HE LION ROARS - Lionel Collectors Club of America

Lou CaponiRM 8735Product Development ShopHIGHLIGHT:“Thank you” toall who sent mewonderful notesand e-mailsabout how muchyou enjoyedthe beautifulgraphics on theLCCA 2010ConventionCar, a UnionPacific ‘Flag’CylindricalHopper. ”It’s summertime already, and thegreat news for LCCA members is– it’s also LCCA Convention time!I’m looking forward to seeing manyof you in Texas in late July.“Thank you” to all who sent mewonderful notes and e-mails abouthow much you enjoyed the beautifulgraphics on the LCCA 2010 ConventionCar, a Union Pacific “Flag” CylindricalHopper. I am honored that so many ofyou took the time and dropped me a line.I will continue to offer LCCA membersthe very best club-sponsored products Ican develop as proof of our performanceas the best toy train club on the planet.Last CallIf you have not received your 2010 UnionPacific “Flag” Cylindrical Hopper Caror your Burlington #216 Alco train set,contact me immediately at caponilj@comcast.net or call me at 484-431-8529.Do not contact the LCCA Business Officeabout this, because I am the gatekeeperfor these items.2011 Convention CarSales of the Texas Special Milk Reeferhave been nothing less than outstanding.This Lionel ® product is limited to1,500 pieces as advertised through ourpublications and website. Based on aMay 15, 2011, tally of orders received,we have already exceeded expectations.We have surpassed the 1,000 mark, andwe know from past experience that it’snot unusual for 400+ orders to arriveduring the final two weeks of the offer.Don’t get left out. Don’t procrastinate.Send in your order today. The deadlinefor ordering this beautiful piece ofrolling stock is imminent: June 30, sameas last year. I guarantee that you will notbe disappointed!What’s on the Wayfrom Lionel?The new Dinosaur Transport Gondola,LCCA’s first product intended forJunior Members, will be arriving soon.The ad photo of this car in this issueof The Lion Roars is very colorful,and the gon is “equipped” with severalrealistic dinosaurs for enhanced playvalue. However, you can’t appreciatethe graphics on this dynamite-lookinggondola by looking at the picture. The caris equipped with die-cast metal trucks. Ifa youngster drops it on a hard floor, don’tworry about coupler or truck breakage.Although intended for JMs, this car is notlimited to them only – it’s available to allmembers. Remember, total production islimited to 500 pieces. We will not go backto Lionel for additional pieces. I hope tohave this gondola available for viewingat our Convention in Texas along with alot of other goodies. Stop by the onsiteLCCA Store within the Convention hosthotel and take a peek!The second item in our JM series will bean Animated Skateboard Gondola aimedtoward older-age JMs. It will be limitedto 500 pieces also. It will be available toall JMs and Regular Members. Both ofthe JM-oriented products will be sold ona first-come, first-served basis.Our 2011 ConventionI predict that members who plan toattend the upcoming Convention will beastounded by the LCCA commemorativeofferings shown in the previous issueof TLR. Most items will be extremelylimited, so take this hint – get to theonsite LCCA Store and have your creditcard handy.Kind Words for our FriendsAt our 2010 Denver Convention, theclub designated a play area in the atriumof the host hotel for Junior Members,visiting children, and special youngguests and families. It was a first-timeventure, and it was a big hit. Moms, dads,aunts, uncles, and grandparents had agreat time playing with new Lionel trainsets provided to LCCA by the company.We re-gifted the trains to youngsters andMake-A-Wish families. It was a sight tobehold. LCCA has named this activity“Smiles from the Heart.” Our friends atLionel helped keep smiles from the hearton the faces of many wonderful kids.I believe Lionel will participate in thisprogram again this year but with somelimitations commensurate with today’seconomic environment. We thank themfor their generosity despite the reality ofthese difficult financial times.See you soon in Texas!The Lion Roars 5