1.
Overview of 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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