Gents:
Looks like trouble for the NMRA convention in Toronto. I got the
following on the Trains.com website this evening. I had been
planning to go for some time but lost interest myself in the past
while.
Bob Boudreau
SARS prompts National Train Show cancellations
By Fred Jandt, Model Retailer magazine
A second outbreak of SARS in Toronto, Ont., that came to light last
weekend has sparked a wave of cancellations for this year's National
Train Show, placing the viability of this year's show in doubt.
On Thursday the MRIA announced its annual board meeting at the show
has been cancelled.
Bill McClung, Model Railroad Industry Association president said in
an email that, "Eight voting members of the board have decided not to
travel to Toronto for the NTS or the MRIA board meeting. Therefore, I
am canceling the MRIA board meeting scheduled for Thursday July 17th.
Conference calls will be conducted in June and July to discuss
current board business."
McClung tentatively scheduled the next MRIA board meeting for Sept.
15, the Monday following the International Model & Hobby Expo.
MRIA's move follows reports that more than 30 scheduled exhibitors,
including such names as Atlas, Athearn, Carstens Publications,
Kalmbach Publishing Co., Lionel, Overland Models, Red Caboose and
Woodland Scenics, had cancelled for the July show.
Fred Gates of Marklin USA says the company pulled out of the show on
Tuesday after hearing the renewed concerns about SARS over the
weekend.
"We were really on the fence, but last weekend topped it off," Gates
said. Normally five people from the Marklin office attend the
National Train Show. "We had people on our staff who were not
comfortable with going to Canada because of the SARS issue, so we
decided to pull out," Gates added.
Cara Orchard of Lionel agreed with Gates' sentiments stating, "we
were going to the convention in Toronto but have pulled out for
health reasons. It's very unfortunate."
James Slocum, a Kalmbach Publishing Co. vice president and publisher,
said Kalmbach's Executive Committee decided on Wednesday that the
company would not participate in the event due to the re-emergence of
the SARS outbreak in Toronto.
"We strongly urged NMRA and MRIA officials to move the event to
another location in the United States this year, rather than cancel
it," he added.
As of Thursday, the National Model Railroad Association had made no
determination about the Toronto show's future.
Watch this Web site for further updates as they become available.
