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Roundhouse, were covered by Region Dues income. The surplus was derived from activities at Meets and Conventions. A few invoices remained to be settled, and eventually the Editor’s computer would need to be replaced. Reserves would cover our needs for the next 18 months. Tom Watson commented that our exhibition stand required refurbishment. Proposed by Bill Eaglesham, seconded by Alan Cross, the meeting accepted the report of the treasurer. Len Firth then suggested that Region Dues for the year beginning April 1st. 2000 should be set again at £10.50, and this received membership approval, following a motion by Gordon Nelhams, seconded by Mike Warren. John Firth reported a total membership of 739; we had lost 85 members but 68 had already joined this year. Vernon Stone said postage to new members had gone up from 38p to 90p as a result of mailing out the larger New Starters Pack. Peter Thompson said he had had 163 requests for assistance, 142 had been dealt with. Of the 21 remaining, 14 were beyond assistance, 5 were currently receiving some attention. Paul Doggett had responded to a further 31 enquiries. John Hey advised that the Derby exhibition on April 29-30th. would extend to ten years our involvement with this show. As this was the May Day weekend assistance was proving difficult to find; publicity for the event was always welcome. By then, the Region may have acquired a new stand.Ten layouts from G scale down to N would be presented by Region members. The Secretary reported that the mail was up to date, that the BOD were considering the Regions involvement in model railway exhibitions, and were considering changes in our Publicity department. Work on By-Laws started some years ago would be continued to include references to Divisions and Ladies Section. 6. Trustee Steve Park then reported on National affairs. As predicted, National Dues will rise by $2 to $34 p.a. to take account of inflation, with effect from close of business on 31st. March 2000. One major success of the Trustee’s Meeting was getting Constitutional language introduced so that the National budget is not balanced by increasing mail charges to non-US members. In our case this would have been an extra $8. There have been numerous staff changes at Chattanooga during the year, all resulting in some form of delay to the membership. The Bulletin address label difficulty seems to have been resolved. President Charles observed that “The British Region is light-years ahead in some areas”.
7. Meets Officer Paul Atkinson said there was now a full programme of events for 2000. There was discussion about long- established Division meetings conflicting with recently-organised Region meetings; Paul considered that Region meetings should take precedence over Division affairs. Both Jym Phillips and Dick Smith made the point that they would not be re-scheduling their respective Division meets. Derek Milby noted that both were sufficiently remote from the Ulverston meeting on March 18th. to cause no conflict of interest. A bid was still required to organise the 2001 convention. Spring Meet 2001 would be at
Ulverston from 23-25th. March. The SWANS group would like to organise the Early Summer meet on Saturday 3rd. June, but they would need some layouts to make this successful. The Late Summer Meet would be at Nailsea, on a date to be announced.
8. Ballot Chairman Rai Fenton reported that Treasurer Len Firth and Secretary Steve Park had been returned to these positions for the term 1999-2000 unopposed. Steve Park was also returned unopposed as Trustee for the term 1999-2001.
9. Any Other Business. Mike Warren asked “Are convention attendees getting the best deal?” How were convention hotel costs prepared? Why were they so high? He had seen examples of “weekend hotel breaks” at significantly lesser amounts. Explanations were given, including the history of using Jean Grant’s company in any arrangements. There was also mention of the size of the registration fee and its relationship to the amount charged to Day Visitors. As there was no convention arranged yet for 2001, Mike was urged to organise that event if he felt he could obtain significantly better prices. Les Herriot declared disappointment with the number of Contest entries (29) which were exceeded by the number of photographic entries. Bill Hutchings reminded us that we were a model railroad association, not a photographic club. Gordon Nelhams noted that the Popular Vote contest was in place at some meetings and this had been well received. Tom Winlow suggested that to attract contest entries perhaps we should adopt the Australasian Region system of having Novice and Expert classes. In the light of past experience Steve Park expressed concerns about holding the next Half Yearly Business Meet at the two day meeting at Ulverston. Following a proposal by Len Firth, seconded by Joe Halsall, it was agreed that this meeting would be held the Rainhill meeting, at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 18th. June 2000.
A Vote of Thanks was made by Vernon Stone to the President for his work of the last year.There being no other business to conduct, Mike Spray declared the meeting closed at 10.50 p.m.
Stephen S.Park Region Secretary
Half Yearly Business Meeting
Rainhill, Sunday 18th. June 2000
Agenda...
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Minutes of the Last Meeting
3. Matters Arising
4. President’s Report
5. Reports from Other Officers
6. Trustee’s Report
7. Future meetings
8. To receive bids to organise Convention 2001
9. Call for Nominations for Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President for 2000-2001
10. Any Other Business
Conspiracy of Silence
Mike Martindale
During the Peterborough Convention, Peter and myself were approached by a certain member’s wife with an invitation to join a surprise birthday train excursion. On our acceptance we were sworn to silence [not easy for us!] So it was that on Saturday Jan. 22nd we stood on platform 3 at Peterborough station at 9.30, in an idle wind that went through instead of around, waiting for the arrival of Herefordshire Rail Tours Settle & Carlisle Circular.
On boarding the reserved first class coach we found the birthday boy in a state of shock muttering “it hasn’t sunk in yet.” It turned out after boarding the train at Stevenage he had sat wondering about the coincidence that so many British Region members were on the train, until on the approach to Peterborough he happened to look up to see the entire coach bedecked with balloons, streamers and birthday banners!
The next stop was at York for an engine change, where #86430 “St. Edmund” was detached from one end while #47739 “Resourceful” was stuck on the other. Smart work on the changeover resulted in lost time being made up, giving an on tine departure for Carlisle. Running time was maintained until we were brought to a stand at, of all places, Settle, so that one of Mr. Branson’s Cross Country Virgins could exercise her right to run late in front of us. On being given the green, our driver - sorry, engineer, - soon had Resourceful “walkin’ and talkin’ “ up the 22 mile grade to Ais Gill, so much so that our arrival at Carlisle was 3 minutes early. After a 40 minute servicing stop, we set off for Newcastle, which was passed on time, then headed south for York, and a second engine change where St. Edmund was put back on. An on time 1957 hours arrival was made at Peterborough.=20
We had a wonderful day with good food, good company and a well-organised run. Hereford Rail Tours and Rail Gourmet Charters are to be congratulated. Oh, I nearly forgot our Birthday Boy - none other than Keith Webb. Our thanks to wife Carol for such a well-executed devious plot, and to daughter Electra for keeping us all amused. ●
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