Page 4 - January February 2008

President’s Car...
Introduction
As I write this, it is the week before Christmas and for the first time for a few years it’s seasonally cold. I, like many of you, have retired to my model­ ling room to continue to build that model railroad empire. I am trying to build my first wood structure kit. There is a whole new learning curve to sur­ mount; that said, I am enjoying the experience, and although I don’t believe it will be contest quality, I do believe it will be sufficiently detailed for the foreground space reserved for it on my layout.
As you are reading this, it will be February and winter will be retiring, with spring just round the corner. I hope you received suitable gifts for Christmas to inspire your modelling. Maybe some of you will build a model for entry into the contest at the Con­ vention in October; you really need to start planning that model now. I for one will be attempting to bring a contest model of my own to enter.
Meets
Some of you will have made it to Benson in January, and I hope you enjoyed the Winter Meet. I am certainly looking forward to attending the meeting, the first of many in 2008. There are many meets and US railroad­themed shows planned this year, and I intend to get to as many as it is practical and possible to attend; perhaps I will see some of you at one or other of them.
Convention 2008
While we are on the subject of the Con­ vention, I understand from Nobby that there has been a record number of bookings for the Kegworth Convention in October. If you want to stay in the Yew Lodge Hotel, I suggest you send off that booking form sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.
The Reorganisation of the Region
The BOD has continued to work towards the reorganisation of the region, to streamline and improve the format of the British Region. Early indications are that we may be able to operate to differ­ ent rules to the National, which may result in us in the British Region being able to use the titles Division and Sub­ Division without having to have a for­ mal organisation as has been suggested for the Divisions stateside. Nobby is taking our suggestions to the National BOD meeting in January, so by the time you are reading this we will possibly know how we are to progress with the reorganisation.
Vice President
As I write this, the application period for the post of Vice President is drawing to a close; I believe we have a minimum of one candidate, which will result in the post being filled. This will bring the BOD up to five members. This will ease the workload of the individual members of the BOD who, together with the appointed officers, give up their time to help administer the British Region.
Dues Payments
The BOD has continued to work towards different methods of payment of dues. However, this has proved somewhat more complicated than first thought, and the new methods of payment are unlikely to be available for this year’s dues. We must therefore ask you to pay by cheque, as we have always done, and please can I ask that payment is made as soon after 1 April as possible. Thanks.
Finally, rather belatedly (I will have to get the editorial delay sorted out in my head!), I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year is turning out well. Keep up the modelling, and see you all somewhere during 2008.
Have Fun
New VP Elected and Call for Nominations for Treasurer
Just one nomination has been received for the post of Vice President, and that is from Mike Arnold (currently Treasurer). He has therefore been duly elected to this post, and as a result nominations are now required for the post of Treasurer.
Nominations for Treasurer should indicate the name of the nominee and the position nominated for, and should be signed by the nominee, the proposer and the seconder. All three persons should be current members of the NMRA and British Region. Nominations should be received by the Ballot Chairman, Rai Fenton, at 43 Essex Road, Chingford, London E4 6DG, by 21 February. If more than one nomination is received for this post, a postal ballot will be held in April of all Region members.
If you have any queries, or to obtain nomination forms, please contact Rai on 020 8529 7307 or via email at rjfen@raisig.demon.co.uk. For information about the role of this post, please contact any member of the BOD.
 rOuNDHOuSe