternoon, MoPac the other or intermixed.

    The last convention in Springfield had some great topics and a fun venue. I personally loved every minute. Many, many new topics could be presented, e.g., where did Frisco make the most money, locals or transfer trains; Describe the passenger trains on the Frisco like the Meteor, Texas Gold, or Texas Special, etc; Operations and equipment of the subsidiaries like the Quanah, Acme, and Pacific or Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway; Fort Worth RR operations, coal operations in Alabama; Frisco on the gulf, etc, etc, etc.

    Any subject matter experts or presenters out there? Let's not let the Frisco convention die.

    In the future, perhaps we could schedule the event every other year with a big bang. When the Texas Western gets its new layout built, we would like to host one of the conventions in Fort Worth.

    So, what's the plan?
    [h=1][/h]Happy rails,
    mike
     
  8. nvrr49

    nvrr49 Member

    First, let me say, if it is a joint convention, it should be in Colorado, where such things are legal.

    I am planning on attending, as Joplin is an easy vacation, with family there and all. Not being a Frisco or MP expert, I cannot speak to either for clinics. I can do something on modeling structures using 3d printing...see nvrr49.blogspot.com for examples. Maybe I can come up with a MP or Frisco building to print.


    Kent in KC
    nvrr49@yahoo.com
    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
     
  9. SteveM

    SteveM Member Frisco.org Supporter

    My understanding is that Kevin Love, who is the new President of the MPHS and chair for the proposed joint convention, has had a little more on his plate with new MPHS website than he would like. Plus we've had some weather around here. He is planning on coming to the show in Springdale on the 22nd, so we'll do some talking then. We would enjoy any Frisco or MP folks with suggestions to come on by or to send them in. He has some MP clinics lined up and we think there are some good joint topics based on the SWMO-SEK area. We could use some Frisco topics and would appreciate hearing from anyone with a clinic or presentation.
    The three Frisco meets (09, 10 & 11) were one day events. The MP conventions are usually two full days with slide shows and even clinics after dinner Friday and Saturday. We will try to work all offered presentations into that. I hope we can have more info shortly.
     
  10. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Steve- I had submitted an article in to the late Richard Napper on modeling the Frisco in a small space (including diagrams, maps and Google Earth pics of the line modeled), but sadly he passed away before it could be published. I might be able to do a presentation in this topic, since I'm modeling Paris, TX on the Arthur Sub. There are quite a few candidates for modeling the Frisco in small spaces aside from freelancing a Frisco-themed layout (which is not a bad thing, as I think Jim James has done an awesome job with his Zalma Subdivision), and we all don't have the amount of room necessary to really do mainline action a la the Cherokee Sub. My approach is more prototypical, and utilizes switching action (plus interchange if one can work it into the plan).


    I'll see if I can sweettalk the missus into running up to Springdale this weekend- I do the train show, she does whatever she wants (hit the wineries at Tontitown, if I know her, but it's a good tradeoff).
     
  11. SteveM

    SteveM Member Frisco.org Supporter

    That's what we wanted to hear--a proposed presentation. And a possible show attendee. I hope that sounds good to everybody else. A layout plan and operating strategy developed from the prototype.
     
  12. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Wow! To me both sound good. A train show and a good Italian meal with wine in Tonitown. Maybe even fried chicken at AQ instead!
     
  13. SteveM

    SteveM Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Sounds like you need to come on down, Bob H. You might win the grand door prize (don't have to be present to win this one) which is two tickets for the A&M ride to Van Buren, a stay at the Holiday Inn and meal at the nearby Bleu Monkey. So a good reason to come back!
     

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