Page 21 - September October 2016

Some Notes from the President Elect Robin Swan
Not all members receive online BRe-News. So for their benefit this is an amalgamation two articles I have written for that. The purpose was to introduce myself and provide feedback from the Vice President: albeit in this case a co-opted VP.
“From The Head End” BRe-News: Issue 21 July2016
As you probably know we had a vacancy for Vice President, and as a consequence the normal progression of Vice President to President in October 2016 would not occur.
I was asked by the current BOD if I would be willing to put myself forward for nomination to the post of President from this October with the understanding that I will serve a one year term only. The thinking was that this would allow a new Vice-President at least one full year to get to grips with the role and the general workings and issues of the BOD before stepping up in 2017. For this reason I was co-opted onto the BOD so that I am up to speed on current issues This was on the premise that the members sanction this exceptional solution to the problem. I accepted the request, as I believe we need continuity.
I have been a Life Member of the NMRA since 1986 (5283). My first recollection of American Railroads is a book given to me in 1946 - I was nearly 5. There was the picture of a huge engine bursting out of a tunnel. I now know it to be a C&O Allegheny 2-6-6-6. I was impressed and hooked for life. In the 1950s I would save my pocket money and purchase copies of Model Railroader and Model Trains from a guy who imported them from the USA and who lived a short cycle ride from my parent’s house. Why tell you this? Well it is to say my enthusiasm has not been dimmed for the last 70 years and hopefully will last for at least another 70 or so weeks.
I am a Past Vice-President and President, serving for one year as Vice- President and nearly two years as President, until for health reasons I resigned in August 2012. Those issues are behind me, and I consider it would be an honour to serve the members of the NMRA(BR) for one year until October 2017, should that be sanctioned by you. Since that was written several members of the new BOD have been declared. They take up duties at the AGM in October and they are:
Membership: Peter Bowen
Treasurer: Chris James
Secretary: Vacant at the moment, but we have volunteers to cover the role until a member is nominated and elected under the NMRA(BR) rules.
Vice President: David McLaughlin
President: Robin Swan (For one year only)
“From The Head End” BRe-News: Issue 22 September 2016
This will be my last greeting under the banner of “From The Head End”.
It will have been a short tenure as Co-opted Vice President. As I said in my previous Head End message: “I will be honoured to serve you all”. Sounds trite, but it is important to me. I have had a lot of pleasure from Model Railways and Railroads. It has provided me with a new circle of friends and acquaintances. So it is time to give something back.
The new BOD is nearly in place, ready to take up the reins at the AGM from the excellent work done under the leadership of Mike Arnold. Thanks to all members of the BOD and those members who undertake duties on behalf of us all. For example the Editor of Roundhouse, the Marketing Team and Local Co-ordinators: without all of you we cannot operate.
We are, as ever, faced with challenges. The pound / dollar rate has changed from $1.40 when we last reviewed the subscriptions. As I write this (23rd August), it is $1.26 to the pound. Why does this matter in our finances? Well, for every member (other than life members) the NMRA(BR) pays in the order of $10 to the NMRA in the USA. As the pound declines that takes a larger chunk of the £24 or £14. Manageable at the moment, but what happens in the next year or two? We can discuss the implications when we present the accounts for 2015-2016 at the AGM.
Mention of the AGM, brings me to the Convention. I am looking forward to it and to meeting as many of you as possible. Please introduce yourself to me. I will endeavour to wear my NMRA shirt with my name upon it. Your feedback is important, as is the chance to learn, to play trains and chat about railroads and all aspects of modelling those. Whatever our views, political and personal, we all have a common interest.
If you have any ideas of how we develop the NMRA(BR) please discuss them with me or any member of the BOD. For example, how we can better use our finances to support all members and groups? What sorts of events we can put on: both Member Meets and Public Events? Also can we help to facilitate training and even co-ordinate visits? Ideas and offers of help please.
I would like to finally repeat something that Mike Arnold said earlier this year. “And finally......what better way to publicise what you are doing than send copy to me for BRe-news or Martin for Roundhouse. Why, in this age of technology doing it all for us, do Martin and I pull our hair out at opportunities missed. We are missing meet dates for the events diaries. The print deadlines for both newsletters are much the same, the end of the even months. Please do not miss the next deadlines. If you do, we all miss out.”
Thank you
Robin Swan, Co-opted Vice President
DOUG SAYLES 1938 – 2016
Calder Northern sadly advise that long time member Doug Sayles died recently. Doug was an avid N scale modeller who had built a number of layouts of his own and had also been involved in helping many other people build theirs too. He was a member of Furness Model Railway Society and was in fact their longest serving member; writing a column for the Society’s 60th anniversary edition of their magazine just a couple of months ago. In his working life Doug had been a BR signalman operating boxes in the Barrow in Furness area, retiring whilst working at Barrow North. Doug was active in other ways too and helped build and operate the signal box on Major Hext’s miniature railway at Coniston in the grounds of this gentleman’s home. He helped out in running sessions when the public were invited along.
One of Doug’s North American interests was the McCloud Railway in the US North West. He had written to the company for a number of
years and when he and his wife Maureen decided on a holiday to the Shasta area he contacted the company to ask if he could call on them. A positive response resulted in the pleasure of a day with the switching crew for 12 hours up and down the line spotting cars in the correct locations. This was a day he often spoke about with great enthusiasm and affection.
Doug would also be remembered by Region members who attended the Derek Milby “Ulverston weekends” as he and Maureen helped to make everyone’s time there enjoyable.
A collection of railway/railroad company signs grace the clubroom walls at Crewe. These were initially loaned by Doug but Maureen has now said she would like the signs to remain permanently there in his memory. Calder Northern very much appreciates this gesture and will remember Doug as a loyal member who will be sadly missed.
Sent by Terry Wynne
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