October 19, 2021 - Meeting Summary
The San Diego S-Gaugers held the October club meeting at our clubhouse and on Zoom. Attendees were: Mike Forys, Ken Sadlock, Robert Graves, Les Smith, Scott Lewis, Dale Minard, Don Briggs, Raulf Polichar, John Racey, Al Kiel, Len Carapezza and Alex Sibbald.
Introduction of new faces / Show and Tell:
Ken Sadlock displayed an A.C. Gilbert 303 steam engine that he recently purchased for $25.00 along with an assortment of scenery items. John Racey showed us the Trainmaster locomotive that operated on rechargeable batteries. He also presented a gas station that he constructed.
Treasurer's Report:
This month Bob Graves reported $235.22 from clubhouse visitor donations in September.
Standards Report:
The Liberty Loop doorbell button was stolen again for the fifth time. A new button was installed with industrial, strength, double, sided tape. The new buttons cost less than $10.00 each.
Publicity Report:
Les Smith has prepared Halloween Junior Engineer badges for the upcoming holiday.
Library Report:
Dale Minard has added S-Gaugian magazines and a history of American Flyer trains to his website.
Old Business:
Website Update:
N/C.
New Clinics:
N/C
SN3 Addition Status:
Mike Forys added another plexiglass section to the display. Ken Sadlock has finished the work that he was doing on the rock wall.
Window Layout Success and Visitor Attendance:
As of 10/16/2021 the Window Layout Button 1 has been pushed 1,784 times and Window Layout Button 2 has been pushed 1,549 times for a total of 3,333 times since September 18th or 199,895 times since we first installed one at Grossmont Center and 240,223 times since day one. The club discussed the possibility of adding sound to the window display.
New Business:
Operating Session:
Mike Forys suggested that if anyone is interested in hosting an operating session to contact him. It would be limited to vaccinated club members.
Future events:
The next meetings will be on Tuesdays, November 16th 2021 and December 7th and will be held at our clubhouse and on Zoom. Grossmont Center will be passing out candy again this year on Halloween Sunday from 11AM until 1PM. The club voted to open from 11AM until 4PM for this event. To accommodate social distancing, we will put a table outside for candy distribution.
Clubhouse:
Liberty Loop is sporting a new fall themed centerpiece constructed by Dale Minard. Mike Forys will populate the front display case with AF Christmas Boxcars in November and December. Mike also changed the Plasticville window display to the Halloween Display.
Club Mural:
It was suggested that we change the theme of our pastoral mural to a boxcar. If someone else has another scene idea for the mural please let Mike Forys know.
Tenants Meeting:
The meeting was held on Zoom. The management is working on a new tenants' handbook for release early next month. The malls website has been redesigned. There will be a veterans day concert on November 11th from 4 to 6 pm. Les Smith suggested we try to tie into whatever changes the shopping center plans for 2025. Mike Forys will discuss this with the new mall manager. The empty store will have a holiday store during the holidays and will be occupied with a new tenant early in 2022. There will be an evacuation drill for the mall on 11/17.
Train Direction:
It would require repairing several turnouts and possibly modifying the new signal/pedestrian bridge.
Club Business:
Mike Forys presented a marked-up copy of the club bylaws for the club's review. He added non-discrimination wording at the same time and the change was postponed until next month for a vote of the members.
Other Items:
Mike Forys suggested that we form a planning committee 2025 to study possible action plans in case Grossmont Center ownership changes affect the club in the future.
Raulf Polichar proposed a modification to PY1 to connect the two stub sidings which will further facilitate operations. Mike Forys is looking for freight station ideas for that empty piece of track.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:50 AM.
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