Potomac Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order about 9:00 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker.
Gordy presented certificates of appreciation to Richard Edwards, Rick Davidson, and Bill Holdsworth, in recognition of their service to the chapter.
Bennett Lichtman gave the nominating committee report. He reported that no one contacted the committee to seek office. By acclaimation, the membership re-elected the slate of Gordy Bjoraker for president, Marc Laborde for vice president, Jay Creswell for treasurer, Bill Holdsworth for secretary, Jerry Hott for national director, and John Sery and Wayne Sherwin for directors at large.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
The holiday social preceded the business meeting.
Bill Gray presented a program of short films.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order about 8:10 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Forty-four members and guests were present.
Gordy announced the annual elections would be postponed until the December meeting. Anyone interested in running for office should contact the nominating committee, either John Morris or Bennett Lichtman.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the October meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report, detailing October income and expenses.
Jerry Hott reported on the fall meeting of the national directors at Chambersburg. He reminded members that the pre-registration deadline for this year's convention at the Grand Canyon is January 5.
The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.
Bill Holdsworth described his effort to organize a group to ride MARC's first day of service to Frederick December 17.
Bob Kaplan presented slide show about his recent two-week trip to Cuba. The program included several steam operations, the popular Hershey Electric Railway, and diesel activity.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker, who suggested that the Business Meeting be abbreviated in light of the length of the evening's program.
Reading of the minutes of the September meeting were dispensed with in the absence of Secretary Bill Holdsworth.
Treasurer Jay Creswell gave an abbreviated report indicating that the principal transaction for the month was the payment to Mrs. Flack for the film collection.
Bob Cohen reminded members that the Chapter would be having a table at the Gaithersburg Railroadiana Show November 2-4, 2001.
Members briefly offered rail news items.
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President Bjoraker announced that two of the members of the nominating committee had been selected, John Morris and Bennett Lichtman, and that he was seeking a volunteer for the third member.
There were 42 members and 5 guests for a total attendance of 47.
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
Minutes were prepared by Jay Creswell, Treasurer in the absence of the secretary.
Tom Rogers presented a projection video program on the B&O's Old Main Line from Baltimore to Frederick Junction.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:04 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Forty members and guests were present.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the August meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report, detailing August expenses. Jay reminded members about the chapter picnic is scheduled for September 22 in Gaithersburg City Hall Park.
The meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
During the business meeting, Jim Mixter showed a short tribute to the victims and rescue workers of the September 11 tragedies. After intermission, Jim presented a slide program featuring scenes from the Chicago area during the 1970s.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Forty-seven members and guests were present.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the July meeting. Members approved the minutes as read.
Bob Cohen reminded members about the chapter picnic scheduled for September 22 in Gaithersburg City Hall Park.
Jerry Hott asked for volunteers for the Gaithersburg Olde Town Day Septermber 23.
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
After the business meeting, Bob Bitzer presented a slide program featuring the mining railroads of Minnesota and other Midwest short lines the1980s.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:04 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Fifty-two members and guests were present.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the June meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report summarizing June expenses
Members approved a motion to increase the chapter's matching grant for Miller Tower to $625. The chapter had originally authorized $500 to match donations from members, but contributions surpassed the limit, reaching $625.
Jerry Hott announced that the chapter picnic is scheduled for September 22 in Gaithersburg City Hall Park.
The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
The Washington, D.C. chapter will host the 2003 national convention in Baltimore.
For the program, Alex Mayes presented a slide program featuring current railroading in Northern Arizona. Highlights included the BNSF main between Holbrook and Kingman, including Crozier and Kingman Canyons, the all-Alco Apache railway, the Grand Canyon Railroad, the Black Mesa & Lake Powell electrified railroad, and the Verde Canyon Railroad.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Thirty-seven members and guests were present.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the May meeting.
Bill and Marc presented checks to the slide contest winners.
Bill announced that the Treasurer has collected $400 in donations from chapters members for Miller Tower. The chapter will match such donations up to $500. The deadline for matching donations is June 30.
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
For the program, John Sery showed three 1960s films from the Bob Flack collection. The films featured the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, Milwaukee Road, and Philadelphia-area trolleys.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Forty-one members and guests were present.
Jerry Hott reported on the April national directors' meeting held Philadelphia, PA. Jerry presented a 25-year membership pin to Paul Woodring.
Treasurer Jay Creswell reported on recent expenditures.
The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
Member Charlie Middleton is recovering from a stroke.
Wayne Sherwin presented a program of slides taken during his 1950s tenure with the Denver and Rio Grande Western.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:10 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Attendance was forty-one.
Jay Creswell announced that he has received three donations for the Miller Tower restoration.
Members voted on the grand prize winner for the slide contest. The initial round of voting resulted a three-way tie. In the runoff voting, Bob Kaplan's First Independence Limited at Little Orleans emerged as the winner.
The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
Paul Woodring is now an engineer with CSX.
Jerry Hott showed all the prize winners from the slide contest. Marc Laborde's program focused on "Places where you can photograph more than one train at a time." Locations included Hagerstown MD, Shenandoah Junction WV, Doswell VA, Vaughn NM, Fostoria OH, and Palmer MA.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Attendance was forty-three.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the February meeting. Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
Members approved a motion to authorize a $2,500 grant to the Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority for restoration of Miller Tower. The motion also included authorization of an additional $500 to be used to match individual donations from chapter members made by June 30, 2001. Members should make checks payable to the chapter with an indication that the funds are to be donated to Miller Tower. The Treasurer will then write a check to the roundhouse authority for the members' donations plus the matching amount.
After a discussion of rail news, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Bob Cohen made an announcement soliciting donation of door prizes for the chapter banquet.
The program was the annual slide contest.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order shortly after 8 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Attendance was fifty-two.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the January meeting. Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
Bill Hopkins announced that Steve Salomon has been confirmed as the speaker for the banquet April 7.
After a discussion of rail news, the meeting was adjourned.
Members discussed the expenses associated with publishing the newsletter.
Bob Cohen made an announcement soliciting donation of door prizes for the chapter banquet.
The program was a members' night, with several members presenting slides or film.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building, Rockville
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Attendance was forty-four.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the November meeting. Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
Bill Hopkins announced that the chapter banquet will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Forest Glen April 7. Expected cost is $30.
Members approved a motion to spend $6,000 for purchase of Bob Flack's movie collection from his widow. The purchase would include all rights, including the ability to copyright.
Jerry Hott presented Ara Mesrobian with a pin commemorating his 50 years of membership in the NRHS.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:47.
Approval of the motion for purchase of the Flack film collection followed a lengthy discussion. John Sery reported that the board recommended that the membership authorize $4,500 for the purchase. John reported that Mrs. Flack would accept the $4,500, but based on his evaluation he thought $7,000 would be a fair price. Jerry Hott moved that the membership approve an expenditure of $5,000. The membership approved an amendment to raise the amount to $6,000. Members rejected an amendment to raise the price to $7,000 by a 17-20 vote.
John Sery announced that the February program will be a members' night. Any member wishing to show slides should contact John.
Bill Hopkins announced that chapter member Wayne Sherwin has published a new book, Trackside on the PRR, North of Washington, DC. Wayne is offering to sell the book to chapter members at cost.
Bob Cohen made an announcement concerning memorial services for Henry Bielstein.
Expenditures for the month of December included discretionary grants of $400 to the Wilmington and Western Railroad to help the organization repair damage from Hurricane Floyd, $400 to the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley chapter for restoration of Boston and Maine locomotive 3713 and $400 for the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
Martin O'Rourke presented a program on past Rail Camps which have been held at Steamtown to introduce young railfans to the world of railroading.
