1ST QUARTER, 2008 © 2008 Pacific Southwest Region, NMRA®
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PSR Dispatch PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION National Model Railroad Association® VOLUME 26, ISSUE 1 — 1ST QUARTER, 2008 © 2008 Pacific Southwest Region, NMRA® From the Hot Seat! Ben Sevier, PSR President [email protected] Ah, spring is in the seems to have something interesting going on. So, get out air! Unlike our fellow of the house, enjoy the reasons you live here, and have fun modelers in the East with trains, big and little! and Midwest, we aren’t The PSR Board of Directors is taking advantage stuck inside for weeks on end while the winds blow, snow of the event in Temecula to hold the mid-year Board and ice make getting out difficult, and all there is to do meeting during the meet. I would like to thank the Cajon is build kits and lay track. No, we here in the Southwest Division for offering to host the meeting, and I’m looking have it better: fewer reasons to stay indoors, more reasons forward to the fun, as well. If you come to the meet, feel to get out and see our friends, operate layouts, and go free to drop in and observe the Board meeting. railfanning. Right!? Well, I prefer it, anyway, after way The big event, of course, is the coming NMRA too many years of shoveling white stuff, slogging through National Convention and Train Show, which is being slush, etc. hosted by the PSR and the Los Angeles Division. Details Which leads to my point that there is lots going on about the Convention are in this issue, as well as in the in the Region, with social events, swap meets, Division ‘Scale Rails” magazine and on the NMRA website. So, meets, layout operating sessions, train shows, you name send in your registration, and plan to be in Anaheim in it. The Los Angeles Division will be having their annual July. The Convention Committee also needs assistance dinner soon, and Cajon Division is having a blowout of from all members of the PSR in helping to run the a meet in Temecula (between San Diego and Riverside) convention - there’s volunteer contact information on the that everyone is invited to (details in this issue). San detail sheet. Diego had their annual swap meet, and Arizona always Speaking of the NMRA website - if you haven’t visited lately, some big changes have been made. Much easier to use, better design, more information, up to date In This Issue as well. Point your browser at http://www.nmra.org and see what you think. There have also been some changes at Arizona Division ................................................................2 the PSR site, as well. Cajon Division ...................................................................2 Los Angeles Division ..........................................................3 Lots to do between now and the Board meeting in San Diego Division ............................................................3 Temecula, and even more before the Convention. The Achievement Program ........................................................4 Board of Directors is continuing to work on updating “Super Modeler?” ................................................................4 the PSR quides (By Laws and Manual of Operations) to Contest Corner ..................................................................5 bring them in line with all the changes in the NMRA. Railettes .............................................................................5 Member of the Year ............................................................6 We’re also trying to find the best solutions for our Region “Anaheim Special” ...............................................................7 and Division publications to keep you, the member, Flag Stops ...........................................................................9 informed and involved. PSR Directory .................................................................10 Well, I look forward to seeing you soon, either at Membership Form .............................................. BACK PAGE Temecula or Anaheim, or along the line somewhere. Division Director Arizona Cajon Rick Watson Carl Heimberger [email protected] [email protected] On November 10th of 2007, we held our Division By now everyone’s focus should be on the NMRA meet in Tucson. We had a good turnout, but the contest National Convention in Anaheim in July 2008. This room was fairly empty. We are working to encourage national Convention will also be the PSR Convention better participation in the contests in our future meets. for 2008 so I would like to encourage all Cajon members I would like to thank Rick Wheeler and Jack DeBolt to attend, there will be some really outstanding clinics, for the service as the Superintendent and Chief Clerk tours and this is your chance to enter into a Nation and Paymaster respectively. Also, I welcome our new Convention Contest. Although LA division is the host Superintendent Art Carlton and new Chief Clerk and division the success of this convention can only happen Paymaster Richard Dick. I look forward to working with if it is supported by all PSR members. The convention these gentlemen as we move forward. will need lots of volunteers, so here is your chance to At the end of January, we go live with our new become part of this event. Please consider volunteering Arizona Division website. Thanks to Dick Greatorex for at least one day during the event. all his past support in hosting the website. We hope the Cajon Division is also gearing up for the 2009 PSR new website will be a success and I encourage members Convention that will be held in Las Vegas, and are in to provide feedback and suggestions for us to improve the process of developing the program, tours and other the site. You can visit the new website at www.AzDiv_ events associated with the convention. Along that same NMRA.org You can also view the color version of the line we are in the process of developing our funding Spur Line, our division newsletter, on the new website. strategy, which includes several weekend meets between Our next meet will be March 1 in Phoenix. now and September 2009. The first event will be in Everyone is invited to attend. And please bring your March 28th, 29th & 30th 2008 in Temecula and will contest entries! It would be great to see members from consist of clinics, a trip to Paris Train Museum and the other Divisions join us. Our other events in 2008 for an extra fee you can drive a train, dinner, Chinese will be Flagstaff ( June), and Tucson (November). Auction, and antique shopping and wine tasting for Finally, we are all getting prepared for the national the non rails. Detail information is included in this convention in Anaheim this coming July. I’m very publication and it is open to all divisions to attend. excited to be able to attend a convention in our ‘back Hope to see many of you there. yard’. I hope to see many folks from the Arizona Division as well a members of the region at the convention. PSR Elections Coming Up - Your Input is Needed The terms of the current President and Vice-President of the PSR are coming to an end this July at the Annual Membership Meeting during the 2008 NMRA/PSR Convention in Anaheim. If you know of someone who is interested in either of these positions, or are interested yourself, the nomination must be submitted no later than March 27th, 2008, to: Tom Draper, Nominating Committee Chair 10837 N. 34th Place Phoenix, AZ 85028-3310 (602) 953-1681 email: [email protected] 2 PSR DISPATCH — 1st Quarter, 2008 Activity Reports Los Angeles San Diego Paul Cutter Don Fowler [email protected] [email protected] By the time you read this, the PSR Board of Happy New Year! I hope that your holiday season Directors will either have met for the mid-year board was great. On December 8th, the San Diego Division meeting or will be getting ready to meet. One of the gathered at my home for a Division Holiday Party. We main topics will be to bring the PSR By-Laws and had an excellent turn out despite the rainstorm. Many Manual of Operations in compliance with the National trains were run, large quantities of food were consumed, policies. After all the changes have been suggested, the and there was a lively gift exchange (with some general membership will vote on said changes. Another organized stealing as well). A great time was had by all topic will be the new membership policies of national and we’ve decided to make it an annual event. and the effects on the region and the divisions. In January 12-13 brought the World’s Greatest Hobby conjunction with these policies, a discussion of how to on Tour to the San Diego County Fairgrounds. The reach out to these new members to inform them of the event drew a very large attendance and offered a wide benefits of being active in the region and their division variety of displays, venders, manufacturers and clinics. should happen. Representatives from Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, Con The Los Angeles Division Committee has voted Cor, Kato, Micro-Trains, Walthers, Woodland Scenics to deliver the Coupler online with no charge as of the and others displayed new products and answered April-June issue. For a small fee, members will be able questions. There were train rides for the kiddies and to receive a hard copy mailed to them. All details were interactive displays visitors of all ages. Lots of smiles, in the Jan-Mar issue mailed to all members of the PSR excitement, and train sets going out the door. If you residing within the L.A. Division. have the opportunity to attend one of these events, I would like to encourage all members to register please do and invite a friend. and attend the National Convention to be held in On January 19th, the Division was invited to visit Anaheim in July 2008. Attending the National is a the North County Model Railroad Society in Oceanside. terrific experience and it may be awhile before it is so This club is uniquely located on a second floor over a close to home again.