St. Louis NMRA National Convention Cancelled

[Roger Holmes]

A few moments ago I received an email that the St. Louis NMRA convention is cancelled.  I received direct notice because my layout was supposed to be on a July 15 layout bus tour. I was really looking forward to the National Train Show on the last weekend of the convention and being on the layout tour.  Drat!!

[C855B]

Website doesn't reflect this yet other than the registration page being "down for maintenance". Somebody must be working on the changes as we speak.

But not a surprise. St. Louis is on a somewhat delayed front side of the pandemic bell curve, so the local peak is going to be uncomfortably close to the convention dates. Also, convention preparations including meetings need to be made now, and stay-at-home orders interfere with that.

[nkalanaga]

I wasn't planning on going, but do agree, cancelling is the best decision.  Not only has the current situation disrupted planning, for everyone, but if this virus is like many past pandemics, there is likely to be a second wave, which could very well hit about that time.  Hopefully not, or if there is, precautions already in place will limit the impact, but if everyone goes back to unlimited travel and contacts as soon as the current cases are cleared, it's very likely.

I was hoping to go to the Northwest this summer, having finally accrued enough vacation time.  If I go at all, it probably won't be until September, just to be safe.

[Ike the BN Freak]

According to their page, it hasn't been cancelled.

https://www.gateway2020.org/

[C855B]

According to their page, it hasn't been cancelled.

https://www.gateway2020.org/

Yes, that's been the message on the page for about a month, a response to a rumor circulating about cancellation of the National Train Show. However, as mentioned above, the registration page for the convention is now down/removed.

I am privileged to know Roger, and he doesn't mess around. He received direct information about the cancellation since he was on the layout tours schedule. I would hazard that the convention organizers are working hard to assure the many "insiders" have the information about standing down before any general announcement is circulated. It's simple courtesy.

[MK]

It only makes sense to cancel.  The airlines are a total mess so getting there would be problem #1 for most.

[jereising]

I sympathize with Roger.  I'm waiting for the NSC Nashville call as I am on the layout tour for that one.

What makes it really bad is I plan to take the layout down after the convention...it will come down this summer regardless, but it would have been nice...

Right now a lot of things would have been nice.

[Mark W]

Just received:

St. Louis 2020 National Convention and
National Train Show cancelled

As everyone is aware, the coronavirus has had a devastating impact around the world. It has caused the death of tens of thousands of people and that is not something to be trivialized.

The NMRA National convention, Gateway 2020, is scheduled to start on July 12, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri. That being said, the local host group has determined that they can no longer continue with the preparations and operation of the convention. Among the reasons for this decision is the fact that one key member is ill with COVID-19. The host group requests your prayers for him.

Additionally, some members of the local model railroad community have withdrawn their model railroads from the tours, based on their understandable and valid concerns about allowing persons in their homes who may have the COVID-19 virus. Even if the virus is well under control, that does not mean that everyone who attends the convention would be virus-free.

Robert Amsler, Manager of the Meetings and Trade Show Department has advised the Officers and the Board of Directors of this decision and the Officers and Directors fully support cancelling the convention. Neither the Gateway 2020 crew nor the NMRA made this decision in haste or without careful consideration of all involved. The cancellation is in the best interest of the NMRA members, their family members, and the NMRA. It is noteworthy that the NMRA has never cancelled a convention before Gateway 2020 and that includes during World War II.

For those who have registered for the convention, the refund policy will be published as soon as possible at Gateway2020.org. We, the Gateway 2020 Committee, will need some time to make the necessary changes to the website to process the refunds.

Again, all involved regret this decision but we trust that you will understand the necessity and reasoning behind the decision.

[C855B]

Cancellation notice is now up on the convention site.

[Roger Holmes]

The official NMRA announcement was attached to the email I received at 10:30 last night but I didn't feel that it was my place to post their explanation here before they put it on their site.

Still bummed by circumstances out of everyone's control and I, of course, fully respect their decision. jereising is in worse shape than me since he will be dismantling his layout.  At least mine will still be here when the NMRA returns to St. Louis in another 20 years.  I just don't know if I can make it down the basement steps when I'm 89 

I spent most of yesterday evening on a ZOOM meeting with fellow trustees of an outdoor musical theater venue.  We do 4 production a year over 32 nights and play to about 35,000 each summer.  Show staffs have been at work for at least six months and all of the shows have been cast.  Last night we started planning the process for pulling the plug on the entire season which runs June-August.

[basementcalling]

I am privileged to know Roger, and he doesn't mess around.

Stop it before you give him a swelled head. Then again, might be the first time anyone has ever said that about him. 

And yes I know him too. We shared a few years in South Hampton Roads NTRAK together.

[Englewood]

I keep waiting for word that the N Scale Enthusiast convention has also been cancelled.

[MK]

I keep waiting for word that the N Scale Enthusiast convention has also been cancelled.

If I had to bet, since it's even sooner than the NMRA National Convention, it will probably suffer the same fate.  I hope it doesn't as since my family vacation has been canceled I might just drive down and experience some normalcy! 

[C855B]

I keep waiting for word that the N Scale Enthusiast convention has also been cancelled.

It will be. Any centralized or national-scope event naturally involves travel and hotel stays by most attendees, both very high-risk virus vectors. The event promoters are welcome to ignore the obvious, but once most of your vendors and attendees cancel out of self-preservation you don't have a show.

Illinois governor just last night issued an advisory, “I think everybody needs to think seriously about canceling large summer events. ...". It hasn't turned into an emergency order yet, but you just know somebody somewhere will cop the "...doesn't affect us..." thing and prompt turning the suggestion into rule.

A local train show the last weekend of May has already been "postponed" (we're reading that as "cancelled"), and that the "first" show of the year might just be the small one our club sponsors in October.

Or not. I think 2020 will be a lost year for nearly everything involving groups of more than a dozen, if that many. "See ya' in 2021. Maybe."

[Roger Holmes]

Peter-- I think that you may have me confused with someone else.  I live in Springfield, IL but you and I have had a few Trading Posts transactions.  There is also another Roger Holmes in Central Illinois who looks remarkably like me and sells train videos at various train shows around the Midwest.  We've had some fun confusing people.

I look a lot like Ken Silvestri, the BLI video guy, without the New York accent