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Potomac Chapter Membership Minutes 2018

Minutes of the 2018 Membership Meetings

Potomac Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, Inc.

December 18, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

No business was conducted during the holiday social.


November 20, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker at 8:23 p.m. Attendance was 26.

Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the October meeting.

Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He reported that arrangements are proceeding for the March 23 chapter banquet. Jay reminded members that the December 18 meeting is the annual holiday social.

Other Notes from the Meeting

After intermission John King gave a digital slide show featuring images of the B&O railroad over the last 50 years.


October 16, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

The meeting was called to order by Vice President John Sery at 8:15 p.m. Attendance was 19.

Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the August meeting.

Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report.

John Morris and Bennett Lichtman reported that the nominating committee had assembled a slate of candidates for the chapter offices:

There were no nominations from the floor. Members passed a motion to elect the proposed slate by acclamation.

John Sery reported that he is renting a table at the Timonium railroad show October 26-27.

Alex Mayes reported that hotel rooms are selling fast at the Salt Lake City Radisson for the 2019 national convention.

After intermission R.G. Edmonson made a digital presentation about the railroad scene in the St. Louis area in the early 1980s.


September 18, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

No official business was conducted at the meeting.

For the program Joel Shprentz made a digital presentation about his Spring 2016 visit to Japan.


August 21, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

The meeting was called to order by Secretary Bill Holdsworth at 8:07 p.m. Attendance was 12.

Members discussed the joint picnic with the Baltimore Chapter the previous Saturday. Bill reported that the Potomac Chapter made a $500 donation to the Baltimore Streetcar Museum in conjunction with the event.

Rick Davidson gave a brief report on the national convention. He said that the national organization is in the black and that membership has increased.

Rick reported that hotel rooms are going fast for the May 2019 NRHS convention in Salt Lake City.

The meeting adjourned about 8:27 p.m.

Other Notes from the Meeting

After intermission Alex Mayes gave a digital slide show featuring images from the first half of 2017.


July 17, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

No official business was conducted at the meeting.

For the program members viewed Southern Railway Diesels in the 1950s, a commercially produced video.


June 19, 2018

Rockville Memorial Library

No official business was conducted at the meeting.

For the program Jim Mixter showed a selection of short presentations from recent Summerail exhibitions.


May 15, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

The meeting was called to order by Vice President John Sery at 8:05 p.m. Attendance was 23.

Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the April meeting. Bill reported that the board had voted to donate $1,000 to the RailCamp scholarship fund. He said the board also voted to hold a joint picnic with the Baltimore Chapter August 18.

Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He reminded everyone that the June meeting will be held at Rockville Memorial Library.

John Sery report that he is working with the Baltimore Chapter to try to arrage a tour of rail facilities at Sparrows Point.

The meeting adjourned about 8:25 p.m.

Other Notes from the Meeting

After intermission Bill Kalkman gave a slide show featuring images from 2001 and 2002.


April 17, 2018

Rockville Memorial Library

The meeting was called to order by Vice President John Sery at 8:07 p.m. Attendance was 16.

Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the February meeting.

Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He reported on the chapter banquet. Attendees were very pleased with the food and facilities at the Gaithersburg Hilton.

Members passed a motion to re-authorize the small grants program with the following guidelines.

The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.

Other Notes from the Meeting

After intermission Jim Kleeman made a digital presentation featuring images from his trips to the Southwest over the decades.


March 20, 2018

The meeting was canceled because of bad weather.


February 20, 2018

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 January meeting.

Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He reminded members about the upcoming chapter banquet.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Other Notes from the Meeting

Carl Franz described the grass roots effort to save Louisiana & Arkansas steam locomotive #503 in Port Arthur, TX.

During intermission members had an opportunity to purchase surplus video tapes from the chapter's storage locker.

After intermission Bob Kaplan made a slide presentation featuring major steam and diesel excursions of the 1960s and 1970s.


January 16, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Office Building

The meeting was called to order by President Gordy Bjoraker shortly after 8 p.m. Attendance was 14.

Bill Holdsworth read the minutes of the December meeting.

Jay Creswell gave the treasurer's report. He announced this year's beneficiaries of the chapter's small grants program.

Members observed a moment of silence in memory of three recently deceased chapter members: Barbara Calure, Bob Snyder, and Frank Lewis.

Other Notes from the Meeting

During intermission members had an opportunity to purchase surplus video tapes from the chapter's storage locker. After intermission members enjoyed a commercially produced film featuring the end of mainline steam and the introduction of diesels on U.S. railroads