PrototypeRails.html

80 Clinic Presentations By The Following Clinicians: (subject to change)

Bill Darnaby, Richard Hendrickson, Tony Thompson, Mont Switzer, Tony Koester, Andy Sperandeo, Lance Mindheim, Bruce Smith, Bill Schaumburg, Frank Peacock, Larry Kline, Frank Angstead, Greg Martin, Steve Orth, Mike Rose, Bill Welch, Bill Schneider, Roger Hinman, Joe Oates, Jon Cagle, Andy Harman, Al Brown, Gilbert Thomas Jr., Stan Rydarowiz, George Eichelberger, Stephen Priest, Cinthia Priest, Stephen Funaro, Jim Murie, Jeff Cauthen, Charles Hostetler, Chuck Davis, O Fenton Wells, Tom Wilson, John Wilkes, Bob Johnson, Michael Gross, Craig Zeni, Perry Sugerman.

Please note the following:

Hotel Room Booking Process

The hotel costs for the meet are directly dependent on the number of hotel rooms we sell. The selling price is our special Prototype Rails rate. The hotel blocks a number of rooms at our rate on each night Thursday through Sunday. We are also allowed to sell rooms during the week prior to the meet and afterward at our group rate if the roomee has a room during the meet. The number of rooms in our block varies during the period Thursday through Sunday depending upon our historical usage. We can increase the number of rooms in our block if need be. The point here is that the hotel cannot sell rooms in our block to others.

However, if we don't sell the rooms in our block they are unused. The hotel, therefore, terminates or reduces the number of rooms in our block as we get very near the time of the meet. This year our room block was closed a couple of days prior to the meet. I then received a request for more rooms, and the hotel responded by opening the block again. It is very important for attendees to reserve a room as far ahead of the meet as possible. A room reservation can always be cancelled prior to the meet.

Now, here's a key part of this process that I try to make known. First, the hotel itself makes no reservations. They use an offsite service which I believe is located somewhere in Tibet or Burma. It doesn't matter if you use the local number or an 800 number, that's who you will talk to.

Second, the reservation service you get CANNOT increase the number of rooms in our block. Only the hotel can do that. If our block is full, they can only give you a standard room rate [there are several different rates, all greater than ours]. HOWEVER, and here is the most important factor in the room process: I CAN GET YOU THE PROTOTYPE RAILS ROOM RATE EVEN IF THE BLOCK IS CLOSED. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHEN YOU ASK. THE EASIEST METHOD IS TO TAKE WHATEVER RATE IS OFFERED AND TELL ME. THAT WAY YOU ARE ASSURED OF HAVING A ROOM. THEN EMAIL OR CALL ME. YOU CAN EVEN DO THIS DURING THE MEET.

I'm fairly easy to find. I'm the tall guy with the bull's eye on the back. Well, I should have one. Just tell Prototype Rails registration that you have a room problem and you need to see me. Every year I do this for about 5 people. So, unless the hotel is completely sold out, you CAN get our room rate even on Saturday night of the meet.

Mike Brock
Prototype Rails Boss

The meet begins on Thursday, Jan 10, after dinner with video, slide shows and
clinics. A special dinner on Saturday, Jan 12, for Prototype Rails attendees
only will be available for $ 27/person. Tickets are required and must be
purchased no later than Saturday morning. Tickets may be purchased and
reserved in advance and included with the cost of registration. Registration
plus dinner is $62/person. Spouses not attending presentations do not have
to register. There will be a Friends of the Freight Car lunch at noon on Saturday.

FOR INFORMATION: Contact Mike Brock at: brockm@cfl.rr.com or 321-453-4140.

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