Minutes from the August 12, 2019 Meeting President Bernie Hanmore called the FCVRRHS membership meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. outside of the Meadville Railroad Depot, located at 136 Mead Ave., Meadville, PA. Attending the meeting were Bernie Hanmore, Scott Ladner, Ed Cronin, Carl and Vanessa Timko, Bill McComas, Jack Sheets, John Snyder, Stan Niwa, Ron Stafford, John Nagurney, Nick Ozorak, Dennis Mead, Terry and Maryann Martin, Richard Roberts, Ken, Adam, and Jake Novosel, Charles Webber, Arden Hibbard and his guest; Mike Shannon, and new members Brian and Jean Weber. Approval of the Minutes A motion was made by Ed Cronin to approve the minutes for July 8, 2019. The motion was seconded by John Nagurney and carried by an unanimous vote of the attending members. Treasurer's Report Treasurer Ed Cronin disclosed the monthly financial status of the organization. The report included current balances. income, and expenses. Restricted funds were for the Meadville Model Railroad Club and the Meadville Railroad Depot. Income was from donations, an Ameriprise Annuity, and a grant from the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation. Expenses were from materials purchased from Carter Lumber, the two Penelec bills, rent for the post office box, membership with the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Meadville City school tax, and rent of a dumpster from Reddick Roll-off. A motion to approve the treasurer's report was made and seconded. The motion carried. Budget/Finance/ Insurance/Compliance The organization has received donations of cash and model railroad equipment, which will be used to raise funds. Joyce Minnis donated the five boxes of model trains just a couple of weeks ago. Ed Cronin announced that a grant is pending from a chapter of the Rotary Club, to which he belongs. It will likely be a matching grant. Dennis Mead said there is enough photographs to do a calendar for 2020. A motion to approve the publishing of a calendar was made by Ed Cronin and seconded by Jack Sheets. The attending members approved the motion. The calendars have been a popular item with the public. Historical/Archives FCVRRHS member Steve Timko, Jr. has donated several boxes of railroad memorabilia. The items have been sorted for inclusion in the archives or to be used for fundraising. Many thanks to Steve for his generous donation. Carl and Vanessa Timko have several boxes that need to be hauled to the U.S. Bronze for storage. If anyone is heading to there, please stop and pick them up. Carl will be glad to help. The organization recently received a donation of three Erie Lackawanna safety awards. It is not known who donated them, but the recipient named on the certificates represented a department at Meadville. Membership Membership chairman Scott Ladner introduced new members Brian and Jean Weber to the group. Welcome aboard, Brian and Jean! Scott offered a membership application to everyone to recruit at least one new member each. Ed Cronin noted 40 members have renewed their membership. That leaves quite a few members that have not renewed. It is important that all the members renew their membership to help afford our projects and be available to help if able. John Nagurney expects the new by-laws to be published and distributed by the next meeting. The by-laws are an important guide to doing business as a non-profit organization. Model Railroading A well- known model railroader in the community may be donating a Lionel layout to the FCVRRHS. It would be just the layout, but may eventually include rolling stock in the future. Use of this layout is noted in the Public Relations/ Education section of this issue. Museum Some of the interior work that has been accomplished is the framing of walls and the windows in the former entrance room, the dismantling of the bridge and storage loft. The plumbing had been started, but has not been completed. Jack Sheets is to contact the plumber to find out when he will be back to complete the job. The exterior work included cutting down small trees and brush and mowing the lawn. Work sessions are scheduled for Thursdays and Saturdays, starting at 10 a.m. Volunteers must be FCVRRHS members and have completed a workman's compensation exemption form and have it notarized by Brad Roae's office to work inside the depot. Bernie Hanmore praised and thanked all those who have helped with the restoration of the depot. The sign along Mead Avenue will be done by Roche Graphics and Signs of Cochranton. They have prepared a number of examples. A selection of style and color has been made, but the sign isn't expected to be completed for 2 to 3 weeks. The board is still waiting for the contractor to sign necessary documents and begin replacing the roof. This will be the most visible evidence of restoration that the public will be able to see. The Steering Committee for the depot has begun to develop programs to help with fundraising. Nothing has been completed enough to release any information of what they may be. Anyone can see photos of the work inside the depot by going to Facebook and searching for Meadville Railroad Depot' and click on the 'Photos' tab. Property/Equipment The snowplow has some work that still needs to be done. Stan Niwa and Jack Sheets will be repairing the floor soon. The glass also needs replaced. Jack has asked members to contribute to the glass funding. Each pane is averaged to $80 each, with twelve panes needing replaced. The lettering on the B&LE boxcar has been completed. The doors now have the appropriate B&LE reporting mark and road number. Public Relations/Education The FCVRRHS did not have a booth in town during the August Second Saturday event. Though, there were members at the caboose, there weren't any members available to tend to a booth. The organization could not sell anything at the booth as it was discovered that items sold had to be handmade or homegrown. There is a $20 application fee and it wasn't known if a fee for the booth space also was required. Nick Ozorak noted a need for a better strategy to bring in members and the public's interest. Some ideas for events include audio/visual presentations and a Railroad Author's Day that has been proposed by Carl Timko. Authors of railroad books would come to the railroad display, for example, and sell and sign their books. The FCVRRHS would ask for a donation or percentage of sales to raise funds. The caboose tour has only a few more weeks, unless September will have nice enough weather to keep the caboose open on Sundays. Volunteers are always needed. At least two volunteers should be at the railroad display to handle any influx of visitors. To commemorate the B&LE's 150th anniversary, postcards have been made for the event. The postcard features the B&LE wood boxcar built in 1908. The postcards can be purchased for 50 cents each at the caboose or for 53 cents at the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau on Conneaut Lake Road near the intersection of U.S. Route 322/6 and U.S. Route 19 and PA Route 98. There is a possibility that there may be two layouts on display during the holiday season this year. If the organization acquires the Lionel layout mentioned earlier in this report, it could be featured along with the one the Meadville Model Railroad Club is building. Special Events/Programs There are four train shows of note coming up between now and the end of September. August 25, 2019 - the Painesville Railroad Memorabilia Show will be held at the Painesville Railroad Museum, located at 475 Railroad Street, Painesville, OH. Admission is $5 and the hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 7,8, 2019 - the Buffalo Central Terminal Train Show will be at the Buffalo Central Terminal, located at 495 Padenewski Drive, Buffalo, NY.. The admission is $5 and the hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. September 21, 2019 - the Canfield Train and Toy Show is held at the Canfield Fairgrounds, located at 7265 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield, OH. Admission is $5 and the hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 28, 2019 - the Fostoria Rail Festival will be held at the Fostoria Juniot-Senior High School in Fostoria, OH. Admission is $4 and the hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Several excursions are also coming up, though the drive to them may be from 1 1/2 hours to 5 hours one way. August 24,25, 2019 - the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum will have its Steam Weekend featuring American Viscose 0-6-0 #6. August 25, 2019 - the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association will be operating the Pennsylvania Railroad 0-6-0 #643 in Mechanicsburg, PA. Yes, there is another #643 (more later regarding that road number). August 31, 2019 - Steamtown Railfest 2019 will be at Scranton, PA. There will be train rides, trolley rides, tours and demonstrations. September 21, 2019 - The Everett Railroad will use Everett RR 2-6-0 #11 to haul an excursion between Hollidaysburg and Martinsburg, PA. The Everett Railroad is the company that bought the FCVRRHS's PRR baggage car. September 21,22, 2019 and weekends in October - The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will have the Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765 operating over its line hauling excursions. Other News Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad 2-10-4 #643 has been sold to the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum of Coshocton, OH. The founder of Age of Steam Roundhouse had tried before to acquire the Texan from Glenn Campbell. It is a big relief to B&LE railfans that this locomotive has been saved after languishing in McKees Rocks, PA, with railfans not knowing what the future lies ahead for it. It may be out and away from the Bessemer, but for the proper care that it deserves, this is the best place it could be. Jack Sheets brought attention to a GE 45 ton locomotive that may be available for donation. The locomotive is in McKeesport, PA at the ELG Haniel Metals plant. Bill McComas related his experience after going to a bluegrass festival in Wattsburg, PA. He listened to several songs which brought back childhood memories of his life in Kentucky. Next Meeting The next FCVRRHS membership meeting will be Monday, September 9, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Meadville Railroad Depot, located at 136 Mead Ave., Meadville, PA. Should the venue be changed, the membership will be notified. See you there! close up of a device Description automatically generated