March 28, 2009 - Meeting Summary

Peter Gagnon hosted SDSG’s March meeting. Attendees were: Alex Sibbald, Bob Graves, Peter Gagnon, Mike Forys, and Raulf Polichar. Preceding the meeting there was a work session focused on tying up some of the loose ends on the original eight modules. The main accomplishments at the work session included: 1) construction of a set of plywood cleats to compactly pack up the four corner modules for storage and transport, 2) construction of a box to hold the bolt-on Plexiglas panels during storage and transportation, 3) and bridge rail tie installation on two of the straight modules. The meeting proper covered the following subjects.

Modular Layout Accounting

Mike presented a revision of the module costing report/spreadsheet that was accepted as final by vote of the members present. Items covered by the accounting report are: 1) actual costs to construct the original 10 modules, eight completed and two partials, 2) allocations of expenses to underwriting members, 3) costs of those modules broken down by type, 4) estimated lumber requirements for 2009’s projected six module expansion of the layout, 5) a working list of modules built, under construction, or in design. Mike was also thanked for all the hard work he put in to complete this report.

Funding Ongoing Club Operations

How to build up a kitty to pay for more corner modules was discussed. As background, early on the founding members agreed to a plan in which the club would own the corner modules, and straight modules would be paid for and owned by individual members. To pay for the original four corners, four of the founding members agreed to underwrite the costs of the corners and donate them to the club. Tentative plans call for construction of two more club owned-corner modules, to allow for more interesting layout plans than a simple oval, as soon as 2010 if finances permit.

Institution of annual membership dues was discussed and tentatively approved as one method to fund construction of additional club-owned modules. The plan is to establish dues at the rate of $24.00 per year for club membership. New member’s joining mid-year would be charged at the rate of $2.00 per month for the balance of the club’s fiscal year. It was also decided to hold off a final decision on this until July 1^st to permit time to research and establish suitable banking arrangements for the club. One possibility is that SDSG would have to move to some kind of formal corporate structure to facilitate this. This will be an ongoing topic at club meetings near term.

Layout Expansion Planning

The members present agreed to establish a goal to complete construction on six new modules identified at the February meeting. Following SDSG’s original cost allocation plan, all would be straight modules in which all needed materials would be funded, and the modules owned, by individual members. In order to facilitate both learning and camaraderie opportunities to all of us, construction is to be accomplished collaboratively during club-sponsored work sessions in which all interested members are welcome to participate, without any financial obligation being attached. The first work session will be April 11, and will be hosted by Roland Martinez. Completion targets were set as: all six modules for the December GTE show, and whatever additional modules may be completed and will fit for Labor Day’s exhibit at SDMRM.

Events Planning

The members present agreed to commit to the Labor Day weekend exhibit at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, on condition that there were no substantive changes to the terms and conditions we had reviewed.

It was decided to rent a table at the AGTTA’s Father’s Day event. Cost is believed to be $10.00. SDSG club information would be available and a sample module would be on display, possibly even with limited demonstration operations.

We also discussed the feasibility of SDSG hosting an S model railroad event in our area. The consensus seemed to be this would be good thing for the club to do, but that we should target this for 2010 to give us time to do our homework.

Web Site/Outreach

Bob Graves has set up a club web site for SDSG. It can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/sdsgaugers/index.html. The site contains information on club activities including nice photo layouts of module construction and our participation in the 2008 GTE show at Del Mar. Bob is adding a section for member’s layouts, so please send him any photographs or information that you’d like to have included about your own layouts.

Show & Tell

Raulf brought two S fine-scale New York Central locomotive models to the meeting to share with the group. One was an early box cab electric, the other a brass model of a 4-8-2 Mohawk (called a Mountain type on other roads). Both are things of beauty. I think I can safely speak for the group in saying that we look forward to the seeing them run on the club layout.

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