President's Message - Summer 2002

By Brian Morgan, NCA President

It was interesting to sit back and watch what was happening at the NCA Technical Assistance Conference in Republic and Spokane, Wash. Approximately 78 people representing carousels throughout Canada and the U.S. were exchanging information, some to teach and all to learn.

Mechanics and artists, woodworkers and gift shop operators, publicists and dreamers - all were here, and all were sharing their ideas and knowledge. People who had carved their own brand-new carousel or had restored one 100 years old were exchanging their experiences with groups who were tentatively taking the first steps on their own carousel journey. What a thrill to be part of all this.

When the idea of a technical assistance conference was first discussed by the NCA's board of directors 15 or so years ago, we hoped there would be enough interest to get 25 to 30 people to attend every two years. We never guessed how popular and successful the conference would become.

Obviously the idea filled a need. But more important is how, in a good way, the "inmates have taken over the asylum." The involvement of the various carousel restoration groups has taken the annual conference to new heights. Carousel groups have offered to host and organize technical conferences at their own carousels, partly out of pride and to have a forum to show what they have achieved, but also partly to show other communities how to do the same.

Just think of some of the ideas you could have taken back home from this conference .... How to run a gift shop and where to find new toys for the coming season. How to write a newsletter that will make people want to contribute $5,000 to restore a horse. How to restore the paint on the ride while keeping the carousel operating day by day. And, finally - we learned from the master -how to restore a carousel and instill carousel pride in a tiny community miles from anywhere.

Not to mention, we had the fun of riding two spectacular carousels.

It was amazing to me to see the sharing that goes on between the carousels in the Northwest and how each is so willing to help a neighbor. For example, there was a constant flow of ideas and help between Spokane and Missoula, Missoula and Salem, Tacoma and Republic, Republic and Bickleton, and Salem. This was not only an exchange of ideas, but also an eagerness to help one another - whether it means restoring or painting an animal, traveling many miles to help operate the Republic carousel at its hectic Fair time, or pitching in and helping when the machinery just isn't working right.

For me, this visit was a constant stream of joys. But two stand out.

The first was NCA founders Rol and Jo Summit's comment on how thrilling and unexpected it was that a gathering of carousel enthusiasts in 1973 could have led to something like this. The second was attending the grand opening of the restored Republic carousel and its spectacular new carousel building. [What happened to that beat-up little merry-go-round with its tin roof and chicken wire fence? Surely it couldn't have turned into this classic, spectacularly painted Herschell Spillman carousel with gorgeous rounding boards and scenery panels, and in a wonderful carousel building.]

It was an honor that the NCA was invited to share in Republic's grand opening and spectacular achievement.

Reprinted from The Merry-Go-Roundup, Summer 2002
(Quarterly publication for NCA members.)

Spring 2002 President's Message
Current NCA Projects and overview