The Relay V1I2 Fall 2009 - NMRA
Transcription
The Relay V1I2 Fall 2009 - NMRA
- The Relay A publication of the Chesapeake Division of the Mid-Eastern Region of the NMRA Volume 1, Issue 2 View From The Cupola Fall 2009 By Kurt Thompson If any of you read the NMRA President’s editorial back in the June or July Scale Rails, his words are pretty much on target. If we do not go out as a Division and meet the public, press the flesh, glad hand the public, they will not know or care that there is a Division here to help them enjoy this hobby. I cannot stress enough that if we enjoy our hobby, we have to be the ambassadors to the public so they can be brought into the fold and enjoy the World's Greatest Hobby. (Sorry, I hate PR tag lines and normally wouldn’t be caught dead repeating one, but this one I feel is on the mark). Well, here we are. The second issue of The Relay is in your hands (or more correctly, on your monitor). By this time, if you have an email address on the NMRA Members Database, you have received several emails about various upcoming events in the Division. And the last email you received was to tell you that this edition of The Relay was available on our website. For a quick recap of the last three months: the Division was hosted by Arthur Boyd at his home for a layout tour/display and a meeting of the Division Board and membership. Meeting minutes are on the website. A couple of the action items under way are the Member’s Survey, which you have received, and the development of a Division tri-fold handout to use at public shows, including train shows and train gardens. continued on page 5... In This Issue . . . View From The Cupola ..........................................1 Bylaws Revision Proposed .....................................2 Contact Information ................................................2 Membership and Article Submissions .................2 Water Effects on the CC&C ....................................3 Member Survey ........................................................4 Training Your Mind: A Collection of Trivia ........5 Chesapeake Division Meeting Minutes ...........6-7 Railpass Trial Membership Form ..........................7 Annual Meeting on November 7 ..........................8 Model Engineers Support Chesapeake Div. .......8 Last Chance for Officer Nominations ...................9 Speaking of train shows, on December 5 and 6, Chesapeake Division will be back at the Timonium Fairgrounds at the Greensburg Train Show. I am coordinating the volunteer schedule for that show, so contact me if you’re willing and able to help out (we can make it two-hour shifts if we get enough volunteers). Being visible at the train shows (and the Christmas train gardens) is our part of the process of letting the model railroading and general public know that the NMRA has a local division here that is active and is supporting and encouraging model railroaders here in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA 1 Fall 2009 Bylaws Revision Proposed The Relay The official publication of the Chesapeake Division of the Mid-Eastern Region of the NMRA, a tax-exempt organization. By Arthur Boyd The Relay is published quarterly. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Chesapeake Division, MER or NMRA officials. Commercial suppliers, supplies and materials addressed in The Relay in no way constitute an endorsement by the MER or NMRA. Copyrighted material that appears in The Relay is used for educational and historical benefit only and does not constitute infringement of the copyright holder. How could that be? A lot of sharp model railroaders spent hours crafting just the right language for the bylaws of the Chesapeake Division, but now we’ve discovered a deficiency! Superintendent: Kurt Thompson super.chesdivmernrma@gmail.com When the nominating committee met to begin recruiting candidates for the three offices coming up for a vote this November, they needed to be able to tell candidates when the term of office begins. No problem – just look it up in the bylaws. Problem: the bylaws did not specify a date, making it “upon termination of the annual meeting,” but that could be anytime during October-December, and a candidate could not be sure when his term would begin or end. Assistant Superintendent: Jeff Hedge jmhedge@zoominternet.net Director-At-Large: Arthur Boyd directoratlg.chesdivmernmra@gmail.com Paymaster: Gerhard Klose waterkraut@verizon.net Clerk: Ivan DeMay ivanr_demay@yahoo.com Achievement Program: Greg Meeks crcsxfan@aol.com Great minds to the rescue! Your nominating committee proposes the following motion to be voted upon by the membership at the November 7 mini-convention. This motion would make the beginning of a term of office the same as the beginning of the fiscal year, on a set date, being January 1. Division Newsletter: Joe Cucchiaro newsletter.chesdivmernmra@gmail.com Webmaster: Russell Forte web.chesdivmernmra@gmail.com http://www.trainweb.org/chesapekmernmra/index.html “Amend Article IX Terms of Office by deleting ‘Members elected will take office upon termination of the Annual Meeting’ and substituting ‘Members elected will take office January 1 of the year following the election.’” Membership, Subscriptions and Article Submissions To become a member of the Chesapeake Division of NMRA, please contact any Board member, fill out the form for a free Railpass (see page 7) or join us at our next meeting, which will take place Saturday, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church in Cecil County (see page 8 for full details). Then when we elect people to serve as Superintendent, Clerk and Paymaster at the November mini-convention, they will know when their awesome powers begin. To receive electronic versions of this newsletter, send an e-mail to Ivan DeMay at ivanr_demay@yahoo.com. If you’d prefer printed copies, please send a check for $6 (payable to the Chesapeake Division, MER, NMRA) to Kurt Thompson, 350 Ternwing Drive, Arnold MD 21012. And you thought the only reason to go to the Division’s mini-convention was to enjoy clinics, sell (and buy) stuff at the white elephant table, see great models on display (and bring yours to show), see modular layouts, and much more! To submit an article for future publication in The Relay, please send it to the newsletter editor, Joe Cucchiaro, at newsletter.chesdivmernmra@gmail.com no later than Saturday, December 12. Arthur Boyd, for the nominating committee (Joe Botts, Gerhard Klose, Arthur Boyd) The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA 2 Fall 2009 Water Effects on the CC&C By Arthur Boyd There are many methods of simulating water on model railroads. I used different methods at different locations depending on the desired effect for that type of waterway. For Great Gorge and its waterfall, I used artists’ acrylic gloss gel. It dries clear and holds its shape. For the falls, I painted the area to be covered by falls black, then I painted on the gloss gel, let it dry, and brushed on white shoe polish in a streaking manner; then after that dried, I added more gloss gel. For the stream from the falls to the railroad bridge, rushing fast over rocks, I continued with the gloss gel, making it intentionally bumpy. After it dried, I dry-brushed the bumps with white shoe polish, let it dry and added a top coat of gloss medium (like matte medium, only gloss). For a wide, slow-moving (and therefore calm) river, I used the two-part resin EnviroTex Lite, since it dries absolutely flat and clear. The stream bed was first painted shades of greenish brown to enhance the reflection of overhanging trees. For Clear Creek, which is fast flowing and darkened by mine tailings (from the adjacent Clear Creek Mine #1), I painted the stream bed shades of brown and black, then used Woodland Scenics Water, since it dries with a slight yellowing that enhances the muddy stream effect. I added a wash of browns and blacks between coats, to add more “muddiness” closer to the mine and clearing as it got further away. Clear Creek joins Pleasant Run, a mountain stream, where the water tumbles over rapids. There I painted the stream bed “natural rocks” tan color. I put on one coat of Woodland Scenics Water, let it dry, and brushed white shoe polish on the downstream side of the rocks trailing out to a point, then added another coat of “water.” As the final coat dried, I “teased” it in places to add turbulence. This “teasing” to make turbulence or waves is easier with Woodland Scenics Water than it is with EnviroTex, which insists on returning to absolute level until after you have given up and gone to bed for the night! EnviroTex would not have worked on the steeply sloping stream anyway - it would have all puddled at the bottom! The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA At the relatively level but deep mountain stream at Summit, EnviroTex gave the needed clear depth over the rockstrewn stream bed. Once dry, stippling on gloss gel gave it a slight turbulence instead of that mirrorflat appearance. There are more waterways to go, and more experimentation with different materials to achieve the desired effect in each location. A log retention pond will have a black bottom from the tree tannin. A port will be gloss brown paint with no discernable depth in the murk. Next time you look at waterways, ignore the concept that it is “water;” look instead for color, texture and light. Then think about what materials would mimic what you see, and think beyond materials sold for making model railroad “water.” 3 Fall 2009 Member Survey: We Value Your Opinion! Please print, fill out and mail to Kurt Thompson (see page 2 for mailing information) Aspects of the hobby you are interested in and your level of desire/expertise Your name (first and last): _____________________________________________ N=Novice, Needs Help I=Intermediate City and county you reside in: Model Building: _____________________ Layout Construction: _____________________ Tracklaying: _____________________ (handlaid or prefab) Layout Design: _____________________ DCC Installation Layout: _____________________ Decoders: _____________________ Operations Group: _____________________ Model Photography: _____________________ Scenery Building: _____________________ Module Layout Building: _____________________ Module Layout Operating Group: _____________________ Traction Modeling: _____________________ (light rail, interurban, trolley) _____________________________________________ NMRA number and expiration date: _____________________________________________ Email address: _____________________________________________ Favorite Modeling Scale (the one in which you model most): _________________________________ Other scales you dabble in: _____________________ Other (please list it here): _____________________ _____________________________________________ Do you have a home layout? ______ yes ______ no What stage is the layout in? Benchwork completed: Roadbed in place: Trackage in: Scenery in place: _____________________________________________ Favorite Railroad(s) & Prototype(s) Modeled: _____________________________________________ ______ yes ______ no _____________________________________________ ______ yes ______ no ______ yes ______ no Is there anything else you think we as a Division need to know about you to serve you better? Remember, the Division is only as good as the information we receive from our members. ______ yes ______ no Is your layout “complete/finished?” (GASP!!) ______ yes ______ no _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Are you willing to host a layout tour? (See Arthur Boyd’s article in the inaugural copy of The Relay.) _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ ______ yes ______ no The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA E= Experienced W=Willing to help others Thank you for your time! 4 Fall 2009 ...View From The Cupola continued from page 1 As an aside, in the President’s column, he congratulated one Division for garnering four new members with Railpasses when that Division had a table at a train show. I felt great pride in the success the Chesapeake Division had as a result of our twoday effort back at the April Timonium show. Twenty-four Railpasses netted and one full-pay NMRA membership brought to the MER. Not bad for a starting effort. If National thinks getting four new members at a major show is impressive, we here in the Chesapeake need to show them that four is a drop in the bucket when we put our minds and hearts and hands behind this membership effort. How many can we get between now and the Greensburg December show? I’d hope we get more that 24 - maybe 36, 48? it is before beach traffic (ugh!!!) really gets going along Rt. 50. If we wait until June, July or August, getting around the area will be next to impossible. Before the show mentioned above, our first Annual Group Meeting (AGM) will be held Saturday, November 7. The location is listed on the website. We are working on a schedule of clinics which right now includes two sessions involving the Layout Design SIG talking about (what else) layout design ideas and issues. Another Division member, Fred Scheer, will also be giving a clinic on what it is like working with a custom layout design service. Also, we will have a “Bring and Brag” table, model judging for Merit Awards (please let Greg Meeks know if you want to be judged for AP/Merit so we aren’t short-handed on judges), plus one or more of our local modular groups will be set up. And of course, we will have a brief AGM vote on two by-law changes, announcement of Howard County’s move to the Chesapeake Division, and voting on three of the five Board positions. The signal ahead displays “APPROACH.” Let’s keep the Division rolling. As you complete your member’s survey, please cut and paste your reply into an email. Once we have received some back, the Division Board will compile the information and work on keeping this Division moving toward more fun. I feel like a really bad gypsy fortune-teller. With this column, I’ve pretty well foretold the past. I hope my crystal ball continues to work well for future events as well. Only time and the efforts of you, my fellow Division members, will tell us how successful we will become. Training Your Mind A Collection of Trivia 1. What is the world’s oldest railroad bridge still in use today? 2. What is the correct order of the railroad properties on a Monopoly board, starting at “Go”? 3. What year did construction begin on the first section of the B&O railroad, and where did the first section end? 4. What town hosted the 1927 B&O Railroad Centenary Exhibition called ”The Fair of the Iron Horse”? There are two more future events to put on your calendar now. First, we will be participating in a joint spring Mini-con with the Potomac Division. The date is set for April 17, 2010. For our May event, I’m hoping we can gather enough layouts in the Anne Arundel County area to have a layout tour. I need to hear back from the layout owners in AA County so we can begin planning this. The tentative date is Saturday, May 15. The reason for this date is Answers: 1. Carrollton Viaduct, located over Gwynns Falls in Baltimore; 2. Reading, Pennsylvania, B&O, Short Line; 3. July 4, 1828, ending at Ellicott’s Mills (now known as Ellicott City); 4. Halethorpe, MD; 5. The “Baltimore American” newspaper. The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA 5. Where were the first timetables of the B&O Railroad published? 5 Fall 2009 Chesapeake Division Meeting Minutes Sunday, July 26, 2009 NEW ITEMS: The meeting was held at Arthur Boyd’s home in Baltimore City, with 26 Division members attending. Board members in attendance (5 of 8) were: Kurt Thompson (superintendent), Gerhard Klose, Greg Meeks, Russell Forte and Arthur Boyd. 1. Potomac Division offers the Chesapeake Division to co-sponsor with them an April 2010 Mini-convention, location South Columbia Baptist Church, Columbia, Howard County MD. We have been offered a cut of the door proceeds. A motion was made, seconded and approved to co-sponsor a mini-con with the Potomac Division in April. A Chesapeake Division contact person is needed to coordinate our volunteers to help. This is a great opportunity to “shadow” the organizing of a minicon with folks who have a successful track record of this. If interested, contact Kurt. The program included a tour of Arthur’s layout before the meeting, and a “show and tell” about Arthur’s layout design concepts and operations system following the meeting. Simple refreshments were provided. OLD ITEMS: 1. November 7 (Saturday, all day) will be the Annual General Membership meeting, election of the Board, and Mini-convention. The location (tentative) is Port Deposit, Cecil County MD. The church at which the event will be held will provide food, and the MARS group and the Harford club may have modular layouts. There will be a “white elephant” sales table and a display table for members’ models. Hal Olson is the clinic chair, and welcomes folks who would be willing to do a miniclinic (first-time presenters especially invited!). A volunteer is needed to be the overall coordinator or chair, and others to help out – contact Kurt if interested. 2. Having tables at train shows was discussed. This was successful and fun at the fall Scale Show, and folks would like to do this again at other shows. Kurt will inquire about the October 10-11 Scale Show. Bill Wolf will update and make available the very professional-looking display board he produced. Kurt will inquire with “Christmas Train Garden” displays if they would be willing to have handout material from us. It was suggested that if there is a calendar of such displays in the Division territory we should post it (link to it) on our website and put in The Relay. 3. Hal Olson is compiling a list of clinic suggestions and clinician volunteers. Interested folks should contact him. Greg Meeks described events at the NMRA national convention in Hartford CT, and gave his impressions of the model contest and judging. He participated as a judge, and found it very informative. He offered to do a clinic on model contest criteria etc., perhaps at our next mini-con. 2. The proposed March 2010 Public Show was discussed. Given the invitation to co-sponsor a mini-con with the Potomac Division in April (see below), a motion was made, seconded and approved to not hold a March 2010 public show. 3. Joe Botts gave a Nominating Committee update. Positions to be filled this year are Superintendent, Clerk and Paymaster. So far only the incumbents have placed their names in nomination. An “invitation to serve” was placed in the newsletter, and will be placed on the website. The Nominating Committee discovered a deficiency in the bylaws concerning when the newly elected officer takes office. A bylaws change will be presented to the membership for a vote at the November general meeting, to set January 1 of the year following election as the beginning of the term of office. Joe asked Arthur Boyd to write up an article about this for The Relay and the website. The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA 4. New meeting locations: a. Knights of Columbus Hall, c/o Raymond Miles, have offered meeting location for twice a year, 10855 Stang Road, Owings Mills, MD., b. Covenant Church, Centennial Park Rd, Columbia, MD. Ideas for additional places should be sent to Kurt. 5. Formation of a new member contact and greeting committee was discussed. Several people volunteered to call new members. Kurt gets an update from NMRA headquarters monthly. An 6 Fall 2009 “interests and skills” survey of the entire membership now, and then of each new member, was suggested. This would help build a “member aid” resource list, find folks with home layouts willing to host a Division tour, identify people who might be encouraged to offer a clinic, etc. Gerhard offered to compile a survey to consider. 8. The intention for The Relay newsletter is to do as much mailing as possible via e-mail, and any announcements of events between issues of The Relay will only be by e-mail. Any NMRA member who is not getting Division e-mails should notify Kurt of your correct address. THANK YOU: 6. Arthur Boyd had two folks so far respond to the article in The Relay inviting people willing to host a layout tour. He also received one “member aid” request (regarding DCC shorting on switches in HO). Anyone who might help this person should contact Arthur. 1. Joe Cucchiaro on getting the first edition of the newsletter out, and making it look so good. 2. Russell Forte for keeping the website moving and updated. It is among the best Division websites, even though it is just starting. 7. We have a tentative invitation to a private event at Chesapeake and Allegheny Live Steamers in September. Kurt will send details when confirmed. 3. The nominating committee: Joe Botts, chair, and Gerhard Klose and Arthur Boyd. Recorder for this meeting: Arthur Boyd National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) Mid-Eastern Region Application for Free “Railpass” Trial Membership YES, please sign me up for a free six-month Railpass trial membership in the NMRA, which includes membership in the Mid-Eastern Region and my local Division. During this six-month period, I understand that I may attend conventions and meets, and participate in contest. I will receive Scale Rails, the monthly national magazine, and The Local, the bi-monthly regional newsletter. I will not be eligible to vote, hold office or receive a New Member Pak. I also understand that the $9.95 cost of this six-month Railpass trial membership is being paid by the Mid-Eastern Region. (Regardless of who pays, six-month $9.95 memberships are available only once to each person.) At the end of the six months, I may join NMRA, paying the regular active member dues. During the past thirty months, I have not been a member of NMRA. Name: __________________________________________________________________ Street Address: ___________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: __________________________________________________________ Phone: (__________) ______________________________________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________________________________ Scale(s): ____________________ Date of Birth: _____________________________ Signature of Applicant: ____________________________________________________ Signature of “Recruiter”: __________________________________________________ When this form is completed, mail it to: Fred Miller, MMR MER Business Manager 8960 Challis Hill Lane Charlotte, NC 28226-2686 Do not mail it directly to NMRA headquarters in Chattanooga, TN. (A Regional or Divisional officer or board member) The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA 7 Fall 2009 Next Division Meeting on Saturday, November 7, 2009 Please join us for our first-ever Annual Group Meeting and Mini-Con on Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meeting will take place at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, 1713 Liberty Grove Road, Colora, MD (Cecil County) 21918. The doors open at 8 a.m., with events and functions to follow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The following clinics will be offered: Layout Design and Theory, Dealing With a Custom Layout Designer, Simple Operations Scheme and others to be determined. There will be a White Elephant/Garage Sale table, along with an HO test track with DCC, and Bring and Brag to show off your models, with AP and Merit Judging available. Of course, there will plenty of general model railroad talk and socializing, followed by the Annual Membership Meeting at 12:30 p.m., when members will vote on candidates and the by-laws change mentioned on page 2. We hope to see you there! Baltimore Society of Model Engineers Supports the Chesapeake Division On November 1, the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers hosted an open house for the Potomac Division as well as the newly formed Chesapeake Division. The following is an excerpt from their web page (www.modelengineers.com) and tells about the club and the layouts they have. a look at how trains have changed through the years. The HO Layout models the fictitious railroad the Chesapeake and Western, which operates a double track mainline from Baltimore, MD to Wheeling, WV, so the scenery reflects that. The city trollies are undergoing restoration and expansion as the citizens look for green transportation alternatives. “The Baltimore Society of Model Engineers is a model railroad club located in Baltimore Maryland, formed in March 1932. We have the largest permanent display in the mid-Atlantic region, with 2500 square feet of steam and diesel freight and passenger trains as well as trollies and interurban running from the overhead wire. We are the oldest exclusively model railroad club in the United States and the third oldest modeling society in the world! The club also has displays of railroad history and lore, including 34 authentic heralds from the 1950s. Displayed around our layouts are railroad manufacturers’ publicity photos and a prototype steam engine bell, whistle, headlamp and builder’s plate. The society is always interested in welcoming new members, regardless of modeling skills. Part of the club’s activities help beginning members to become skilled in all aspects of the hobby. We also have plenty to keep the experienced hobbyist interested and challenged.” The society operates both HO & O Scale layouts. The O scale layout is set in early 1950s, the late steam and early diesel era. This means the majority of the trains will be Steam and first generation Diesel Trains, but you will see an occasional modern passenger or freight. The O scale layout also has a trolley system running the 65’ length of the layout running off the overhead wire! You will city trolley models of Baltimore Streetcars as well as interurban cars running on the line. The Baltimore Society of Model Engineers is located just north of the Baltimore Inner Harbor area at 225 West Saratoga Street, third floor. On-street parking is free on Sundays, plus they are half a block from the light rail station and just over a block from the Lexington Market subway station. We encourage everyone to stop by when you get a chance! The HO scale layout operates modern SD-90 diesels next to a ten wheeler (4-6-0) steam train with 40-foot boxcars. This is primarily to give the visitor The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA 8 Fall 2009 Last Chance to Submit Nominations for Officers of the Chesapeake Division By Joe Botts The Chesapeake Division, MER-NMRA has and appoints the Chairpersons of all committees Nominating Committee is soliciting the division represents the Division when attending MER Board with the approval of the Board. The Superintendent begun the process of electing officers for 2010. The meetings and serves as an ex-officio member of all membership for persons interested in leading the committees except the nominating committee. Division through its infancy over the next couple of years. This will be an exciting time to serve on the B – The Clerk serves as the Division secretary, with Board of Directors as an officer of the Division. duties that include taking and publishing minutes of all meetings, maintaining a roster of active This year, the Division will elect officers in the members, maintaining the Division records and positions of Superintendent, Paymaster and Clerk. sending correspondence and notices of meetings. Elections for these positions will be conducted during the annual meeting this coming Saturday, November 7, 2009. Officers will serve for two years. C – The Paymaster serves as the Division treasurer. The process of nomination has been under way funds, receiving and disbursing funds under the Duties include the care and custody of Division direction of the Board, and preparing financial since summer to ensure that we have a well-vetted reports as required by law. The Paymaster keeps slate of candidates who can be presented to the proper books of account showing all monies membership for their consideration. Your assistance received or distributed by the Division. The Position is essential. If you think you or someone you know would make a solid officer of the Division, please of Clerk and Paymaster may be held by a single let me know. Here are the position descriptions: individual if two persons are not elected. A – The Superintendent presides over the Division and If you wish to lead this Division into the future, Board Meetings and is the chief executive officer of please send me an e-mail at joebotts@comcast.net supervision and management vested in the office of short paragraph describing your experience and the Division, with the general powers and duties of nominating yourself or someone else. Include a President of a not-for-profit organization. The why you would be a strong candidate for that office. Superintendent is responsible for seeing that the Please include all contact information (address, resolutions and actions of the Board are carried out, The Relay/Chesapeake Division/NMRA email, phone numbers, etc). Good luck! 9 Fall 2009
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