Page 3 - July August 2014
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Back in May the Region Board discussed possible changes for “Roundhouse”, in the light of many members being able to re­ ceive newsletters by email and access the website. Apparently over 80% of members are able to do this. If agreed, this would allow “Roundhouse” to have less repetitive information (such as Division Diary) and more articles. The information would be replaced by contact details and “where to look” online. Possibly “Roundhouse” would still have a section to provide updates and topical changes in these fields.
To augment these ideas, the various Region groups would be encouraged to have a member responsible for regularly sending in local news, as a few already do. Additionally, volunteer members would be sought who would act as article seekers! In other words, they would solicit material for publication on all manner of topics relevant to our hobby.
The object would be to make news and information more quickly and easily avail­ able to those who have access to a com­ puter, while making “Roundhouse” have a larger proportion of article material. In this respect, an article can be anything from a photo or two with extended captions, up to a long­running series. The latter could focus on a member’s layout, their modelling his­ tory, or a “technical” subject, for example painting models, making scenery, electrical matters, whatever.
If this proposal goes ahead, I would hope that a suitable arrangement is found for those members without computer access. This could be by providing a posted paper copy of the e­newsletter, depending on costs involved. Small print runs tend to be expensive. One idea I suggested, only for members informing us they have no com­ puter access, is that simple print­outs of Region e­newsletters that have appeared since the past “Roundhouse” could be in­ serted in the envelope of the next edition they receive.
But the most important thing, in my humble opinion, is to get feedback on these new ideas, from you, the members. Feel free to send me, or the BOD if you prefer, your views.
A couple of years ago I got dragged into a small informal discussion group. Their wives had started a book club (which my wife had just joined) and, as the men were getting slung out of their houses during the ladies’ book sessions, they had started meeting in a local coffee shop once a month, taking it in turns to do a presentation. When I was asked to join them, I enquired what kind of things they discussed, and was told “anything!” It could be a holiday, a book read, something to do with one’s career, or a hobby . . . Hah! I told them that just about the only things I would present would be to do with motor sport or railroads (none of them are railway hobbyists).
Well, I have no idea if they genuinely enjoy my turn at speaking or are simply being polite, but one thing it certainly does is get me into research, and my latest effort concerned Henry Dreyfuss and the influence of Art Deco on American loco and train design in the 1930s era.
Until then I had no idea that Dreyfuss also designed everything from telephones and Hoovers, up to Super Constellation interiors, ocean liners, and large buildings on Broadway. But of course to me the pinnacle was the Twentieth Century Limited stream­ lined Hudson. Hopefully my friends in the discussion group equally appreciate his talent!
We’re getting a little short of material again so please get those cameras and pens out!
Martin Boyask
   CUPOLA
...FROM THE EDITOR
  ROUNDHOUSE AUGUST 2014
CONSIST...
CUPOLA
PRESIDENT’S CAR
BOURNEMOUTH CONVENTION
REGION CALENDAR
DIVISION DIARY
BEANERY
UNCOUPLED CARS
EXTRA 4462 WEST Mike Tricker WEATHERING SOLUTIONS BY WEATHERING
SOLUTIONS Mike Arnold 12 WESTON-ON-TRENT SPRING MEET 15 THE MODESTO AND EMPIRE TRACTION
COMPANY
Lindsay Beare and Tom Watson 16
SCENES FROM NIGEL KITCHENER’S
LAYOUT 17
THE FILDID & WISSAT RR – A GARDEN RAILWAY – Part 7 Nick Prior 18
WHY AMERICAN? John Fish 21 REGISTRAR NEWS 23
4 5, 7 6 7 8 10
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 august 2014
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