Omaha N-Trak
Meeting Minutes
02/21/2010
APPROVED BY MEMBERS 03/21/2010
Location:
Richard Ralston’s home.
In Attendance:
Members Steve Anderson, John Cameron, Scott Crites, Stan Crites, Bill Dodge,
Ethan Hoskins, Mike Hoskins, Warren Maddox, Henry Nipper, Richard Ralston,
Harvey Swanger, Peter Todd.
President Scott
Crites called the meeting to order at 1:08 PM.
Minutes of the January
meeting, published in draft form on the Club’s web site were adapted as
published without dissent.
Treasurer Richard
Ralston reported that dues had been collected from all but two members, and
that the club’s balance (after expenses for the bridge to DesMoines) was
$390.72. This figure included the show honorarium from the recent Council
Bluffs show.
Old
Business:
1. President
Crites reported on two recent meetings with the Western Heritage Division
of the NMRA had gone well. The club has submitted a request to run N-Trak
at the upcoming meet at Burke High School in April (24th-25th), and that
our discussions (Crites, Swanger, Nipper) about possible
cooperation/affiliation concerning the NMRA’s modular N-scale layout
seemed to elicit a positive response. Bill Dodge revealed that he is a
Life Member of NMRA and promised to become more active in NMRA as
retirement approaches.
Club discussion
ensued about benefits of membership in NMRA for n-scalers, and many
members expressed positive thoughts or open minds about the issue. Further
details about the relationship will be forthcoming as the club attends the
regular monthly meeting at Sump Library in Papillion, March 13th at noon.
2. Steve Anderson
volunteered to investigate the use of Facebook as a club activity, and
promised to report next meeting.
3. President
Crites encouraged all members to participate in the setup/teardown of the
modular layouts when the Club exhibits. He particularly encouraged members
who do not have layouts to participate.
4. President
Crites announced that the group from St. Paul expressed an interest in
combined N-Trak layout Red Line running at a future meet.
5. The issue of
Club logo, name and identity was discussed at length. The need to
distinguish the Omaha N-Trak group was clear to the members, and Scott
Crites and John Cameron will look at proposed designs and bring them
forward to the Club next meeting. Although no vote was taken, there seemed
to be a consensus to keep the Omaha N-Trak name for the club.
6. President
Crites brought forth the idea of building a “geezer gate” to make passage
between outside and inside the modular loop a bit easier for those who
have trouble with the current hands-and-knees option. The need for
stability and electrical integrity was recognized. Scott will bring some
designs for the next meeting.
7. Use of “Easy
DCC” controllers was presented as an option to use in addition to the
telephones+Lenz system currently in use. It was proposed that members who
wish to buy their own throttles (and controllers) for their home systems
and then use them to run at an N-Trak meet could do so if the club would
buy an Easy DCC wireless adaptor for the club’s Lenz system.
Harvey Swanger
should be contacted on/before March 7th if any member wishes to
participate in a group order to Easy DCC. Harvey will let us know the cost
of the items needed and the minimum number of controllers and throttles
needed to get the group order discount. An order is planned before the
April show, so time is of the essence!
8. In the absence
of Dave Mrsny, discussion of the use of plexiglass shields on modules was
tabled until next meeting.
9.
Harvey Swanger will report on the spare-tire situation for the club’s
trailer at the next meeting.
New
Business
1. Steve Anderson
brought up the idea of a group trip to Railroad Days in North Platte for
September 17-19. Henry Nipper agreed to look into the idea of a yard tour
and report to the club.
2. A project to
improve the scenery of the club’s yard was advanced. The justification is
that the yard looks bare and should have a few buildings, and track should
be ballasted. Mike Hoskins will come up with some ideas for the next
meeting.
3. A track
speedometer was also discussed, and the discussion was open-ended about
the best way to let viewers know how fast the trains are going in
‘scale-miles per hour’. No decisions were taken as to future actions.
Next Meeting:
March 21, 2010, at Scott Crites’ home. Planning for the Burke High Show will
lead the agenda.
Respectfully
submitted,
Henry Nipper
Acting Secretary
