April 22, 2025 - Meeting Summary

The San Diego S-Gaugers held the April club meeting at our clubhouse. Attendees were: Mike Forys, Robert Graves, Alex Sibbald, Dale Minard, Raulf Polichar, Scott Lewis, Dave Posladek, Ken Sadlock, Don Briggs, Paul DeLaurell, Dennis Denk and Michael Thomas.

Introduction of New Faces / Show and Tell:

Two new members were introduced to the club. Dave had Lionel in his past now has an elevated, around the room, G scale layout with a Disney theme. Michael Thomas is 18 years old and is finishing up high school. Mike brought in six plastic trays good for holding parts during repair.

Treasurer's Report:

Bob Graves reported that the club received $235.16 in visitor cash donations, $198.30 less than last month, and $49.44 less than the average for March with $60.14 of the donations coming from our Venmo account. In the thirty-one months we have had Venmo Service, we have received $2,225.49 in donations from 219 donors. Bob reported $559.92 in sales of donated trains this month. We have received $9,702.06 from the sale of donated trains to date. Bob reported that we showed a profit of $853.58 in March.

Standards Report:

Raulf Polichar reported that he is working on the new switch required for the new S29 module.

Publicity Report:

N/C

Library Report:

Dale Minard reported that he has obtained narrow gauge s magazines (Narrow Gauge Down Under) published in Australia.

SN3 Layout:

A #4 WYE that was ordered from Empire Track Works has arrived and it works. Two display cabinets have been installed in the SN3 room.

Window Layout Success and Visitor Attendance:

Mike Forys reported that from March 15 2025 April 19, 2025 the window buttons have been pushed 2,760 times. Window 1= 1,059, Window 2 = 1,701 average 78.9 per day over 35 days.

Grossmont total (beginning Feb, 2016) = 345,861

Day one (beginning May, 2011) total = 385,419

Visitor Total since February 1, 2016 = 103,757

Old Business:

Club Mural:

The UP logo is complete and the door hardware will be next. The test of the stick-on lettering worked.

Window Layouts:

The track on Liberty Loop layout had a new bridge rail slider installed.

New Business:

Lego Days:

The next Lego Build Day is scheduled for April 26, 2025.

Future Events:

The next meetings will be on Tuesdays, May 20, 2025 and June 17, 2025 and will be held at our clubhouse and on Zoom.

Main Layout:

Mike Forys is working on a schedule of tasks which could then be publicized. The next work day will be Thursday April 24th at 10:00am. The goal will be to change out the Easter window display and remove and replace track on the roundhouse module.

American Flyer Clinic:

Bob Graves will be holding a repair clinic on Tuesdays for club members.

SDSG Layout Expansion:

Mike Forys has finished constructing two new modules (S29 and C7) to support the layout expansion to include our turntable module. They need painting. C6 is partially built.

250th Anniversary:

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 In July 2026. Suggestions received included running The Freedom Train, an army train and a navy train. Michael suggested red white and blue bunting for passenger cars.

NASG Convention:

The members discussed the possibility of hosting a NASG Convention with another club. Mike Forys has contacted the Southern California S-Gauge club and they appeared interested although the money required may be a problem. They will discuss the convention during their May meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.