Kansas City Flyer 2023
2023 Mid-Continent Region Annual Convention
Some really good news! The MCoR will be hosting the 2023 Region Convention in Overland Park from July 27-29, 2023. It’s great to get back to region events. For various reasons, the convention, exclusive to MCoR, has not been held for several years. The 2018 NMRA National in Kansas City interfered, 2019 brought us a great convention in Wichita, no convention in 2020 due to Covid, 2021 was a joint convention with the Lone Star Region in Tulsa, finally 2022 was also bumped by the NMRA National in St Louis. So, these circumstances may have caused many of us to get out of the routine of attending and enjoying the annual event.
So, here we are. This is a preliminary notice with early information about the 2023 event. More details will be promulgated as they become available. Information will be put on the Turkey Creek Division website, the MCoR website, and the Convention website (when available). The convention will be held at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 8787 Reeder Street, Overland Park, KS 66214, Phone: 913-888-8440, Rate: $99.00 (includes breakfast). If registering by phone, use the group code MCoR to get the group rate. To register online, use the link https://tinyurl.com/ak5d4w7a, enter your Check In and Check Out dates, and press the Search button. This will take you to the convention page with the $99.00 convention rate. This is a great rate…same as the hotel rate we were able to get 10 years ago for the 2013 convention! In order to secure this rate, hotel reservations must be made by May 19, 2023. If in doubt, make the reservation and cancel later if necessary.
Now, with regard to convention registration, you can register now with a check using this form. We are working on the possibility of on-line registration with credit cards. When that happens, we will get revised registration forms on the websites as soon as we can with appropriate information. When you register, be sure that you specify your banquet meal choice (included with registration). It should be an enjoyable evening with a yet to be identified well known speaker. Also, consider signing up for lunches on Friday and/or Saturday, these are extra fare items. Other registration options, including Make-and-Take clinics, Prototype Tours, and Layout Operating Sessions, will be announced as soon as details are available. Watch for these on the TCD, MCoR and the convention websites.
The overall convention planning is coming along nicely - all of the typical events that you are used to participating in will be available. As noted above, the featured speaker for the convention banquet is expected to be a nationally known individual. The clinic lineup is being organized. If you are interested in presenting a clinic, please contact Miles Hale, MMR at mileshale@sbcglobal.net.
The layout tour is essentially set. Go to the “Tours” link from the convention website to view those that will be open. In addition, there will be several layouts open for operating sessions on Thursday afternoon from 1-4pm. If you are interested in participating in these sessions, contact Steve McKee. Space for these sessions is limited so don’t delay in responding. Space will only be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Prototype tours are also being planned with specific information being posted on the websites as it develops. Finally, a Non-Rail program is being worked on, so look for that, also.
The model and photo contest will include the standard NMRA categories that you are used to seeing. In addition, we will include two special categories that the Turkey Creek Division has had fun with. These include a Square Footer category and a Business Card Challenge. These entries are limited to their respective sizes, with a standard business card being 2”x 3.5” …no cantilevers on both of these.
Start making your plans to be in Overland Park this summer. We’re confident that this will be a great convention…don’t miss it! Thanks, and see you there,
Larry Alfred MMR, Convention Chair