March 19, 2024 - Meeting Summary

The San Diego S-Gaugers held the February club meeting at our clubhouse and on Zoom. Attendees were: Mike Forys, Ken Sadlock, Robert Graves, Don Briggs, Alex Sibbald, Scott Lewis, Raulf Polichar, Les Smith, John Racey, Craig Carlson and Dale Minard.

Introduction of New Faces / Show and Tell:

John Racey showed us pictures of an Allegheny Models Train Station that he built. Robert Graves passed around a Putt Trains S gauge trolley. Les Smith showed us photos that he took at a model train club during a recent trip to Boise, Idaho.

Treasurer's Report:

Bob Graves reported that the club received visitor cash donations totaling $281.85 in February which was $16 above the average February, with $70.06 of it coming from Venmo. In the nineteen months we have had Venmo Service we have received $1,129.26 in donations. Bob sold $179.75 worth of donated trains. To date the club has received $7,315.17 from the sale of donated trains. The club showed a net gain of $28.21 for the month after expenses.

Standards Report:

Ralph Polichar is working on an E-Unit simulator for the test track. He has been working to eliminate problems with the button on the ceramic village window layout.

Publicity Report:

N/C

Library Report:

Dale Minard is working on merging sections of the club digital library and the NASG digital library. He has been scanning real train data from Train Shed Encyclopedia and others into his database.

New Clinics:

N/C

SN3 Addition:

A visitor and NMRA member, Robert Behm, volunteered to shorten our engine house which he accomplished.

Window Layout Success and Visitor Attendance:

Mike Forys reported that from February 17th, 2024 to March 16th, 2024 the window buttons have been pushed 2,451 times. Windows 1=1,334 Windows 2 =1,117 average 87.5 per day over 28 days.

Grossmont total (beginning Feb, 2016) = 309,021

Day one (beginning May, 2011) total = 348,579

Visitor Total since February 1, 2016 = 91,467

Old Business:

Club Mural:

The mural has been completely painted and the hanging of the barn door is complete. Ken Sadlock has completed stenciling the letters and they are ready for fill in.

Window Layouts:

Raulf Polichar located a dip in the trackage. We are running a locomotive that is not affected by it.

New Business:

Lego Days:

The next Lego Build Day will be April 27th, 2024.

Future Events:

The next meetings will be on Tuesdays, April 16th 2024 and May 21st 2024 and will be held at our clubhouse and on Zoom.

Main Layout:

A circus display has been located on the S curve temporarily until the permanent town is completed.

Window Displays:

The Christmas window display has been replaced by the Easter layout.

The Toboggan Run centerpiece has been replaced by the Liberty Station Park display on the Liberty Loop layout.

Website:

Bob Graves reported that he updated the calendar on the website.

Donations:

Ken Sadlock donated a compressor to the club which we sold for $70.00.

SDSG Layout Expansion:

Mike Forys has begun constructing two new modules to support the layout expansion to include our turntable module. One is 24 inches deep and one is 30 inches deep.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 AM.