Cliff Green
The next 4th Division Board of Directors meeting is Saturday May 30th, 11 am, at Mitzel’s in Kent, Washington. As always, all 4D members are invited to attend.
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Superintendent’s Message
By Ken Liesse. Photo by Brian Liesse
Hello everyone. Since I’ve held this position for a month now, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself and let you know some of the things going on in the division (better late than never, right?). For those that don’t know, my name is Ken Liesse and I am the Superintendent of 4th Division (PNR/NMRA, etc.). I came to this job in a roundabout way: I had been working closely with Dennis Hill on some division projects at the time of his death this past spring. As Assistant Superintendent, Jim Byerley then took the reins as prescribed in the division bylaws. This left the position of Asst. Supt. open with the task of filling it up to Jim. He asked me to fill in, to which I agreed. At the BOD meeting in August, Jim stepped down as Superintendent, and again following our bylaws, I became Supt.
I am a Life Member of the NMRA and have been a member of the organization for over 30 years. I have served as a Director in 4D and was also on the committee that put together the 2004 National convention here in Seattle. Many of you have probably seen my clinics on painting and manipulating figures and I regularly attend both the Tacoma and Eastside clinics. I’m also a volunteer and member of the museum in Snoqualmie and a member of the American Radio Theater, a group that recreates old time radio programs.
Now that you a little bit about me, allow me to tell you about things going on around the division.
Ed Liesse, Ken Liesse, Sue Van Gerpen, Russ Segner. Brian Liesse Photo
At the BOD meeting last month, a motion was made on behalf of Director JJ Johnston (he was playing Grandpa in California at the time) to make a donation to the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie to benefit their ongoing education efforts. The monies for this came out of the 4D education budget. The following week, Education Chair Ed Liesse, 4D member and museum volunteer Russ Segner and I presented a check for $1000 to Sue Van Gerpen, the museum’s director of marketing. I recently received a very nice thank you note from Sue on behalf of the museum, thanking the 4D and all of its members for our gift.
It’s never too early to start thinking about volunteering for the Pacific Science Center show, which will again be held over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in January. Frank Dekker and Jeff Moorman are always looking for help, so plan ahead and think about donating some time to this endeavor. It is, after all, 4D’s largest source of income for the year.
There are two other big activities coming up next year that you’ll want to put on your calendars: the joint PCR/PNR Regional convention in Medford, OR May 2-5 and the Narrow Gauge convention in Seattle, Sept. 12-15. PCR conventions by themselves often rival NMRA national conventions; the combined convention should be a humdinger. The Narrow Gauge convention, although not an NMRA function, is one of the biggest model railroad conventions in the country and attracts more than just narrow gauge minded individuals. Many 4D members will be showing their layouts for this convention as well as participating in other capacities. Both of these events have web presences Visit the joint convention at http://www.pcrnmra.org/conv2012/ and the Narrow Gauge convention at http://www.seattle2012.com/.
That’s all for now, but you can expect to hear from me again.
Eastside Get-Together Report
By Ken Liesse
JJ Johnston opened the evening with the announcement that our last get-together of the season in June will be a field trip to Chooch Enterprises in Maple Valley. There will be a small charge to help cover the costs of transportation, which will be determined in the coming weeks. We will be visiting the business, then going upstairs to view the layout. JJ will pass on further information when it becomes available. JJ also reminded everyone that ballots for open 4D offices need to be postmarked by May 20.
Ed Liesse made mention of the upcoming NRHS convention in Tacoma (June 20-26). Although most of us may not be able to participate (membership in the NRHS is required), there will be a lot of steam trains in the area during that time, including a trip over Stampede Pass behind SP 4449.
Ed went on to inform everyone that Pacific Northwest Region will be holding a joint convention with Pacific Coast Region next May in Medford, OR. Planning is still in the early stages, but hopefully there will be tours of Micro-Trains and Campbell Scale Models. There will also be clinics and a non-rail program. Siskiyou Summit 2012 will be held May 2-5.
Ken Liesse mentioned an item that showed up in the 4D mailbox: an announcement from the Port of Everett about an upcoming auction. They’re getting rid of two dioramas that they hope someone can re-use for modeling purposes. The auction will take place on June 2nd at the Port of Everett Conference Center. Watch for more information in the Grab Iron.
Stu Rogers brought the video library and mentioned that we now have all of Paul Scole’s videos in the library for member perusal. See the whole list of available titles on the 4D website.
There were five entries in the Model of the Month contest, which was won by Ron Cole with his scratchbuilt 1/32nd scale 12-1 Pullman. Other entries included the Washington Brewery (Di Voss), a switch tower with interior details (David Yadock), a display diorama (Bob Rorabaugh) and a handlaid, code 55, N gauge yard throat (Stu Rogers). Photos of the entries can be viewed here.
After the break, Russ Segner presented the clinic, which was an update on what’s happening at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie through a slide/video show. There has been quite a bit of progress since last June when Eastside held a picnic at the museum. Weyerhaeuser #1, the Fairbanks-Morse, has been pretty much completed and is now awaiting lettering. There has been much progress on Chapel Car #5, the “Messenger of Peace,” and the museum has a paid staff on hand to oversee the work being done on the car. Russ himself is continuing work on coach #218, a 1912 built Barney-Smith car. A lot of work has gone into this car, and the train crew is looking forward to adding it into the regular service. The other big news is that two items from the museum collection – WRL caboose #1 and GN caboose #001 – have been moved into the new Train Shed at the Railway History Center. These are the first exhibits to be housed in the Train Shed with many more to follow. (These cabooses were moved in Thursday afternoon between School Train runs and Russ had pictures of them to show us that night.) Russ reminded everyone that anyone who is interested in restoring equipment, teaching kids about railroading or even operating the railroad can volunteer at the museum. He will keep us up-to-date as progress continues.
At the end of the evening, JJ reminded everyone of the BOD meeting on 5/21 and Michael Kavanaugh reported that he was now cancer free. A great way to end the evening.
Board Meeting Next Saturday
Ken Liesse
There will be a meeting of the 4D Board of Directors next Saturday, May 21st. The meeting will be held starting at 1:00pm at the Yankee Grill, located at the corner of Rainier Ave. and Grady Way in Renton (just north of the I-405/167 Valley Fwy intersection next to the Holiday Inn). All members of the 4D are invited to attend the meeting.
Anyone who has business they would like to have discussed at the meeting should send their item(s) to Superintendent Jim Byerley before Thursday, May 19th to have it placed on the agenda.
4D BOD Meeting
By Ken Liesse
4th Division Superintendent Dennis Hill has called a Board of Directors meeting for Saturday, February 26th. The meeting will start at 1:00pm at the Yankee Grill, 1 South Grady Way, Renton (adjacent to the Holiday Inn just north of the intersection of WA167 and I-405). Google Map and directions here.
Any member of the 4th Division is welcome at the meeting. If you have items for the agenda, email Dennis or Secretary Jeannie Melvin by Thursday, February 24th.