Tag: business

Revised Draft Meeting Minutes – May 15, 2022 – revisions highlighted

There was no SMD business meeting in April because the Division hosted its annual Mini-Con.

Division members met face-to-face for the first time since March of 2020 at the Greencastle High Line Station.  After socializing, Superintendant Alex Polimeni called the business meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.

22.5–1​Paymaster’s Report:  Paymaster Ray Price reported the SMD bank balance was $3,600.31.  That balance reflects payment for the Mini-Con raffle prize gift certificate to Mainline Hobbies.  The balance does not reflect payment for the 2-year Zoom subscription, which Superintendent Polimeni has graciously contributed to the Division.

22.5-2​Clerk’s Report (Meeting Minutes):  In Clerk Harvey Heyser’s absence, the Superintendent made the Clerk’s report as follows:  There were no draft minutes for the March meeting for several reasons.  The Clerk’s phone connection to Zoom failed for much of the meeting; therefore, he could not hear what was discussed.  Unfortunately, the recording was not saved – a fact not realized until right before this May meeting.  The Clerk will present what minutes he has for the March meeting, along with draft May minutes, before the September meeting for member review and acceptance.

Old Business:  

22-1.7​2022 Mini-Con – The event was held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, and more than 90 attended (many first-timers).  Attendees tended to be experienced hobbyists, not parents and kids (though Brian Greenawalt reported that three kids under 18 took part in the wood kit make-and-take clinic).

The following wrap-up comments were made:

Overall, the Mini-Con was a success!

New Business:  

22.5-3​Officer Elections:  Superintendent Polimeni had declined to run for re-election.  Bob Johnson had agreed to stand for election as Superintendent.  Paymaster Price and Clerk Heyser had both agreed to stand for re-election.

Since the election for Superintendent was uncontested, Ron Polimeni made the following motion (seconded by John Madden):

Motion:  That Bob Johnson be elected Superintendent the candidates for Division elected office be elected by acclimation.  The motion passed unanimously.

All of the officer candidates were running unopposed.  

[?  Was there a motion to re-elect Ray Price as Paymaster and Harvey Heyser as Clerk?]

[At the September 2022 meeting, members present for the March 2022 recalled the following:  The motion made to elect by acclimation was for the entire slate of officer candidates (not only for Superintendent).  No one else was running.]

Superintendent-elect Johnson informed the meeting he will be out of town for the September meeting.  Someone will be appointed chair for that meeting, per the bylaws.

22.5-4​Zoom Pro subscription:  The renewal is due in August (2022) for $150 per year.  There was discussion of whether the Division should renew:

–​Many in attendance agreed; other wanted to wait and see.

–​Renewal will allow for Zoom hobby hangouts.

–​The Division could hold hybrid meetings.

–​Zoom allows for recording and downloading the regular monthly face-to-face meetings.

–​It also can be used for leadership team meetings.  (Note, there will be a planning meeting this summer.)

–​There was discussion of live-streaming versus Zoom.

Andy Arnold made the following motion (second by Bob Morningstar):

Motion:  That the Zoom Pro be renewed for one (1) year.  The motion passed unanimously.

Don Florwick expressed the SMD’s appreciation of Superintendent Polimeni’s donation of the prior two year’s subscriptions to zoom.

22.5-5​Wheel Report Editor:  Alex Polimeni will take over editing responsibilities.

22.5-6​Meeting Site Donation:  Bob Morningstar suggested a donation to the Greencastle High Line Station Fund.

Steve King made the following motion (second by Tom Fedor):

Motion: That the SMD make a donation of $50 to the Greencastle High Line Station Fund.  The motion passed unanimously.

22.5-7​East Broad Top Season Schedule:  The Railroad will operate (3) trains per day Wednesday through Sunday.  Tickets will cost $20 each.  (The season had already started at the time of the SMD meeting.)

Adjournment:  The Superintendant accepted a motion to adjourn.  The next meeting will be held remotely by zoom on Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.  Members will be reminded by e-mail.

Notes for these Minutes were taken and transcribed by Jane Clarke; formatting by Clerk Harvey Heyser

There was no clinic following the May business meeting.

Revised Draft Meeting Minutes – March 13, 2022 – revisions highlighted

Division members met remotely on the internet using the Zoom platform.  18 or so were present. Superintendent Alex Polimeni opened the zoom session prior to the published start time for logging in and sharing.  

During the lead-up to the meeting, the following was shared:

The Superintendent called the business meeting to order at about 2:30 pm.  

22.3–1​Paymaster’s Report:  Paymaster Ray Price reported the SMD bank balance was $3,468.81.  The Paymaster has not yet received invoices for the zoom renewal ($157.40).   The Superintendent will re-forward them.

22.3-2​Clerk’s Report (Meeting Minutes):  

As discussion of the Clerk’s Report commenced, the Clerk’s phone connection to Zoom failed and could not be re-established for a significant portion of the rest of the meeting.  Therefore, he could not hear what was discussed nor record any motions made/accepted.

[At the September 2022 meeting, members present for the March 2022 recalled the following:  During the Clerk’s Zoom disconnection, members approved the February 2022 draft minutes as submitted and focused on the Mini-Con during the following discussion.]

The following are minutes from the remainder of the meeting after the Clerk finally rejoined Zoom.

Old Business:  

22-1.7​2022 Mini-Con – Saturday, April 23, 2022 (confirmed):  The Mini-Con is open to the public not just NMRA members.  Mini-Con Chair Grant Berry was not present to make a report.  Members in attendance suggested a brief written report be shared electronically.

New Business:  

22.3–3​Meeting Reminders:  Don Florwick has accepted the responsibility to send these in the future.

22.3-4​Request for Assistance:  Frank Benenati requested help with a display case he is building

Adjournment:  The Superintendant accepted a motion to adjourn.  There will be no regular meeting in April because of the Mini-Con scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2022.  The next regular meeting will be held remotely by Zoom on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.  Members will be reminded by e-mail.

Minutes submitted by Clerk Harvey Heyser

Following the meeting, Matt Thompson MMR attempted to give his clinic on the achievement certificate requirements for cars and structures.  Unfortunately he could not enable the screen share function on his computer. He then offered to give the clinic at a later date – in–person if possible (at the May meeting perhaps).

Pete and Jane Clarke stepped in to give an extensive up-date on all the things happening with the East Broad Top RR Foundation and with the Friends of the EBT.  Quite a few changes are happeningin Orbisonia and at the FEBT museum in Robertsdale.  A visit to see what is going on was strongly recommended.

After the up-date, there was more sharing:

The SMD welcomed Martin Breckbeil of the Potomac Division to the meeting.

In keeping with the way our world has been for the past couple of years, the 2022-2023 SMD meeting year is getting off to a bad start but hopefully that will change going forward.

First I want to thank Alex for his work as Superintendent over the past several years, including a no notice return to the position last year.

My hope was to have all of the initial planning for the year completed and a Wheel Report out to you by the 22^nd of August. Considering today’s date that obviously is not going to happen so interim arrangements are being made. The delay is totally my fault and unfortunately was driven by a medical issue on my part. Hopefully that is resolved and the current goal is to have a Wheel Report out to you sometime in late September. Remember, our new Wheel Report editor (Alex Polimeni) is always interested in any content you can provide.

2022-2023 Plans

The September meeting will be conducted via ZOOM on September 11^th and will be hosted by Alex (I will be in Arizona at that time). Details and log-on information will be provided at a later date.

Starting with the October meeting I want to return to face to face meetings held at member’s homes and / or other appropriate venues.  The October meeting will be held at my house (October 9^th) where you will have to opportunity to see the West Virginia Midland Railroad.  Not much has been accomplished on the railroad over the past several years but the entire basement has been re-modeled (around the layout).  

I would also like to see more live clinics given by members and / or guests at the meetings.  At this time I am asking for volunteers to host meetings in November through March and in May.  Though not confirmed at this point, we hope to be producing the Mini-Con in April of 2023 at Blue Ridge Summit.  In addition I am looking for volunteers to give the clinics at both the meetings and the Mini-Con.  If you want to host and do a clinic at the same time go for it!!

If you would like to host a meeting or present a clinic please let me know as soon as possible <southmountaindiv@gmail.com>. FYI – we could use a clinic in October. Also, if you know any people who are railroad enthusiasts, but not members of the SMD, feel free to invite them to a meeting.

Bob Johnson, SMD Superintendent

PS: Don’t forget that Main Line Hobby Supply will be holding their annual open house on September 17^th and 18^th. Stop by, drop a few dollars, and pick up the guide book for the annual layout open house tour. Brian and Bonnie have promised a banner year for the tours in term of the number of layouts open including some that have never been on the tour before.