South Mountain Division
Mid-East Region – National Model Railroad Association
Draft Meeting Minutes – November 11, 2018
Division members met at Bob Johnson’s home. 18 or so were present. After viewing the layout and socializing, Superintendant Alex Polimeni called the business meeting to order.
Reports:
18.11-1 Clerk’s Report (Meeting Minutes): Clerk Harvey Heyser summarized the draft minutes. Pete Clarke pointed out that Item #17.10-4 should read as follows: “The SMD gave $140.00 (most of the Mini-Con proceeds) to support Mainline Hobbies’ fall layout tour. Pete Clarke made the following motion (seconded by Jerry Skeim):
Motion: That the draft Minutes for the May 2018 meeting be approved as corrected. The motion passed unanimously.
18.11-2 Paymaster’s Report: Paymaster Ray Price reported that the Division has $4,017.11 in its bank account including dispersal of $119.40 to Yahoo and deposit of $41.00 from the MER.
Old Business:
17.5-3-d. T-Track Modules: Richard Benjamin of Hobbytown Frederick thanked the Division for the donation of the modules.
18.10-4 2019 Mini-Con: The date will be Saturday, April 13, 2019. Chair Pete Clarke indicated the date was selected to avoid conflicts with the Timonium Show and Easter. Members willing to give informal clinics should contact Mr. Clarke.
18.10-5 Web Site: Tom Fedor reported that he and Roy Hoffman are working on a new site format based on Word Press, a blog type web building tool that will allow better ties between the site and the Wheel Report. The new site format will provide a quicker way to publish (on a weekly basis if desired) but still allow printing of some content for the members receiving the newsletter by mail. The new format will also allow for easier archiving and will facilitate coordination with future officers. Finally, the new format will present a fresher web presence and will include more attractive material for potential members. No interface problems are anticipated with NMRA and MER.
18.10-7 Change of date and/or time of SMD meetings: Given the fact that the meetings have been held on Sundays at 2 p.m. for a very long time and that the meeting sites are varied throughout the area, the discussion tended toward keeping the day of the week and time as they are. However, it was suggested and agreed that in the future the social portion of the meeting will start at 1:30 p.m. and the business meeting will start at 2 p.m. giving members the possibility of leaving a bit earlier. (As this is not a part of the by-laws, no formal action was needed.)
New Business:
18.11-3 Host Bob Johnson welcomed everyone to his HO scale West Virginia Midland Railroad.
18.11-4 Gold Spike Award: Achievement Program Coordinator Jane Clarke presented Bob Morningstar with his Gold Spike award. She reported that host Bob Johnson is making progress on his Achievement certificates for MMR.
18.11-5 The Wheel Report Deadline for the winter edition is November 15.
18.11-6 Future notices and updates from the officers will originate from an SMD e-mail address rather than a personal account.
18.11-7 Operating Session: Herb Biegel reported that Matt Thompson of the Potomac Division has invited SMD members for an operating session on his Oregon Coast Railroad (layout in Gainesville VA) sometime after the holidays. SMD members interested in participating should contact Don Florwick by e-mail. donflorwick@gmail.com
Adjournment: The Chair accepted a motion to adjourn. Notice of the next SMD meeting will be communicated to the members.
Minutes submitted by Clerk Harvey Heyser
Following the meeting, host Bob Johnson gave an informal clinic on how he makes his layout’s many trees from wild hydrangea gathered at railway and highway cuts as well as from other recently disturbed ground. He reported that this method of tree making was developed by Harry Clarke.
