President's Message - Reprinted from the Winter 2005-2006 Merry-Go-Roundup

New Ideas for Carousels

By Bette Largent, NCA President

Many of us look forward to the annual convention, mainly for the opportunity to visit carousels, see them in operation - repaired, restored, and bright and shiny - and hop on board for that magical ride.

But also, to see old friends and make new ones. Making new friends is easy at conventions, given our common interest. It's as magical as the ride, to find out how others develop their love of carousels. And to discover that at a future event . be it the following year, or several years later - you recall your first conversation with them and enjoy seeing them again, sharing more rides, and catching up on each other's news.

This past convention was smaller than most, which allowed us to visit with more of our regulars and welcome new people as we toured the classic carousels in Western Pennsylvania; a revisit for many, and for others a maiden voyage. At each carousel we visited, we met the owners or managers, awarded them plaques, and congratulated them on their continued commitment to maintaining and operating their carousels.

The majority of places we visited enjoyed a personal relationship with Charles - he knows the families, the histories, and the inside stories on what it has taken to continue to own and operate these machines. And our visit to the University of Pittsburgh became especially meaningful as he related stories of his blood, sweat, and tears as he toiled within its walls to achieve his law degree.

Both the NCA and the carousels received great media coverage during our visit, truly a win-win situation. And our visit really mattered to our hosts; they accepted the NCA plaques and our enthusiasm with pride. After all, they worked hard to spruce up for our visit, often late into the night. As they tap in a nail and hang the NCA plaque on a wall, they will again feel that pride of ownership. And when they view it, they'll experience fond memories, more pride, and continued appreciation of our interest. It was obvious, they love their carousels - and now they know that in the greater world, several buses full of NCA members love them, too.

Thanks for being an admirer and supporter. You are important to the carousel world.