Potomac Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
No business was conducted during the holiday social.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
President Gordy Bjoraker called the meeting to order at 8:13 p.m. Attendance was 23.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the October meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He has reserved the Executive Office Building auditorium for the first six meetings of 2017. The reservations cover the period from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Gordy announced that the chapter has recruited Mike Schafer to speak at the March 18 banquet. Gordy solicited a volunteer to act as coordinator for the banquet.
Rick Davidson reported that he has documented the national organization's online renewal process. He will provide the information to Clay Moritz for publication in the newsletter.
The meeting adjourned about 8:25 p.m.
After the intermission, Alex Mayes gave a digital program about a trip to western Canada in 2015.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Secretary Bill Holdsworth called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. Attendance was 25.
Bill read the minutes of the September meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report.
Members approved a motion to amend the bylaws as recommended by the board of directors and published in the September Potomac Rail News. The amendment affects Section 3 of Article XIX Travel Expenses. (This vote was necessary because the approval at the September meeting was premature. The process for amending the bylaws call for a vote to be held at the second monthly meeting following the newsletter.)
Amended Text - New text in ALL CAPS
3. Reimbursement for transportation by public conveyance shall be limited to the lowest applicable round-trip rail or air fare. Reimbursement for travel by private automobile shall be NO LESS THAN THAT currently allowed by the Internal Revenue Service for deductions of mileage for charitable purposes and NO GREATER THAN THAT ALLOWED BY THE IRS FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL. A REIMBURSEMENT RATE GREATER THAN THE CHARITABLE RATE MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY THE CHAPTER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. Automobile reimbursement shall not exceed the applicable rail or air fare.
National Representative Rick Davidson gave a brief report on the recent national board meeting in Portland, OR.
John Sery conducted a straw poll on attendees' preference on the location of next year's chapter banquet. Voters preferred Maryland over Virginia, 12-3.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
After the intermission, Bob Kaplan gave a slide program about the Western Maryland Railway.
Montgomery County Council Office Building
President Gordy Bjoraker called the meeting to order at 8:08pm.
Present were 22 members and one guest.
President Bjoraker led us in a “moment of silence” in observance of the passing of Robert S. Sery, father of John Sery and grandfather of Stephen Sery, who passed away August 31st.
President Bjoraker then asked John Morris to present the Potomac Chapter Nominating Committee’s report on the nomination slate of Chapter officers and directors for 2016. John announced the slate of candidates for 2016 includes:
John Morris explained that John Sery would replace Marc Laborde who is stepping down as Vice President. Director Ira Silverman remains on the Board for the second year of his two-year term and Robert Dixon-Gumm will join the Board to serve the second year of John Sery’s term as a member of the Board.
As there were no nominations from the floor, a motion was made and seconded to accept the slate of nominations as presented. The slate was unanimously approved by the members present. President Bjoraker thanked Members John Morris and Bennett Lichtman for serving as the Nominating Committee.
President Bjoraker’s next item was the Proposed Amendment to the Chapter By-Laws (See Page 3 of the September 2016 Potomac Rail News*) regarding reimbursement of travel expenses. Following some discussion Gordy requested a motion to amend the bylaws as recommended by the Board. A motion was made and seconded. The motion passed with no dissenting votes.
* The amendment affects Section 3 of Article XIX Travel Expenses.
Proposed Amended Text - New text in ALL CAPS
3. Reimbursement for transportation by public conveyance shall be limited to the lowest applicable round-trip rail or air fare. Reimbursement for travel by private automobile shall be NO LESS THAN THAT currently allowed by the Internal Revenue Service for deductions of mileage for charitable purposes and NO GREATER THAN THAT ALLOWED BY THE IRS FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL. A REIMBURSEMENT RATE GREATER THAN THE CHARITABLE RATE MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY THE CHAPTER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. Automobile reimbursement shall not exceed the applicable rail or air fare.
Current text
3. Reimbursement for transportation by public conveyance shall be limited to the lowest applicable round-trip rail or air fare. Reimbursement for travel by private automobile shall be at the mileage rate currently allowed by the Internal Revenue Service for deductions of mileage for charitable purposes plus applicable tolls and parking charges. Automobile reimbursement shall not exceed the applicable rail or air fare.
John Morris announced that MARC has taken final delivery of all 54 new Bombardier Transport bi-level cars that were ordered in 2011. The $153 million order included 15 cab-control cars which seat 127 passengers, 34 trailer cars which seat 142, and five cars equipped with restrooms which seat 132. The new equipment is currently in use on all three MARC lines.
John also announced that the he may be organizing a trip on MARC from Washington Union Station to Perryville MD and return. Two dates were proposed—October 10th (Columbus Day Holiday) or November 11th (Veteran’s Day Holiday). The members present indicated their preference for November 11th.
Carl Franz then announced that the steam-powered regular service commuter trains in Wolsztyn, Poland, which had been discontinued, were returning in January 2017.
The meeting was adjourned and, after a 5-minute break, Chapter Member Ira Silverman presented a potpourri of western railroading in the 1960s and 1970s with an emphasis on the Santa Fe and Union Pacific.
Submitted by: Clay Moritz
(Includes notes from the meeting provided by Alex Mayes)
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
President Gordy Bjoraker called the meeting to order at 8:12 p.m. Attendance was 20.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the July meeting. There was no treasurer's report.
Clay Moritz reported that the joint picnic with the Baltimore Chapter was successful. Potomac Chapter members accounted for 25 of the 66 attendees. Because the high temperature was 99° that day, tables were setup inside the air-conditioned museum.
Gordy announced that the nominating committee is beginning its work. There is one vacancy on the board. Members interested in serving should contact John Morris or Bennett Lichtman.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
After the intermission, Clay presented two DVDs, one about vintage steam on the Norfolk and Western Railroad and the other a Norfolk Southern production featuring N&W Class A No. 1218 in 1988.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Secretary Bill Holdsworth called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. Attendance was 15.
Bill read the minutes of the June meeting.
Members were reminded to sign up for the joint picnic with the Baltimore Chapter at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum August 13.
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
After the intermission, Carl Franz presented two commercially made videos on the Yellowstone steam locomotives operated by the Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range Railroad and the Simpson Timber Company's logging railroad.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Secretary Bill Holdsworth called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. Attendance was 19.
Clay Moritz reminded members that this year's chapter picnic will be a joint event with the Baltimore Chapter at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum August 13.
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
After the intermission, Stephen Sery showed the winners of the digital photo contest.
Alex Mayes showed a videotape about the Milwaukee Road's electrified Rocky Mountain Division.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Attendance: 15 Members plus 1 guest
The meeting was called to order by Potomac Chapter Treasurer Jay Creswell.
On June 4 & 5, 2016 N&W 611 will power three trips Manassas – Front Royal; There are volunteer openings for car hosts, commissary, and boarding passengers; Lewis Foster is the Roanoke Car Host/Volunteer Coordinator.
Potomac Chapter Directors Meeting: Jay Creswell announced that the Board of Directors approved a motion to recommend the membership require board approval for allocation of designated donations for Special Chapter Activities and Small Preservation Grants. These allocations are limited to $1,000 maximum as specified in the bylaws. Allocations from donations designated for Small Preservation Grants should augment those made by the President under the existing small grants program. Motion passed unanimously.
Chapter Picnic: The membership was presented with the following site options for our 2016 Annual Potomac Chapter Picnic: Gaithersburg City Hall Park, National Capital Trolley Museum, and a joint picnic with the Baltimore Chapter to be held at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum. Despite significant discussion from the floor on these site options and a straw poll, there was no clear winner. Carl Franz provided an overview of the Baltimore Chapter’s picnic at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum, which includes catered main entrées, covered dish contributions from those attending, and chapter provided sodas and water. During the picnic, the Museum provides free streetcar rides, plus an opportunity to sign-up to operate, with Museum staff supervision, one of the streetcars being operated during the picnic.
John Morris announced that Amtrak will be publishing its last printed system timetable. In the future, the timetable will be electronic only.
The Monthly Program was the Potomac Chapter Digital Photo Contest. There were 8 contestants that submitted entries in the contest.
Submitted by: Clay MoritzMontgomery County Executive Office Building
Secretary Bill Holdsworth called the meeting to order at 8:07 p.m. President Gordy Bjoraker took over the gavel shortly thereafter. Attendance was 23.
Bill read the minutes of the March meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report.
John Sery reminded members about the digital photo contest at the May meeting.
Rick Davidson told members about the upcoming national directors' conference April 23 in Cumberland.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
After the intermission, Alex Mayes presented a digital program covering his railfanning exploits 2015.
Jay reported that a marketing company is looking for historic photographs of the Gaithersburg wye site.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker at 8:00 p.m. Attendance was 21.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the February meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He reported that there was a good turnout for the chapter banquet.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
After the intermission, Charlie Plantholt showed a potpourri of images that he scanned from photos in the Maryland Rail Heritage Library collection.
President Gordy Bjoraker convened the meeting at 8:05 p.m. 22 members and guests were present.
Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting were dispensed with because Secretary Bill Holdsworth was absent. Treasurer Jay Creswell took these minutes.
The treasurer gave an abbreviated report. Income for January was $238. Expenses were $581. There were approximately $20,600 in uncommitted funds.
Membership Agent Rick Davidson announced that the dues renewal process was about complete with approximately 80 continuing members. Donation receipt letters for tax purposes have been mailed or were being distributed at the meeting.
A brief announcement concerning the banquet was made.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20.
Following a brief intermission, Carl Franz presented an 81-minute-long video about the 2015 operations of the newly restored N&W 611 J-class steam locomotive.
Respectfully submitted,
Jay Creswell, Treasurer acting as Secretary Pro-tem.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker at 8:06 p.m. Attendance was 23.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the November meeting.
Jay Creswell reported on plans for the chapter banquet March 12.
Members approved a motion to confer a lifetime member on Jerry Hott for his outstanding contribution to the objectives of the chapter.
The meeting adjourned about 8:22 p.m.
After the intermission, John Sery showed three commercially produced videos featuring the photography of O. Winston Link, Lima Locomotive Works, and a 1927 trip in the Northeast. The scheduled digital photo contest was postponed to May.
