President Earl Blanchette called the meeting to order at 10:33 AM.

Vice President Mike Cleveland presented President Blanchette with a plaque in recognition for his service as President for 2006 and 2007.

There were two corrections to the November minutes:

• The minutes listed Fred and Stacy Brice, and the correct last name is Price.
• The December Business meeting was December 1 instead of December 7.

Bill Lancaster moved to accept the minutes as corrected. J.C. Fischer seconded, and the motion carried.

Treasurer Betty Neill passed out a corrected October Treasurer’s Report and a November Treasurers Report. The October report handed out at the November meeting contained a transposed figure in the ending balance column, all other figures were correct. She then explained the November report in detail. J.C. Fischer moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report, Bill Lancaster seconded, and the motion carried.

Old Business

There was none to discuss

New Business

Earl Blanchette welcomed new members Fred and Stacy Price, and Stephanie Twyeffort.

Earl said that a thank you note had been received from the Underwood’s for their Centra-Mod mugs, and that Mr. Underwood has begun construction on his new layout.

There will be no run day this month.

Dan Ladd said that volunteers are needed for the museum display later this month. The museum asked if CentraMod would like contribute to the advertising expense for an opportunity to share in revenues from the exhibit. Ed Neill moved not to contribute and that the club will not expect any proceeds. Wiley Starnes seconded and the motion carried.

It was announced that due to the conflicting Waco Train Show on January 5 and 6, the January business meeting will be postponed until January 12.

A discussion concerning the HO modular layout and modules to be set up was held, and it was noted that due to the possibility of another HO group coming to the show, that the HO modular layout may not be set up.

Mike Cleveland announced that he would like to have a meeting with HO Scale members immediately following the business meeting, and encouraged other scales to do the same. He would like for each scale to have a scale coordinator for the January 2008 meeting.

Bill Lancaster announced that Ron Miller and the Hierzig’s had brought in numerous binders for the club’s collection of Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman magazines, and that he would not need to purchase any now. Bill also announced that there are cookies and cokes in the kitchen, courtesy of the Library.

It was announced that this would be Betty Neill’s last month as treasurer, and the club thanked her with a round of applause.

The 2008 Club Officers are:

• President: Wiley Starnes
• Vice President: Mike Cleveland
• Secretary: Clark Overman
• Treasurer: Dan Ladd
• Librarian/Stationmaster: Bill Lancaster

Dan Ladd announced that the museum would like to drop handcar operations on the first Saturday of the month, and extend the hours on the third Saturday to 11AM to 3PM. There was no objection voiced to the new schedule. More volunteers are needed to man the handcars. Dan Ladd, Ed Neill and Noel Cowling have been working with the handcars.

Betty Neill repeated her request for an up-to-date club inventory for each scale for insurance purposes. She would like to have this as soon as possible.

Ed Neill suggested that we apply for another grant from the E.R. Carpenter foundation. The club turned in attendance figures for the train show to the tourism board, and we can apply again next year. The consensus was for Ed Neill to pursue these items further.

Betty reminded members that have not already done so to pick up their two club coffee mugs.

Noel Cowling moved to adjourn. Mike Cleveland seconded and the meeting adjourned at 11:10 with no objections.

The meeting for November 2007 was called to order by Club President Earl Blanchette at 10:35 AM on 3 November 2007.

The minutes were introduced and two corrections were noted. A motion was made by Trace Bowen and seconded by Joe Pyland to accept with corrections and the motion passed.

The treasurer’s report was presented by Betty Neill. A motion to accept was made by Bradley Linda and seconded by Joe Pyland. The motion passed and the report was accepted.

Old Business

• The O Scale traveling layout will be on display at the Temple ATSF Depot in December 2007. Dan Ladd will develop an operating schedule.
• Wiley Starnes made a motion to set up modules with club equipment for use and storage at the ATSF Depot for the duration of the operation. Joe Pyland seconded and the motion carried. Wiley will check on the layout size so appropriate stanchions can be used (stand-alone or module built-ons).
• Earl Blanchette suggested that a decision be made reference the Christmas get-together. Bill Lancaster made a motion to cancel this year’s get together and Joe Pyland seconded. The motion passed. Earl suggested that members should think about an alternative for the coming year.

New Business

• Fred and Stacy Brice were announced as new members. Welcome aboard!
• There will be no change in business meeting for December 2007. Run day, however, will be cancelled.
• Betty Neill requested each Scale Coordinator conduct an inventory of CLUB items within their area of responsibility prior to her handing off treasurer duties to Dan Ladd. Please submit this list to Betty by the December business meeting (December 7, 2007).
• Joe Pyland made a motion to stop printing the Treasurer’s report for each meeting and instead have it explained in detail at each meeting. If any member requests a copy, he/she can receive one before the meeting’s end. The motion was seconded by Trace Bowen.

The meeting adjourned at 11:15.

The meeting for October 2007 was called to order October 6th by Club President Earl Blanchette at 10:30.

The minutes for September 2007 were presented. Two corrections were noted:

• Bruce Koehler’s last name had been incorrectly spelled as “Kohler.”
• Betty Neill is on the Board of Directors, not Ed Neill.

Bruce Koehler made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Noel Cowling seconded and the motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report for September 2007 was submitted and read. Betty Neill presented the 2007 Train Show report. Mike Cleveland and Jim Bush were commended for organizing a great train show. Dan Ladd presented the 25th Anniversary Celebration report. Bill Lancaster made a motion to accept, Craig Lancaster seconded, and the reports were accepted.

Old Business

• 2007 Train Show Results.
  • Congratulations to Mike Cleveland, Jim Bush, and all of the club members that participated in putting this show together. The 2007 show was second only to 2003 by a small margin making it one of the best shows in club history.
• 2007 Train Show Raffle Results.
  • Jackie Christian entered the raffle layout contest and won it to the delight of her grandchildren, Sheldon and Mandy Blackwell of Hamilton, Texas. Jackie wrote a very nice thank you letter.
• The O gauge modular layout displayed on October 3 and 4th in the Mayborn Convention Center for the Temple Chamber of Commerce. Wylie Starnes said the display was well received and the layout ran very well. CentraMod was recognized the following day in the Chamber newsletter.
• Ed Neill reported that the E. R. Carpenter Foundation grant funds have been received. The grant application was made in 2006 for to continue the depot renovation to the soffits, loading dock/handicap ramp, and doors. Ed reported that the quote for soffit work went up some from last year, but not much. He recommended that the grant money and the balance from the Phase I renovation be used to repair the soffits and purchase supplies to paint the loading dock and ramp with club members providing the painting labor. Noel Cowling made a motion to contract to have the soffit work done and purchase the paint needed for the dock and ramps. Bill Lancaster seconded and the motion passed.

New Business

• Welcome to new members Mike Hitzfelder of Austin, Texas and Billy McClellan of Waco, Texas.
• Club member Rod Park passed away. At the family’s request, the club made a donation to American Cancer Society in memory of Rod in lieu of sending flowers.
• 2008 Train Show.
  • The 2008 Train Show is scheduled for September 20th and 21st. Probably the greatest indicator of the 2007 show’s success is that all the tables for next years show have already been sold. This is the first year in club history that all of the tables for the coming year have already been sold. Interested vendors should get on the vendor waiting list as soon as possible. Tables will be sold on a first come basis in case there are any vendor cancellations.
• 2008 Raffle Layout
  • Brad’s Trains said they will donate a DCC engine and DCC system for next years layout provided it is an HO scale layout. The club consensus was that next year’s raffle layout will be HO.
• The Temple Fire Department will be displaying equipment the weekend of October 13th between the Whistle Stop Kiddie Park and Amtrak Station. The Fire Marshall asked if the club would like to open for the event. After some discussion, Bill Lancaster made a motion that the club not open for the event. Craig Lancaster seconded and the motion passed.
• Ed Neill announced the Nominating Committee’s recommendation for 2008 club officers:
  • President: Wiley Starnes
  • Vice President: Mike Cleveland
  • Secretary: Clark Overman
  • Treasurer: Dan Ladd

Bruce Koehler moved that the nominations be closed and Bill Lancaster seconded. The motion passed. Noel Cowling made a motion to accept the slate by acclimation. Bruce Koehler seconded and the motion passed.

• The Temple Czech Festival will be held in the Santa Fe Gardens the weekend of November 3rd. This could make parking difficult for the business meeting.
• The Waco Toy and Doll Show will be January 5th and 6th. Since this is the first weekend, the business meeting will be moved to January 12th.
• Thanks to Mort Benjamin for providing missing minutes to the club archive.
• 25th Anniversary Coffee mugs were passed out to the membership. Members initialed a club roster as they picked up their two mugs.

The meeting adjourned at 11:12.

The meeting for September 2007 was called to order September 8th by Club President Earl Blanchette at 10:35.

The minutes for August 2007 were presented. Two corrections were noted:

• Ed Neill had also worked on scenery for the Raffle Layout.
• Betty Neill’s last name had been incorrectly spelled as “Neal” under Train Show Banquet Update.

Wiley Starnes made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Mike Ross seconded and the motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report for August 2007 was submitted and read. Bruce Kohler made a motion to accept, Buddy Burk seconded, and the report was accepted.

Old Business

• Kennedy Gauger had hats and shirts for those that had ordered them. Some extra hats are also available for sale.
• Kennedy reported that the CentraMod Yahoo! Group forums had been taken down since forums were now available through the Member’s Only area of the club website.
• Mike Cleveland provided a Train Show update.

  He would like to see club members help vendors set up. This has worked well in past years.

  There has been only one vendor cancellation and there are eight vendors on a waiting list for tables. 39 vendors have purchased 178 tables.

  There will be a lot to do during setup on Friday. If Jim Bush hasn’t talked to you about a specific task, there will be a lot to do, so please show up and pitch in. Everybody is looking to meet at the Moody Depot around 9:30 AM on Friday.

  During setup, if any vendors want to move their tables, they need to see Jim Bush or Mike Cleveland.

• The Raffle Layout is all ready to go. Bill Lancaster said everything went very well with the Temple Mall display.
• 25th Anniversary Train Show Banquet and CentraMod Open House

  There are 204 confirmed banquet guests with a maximum of 224. The guests break down into: 38 Special, 65 Club Members, 48 Layout Participants, and 53 Vendors. All guests will have banquet passes to get into the banquet and attendance will be taken at the door. Banquet tickets will be collected as guests go through the serving lines.

  The banquet will be held in the Temple Santa Fe Depot and is scheduled to run from 6:30 – 9:00 PM. Guests will mingle from 6:30 – 6:45 PM at which time the four serving lines will open. Some club members will need to help serve. Betty Neill has ordered two cakes – chocolate and white, as well as some cupcakes. Dee Teakell, Sally Burk, and Paula Bennet will help serve cake.

  The meal will run from 6:45 – 7:45 PM at which time the Awards and Recognition Ceremony will begin. Mike Cleveland thought it would be great if people would get up and spend 2-3 minutes sharing train show memories. Call or email Mike if you are interested. All special guests will then be recognized. Past Train Show Chairs will then be recognized, presented certificates, and the new Train Show Chair Plaque unveiled. The banquet will dismiss at 9:00 PM at which point the Moody Depot will be opened for tours until 10:00 PM. The Temple Station must be vacated by 9:30 PM.

  Kennedy Gauger asked if people have signed up for running the club layouts during the open house. No plans have been specifically made for this. Each scale will be responsible for staffing their layout and running trains during the open house.

• 25th Anniversary Train Show Coffee Mugs

  Mike Cleveland said he would pick these up. The only mugs to be handed out at the banquet will be to the Special Guests. Vendor mugs will be distributed Saturday morning of the show. Club members’ mugs will be distributed at the October business meeting.

• Neal Locke provided an update on the Train Show Responsibility Schedule. Mike Cleveland said he has told vendors that if they need to step away from their table(s), to ask a club member to watch over their table for up to ten minutes. Betty Neill suggested that members watching over the North Hall should also keep an eye on the award winning module display that will be located in that area.
• Train Show Clinic Update.

  Joe Pyland reported that Wayne Snyder will be unable to come and help Joe with his clinics, but Joe has that covered. A guest clinician will be coming to give a clinic on Detailing Industrial Scenery that was given at the Detroit NMRA convention. Joe thanked Kennedy Gauger and Ron Miller for preparing their clinics. A schedule with a synopsis of each clinic will be available at the front table during the train show.

• Train Show Publicity Report.

  Ed Neill said that this Sunday the club should be showcased on the cover of the Temple Telegram Leisure magazine. Ads in the Temple Telegram will run this Monday through Sunday of the show. TV ads will run this Monday through Saturday of the show. Jerry Johnson was working ads for the Ft Hood area. Publicity materials were on display and Buddy Burk will be incorporating these into the club scrapbook.

New Business

• Welcome to new members Trixi Bitterle-Ortiz, her husband William Ortiz and son Jackson Ortiz.
• Bill Lancaster was approached by the Chamber of Commerce to set up the O gauge modular layout October 3 and 4th in Mayborn Convention Center foyer for a Chamber of Commerce trade show. Ed Neill made a motion for this to be a club sponsored event. Bruce Kohler seconded and the motion passed.
• Wylie Starnes made a motion for modular layouts to participate in the Waco Toy and Doll Show as a club sponsored event. Bruce Kohler seconded and the motion passed.
• Bill Lancaster reported that the club library purchased a signed copy of Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive (Railroads Past and Present) by Dr. J. Parker Lamb.
• Today was the last day to clean up before the train show open house and members were encouraged to clean up their layout areas.
• The 2008 Clean-Up and Refreshments sign-up sheets have been posted in the breakroom.
• Neal Locke mentioned that Dan Ladd received an award for his model of the Santa Fe Temple Depot and Bradley Linda received awards for his photography at the recent Lone Star NMRA convention.
• The club will not be displaying at Baylor Mayborn Museum this year because of a conflicting exhibit.
• Last month, the club moved by consensus to make the club application for membership available for download. Joe Teakell made a motion to not put up the CentraMod Club Membership Application on the club website. Wylie Starnes seconded and the motion did not pass.
• Joe Teakell made a motion to not put up the CentraMod Club Membership Application on the club website until the membership policy had been reviewed by the Board of Directors. Ed Neill seconded and the motion passed. The Board of Directors are Bob Alston, Dan Ladd, Bill Lancaster, Ed Neill, Mike Ross, and Joe Teakell.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15.

The meeting for August 2007 was called to order August 4th by Club President Earl Blanchette at 10:34.

The minutes for July 2007 were presented. Two corrections were noted:

• Neal Locke has sent out EMs to the membership re: Train Show volunteer positions, not Noel Cowling
• Ed Neill said they typically give away 200 tickets to the Train Show, not 20

Trace Bowen made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected. Mike Ross seconded and the motion passed.

The Treasurer’s report for July 2007 was submitted and read. Kennedy Gauger made a motion to accept, Craig Lancaster seconded, and the report was accepted.

Old Business

• Train Show update

  Mike Cleveland sent an EM to the club membership on 7/28 re: Banquet RSVPs.  Neal Locke reviewed the train show volunteer schedule. Members were asked to review the schedule and initial acknowledgement of their assigned slots. Neal said he would send copies of the schedule by mail to the members without EM to review their assignments. Any changes to the schedule should be finalized by August Run Day.

  If someone is unable to fill their assigned slot, they should call the Train Show Chair or Co-Chair: Mike Cleveland or Jim Bush.

  Mike said that on Friday, September 14th there will be two teams to help with setup – The Vendor Setup Team and the Layout Setup Team. This concept worked very well last year.

• Raffle Layout Update.

  The layout is on display in the club. Bill Lancaster and Mike Ross have been working on scenery.

• Temple Mall Display.

  Bill Lancaster said everything is a GO for the mall display. The display will be located by Fuddruckers. Friday, August 24th, the HO (8’x16-24’) and O (6’x20’) modular layouts will setup. The Raffle Layout and a table for selling raffle tickets will complete the display. Members interested in participating should contact Bill or Earl Blanchette.

• Pre-Sale Tickets.

  Ed Neill said he had pre-sale tickets for $3 and raffle tickets available. Companies wanting a tax deductible contribution should make their checks payable to the Temple Parks Foundation.

• Train Show Publicity Report.

  Ed Neill said that everything is in place for coverage in the Temple Telegram. Channel 6 will run 35 spots the week before the show. Two ads were placed with the Cow Catcher and one has already run so far. Jerry Johnson has place an ad with a Waco Tribune special publication. Ed said he has also invited the media to Friday’s train show setup after 3:00 PM to help with pre-show publicity. Jim Bush said the show is listed in all the Kalmbach publications – Model Railroading, Classic Toy Trains, and Garden Railways.

• Train Show Clinic Update.

  Joe Pyland reported that Kennedy Gauger will be giving a clinic on Maintaining Rolling Stock. Wayne Snyder will be coming to help with Joes’s clninics. Clark Overman will be helping Ron Miller with his module clinics. Someone is still needed to run the Intro to Model Railroading video at 3:30 PM on Saturday.

• Train Show Banquet Update.

  Dan Ladd said they have 92 RSVPs so far. Special guests have until August 15th to RSVP. Mike Cleveland said he wanted to have the head count finalized by September 1st. Jim Bush said he had received a firm count of 35 attendees from his phone call in may to the layout exhibitors.

  Betty Neal has arranged for a plaque with engraved name plates to recognize past train show coordinators. Individuals will also receive a certificate being prepared by Laurie Cleveland at an award presentation to be held at the banquet. The banquet will end at 9:00 PM and the depot will be open to visitors until 10:00 PM.

• The award winning modules are still scheduled to be on display at the show.
• The RRHM will have a book signing on Saturday, August 11 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. The club will be open on the second Saturday of the month from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. Any interested members should come on down to run trains and welcome visitors.
• Grant update.

  All of the required documents were sent to the ER Carpenter Foundation and they are just waiting for the funds to arrive.

• Saw replacement.

  Ed Neill made a motion to replace Buddy Burk’s saw for up to $200. Mike Ross seconded and the motion passed.

• The Temple Chamber of Commerce will host the ribbon cutting event on August 15th at 10:00 AM. Bill Lancaster has sent out VIP invitations. Bill made a motion to for the club to purchase refreshments for the event. Joe Pyland seconded and the motion passed. Members that come to attend the event should park to the North or West of the depot.
• Betty Neill reminded the membership that they need to clean up their layout areas and put stuff away under the layouts.

New Business

• Neal Locke made new name tags for Dick Copeland, Bill Jones, Keith Nonnemacher, Kyle Penn, Bradley Linda, Jeffrey Govin, Homer Martin, and Jeff Oliver. They are posted on the name tag board.
• Kennedy Gauger made a motion to move the September Business Meeting to September 8th so as to not interfere with the Mall display. Trace Bowen seconded and the motion passed. Mike Cleveland said that all the packets for the train show will also need to be assembled that day.
• Dan Ladd mentioned that Dave Krause, RRHM Director, is interested in joining CentraMod and had asked if the membership forms were on the website. The consensus of the membership was to put the CentraMod Application for Membership and How to Be a Good CentraMod Member forms on the website.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45.