1.
About The Susquehanna
S-Gaugers
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Mission
Statement:
The
Susquehanna S-Gaugers mission is to
unite S gaugers in Central
Pennsylvania, and promote all forms of
S-Gauge model
railroading.
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Scope of
Interest:
All
variations of S gauge:
American
Flyer (code 172)
Hi Rail
(code 125 &148, usually large flanges
& couplers (American Models, S Helper
Service, etc))
Scale (code
125 & lower, small flanges &
couplers)
Sn3 -- S
scale narrow gauge.
Frequency Of
Meetings
This
started out to be approximately every 2
months, but is not about twice per year, due
to manpower limitations. We do NOT meet in
the summer months of June, July, and
August.
Format Of
Meetings
We
usually have meetings on a "round robin"
basis--that is, where people meet informally
in each others' homes.
Typically
we watch trains and informal chat from 2 pm
to 3 pm, have a short business meeting from 3
pm to 3:30 or so, then more train watching
and chat for those who wish to
stay.
Announcements
We
use Listservers (Yahoo eGroups) to send
announcements
Private
Listserver - We use our "Private Listserver"
to send out the host's name and address, but
only to members, in the interest of
privacy.
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2.
Bylaws (Informal)
We have by
majority consensus, established the following
INFORMAL bylaws
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Dues
-
We
try to keep this affordable at $5
per year.
We
currently collect for 3 years at
a time to minimize collection
headaches, with the agreement
that members can be refunded
their unused dues if they decide
to unjoin the club.
Delinquent
Dues
The
treasurer notifies ONCE by
telephone the member that they
are delinquent.
The
delinquent member is then dropped
from the membership list if they
do not send a check within 30
days. The purpose of this policy,
is to reduce the amount of
"follow-up grunt work" that the
treasurer has to do. The
Treasurer has the option of
temporarily modifying this policy
for his term of
office.
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Meeting Day
- usually Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.
Meeting
Frequency - As often as approximately every 2
months (depending on manpower), but probably
not during the summer.
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Notifying
Members -
Our
standard communication method is
by email. We do not have the
manpower to send out written
newsletters.
We
encourage members who don't use
email, to take responsibility for
getting meeting dates from a
relative or friend who does use
email. A
volunteer "telephone relay
person" presently telephones
those without email, but this is
a poor way to communicate agendas
and other written
information.
Meeting RSVPs
Members are requested to RSVP, by
using the Yahoo Group Listserver. ((Even though more email
"traffic" is created, members voted to see ALL the RSVPs -- for
carpooling purposes.)) (added 9/22/09)
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Officers -
We now have a few semi-formal officers -- see
the Tasks
page for more details.
Other
Policies
Guests
- Guests can attend twice as a guest. Then
they would be requested to become
members.
Prospective Members - Prospective members are requested to attent 2 meetings as a guest. (added 9/22/09)
Kids -
Majority of people wanted to allow kids.
Individual host would have final
say.
Privacy -
We announce the host's name and address to
only the members.
Spouse
Members - Any spouses of paid-up members who
participate in meetings are also considered
members. These spouses need not pay
any additional dues. (added 2/17/08)
Voting On
New Members - There will be no voting on
eligibility for admission for prospective new
members.
Youth
Members -- Persons under 18 years of
age who participate in meetings, may be
admitted as 'Youth Members', upon simple
majority consent of the adult members present
at the meeting. These Youth members
need not pay any dues until they reach age
18. (added 2/17/08)
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3.
History
Efforts
to form the Susquehanna S Gaugers began about
1999, with busybody James Ingram, by
collecting names from the TCA directory, the
American Flyer Collectors Club directory,
setting up S gauge displays at local train
shows, and word of mouth.
In February
2000, the first meeting was held in
Lewisburg. Since the about 28 meetings have
been held, mostly in the North Central
Pennsylvania region, with "excursions" to
visit out of the area layouts in Scranton,
Hershey, and Lancaster.
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