The site of the 2012 R&LHS Annual Meeting The Tutwiler Hotel, one of
Birmingham’s most historic namesake properties, has been chosen as
headquarters for the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Railway & Locomotive
Historical Society (R&LHS).
Birmingham will host the convention on May 17-20, 2012. Sponsored by the
Mid-South Chapter, the meeting will feature tours of both historic and
contemporary railroad and industrial sites. Expected venues will include
an 1882 blast furnace, the Birmingham district’s first modern rail hump
yard, and a tour of the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum. featuring an
excursion over a portion of the former L&N Railroad’s Alabama Mineral
Division. In addition to tours of historic venues, the anticipated program
will offer presentations by subject-matter experts on an appealing variety
of historical topics, including Red Mountain’s iron ore “Mineral Lines,”
the Birmingham Electric Company’s extensive streetcar system, and
Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Works. Located in the heart of Birmingham’s
business district, the Tutwiler is convenient to all modes of
transportation and is less than a mile from the Amtrak station served by
the New York-New Orleans “Crescent.” The hotel is within walking distance
of several of the area’s most popular attractions, including the world
class Birmingham Museum of Art, the McWane Science Center, the Alabama
Sports Hall of Fame, and Civil Rights Museum. The Annual Meeting is open
to all current R&LHS members. Meeting registration and hotel reservations
will open in late fall 2011 or early winter 2012. An attractive hotel
rate, including free valet parking and full breakfasts, will be offered.
Look for details in the Winter 2011 issue of the R&LHS Quarterly and on
the Society’s website at www.rlhs.org.
First Draft of the proposed convention agenda was covered as
follows:
• Thursday May 17, 2012 - The MSC will staff registration at the Tutwiler.
It will be in the Parlor off of the Lobby. Convention attendees will be
given a name badge. The R&LHS National Board Meeting will take place
Thursday evening.
• Friday May 18, 2012 - A complimentary hot breakfast will be served.
Basically our convention is the only event going on at the Tutwiler during
the weekend. During Orientation, we will have maps available for each
attendee and possibly a PowerPoint presentation will be given during
Orientation. Keep in mind that everyone attending the Convention will be
given an info packet. The Tutwiler may host the Wine and Cheese reception
at Leeds. This is not set up at this time. The Sloss Furnace tour will be
as a group and will be guided. The CSX tour may be unavailable, which will
also save time on Friday’s schedule. We discussed the options for lunch,
at the Irondale Café or catered at Norris Yard.
• Saturday May 19, 2012 - We did not add many “explanations” or additional
info to what was listed on the first draft for Saturday. We basically
covered each Saturday item as listed.
• Sunday May 20, 2012 - As with Saturday, we did not add additional
comments for the Sunday first draft.
• The Contract with the Tutwiler is “done”. We have a 30-room guarantee.
It includes complimentary breakfast. Local members attending the
convention will pay a one-time fee for valet parking.
• Under food service, the contract includes complimentary breakfast. The
banquet dinner will probably be a buffet. The banquet buffet and the
Sunday Membership breakfast buffet will be included with the registration
fee.
