President’s Message: Third Quarter, 2008   SEE YOU AT THE CONVENTION.   Having just returned from the TCA National Convention in Burlington, Vermont it only seems natural to share a few observations with you, my fellow members of WB&A and TCA. Putting a national convention together is a monumental task requiring the efforts of almost everyone in that Division or Chapter. The New England Train Collector's Association (NETCA) presented a great retinue of affairs and tours guaranteed to please everyone. There were tours of the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory. No, there were no free samples, it seems that even a factory tour now costs $3.00 for one scoop of ice cream. Such is the way of today's world but this did not detract from a fun time. From the Cold Hollow Cider Factory, (Yes it was free and so was the delicious ice cold cider) to the Conway Scenic Railway in New Hampshire there was something for all appetites.   As you may or may not know, your own WB&A will be hosting the 2010 TCA National Convention right here in Baltimore. Dan Danielson, Chairman of this huge event and his staff have been working hard for the past two years to make this an affair that will be long remembered by all who attend. If you have never attended a TCA Convention, now is the chance to see just how TCA is run and to meet the officials who continue to make our hobby the greatest in the world. If you so desire, you may attend some of the work sessions of the TCA Board of Directors at our Convention. These can become marathon sessions of up to seven hours for two or three days of the Convention. There was much to be done and our own Sam Geiser, President of Eastern Division, was in the thick of things helping to keep TCA functioning smoothly. Needless to say, don't stay the whole seven hours but it is educational and interesting to see how our policies are made.   It is less than two years that it will be WB&A's chance to dazzle the train collecting hobby with our organizational ability and to show everyone what even a small chapter like ours can do when dedicated people put their minds and efforts together. Plan to attend. It's not too early and if you'd like, contact Dan or anyone at WB&A and have some fun helping us put our grand show together. See you at the Convention.   Art Tate, President WB&A Chapter TCA