The meeting for September 2008 was called to order September 6th by Club President Wiley Starnes at 11:00.

The minutes for August 2008 were presented. Betty Neill noted one correction to be made under Old Business – Train Show: Earl Blanchette’s name was misspelled Early Blanchette. Joe Pyland made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected and Bill Lancaster seconded. The motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report was submitted and read.

Old Business

Temple Mall Display – Bill Lancaster thanked those who participated in the Temple Mall showing during the weekends of August 30-31 September 6-7, 2008. Thanks also went out to Homer Martin who sold raffle layout tickets at the depot on Run Day. Betty Neill said she has pre-sale tickets for those that want them.

Raffle Layout – Mike Ross reported that the layout is 99% complete and ready for the show.

Train Show – Jim Bush Show handed out the schedule and list of duties. Be sure to refer all questions to personnel at the information table to preclude any potential misunderstanding. Ron Miller asked for help loading/unloading at the Mayborn Center and Depot at 9:00 AM on September 19th.

Noel Cowling reminded everyone of the Santa Fe facility tours in October and November.

New Business

Wiley Starnes has directed a reduction in AC usage in order to try and stay within the budgeted amount for electricity.

The RR&HM has requested the club’s participation again this year with the operation of a Christmas layout. Any conflict with the Baylor Museum activities will have to be resolved. Noel Cowling made a motion to make this a club activity and it was seconded by Bradley Linda. The motion passed.

The club Christmas dinner will be held December 4th from 7-9PM. Bradley Linda made a motion to conduct the December business meeting at this dinner. Joe Pyland seconded and the motion passed.

See Ron Miller if you can operate layouts at the Baylor Mayborn Museum in December.

Bill Lancaster was asked to run trains at an Assisted Living/Nursing Home on September 11th.

Wiley Starnes asked for names of members who would like to serve on the Board of Directors.

Betty Neill reported that the Mayborn Civic Center may raise their facility rent. If a contract for 2009 is signed immediately following this year’s show, we may be able to rent at the 2008 rate. Bradley Linda made a motion to contract as early as possible and Bruce Koehler seconded. The motion passed.

The depot cleanup will be conducted on September 13th at 9:00 AM.

Joe Pyland made a motion to adjourn. The club adjourned at 12:00.

The meeting for August 2008 was called to order August 2nd by Club President Wiley Starnes at 10:28.

The minutes for July 2008 were presented. Bill Lancaster made a motion to accept the minutes as read and Mike Hitzfelder seconded. The motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report was submitted and read.

Old Business

Temple Mall Display – Bill Lancaster reported that he now knows where the display space will be, but is unable to measure the space until August 18th. The space is close to Dillards and Payless Shoes. The Mall will promote the display on their website, Marquee, and in the newspaper. The display will run the last two weekends of August to sell raffle tickets and train show tickets.

Building Committee – Ed Neill said the committee will mount four small oscillating fans on the walls back in the freight house area by the HO layout.

Inventory Committee – Betty Neill said she needed one representative for each of the scales to help keep her current on additions and deletions from the recently completed club inventory. The following volunteered: Bill Lancaster (N Scale), Bradley Linda (HO Scale), and Wiley Starnes (O Scale).

Clinics – Mike Cleveland said to see him if anyone is interested in giving a clinic in October.

Raffle Layout – Mike Ross reported that he needs throttles or the parts to go with the power supply he has on hand. Jim Moody painted the scenic divider and it looks great.

Train Show – Jim Bush mentioned that he will have a meeting with everyone on the train show work schedule after next month’s business meeting. Ed Neill said he had pre-sale tickets available and to see him if you are interested. Betty Neill said she had purchased the train show awards and they had doubled in price over the last time she had purchased them.

Digitrax Equipment Club Purchase – The order has been placed. Ron Miller will pick up these items in Dallas when they come in.

The club received a donation of N Scale equipment and a layout. Unfortunately, the club lacks the space to display the layout. Bill Lancaster made a motion for the layout to be donated to the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum. Joe Pyland seconded and the motion passed.

Baylor University – The modular groups will resume work on modules in preparation for the Baylor and Waco Train shows the week of August 11th. See Ron Miller if you are interested in participating.

New Business

Dan Ladd reminded everyone of the RRHM railfan event planned for October 10-11 that will cost club members $40/person.

Wiley Starnes reported that Frank Harlan is recovering from surgery.

Wiley Starnes reminded everyone to remember to keep the depot aisles clear.

Wiley Starnes announced there will be a special meeting held on September 6th in conjunction with the regular business meeting. He would also like the board members to meet at 1300 on August 16th to review the revised bylaws which are still at the law office.

Wiley Starnes mentioned Raymond’s Country Kitchen in Lorena, TX as a potential location for a club Christmas party. It would be a convenient location for those participating in the Baylor show and on the way home from the Baylor show for Temple and Killeen area based club members. Joe Pyland made a motion to have the party at Raymond’s on December 4th from 6-9 PM. Earl Blanchette seconded and the motion passed. There will be a White Elephant gift exchange with a $10 maximum value on gifts.

Ed and Betty Neill donated a 35 cup coffee maker to the club.

Joe Pyland made a motion for the HO group to open the club on the second, fourth, and fifth weekends of August and run the A/C. Dick Copeland seconded and the motion passed.

Bill Lancaster made a motion for the second Saturday in September to be a clubhouse cleanup day before the train show. Ed Neill seconded and the motion passed. Cleaning supplies will be provided.

Bradley Linda made a motion to adjourn. Rick James seconded and the club adjourned at 11:31.

he meeting for July 2008 was called to order July 5th by Club President Wiley Starnes at 10:30.

The minutes for June 2008 were presented. Bradley Linda made a motion to accept the minutes as read and Mike Ross seconded. The motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report was submitted and read.

Old Business

Last months electricity bill was discussed. Running the A/C on the additional days scheduled last month used 5x as much electricity and resulted in a 25% increase in the total bill. Bradley Linda made a motion to allow for the A/C to be run for club events such and work and run days with prior approval granted at the business meeting. Mike Hitzfelder seconded and the motion passed.

The membership discussed having a facility use fee to offset electricity costs.

Raffle Layout – Mike Ross had nothing to report. Dave Krauss suggested that the club use some other description for the raffle tickets.

Building Committee – Ed Neill had nothing new to report.

Inventory Committee – Betty Neill was pleased to announce that inventory was complete.

Mike Cleveland spoke twice with a Troy Anderson from TXU re: electricity bill. Troy reported that TXU does not offer “Time of Day” use rates anymore. The club on average pays .15/kwh which is on an unsecured rate that can change at any time. Troy said he could lock the club into a .10/kwh rate. However, if the club were to do so, the club would be charged an additional .40-.45/kwh wire delivery charge that isn’t locked in. It appears the current situation is the best for now.

Bylaws Committee – Wiley Starnes asked the Board to meet with this committee after the business meeting.

Betty Neill made a motion to send two tickets per CPA partner to the firm that filed the club’s Form 990 in appreciation. Mike Hitzfelder seconded and the motion passed.

Train Show – Jim Bush was not present to report. Ed Neill said he had pre-sale tickets available and to see him if you are interested.

Bill Lancaster met with the Temple Mall and they will have a display space but he doesn’t know how large or where it will be. Noel Cowling made a motion to display on the weekends of August 23rd and August 30th to sell raffle tickets and train show tickets. Bradley Linda seconded and the motion passed.

Baylor University – Ron Miller said the modular groups have been working on modules in preparation for the Baylor and Waco Train shows. He had work schedules available. See Ron if you are interested in participating.

New Business

Dan Ladd said the RRHM has created a railfan event planned for October 10-11. It will include a tour of the BNSF facilities. The cost will be $40/person. The RRHM will be publicizing and running the event. The RRHM wants to make a tour of the club part of the event. Joe Pyland made a motion for this to be a club event. Trace Bowen seconded and the motion passed.

Bradley Linda suggested riding a steam train instead of having a Christmas party this year. He will investigate pricing.

Mike Hitzfelder asked about adding ceiling or tilt fans to the depot. Joe Pyland asked the Building Committee to look into a solution and present at the next business meeting.

Trace Bowen said a widow from Sun City wanted to donate her husband’s N Scale collection to a permanent club.

Bradley Linda made a motion to adjourn. Randy Hiersig seconded and the club adjourned at 11:33.

The meeting for June 2008 was called to order June 7th by Club President Wiley Starnes at 10:35.

The minutes for May 2008 were presented. Ed Neill made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected and Eric Boswell seconded. The motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report was submitted and read.

Old Business

Train Show – The security contract for the show has been received. Jim Bush had nothing new to report. The membership will need to decide by the August business meeting if the price for tables will be raised for the 2009 show. Bill Lancaster is checking with the Temple Mall on a display space. Betty Neill will be ordering awards this next week.

Building Committee – Ed Neill had nothing new to report.

Inventory Committee –Betty Neill said this was going well. She needs to meet with N Scale after the meeting.

Mike Cleveland is investigating a longer term contract for electricity to see if that will reduce the club’s utility costs.

Baylor – Ron Miller will be meeting with the modular groups to find out what modules could be used for this display.

Train Camps – Dan Ladd is setting up for a train camp on June 11 at 10 AM for ten children. The RRHM summer train camp is scheduled for June 17.

New Business

Bradley Linda said the HO Scale group wants to do a fundraiser for purchasing signaling and CTC for the HO layout. Bradley made a motion that the HO Scale group be able to raise funds for a signaling system for the HO permanent layout. Steffon Norris seconded and the motion passed.

The HO Scale group has decided to combine their DCC purchases with those of the N Scale group as a Digitrax club purchase.

Noel Cowling said that someone has offered to donate $100,000 to the Belton RR. Noel offered to volunteer as a club representative.

Jim Bush asked the membership in general to move any items they might have stored underneath the HO layout in preparation for additional scenery work.

Ed Neill mentioned he is working with the City of Temple to get a marker for the club depot.

Dan Ladd reported that the club had received a copy of the Temple Chamber of Commerce Community Profile and Business Referral Guide.

Ed Neill made a motion to adjourn. Jim Bush seconded and the club adjourned at 11:22.

The meeting for May 2008 was called to order May 3rd by Club President Wiley Starnes at 10:32.

The minutes for April 2008 were presented. Bradley Linda said the headsets are now located in the HO Scale layout. Bill Lancaster made a motion to accept the minutes and Joe Pyland seconded. The motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report was submitted and read.

Old Business

Betty Neill checked with the CPA and said he is still working on the club’s Form 990. The CPA will request an extension if he doesn’t have it finished by the May 15th deadline.

Building Committee – Ed Neill said the deck painting project went well. He was assisted by Trace Bowen, Noel Cowling, Mike Hitzfelder, Mike Ross, and Wiley Starnes. Most of the deck received two coats of paint with some areas receiving three.

Inventory Committee –Betty Neill reported that she should be getting pictures of some HO items today.

Train Show – Jim Bush announced that he had emailed out the train show work schedule and posted a copy in the depot meeting room. Jim said they had placed show brochures at two other area train shows last month. Jim asked that any club members planning to attend a train show to please see him for brochures to place at that show.

Raffle Layout – Mike Ross had nothing new to report.

Wiley Starnes said O Scale still intends to display at the Railroad and Historical Museum (RRHM) on May 17th as part of a military layout. Dan Ladd announced that on this same day, there will be a military static display to the west of the depot. Club members will have to park between the museum and the depot.

Mike Cleveland said that Bradley Linda and Mike Hitzfelder will be conducting a clinic on Operations 101 on May 10th starting between 10:00 and 10:30 AM. The clinic will last 30-45 minutes. Following a break for lunch, they will conduct an operating session. The session will be conducted on the HO layout and is open to all club members regardless of scale. Mike also asked that anyone interested in conducting a clinic contact him so he can schedule it.

Mike Cleveland said he spoke to TXU about moving the club to a different tariff. The TXU representative thought they could offer the club a better tariff since the biggest part of the electrical bill is the demand rate paid each month. TXU never followed up as they said they would. Dan Ladd said he also was still waiting for them to follow-up with him from his contact two months ago. Wiley Starnes asked Mike and Dan to write a letter to TXU for his signature requesting a resolution to this situation.

New Business

Wiley Starnes announced that he will serve as an interim board member through the end of the year.

Bill Lancaster said he needed a ladder to replace light bulbs in the depot. Bradley Linda made a motion to purchase an 8’ step ladder to replace lights. Joe Pyland seconded and the motion passed.

Wiley Starnes said that Baylor University had asked the club to tentatively exhibit at their museum from December 4-21, 2008. The exact dates are yet to be finalized. Bradley Linda made a motion for this to be a club event. Steffon Norris seconded and the motion passed.

Dan Ladd reported that the RRHM has asked the club to support their summer train camp again this year from June 17-19. He said his church had also asked him to do a train camp for them on June 11. Steffon Norris made a motion for this to be a club event, Bradley Linda seconded, and the motion passed.

Bradley Linda made a motion to adjourn. Randy Hiersig seconded and the club adjourned at 11:21.