Quick Recap
The monthly meeting focused on planning an upcoming open house event, with discussions about registration logistics, map distribution, and signage requirements. Jim Gore presented a detailed clinic on cardstock modeling techniques, sharing his extensive experience with building complex structures from paper and cardstock materials. The division reviewed financial updates, with David reporting a year-end balance of $2,216.11 across savings and checking accounts. John Campbell shared his HO scale model of the Elberta Roundhouse, which features detailed stone and brickwork, while Mark and Carolyn discussed their trolley modeling projects. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about website notifications and the need to collect old clinic materials for preservation on the division’s website.
Next steps
- Paul: Create and publish the open house event page on the website, including a registration link and a map with approximate locations, and coordinate with Division on details.
- Paul: Make the detailed Google map with addresses available to registered attendees one week before the open house, and remove it after the event.
- Ernie: Email a photo of the open house sign to Paul/Division for use on the invitation/website.
- Paul: Post a picture of the open house sign on the invitation/website so attendees know what to look for.
- Jens: Purchase and distribute additional open house signs as needed to hosts (one more for John, one for Keith, etc.).
- Jens: Make and distribute unified donation jug containers to each host for the open house.
- Paul: Collect and upload old clinic files (PDFs, card decks, presentations) to the website; members to funnel this content to Paul.
- Paul: Add the link to the nice video of Ernie’s layout to the website.
- Board members: Develop plans/ideas for outreach to younger and new modelers, based on survey results, for discussion at the March board meeting.
- Al: Send letters/emails to new and delinquent members as discussed.
- Keith: Provide detailed membership statements to Paul/Al (including who was added and dropped) for follow-up with new/delinquent members.
- John: Confirm Mr. Moxley’s presentation for April.
- Jens: Create and maintain a list of helpers for running trains during the open house and distribute to hosts.
Summary
Meeting Updates and Presentation Planning
The meeting began with introductions from various members, including Jim Gore, who was scheduled to present later. The group discussed the weather and the higher-than-usual remote participation due to snow and travel concerns. JCarolyn inquired about submitting articles to the Flimsy and the regional paper, and Jens advised prioritizing the Flimsy but suggested sending extras to the regional paper if available. The conversation ended with a review of the agenda.
Railroad Open House Event Planning
The group discussed plans for an upcoming open house event featuring seven railroads. They agreed to aim for a maximum capacity of 120 people and decided to organize visitors by registration order, with each group seeing 5-6 railroads before moving on. Paul will create a website page for the event, including a registration form to collect basic information from attendees. They also discussed creating a coarse-grained overview map without addresses to help visitors start to think about which railroads to visit.
The group then discussed the logistics for the open house, focusing on managing crowd flow and parking challenges. They explored options for staggered start times and discussed using an online RSVP system with a map showing locations but without addresses, similar to a previous garden tour format. The team agreed to implement a system where attendees would be assigned starting points based on their RSVP order, though they acknowledged this might not prevent all clustering at certain locations.
Open House Logistics and Outreach
The group also discussed the need for additional signs due to rural locations and the need to black out “tour” text on existing signs. They agreed to create standardized signs and post photos on the invitation. Al suggested adding donation jugs at each house and distributing 9-month trial memberships. The board will review survey results in March, focusing on outreach to younger and new modelers.
Website Notification Emails
Paul mentioned that website notifications are working and that everybody registered for the Division (either by registration or Division-of-Choice is on the recipient list. Those that aren’t receiving the notifications should check their junk mail for messages from Tip of the Mitt.
Division Financial and Event Planning
The meeting covered several topics, including the sharing and preservation of content such as PDFs and videos, with Ernie confirming he would provide a thumb drive with a scenery clinic to Paul. The group discussed the need for a Michigan Central PDF, with Paul noting challenges in customizing images. Financial updates were provided by David, who reported a total balance of $2,206.11 for the division as of December 31st. The group also reviewed upcoming clinics, including one by Keith on making palmetto trees in September, and the need to confirm Ralph Moxley’s presentation for April. Al mentioned he would follow up with delinquent members, and Ernie raised the topic of running trains during the open house, with Division confirming they would create a helper list as done previously.
Clinic – Modeling Cardstock Buildings
Jim Gore, a Master Model Railroader (MMR) from New Hampshire, attended in-person and presented a clinic on building structures out of cardstock.
There is a dedicated page for this clinic, with video, in the Clinics archive.
HO Scale Elberta Roundhouse Model
John Campbell presented a detailed HO scale model of the Elberta Roundhouse, which was used by the Ann Arbor Railroad from the 1890s until the mid-1930s. He explained the construction process, including the use of plaster casts for stone walls, paper for brick detailing, and scratch-built elements like skylights. John mentioned plans to add doors to the front and complete interior details, as well as future projects like a coal tower. Mark inquired about the location of Elberta, which John clarified is across the harbor from Frankfort in Benzie County, northern Michigan.
Burlington Northern Rocky Mountain Division Layout
Paul presented his high-level plans for a large-scale model railway layout covering the Burlington Northern Rocky Mountain Division and surrounding areas, with a focus on the Evaro Hill stretch and the Marent Trestle. He outlined the layout’s dimensions, including a plan for a dedicated 40 by 64-foot building with long out-in-the-country spacing between towns and industries. Paul also discussed the layout’s operational aspects, including staging yards and the need for adequate clearance for operators.