September 17, 2024 - Meeting Summary
The San Diego S-Gaugers held the July club meeting at our clubhouse and on Zoom. Attendees were: Mike Forys, Ken Sadlock, Robert Graves, Alex Sibbald, Dale Minard, Raulf Polichar, Don Briggs, Paul DeLaurell, Scott Lewis, Tim Lewis and Dennis Denk.
Introduction of New Faces / Show and Tell:
Dale Minard passed around diagram of a mixed load freight car. Bob Graves pointed out the 2 Hudson Locomotives from Wes Noel's collection that the club purchased. Dennis Denk, our newest member, was introduced to the club.
Treasurer's Report:
Bob Graves reported that the club received visitor donations totaling $295.03 in Aug $47.60 less than July, and $47.19 less than the average for Aug with $94.29 of the donations coming from our Venmo account. In the twenty-two months we have had Venmo Service, we have received $1663.12 in donations. Bob reported no sales of donated sales this month.
Standards Report:
Ralph Polichar is assembling spare Fulgurex motors for the track turnouts and working on new doorbells.
Publicity Report:
N/C
Library Report:
N/C.
SN3 Layout:
N/C.
Window Layout Success and Visitor Attendance:
Mike Forys reported that from Aug24, 2024 to Sept 14th, 2024, the window buttons have been pushed 1581 times. Windows 1=878 Windows 2 =702 average 75.2 per day over 21 days.
Grossmont total (beginning Feb, 2016) = 324,713
Day one (beginning May, 2011) total = 364,271
Visitor Total since February 1, 2016 = 96,502
Old Business:
Club Mural:
The UP logo is progressing nicely and the door hardware will be next.
Craig Carlson has completed fashioning a hobo for the mural.
Window Layouts:
The Comet Locomotive has been replaced on the Liberty Loop layout due to worn contacts.
New Business:
Lego Days:
The next Lego Build Day is scheduled for October 26, 2024.
Future Events:
The next meetings will be on Tuesdays, October 22, 2024 and November 19th 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.
Train Show:
The Great Train Expo is coming to the Del Mar Fairgrounds on October 5th and 6th 2024.The members voted to participate in some fashion but no decision has been made as to how.
Halloween:
Mike Forys reported that the mall will be holding trick or treat from 4pm to 6pm on Halloween with the stores providing their own candy for giveaway. We will be open from 2:00p-m until 6:00pm
Visitor Celebration:
The club expects that we will see our 100,000th visitor at this location sometime between this November, and January 2025.
SDSG Layout Expansion:
Mike Forys has finished 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. Track and scenery have been installed. The modules are ready for installation.
Work Day Reschedule:
September 18, 2024 has been selected as the time to modify the main layout to allow for expansion.
The 19th will be a backup day in case the work isn’t finished on the 18th. Mike Forys is seeking volunteers to aid in this endeavor. September 18th work day was canceled. Look for an email for a replacement date.
2025 Proposed Calendar:
Mike Forys presented a proposed calendar for 2025.
Mike Forys asked everyone to start thinking about what features we can put into our layout and or clubhouse to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am.