Potomac Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 9:20 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Attendance was 36.
By acclaimation, the membership 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 Richard Edwards for directors at large. The slate was presented by the nominating committee, with the exception of Richard Edwards who was nominated from the floor. No other candidates contacted the committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.
Alex Mayes reminded members about the upcoming slide contest.
Gordy Bjoraker reported that the banquet was scheduled for March 27 at the Golden Bull.
Alex presented a program of slides from his charter trip on the White Pass and Yukon.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Vice President Marc Laborde called the meeting to order at 8:04 p.m.. Attendance was 39.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the previous meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
Members approved a motion authorizing a donation of $3,000 to Montgomery Preservation, Inc. (MPI) for completion of a documentary on the Silver Spring station, subject to negotiation with MPI.
Members applauded John Sery for his work in arranging the Nov. 15 showing of the film Phantom Express by the American Film Institute at the Silver Theatre. The chapter acquired the film in 1999 and later donated the film to AFI for preservation.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
John Sery announced that documentary film maker Walter Gottlieb was looking for people with materials or memories related to the Silver Spring station. John distributed a signup sheet for those members who can help with the project.
Rudy Volin presented a slide program, "Fifty Years of Railfanning in New England", featuring many scenes of passenger trains and first generation diesels.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
President Gordy Bjoraker called the meeting to order at 8:06 p.m.. Attendance was 38.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the previous meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
Gordy Bjoraker presented a 25-year membership pin to Rick Davidson.
Rick Davidson reported that he has not received the renewal notices from the national organization. Because the national organization is late in distributing the notice, they will extend the deadline to January 15.
Jerry Hott reported on the recent national board of directors' meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
Bill reported that the Harford County Historical Society has signed a short-term lease with CSX for the B&O passenger station in Aberdeen. The lease will allow the society to assess whether the building can be preserved.
Bob Cohen gave an update on the fire at the National Capital Trolley Museum. The museum lost 8 cars, but the rectifier was undamaged. It should be back in operation soon.
Some highlights from Jerry Hott's report on the national board meeting:
Alex Mayes presented a slide program on Chicago in the Seventies, featuring pre-Metra commuter operations and fallen flag freight action.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
President Gordy Bjoraker called the meeting to order at 8:03 p.m.. Attendance was 35. Gordy announced that he was looking for volunteers for the nominating committe.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the previous meeting. Bill reported that the chapter sent a letter of support to the Harford County Historical Society in support of their efforts to preserve the B&O passenger station in Aberdeen.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
Bob Cohen solicited updates to the membership directory.
Jerry Hott asked for volunteers to work at Olde Towne Gaithersburg Day celebration September 21.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Members were asked to observe a moment of silence to commemorate the recent passing of Jim Cummings.
John Sery announced that the American Film Institute was likely to show the chapter's film, Phantom Express, at the Silver Theater November 15.
John showed a selection of short films from the Bob Flack collection, including B&O passenger trains from the 1960s and the Chessie Steam Special from the 1970s.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 8:08 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Attendance was 44.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the previous meeting. There was no Treasurer's report.
Bob Cohen announced that he was updating the membership directory. He asked those present to give him any updates.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Jerry Hott reported on the status of the national organization's effort to regain control of the Alco photo collection.
Bill Holdsworth reported on what he has learned about the efforts to save the B&O passenger station in Aberdeen.
Jim Mixter presented a slide show featuring his trip on CN and CP passenger trains in Western Canada during the early 1970s. Alex Mayes followed with a presentation on three West Virginia tourist trains.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 8:04 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Attendance was 34.
Jay Creswell read the minutes of the previous meeting and gave the Treasurer's report.
Jay announced that the chapter picnic is scheduled for September 13 at Gaithersburg City Hall Park.
One member reported that the B&O passenger station in Aberdeen, MD is faced with demolition. He said that the Harford County Historical Society was trying to save the building. He asked the board to consider offering the chapter's support for the effort.
Jerry Hott gave a report on the national directors' meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Ken Lehman gave a slide program featuring selected short lines east of the Mississippi.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Meeting was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by Treasurer Jay
Creswell in the absence of President Bjoraker, Vice President
Laborde, and Secretary Holdsworth.
Reading of the minutes and treasurer's reports were dispensed
with in the interest of time for a special presentation by a
guest speaker.
Treasurer Creswell announced that approximately $900 in members'
donations had been raised for the B&O Museum Restoration fund
and a matching amount from the Chapter would soon be sent to the
Museum.
National Director Hott announced that the Chapter Picnic had been
scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13. The chair solicited comments
about an appropriate starting time.
President Bjoraker, who had been delayed by inclement weather,
arrived at approximately 8:12 p.m. and assumed the Chair.
Mr. Walter Gotleib, gave a brief video presentation of a portion
of his documentary on the history of Silver Spring that dealt
with the Silver Spring B&O station. He is starting work on a
video documentary of the history of the Silver Spring station and
the railroad in Silver Spring. This is with the sponsorship of
Montgomery Preservation, Inc., which restored the Silver Spring
Station. Mr. Gotleib is soliciting additional sources of
financial support as well as historical still and motion picture
material for inclusion in the documentary.
There was a brief period of rail news with primary emphasis on
information concerning the upcoming NRHS convention in Baltimore.
About 35 people were in attendance.
The formal meeting adjourned at about 8:25 p.m. and was followed
by a members' night program.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 8:10 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Attendance was 34.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report. Jay reported that chapter members had donated $690 so far for the B&O Museum restoration fund. He urged that any last minute donations be mailed directly to him.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the previous meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Jerry Hott reported that Bill Duvall's 85th birthday was approaching. Bill was one of the founding members of the chapter.
Bill Holdsworth reported that the slide contest winners could be viewed on the chapter web site.
Tom Rogers gave a video program featuring the B&O main line between Harper's Ferry and Hancock.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 8:11 p.m. by Vice President Marc Laborde. Attendance was 43.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Jerry Hott reported that the annual banquet was a success.
Bob Cohen reminded members to submit their registration forms for the national convention in Baltimore.
Paul Woodring and Ray Saunders reported on the latest news from CSX.
Members viewed the winners of the chapter's annual slide contest and cast ballots for the grand prize winner. Bill Hopkins was the winner with his photo of Santa Fe locomotives at Cajon Pass.
Doug Koontz presented a program on featuring the Alco locomotives of the Quebec Cartier Mining Company's railroad.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 8:10 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Attendance was 43.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the January meeting. Jay Creswell gave a brief Treasurer's report.
Members approved a motion to authorize up to $1,000 to match donations made to the B&O Museum restoration fund between now and the May membership meeting.
Members approved a motion to authorize up to $700 for the chapter's 16mm copy of the 1925 film, Phantom Express. The chapter originally authorized $400 for the copy, but the reporduciton proved to be more expensive than the original estimated.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Members participated in the chapter's annual slide contest.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order at 8:01 p.m. by President Gordy Bjoraker. Attendance was 48.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the December meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the Treasurer's report. He reported that the year-end balance was down $4,700 from the previous year. He said that difference understated the deficit by one thousand dollars because of the outstanding bill for the book sale.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Lee Rogers presented a slide program featuring the Chesapeake Beach railway, the Washington & Old Dominion railroad, and the logging operations of the Mower Lumber Company.
Alex Mayes reminded members that he would be collecting entries for the slide contest at the February meeting.
