Article by Rich Thom, Photos by Al Frasch
Fig 1 – Fences Enclose Pastures on Al Frasch’s BNSF Pilchuck Division
Skagit Valley and Whidbey NMRA Clinic Chair Rich Blake welcomed 24 modelers to the March 9th meeting at the Summerhill facility in Oak Harbor. Rich made an interesting observation about attendance. Since the “new” Mt. Vernon NMRA Clinic was launched last fall the typical attendance numbers of the SV&W and Mt. Vernon clinics together have totaled more than the SV&W group typically drew when it served both geographic areas. That suggests the “splitting up” of our original group was a grand idea – more folks are discovering the value and camaraderie offered by these clinics and the NMRA. Our clinic has seen a steady addition of new people, model railroaders who might have thought they were isolated in our corner of the Puget Sound, delighted to find a large and active group of like-minded souls.
Susan Gonzales is putting together next season’s program and pointed out that she had only received one suggestion for clinics (and even fewer volunteers) and repeated her call for clinic topics and, especially, clinicians. The popular “mini-clinics” evening will be repeated in October – 10 to 15 minute spots to describe simpler, single topics — but volunteers are needed. Interest was expressed in another contest. Two suggestions from the floor for possible contest themes included (1) car interiors and (2) kit-bashing variations on one simple building kit. A contest will occur only if someone steps up to be Contest Shepherd!
