South Mountain Division, Mid-Eastern Region, National Model Railroad Association

Division members met in-person at the home of Paul Mahoney near Frederick, MD.  18 or so were present. After viewing the layout and socializing, the Superintendant welcomed everyone and called the business meeting to order at 2:45 p.m.  It was noted that this is just the 3rd in-person meeting since the pandemic started.

22.11–1​Paymaster’s Report:  Paymaster Ray Price reported the SMD bank balance was $3,457.91 (the same as last month).

22.11-2​Clerk’s Report (Meeting Minutes): The attendees dispensed with the reading/summary of the minutes (previously distributed by e-mail), and per Roberts Rules of Order, the draft minutes, as submitted, were approved by acclamation.

22-11.3​The SMD welcomed a possible new member named Leo.

Old Business:  

22.3–3​Meeting Reminders: There was a brief discussion of email meeting reminders. It seems that, while reports of the first mailing not getting to all members had been made, only one of those present actually experienced the issue. All received the 2nd notice.

22-10.5​Mini-Con 2023:   The Mini-Con date is set for the first Saturday in April – April 1, 2023– the week before Easter.

New Business:  

22-11.4​A Summer Trip in 2023: Two destinations were discussed:  1) the Western Maryland Scenic RR in Cumberland and 2) the EBT in Orbisonia. No official vote was taken but many voices spoke in favor of the EBT. The Clarkes pointed out that FEBT would be willing to open the Robertsdale Museum for the SMD.

22-11.5​Upcoming train shows were discussed, but there were too many to get all the details. There was a suggestion that the newsletter list them.

22-11.6 Host Paul Mahoney briefly spoke of his, “It’s just fun” philosophy of model railroading.

Adjournment:  The Superintendant accepted a motion to adjourn.  The next meeting on Sunday,December 11, 2022 will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Jeff Grove’s home near Maugansville, MD.  It will be an in-person, face-to-face meeting.  Members will be reminded by e-mail.

Notes for the Minutes taken by Pete Clarke and formatted by Clerk Harvey Heyser

Following the meeting, host Paul Mahoney presented a clinic on 3-D printing.

Division members met in-person at the home of Superintendant Bob Johnson near Jefferson, MD.  16 or so were present, including the Superintendent, Paymaster, Newsletter Editor, and Mini-Con Coordinator.  After viewing the layout, the Superintendent welcomed everyone to the first in-home meeting since March 2020 at Jay Beckham’s and called the business meeting to order.

22.10–1​Paymaster’s Report:  Paymaster Ray Price reported the SMD bank balance was $3,457.91 and confirmed that the SMD is still receiving approximately $40 from MER twice a year.  He also reported that the SMD account is now with Truist after a merger between BB&T and Suntrust.

22.10-2​Clerk’s Report (Meeting Minutes):  In the Clerk’s absence, the Superintendent explainedwhy past meeting minutes had not yet been approved.

–​March meeting minutes:  the Superintendent asked for motion to approve the revised draft March meeting minutes.  Ron Polimeni made the following motion (second by Grant Berry):

Motion:  That the draft Minutes for the March 2022 meeting be approved as revised.  The motion carried.

–​May meeting minutes:  the Superintendent asked for motion to approve the revised draft Maymeeting minutes.  Grant Berry made the following motion (second by Ray Price):

Motion:  That the draft Minutes for the May 2022 meeting be approved as revised.  The motion carried.

22-10.3​The SMD welcomed new member Mark R.

Old Business:  There were no items of old business discussed.

New Business:  

22-10.4​A Planning Meeting held prior to the start of the meeting year.  The Superintendent reported that the decision was made to hold the September meeting by Zoom and that the remainder of the meetings would be in-person with the following hosts:  Bob Johnson to host October, Paul Mahoney to host November, Jeff Groves to host December, Steve King to host Jan, Pete & Jane Clarke to host February, Andrew Dodge to host March, no confirmed date for Mini-Con, and Rich Randall to host May.

22-10.5​Mini-Con 2023:  Chair Grant Berry raised the issue of attendance dropping after lunch atpast Mini-Cons and suggested a revised schedule with informal clinics running through until noon followed by a roundtable / panel discussion with guests.  He asked for member input on the revised format.  A suggestion was made to pre-load the roundtable / panel discussion with starter audience questions determined beforehand.

Another suggestion was made to hold the raffle drawing after the roundtable / panel.

Chair Berry asked for membership to be considerate of Brian Wolfe’s support of the Mini-Con.

Mini-Con Finances:  Paymaster Ray Price reported that we earned $150 after expenses on the raffle last year (2022). Normally our only expenditures are the gift card for the raffle and morning coffee + donuts.

Modular Layouts:  The consensus was to invite layouts back if they wish to attend.

22-10.6​Newsletter (Wheel Report):  Editor Alex Polimeni asked for input regarding format of newsletter.  He raised the possibility of publishing a larger, more conventional newsletter once or twice a year.  The Consensus of the discussion was to move to a monthly format, shrink newsletter size, and focus on highlighting the upcoming month’s events and presenters.  Editor Polimeni announced that first issue of new format will be December 2022.

22-10.7​Hybrid Meetings:  Alex Polimeni requested input.  The consensus was that such meetings are doable but difficult.  He will investigate and attempt to implement options.

22-10.8​Audit:  The Superintendent reported that an Audit Commission will be set up at the next officer’s meeting.

Adjournment:  The Superintendant accepted a motion to adjourn.  The next meeting on November 13, 2022 will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Paul Mahoney’s home in Frederick, MD.  It will be an in-person, face-to-face meeting.  Members will be reminded by e-mail.

Notes for the Minutes taken by Alex Polimeni and formatted by Clerk Harvey Heyser

Following the meeting, host Bob Johnson presented a clinic on the concept of increasing layout realism by viewing the layout as a series of stages, utilizing concepts such as view blocking, viewing angles, scene exits (exit stage left) and forced perspective.

The monthly meeting of the South Mountain Division (SMD) will be held on Sunday, October 9^th, at Division superintendent Bob Johnson’s home.  This will be only the second in person meeting, and the first home meeting hosted by the division since February of 2020.  Obviously, if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have recently been exposed, we would ask you not to attend.  Otherwise, everyone is welcome.

Please email the Division at southmountaindiv@gmail.com for the street address and contact information.  Activities are scheduled to start at 2:00 PM but reasonably early arrivals are welcome.

For those of you not familiar with Bob’s layout, the West Virginia Midland is a central West Virginia shortline that connects with the B&O at Holly Junction and the Western Maryland at Laurel Bank.  The railroad started as a logging line in the early 1900’s and later expanded into hauling other bulk materials such as coal, coke and limestone.  There is also a small industrial area located in the town of Webster Springs.  In keeping with the origins of the railroad motive power is heavy on geared locomotives but there are also a small number of rod engines on line for hauling general freight.

The layout is completed in terms of track work and is approximately 90% sceniced.  The design emphasizes operations and typically operates using TT&TO with a 10 person crew.

Following the business meeting Bob will present a clinic on the concept of increasing layout realism by viewing the layout as a series of stages utilizing concepts such a s view blocking, viewing angles, scene exits (exit stage left) and forced perspective.

If the weather is good (read dry) Bob asks that you enter the layout room through the outside basement door.  If it is wet entry will be by the front door.  Signs will be posted on the day of the meeting to direct you.

Let’s have a good turnout for our first live meeting of the year.

Bob Johnson
Superintendent, South Mountain Division