Gordon Garnhart

There were 27 people gathered at the Summer Hill Retirement Community conference room on November 10th. The meeting featured Roger Ferris conducting a Make ‘n Take session and Bobj Berger with an interesting array of estate sale items. But the start of the program was delayed because both of these gentlemen were caught in a traffic snarl due to a collision on Interstate 5.

John White opened the meeting, calling our attention to a very worthwhile program called “Heartbeat, Serving Wounded Warriors”. It was started a few years ago by Janice Buckley of Snohomish, Washington, to provide support for the spouses and families of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The scope of the effort was recently expanded to help wounded veterans cope with their long recovery periods in veterans’ hospitals. At our last meeting the suggestion was made to furnish kits of railroad cars or structures to give them something interesting to do. At this meeting a further suggestion involved also supplying them with simple tool kits. These ideas were well received.
Steve Jaffrey presenting a finalized set rules for the upcoming scratch built Dilapidated Building Competition. Judging will take place at the June meeting next year.

Jack Tingstad spoke briefly about his annual Open House. Saturday and Sunday, November 27th and 28th, Jack will have his 10th annual Open House for the public at his Cloud City and Western HO layout in Coupeville at 508 Broadway. Admission is a can or two of food for the local food bank. Jack asked for volunteers to assist him with the many visitors that are expected.

Roger Ferris led a repeat of the very successful Make ‘n Take program he conducted in a clinic at the recent PNR convention in Lynnwood. There were many active participants painting cutting and gluing a small trestle for use over a culvert.

We will next meet on Wednesday, December 8th at the home of John White for “Wassail and Other Delights” on the Skagit Valley Eastern Railroad, an On30 layout serving logging and mining interests in a 1920s setting.