TheFlaTwheel
Vol49Nbr10December2014
OfficialnewsletterofDivisionFour,MidCentralRegionoftheNationalModelRailroadAssociation.
December2014
Hereweare,approachingtheendoftheyear. FirstofallIwanttothankallofthosewhohavekeptmeoutoftroubledur-ingthisfirstsixmonthsofmyterm.Thiscomingyearpromisestobemorefunandeducational.Asaresultoflastmonth’sbudgetpresentation,theBoardhasstartedreceivingsuggestionsfortheuseoftheexcessfundsrealizedfromtheconven-tion.Sofar,suggestionshaveincluded:
1)Developingalibraryof“how-to”DVD’s(examples:weathering,casting,trackwork,scenery,etc.).
2)PurchaseofaselectionofFast-Tracksfixtures,toolsandsupplies.(Accompaniedbydemonstrationsbefore
someofthemeetings).
3)Morefieldtripslikethelastone.WearealreadylookingintoatriptotheAgesofSteamRoundhouse.
4)Donationstosomeone’sfavoritehistoricalsociety.Thislastonecouldeasilygetoutofhand,asourmember
shipencompassessupportersofatleast10historicalsocieties.
Thefirsttwosuggestionsitemwouldprobablybeaddedresponsibilitiesforthecompanystore.Inanyevent,pleasekeepthosesuggestionsrollingin.TheBoardwillmakesomedecisionsand/orrecommendations,andgetbacktoyou.
IfyoupleadnicelytoBruce,hemaystillbeabletogetyouintotheAwardsdinneronthe12th.REMEMBER!Thereisno
Decembermeeting–wewillbestuffingourselvesonprimeribattheCopperTop.
Thankstoallofyouwhohadyourlayoutsopenlastmonth.Iactuallymanagedtogettoeachone,andpickedupsome
newideasfromsome.
InoticethattheJanuarycontestis“somethingdifferent”inatankcar.AttheLakelandShowonthe14th,Isawaflatcarwithanarmytankmountedonit–Iwastempted,butrememberedthatLawlerisbiggerthanmesoIchickenedout.Idoexpecttoseesomeinnovativeexamplesthough.
Also-Startgettingsomeofthestuffoffoftheshelf(anddustedoff),fortheupcomingauctioninMarch.
ThemodulegrouphasalayoutattheBlackRiverTransportationCentereveryweekendfromlastSaturdaythroughDe-cember28th.(Seepages4and5).
Pleaseremember-newmemberscaneasilybeidentifiedbytheirnamebadge–itwillbeGREEN.Whenyouseesome-onewithagreennamebadge,pleaseintroduceyourselfandmakehimorherfeelwelcome.Ourgoalistokeepthemcomingbackformore.
HopingtoseeyouattheCopperTop,
SteveKaplanDivision4MCRSuperintendent
DivisionFour’snextmeetingwillbeFridayDecember12,2014
AnnualAwardsBanquet/HolidayParty
CopperTopBanquetFacility
5740CenterRoad (akaRoute303,onthesouthside)
ValleyCityOH44280
Startsat6:30pm,withdinnerat7pm
Divisionwebsite:
GeneralMeetingMinutes
MeetingforNMRADiv4,November14,2014
Openedat7:40PM
WelcomebyourSuperintendentSteveKaplan
Membership–JoeMehalic–Visitor-AaronWheeler–HOmodeler.JerryKrugerwillbehelpingthecommitteeontheroster.
Layouttours–JohnHemsathtourswillbethismonth,thisSundayandnextSaturday.
Contests–DaveLawler-thismonth’scontestwasformodelsmadefromdrinkingstraws,somegreatmodelswereen-tered.Lastmonth’scontestwasdumptrucks.Greatmodels.Januarycontestisunusualtankcar.
ModuleGroup–ScottBenson,wewillbeshowingoverthenextmonthincludingattheBlackRiverTransportationinLorain.ThiseventisallthroughthemonthofDecember.StillwaitingtohearabouttheWorld’sgreatestHobbyshowinColumbusinFebruary2015.
Clinics–LarryMadson-Tonight’sclinicisallaboutEthanolplantsbyRonMorgan.
TreasurerBruceBowie’sreportincludesthebudgetdiscussion.Assets–$59,503.03,wehavereceiveddisbursementsfromtheNMRANationalConventionofabout$17,000.00.Moredisbursementsfromthecommitteeareexpectedasthebooksarecompleted.Brucepresentedthebudgetasnormalizedbudget.Stevealsospokeaboutsomeofthebigticketitemsortoursthatwecando.Wewelcomeyourinputabouttoursorothergrantsthatwecando.Talktoanyoftheboarddirectors.ThefollowinggroupsarebeingawardedthefollowingGrantsfromtheDivision4.Itwasmovedtoac-ceptthebudgetbyJohnHemsathandsecondedbyTimSheffield.DiscussionwasreceivedbytheGroup,andthenvotedonbythemembership,motionwaspassed.
FriendsofHarborTowneMedina4HClub
ModuleGroupsErieMetroLiveSteamers
NorthernOhioLiveSteamersHolidaymuseumclub
BurningRiverNScaleAbilityWorksinHuronCounty–RadioScanner.
LotsofroomstillfortheDecemberAwardsDinnertobeheldDecember12,2014.SignupDEADLINEISNovember30,
2014.Call,email,carrierpigeon,FedexorPonyexpresstoBruceBowie.
Goodfortheorder,VeteransDayrecognitionforourmembershipofthosewhoservedourcountry.Thankyou.Adjournedat8:25PM
DavidJames
Secretary
DecemberBirthdays
DavidAndersonRobertOrlandoRussellConserJohnPesuitMichaelDrops LeeSoule
FrankFekoCharlesSpencer
JohnHemsathStephenTwarogowski
PatriciaHenningMichaelVollmar
CharlesKleinDennisWhitaker
WilliamKostkaJeffWiner
JeffreyLaurenJosephWitouski
ScottMcKeeEdWoskowicz
MarciaMehalic
NewMembers
DanielBrushParma,OHAnthonyKarrParma,OH
Raffle
LadiesandGentlemen,ItisthattimeoftheyearagainwhenitistimetocelebrateattheAwardsandHolidayBanquet.Onceagain
wehavea“RAFFLEEXTRAVAGANZA”.Manygreatprizestobehadandonceagain“TheHenningPicture”.Comeandjointhefun.See
everyoneatthebanquet.
TheRaffleDudes
Transitions
Duetocurrentemploymentconstraints,MembershipCo-ChairTomBeutlerandCompanyStoreChairTimSheffieldhavehadtostepdownfromtheirpositions. JoeMehalicwillassumeallMembershipChairdutiesandChuckKleinwithtakeovertheCompanyStore.Timisabletoremain(very)activewiththeDivisionbutisoftenscheduledtoworkonFridayevenings. TheDivisionthanksTomandTimfortheirservice,andJoeandChuckfortakingonnewresponsibilities.
2014AWARDSBANQUETinDecember
Note:Thiseventrequiresadvancedreservationstoattend. Thisnoticeisintendedtoprovideinformationtothosewhohavesignedup. AsmentionedintheSuperintendent’scolumn,theremaybeafewremainingplaces,socontactTreasurerBruceBowieat
adytoprovide:numberofadults,numberofchildren,andchildrens’ages-ifhecanaccommodateyou.
Thisyear'sbanquetwillbeheldinlieuofaregularmeetingonFriday,December12thatthe
CopperTopBanquetFacility
5740CenterRoad (akaRoute303,onthesouthside)
ValleyCityOH44280
Theenjoymentandcamaraderiewillstartat6:30PMfollowedwithabuffetdinnerat7PM.
Thisyear'smainentreeswillbePRIMERIBandBAKEDHERBCHICKEN.YesrealPRIMERIB!Dinnerwillincludesalad,rolls,butter,soft
drinksandcoffee.TheDivisionheavilysubsidizesthiseventsoallthisforonly$15peradultwithchildren16andunderFREE!WOW!!
Thisyearwewillhaveacashbarwithspiritsofyourchoosing. Alsothisyear,wewillhaveaDJforyourlisteninganddancingplea-sure.
Recognitionforoutstandingmemberswillbemadeandasusual,wewillhaveanamazingraffle.(Treasurer-IpersonallyknowMike
Kleinhasbeencollectingspecialraffleprizesallyearjustforthebanquet.ThanksMike!)
Thisisafamilyeventwithfreegiftsforchildren,sobringyourkidsandgrandkids!TheDivisionisincontractnegotiationswithSantaanddependingonasuccessfulnegotiation,wearehopefulhewillbeonhandtopresentthegifts!
TheDivision’sModularGroupwillhavealayoutondisplayweekendsattheBlackRiverTransportationCenterinLorain.Thelayout’spresenceisinsupportoftheInternationalTreeModelDisplay. TheeventisopentothepublicandDivisionmembersarewelcometoparticipatewiththelayout.Timesandlocationareonthenextpage.LatewordfromScottBensonandLeeSheffieldindicatedthatthefirstSaturdayattendanceover1000people,withSundaybeingabitquieter.ThankstoRonMorganforprovidingthesepictures.
BODMeetings
February10,2015
May5,2015
BODmeetingsareheldatthesameplaceasthegeneralmeetingsandusuallystartat7pm. Membersarealwayswelcometoattend.
FlyerprovidedbySteveKaplan.(onepicturewasomittedduetosizelimitations)
DIVISIONFOUROFFICERS
Elected
Superintendent
SteveKaplan(216)
AssistantSuperintendent
Secretary
DavidJames h(440)717-1778c(440)785-9907
Treasurer
BruceBowie c(419)-602-3584
Therewere63peopleattheNovembermeeting,whichwasimpressiveconsideringtheroadconditionsthatnight. Therewereabout63storiesaboutthedrive(professionalbusdriverDavidJamesusedtheturnpikeforalongerbutbettertripthanthoseofustryingI-480andClagueRoad). Here’shopingthatthemeetingnightsduringtheactualwinterwillbelessbother-some!
TrusteeEast
(216)587-4419
TrusteeQuadCounty
JimMoore (419)684-5833
TrusteeWest
DaveWilliamsh(440)
TrusteeatLarge
LarryMadson(440)
TrusteeatLarge
GreatBereaTrainShow
MikeOster
Appointed
’sbesttoinclude“Division4”inthesubjectlineandincludeyourname.
MembersoftheYahooGroupreceiveanemailwhentheFlat-wheelPDFhasbeenpostedontothewebsite.ThegroupisprivateanddoesnotappearontheYahoodirectory.
Uncreditedphotos: DWilliams.
TheFlatwheel ispublishedmonthly(exceptduringJulyandAugust)byDivisionFouroftheMid-CentralRegion(MCR)oftheNationalModelRailroadAssociation(NMRA). Allcom-mentsarewelcome,however,thoseviewsexpressedintheFlatwheeldonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionoftheNMRA,MCR,orDivisionFour.
DeadlineforthenextFlatwheelisFridayDecember26,2014.Thedeadlineisalmostalways2weeksandadaybeforethenextgeneralmeeting.(AdaylaterthistimetoavoidbeingonChristmas.)
TheFlatwheelisnolongermailed.
Achievement
BruceBrintnallMMR
Layouts
JohnandTomHemsath
Contests
DavidLawler
Historian/Archivist
FrankBongiovanni
Raffle
MikeKlein
CompanyStore
TimSheffield
Clinics
LarryMadson
FlatwheelEditor
DaveWilliams
Membership
JoeMehalic
Modules
ScottBenson
N.O.A.R.S. Representative
ChuckBeargie
Webmaster
BenLanza
Refreshments
JoeFilipiak
December2014
NoProgram
PleasejoinusforAwardsBanquettobeheldattheCopperTopRestaurant.Seedetailsonpage4.
January2015
WatchthewebsitefortheannouncementoftheJanuary2015program.
ClinicsWanted
IneedprogramsforJan,Feb,April,MayandJuneof2015.AnyDivisionmemberwithanideaforaprogramsubjectorwishingtopresentaprogramforthe2014–2015season,pleasecontactme.
Larry
ClinicPresentationAids
Division 4 has a digital projector available for use by division members for presenting clinic programs in digi-tal format. We now also have a carousel slide projector with carousels. The division also has a video cam-era available for program enhancement. Anyone wishing to use the camera or the projectors for their program,contactLarryMadson. phone:.
LarryMadson
RonMorgan’sNovembercliniccoveredallthathe’sdonetomodelalargeethanolcomplexonhislayout.
Ifyouhaven’tmadeittoanannualSebringOpenHouse,thinkaboutmakingplansfornextyear. It’sdefinitelyworththetrip.
Editor’sNotes
MyreferencelastmonthtoMarnostatandTruScalewasofcourseasalutetoFrankBongiovanni,who’sbeenabletoexploresomeoftheslightlylesstravelledpathsinmodelrailroading. TheMarnostatwasafancyrheostatforcontrollingDCtrainspeedandTruScaleproducedonepiecesectionsofmilledwoodtiesandtrackbed. BothwerekindoflikeCadillacs,atleasttoakidrunningDocksidesandHustlersonloosesnaptrack.
Ofotheritemsofyearsgoneby,oneofmyfavoriteswastheAuroraModelMotoringsetthatIgotforChristmasoneyear. Ithinkthemanufacturer’soriginalintentionwasjusttohavecarsdrivingthespeedlimitinbothdirections,andintelligentlywaitingforthetrain. Yeah,thatdidn’tlasttoolong.Wesoonfoundouthowfastthosecarscouldgo,andhowfasttheirmotorsburntout.
ThanksforapprovingtheFlatwheelbudget.Whilewe’renotmailinganymore,Istillhavetoprintoffacoupleofproofcopiesdur-ingthesetupprocess.
DaveWilliams
HerearetheresultsfortheNovemberModelContest:MadeWithStraws
Therewere5entriesand32votes.
1st:RichMayich “Strawbridge”
2nd:(tie)GeorgeGelehrter,weldingpipe,DaveLawler,fluerack
3rd:JoeKurilec,strawdiorama
Herearethecurrentpointstandings:
1st:GeorgeGelehrter,RichMayich
2nd:DaveLawler
3rd:SteveRiddlebaugh,JimGrell,TomMcInerney,
JoeKurilec,JohnHemsath
TherewillbeNOCONTESTinDecembersoallyoumodelbuilderscanattendtheawardsbanquet.
TheJanuarycontestwillfeatureNon-traditionalTankCars;chemicaltankers,winetankers,multi-dometankers,picklecars,vinegartankers,woodorsteel,oldormodern.
Goodluck,DaveLawler
The2015NMRANationalConvention
PortlandOR
August23-August30,2015
Nationalsafter2015:
2016:Indianapolis,IN July3-July10,2016
2017:Orlando,FLJuly,2017
2018:KansasCityMO
2019:SaltLakeCityUT
2015MCRRegionalConvention:
ThoroughbredLimited2015May14-17,2015
LexingtonKentucky
OpenHouseandShowScheduleforDecember
Informationontheseeventshasbeengiventous.Noendorsementisimplied.Pleasedouble-checkdates/times/locationsthroughasecondsource,especiallywhenlongdrivetimesareinvolved.(TharbepossibletyposinthesewatersMatey)
Dec6/7:YoungstownModelRailroadClub Noon-6:PM
751N.FourMileRunRd
AustintownOH4451
Dec7:MedinaModelRailroadToyShows10amto4pm$6,under12free
MedinaCo.CommunityCenter,MedinaFairgrounds,MedinaOH
BoardMeetingMinutesforNovember11,2014
Openedat7:10PM
JoeMehalicisnowtheMembershipChair.
TheboardislookingforaBeneficiaryChairtoassistfamiliesinthebestdispositionofmodelrailroaditemsafteraDivisionmember
passeson.
Bylawrevision–ChuckKlein-areviewwasdone.Andafewitemswillneedtobechanged. Allrevisionswillbeminor.Furtherdis-
cussionwilltakeplaceattheFebruaryBODMeeting.
Discussionorthebudget.Adjustmentweremadetotheproposedbudget.ThefinalbudgetwillbepresentedattheNovember14,
2014.
Grantsforthisyear.EachmodulegroupattheShowwillreceive$100.Thefollowinggrantswerealso$250totheBurningRiverN
ScaleGroup,Vermillionpreservationsociety$100.00,$500totheMedina4-HGroup,ErieMetroLiveSteamers$500,NorthernOhio
liveSteamers$200,RadioScannertoAbilityWorksabout$300,NorthernOhioTrolleyMuseum$300.(editor’snote:the$250tothe
BurningRiverNScaleGroupisdirectedtowardhelpingthatgrouppurchaseanewtrailer).
Adjournedat8:46PMDavidJamesSecretary