Potomac Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
During the holiday social President Gordy Bjoraker convened a brief membership meeting. Attendance was 28.
Members elected Bob Dixon-Gumm to a new two-year term as director by acclamation. This action corrected an oversight in the election held at the November, when Gordon Piscacek was mistakenly nominated even though his term hadn't expired.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by Vice President John Sery at 8:10 p.m. Attendance was 24.
President Bjoraker and Secretary Holdsworth were not present.
Minutes of the October meeting were not read since the Secretary was absent.
Treasurer Creswell presented the October financial report. The monetary asset balance as of Oct 31, 2017 was $119,505. The income for the month was $123. No expenses were recorded.
No old business was discussed.
New Business:
Election: Due to an oversight, the nominating committee was not appointed this year. At the November board meeting, the Board acted as nominating committee. The existing officers were nominated, as well as Gordon Piscacek and Steven Sery for new two-year terms as directors. Vice-President Sery asked for nominations from the floor. None were made. He requested a motion from the floor that the nominations be approved by acclamation. The motion was made, seconded, and passed without opposition.
Banquet: Treasurer Creswell reported that a separate banquet room had been secured at the Gaithersburg Hilton, for the evening of March 24, 2018. Appreciation was expressed for Carl Franz’s help in securing the site. The Board approved Steve Berry, editor of Railfan and Railroad magazine, as banquet speaker. Other details will be available shortly.
Picnic: People enjoyed the 2017 joint picnic with the Baltimore Chapter. The consensus of those at the meeting, several of who attended, was that it was likely to be repeated. John Sery suggested that the Chapter consider also having some picnic-like event in Gaithersburg, possibly in June or September. There was some favorable response.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
The program was a Pentrex film featuring the 1993 NRHS convention in Chicago. Included in the film were scenes from the two inbound trips on the UP Challenger and the NS 611, a daylong visit to the Illinois Railroad Museum, an all lines tour of the Chicago El, and the UP 3985 run to Findlay Junction, IL. Time did not allow showing the final trip to Argos, IN behind a steam double header of NKP 587 and 765.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
No official actions were taken at the meeting.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker at 8:10 p.m. Attendance was 25.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the last membership meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report.
Members thanked Gordy for his contributions to the Cassini mission to Jupiter over the last 30 years.
The meeting adjourned about 8:25 p.m.
About 50 miscellaneous books from the storage locker were made available to members. Fifteen books were sold at $5 each. The remainder were given away as door prizes. Disposal of these miscellaneous books is the first step in a process to eliminate the Chapter’s need to rent a storage locker, saving $500 per year.
After the meeting Lou Cerny presented a slide program featuring steam locomotives in the Chicago area during the 1950s.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by Secretary Bill Holdsworth at 8:10 p.m. Attendance was 20.
Attendees dispensed with the reading of the minutes.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
After the intermission members enjoyed two commercially produced films about operations on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The first presentation featured steam engines between 1936 and 1941. The second presentation was filmed in the 1950s.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
No official actions were taken at the meeting.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Members approved a motion to change the name of the “Permanent Reserve” to “Reserve Fund” and lower the designated amount to $50,000.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker at 8:09 p.m. Attendance was 26.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the March meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report
The meeting adjourned about 8:17 p.m.
After the intermission members enjoyed a commercially produced film highlighting the building of Canada's first transcontinental railway. The film retraced the original route through the Canadian Rockies.
Montgomery County Council Office Building
The meeting was called to order by Secretary Bill Holdsworth at 8:15 p.m. Attendance was 16.
Bill read the minutes of the February meeting.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report
Bill described the unfortunate experience with the restaurant that hosted the chapter banquet.
Bill reported that the board of directors had nominated Stephen Sery to fill the vacancy on the board. There were no nominations from the floor. Members approved a motion to elect Stephen by acclamation.
Members discussed converting the June 20 membership meeting to a train-watching session at the Gaithersburg train station. That meeting conflicts with the national convention and attendance is expected to be low.
The meeting adjourned about 8:25 p.m.
After the intermission Bob Cohen presented a trio of DVDs, highlighting Hawaiian and Australian rail operations.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker at 8:10 p.m. Attendance was 22.
Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the January meeting. There was no treasurer's report
Jay Creswell, Ted Xakellis, and Gordy reported on the change in plans for the chapter banquet March 18. The Golden Bull restaurant, the scheduled location, has closed. The venue will shift to Pulcinella in McLean, VA.
Rick Davidson presented Rudy Volin with his 70-year pin from the NRHS.
Bill informed members that the vacancy on the board will be filled with an election at the March membership meeting.
The meeting adjourned about 8:25 p.m.
After the intermission Bob Kaplan presented a slide program covering mainline steam excursions and visits to tourist railroads in the 1960s and 1970s.
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
The meeting was called to order by Vice President John Sery at 8:10 p.m. Attendance was 21.
Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report.
Ted Xakellis reported on plans for the chapter banquet March 18 at the Golden Bull restaurant in Gaithersburg. The social hour will start at 6 p.m., a little later than previous years.
The meeting adjourned about 8:25 p.m.
Members reported seeing CSX double-stack trains operating on the Metropolitan Branch, made possible by the Gateway Project work to improve clearances.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has announced July 1 as the date for the debut of restored steam locomotive C&O #1309 (2-6-6-2).
After the intermission, members watched two commercially produced videos, one about streamliners and another about N&W No. 611's 1983 homecoming.
