Updated Oct. 12, 2003
I really enjoyed it, Tom, (although it was a long week before arriving
and I
went to bed early Friday evening) Saturday was what MPHS is all about
for
me. I was really happy to see Eagle Editor Bill Hoss in attendance.
He has
given much of his personal time (and AMB models) to make MPHS better
and we
need to thank him for that in person, along with Ed Hawkins, Jim Ogden,
Dick
Ryker, Rick Eckert, Elvin Klepzig, Gene Semon, Tom Austin and Todd
Greuter
plus the many, many years of positive MPHS Charlie Duckworth has given
us. I
missed seeing several well known MPHS faces . . . maybe we can get
them to
Pittsburg.
For a guy who had never hosted a convention before, Tom, you did a great
job. It takes a team and you certainly built one. I loved the modeling
seminars by Bill (and I thought I knew how to model) and Ed who makes
rivet
counting truly a pleasure, and the life-experience talks by Tony Fey
and
Harold Vollrath and the master himself, Joe Collias. I've been reading
Jerry
Michaels Eagle article on the Colorado passenger trains on the
Pueblo
route. Everything above is why I am a member of MPHS and why it is
fun. It
is many interests wrapped into one and when the fun stops, I'll go
to sleep
just like other members.
I would much rather attend our event in a community like Leavenworth.
I
think the Ramada appreciated our presence and our business. It was
very
relaxed at the depot and easy to enjoy . . . even funny to watch everyone
jump up every time a train went by, regardless how engaging the presentation
was. Did they run all of the trains by just for us (maybe not)? The
tables
and modeling competition and the slide show was better than I can remember
in previous conventions I've been to. Know what? I think all of the
hard
work this past year is making us grow . . . certainly the interest
was
genuine and the Pittsburg input was all new and well accepted. I get
more
interested in modeling and working on my Northern Kansas Division book.
Everytime I get asked if it is published, I squirm a little, but the
MPHS
activity tells me it is important that it get to print.
Thanks for everybody's hard work,
Doug Brush
Just to add my comments, the Leavenworth meet was great! I very
much enjoyed
the talks and meeting old and new friends. Tom, you did a great
job! I was
amazed at how smooth everything ran, and you couldn't beat having the
meetings
in the Leavenworth depot. I'm pretty excited about our new officers,
too. It
is good to see new blood, hopefully with new ideas, getting involved
with the
MPHS leadership. I'm also very pleased that we are on sound financial
footing. Thanks to all who ahve helped this society grow and
prosper!
Congratulations to Charlie Duckworth on being elected as a life member.
It
was well deserved if overdue!
I'm also interesed in the 2004 meeting in Pittsburg, KS. This
is an
unexplored area for me, and probably many other MPHS members.
I think that meeting in
'different" locations gives all our members a sense of the flavor of
the
Missouri Pacific. All those old coal branches in Kansas have
to be of interest.
Although St. Louis, Little Rocks and Ft. Worth are also nice places
to meet,
it is great to mix it up and give members an excuse to visit the more
out of
the way places on the system. With the enthusiasm I witnessed
at the
Leavenworth meetings about our trek to Pittsburg next year, I can't
help but think it
will be just as good.
Jerry
