Minutes from the September 9, 2019 Meeting Minutes from the September 9, 2019 Meeting Vice President Scott Ladner called the FCVRRHS membership meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. outside the Meadville Railroad Depot, located at 136 Mead Avenue, Meadville, PA. Attending the meeting were Scott and Joyce Ladner, Ed Cronin, Carl and Vanessa Timko, Bill McComas, Jack Sheets, John Snyder, Stan Niwa, Nick Ozorak, Terry and Maryann Martin, Richard Roberts, Ken, Adam, and Jake Novosel,Arden Hibbard, and Dan Pfeiffer. Approval of the August 12, 2019 Minutes A motion was made by Ed Cronin, and seconded byArden Hibbard to approve the minutes of the previous month. The motion carried. Treasurer's Report Treasurer Ed Cronin informed the membership of the current financial status. He noted that in order to take advantage of better interest rates, a majority of the current total balance was transferred from checking to a money market account. Due to this, there will be two balances for cash on-hand. Ed noted the amount for Unrestricted Funds and Restricted Funds. The restricted funds were for the Meadville Model Railroad Club and the Meadville Railroad Depot. Income included a recurring monthly donation. Expenses were for the depot renovation, the electric bill, and the moving of the funds to a money market account. Afterwards a motion to approve the treasurer's report was made by Nick Ozorak and seconded by John Snyder. The motion carried and the report was approved. Committee Reports Budget / Finance/ Insurance/ Compliance Maryann Martin made note of the current financial situation. Donations and grants have paid for all the materials, insulation contract, and the roofing. However, operating expenses have to come from sales and donations; grants are not permitted to be used for operating expenses. She noted it will cost approximately $1125 per month to operate the museum once it is open. The first phase of the renovation will not be completed this year as there will not be enough funds to install the period ceiling or the hardwood flooring. Maryann is working on one more grant for the year. There likely won't be any others to apply for until the next year. She warned the membership if a way to sustain the museum in operating expenses isn't found the organization risks having to file for bankruptcy. Ed Cronin and Maryann asked members to contribute monthly to help meet the projected operating expenses. Maryann also informed the membership that the FCVRRHS will participate in the "Crawford Gives" program, in which thirty non-profit organizations will be asking for donations through a one-day fundraiser. Local industrial leader Acutec will match a percentage of the donations received from credit and debit card users. Donations of cash or checks will not be matched. There will be a website that the donor can visit to make the donation. The day for this event is Wednesday, October 2 from 12 midnight to 11:59p.m. Scott Ladner also explained about an upcoming fundraiser during the month of November. Palmiero Toyota will conduct a "Give-back" program in which 30 non-profit organizations are eligible to receive a donation from the dealership based on the number of votes from the public the organization receives. Anyone can stop in at the dealership and vote for their favorite non-profit every day (as long as Palmiero Toyota is open) during the month of November. There is no cost to vote. If the FCVRRHS can win $2500 or more, the funds will be applied to the ceiling or the flooring. So, mark on your calendars for October 2 for the Crawford Gives fundraiser and the month of November to vote for your favorite Crawford County railroad historical society. Carl Timko reported he contacted the city government to get a clarification of the proposed transient seller and solicitor permit. The ordinance will necessitate any solicitor or transient seller (i.e.food truck, streetside vendor) to purchase a permit. Transient sellers would have to pay a $20 fee plus a daily fee of $40, if electric is needed; $20 if electric is not needed and solicitors would have to pay a $40 fee with a $5 daily charge. The city clerk replied stating the FCVRRHS will not have to purchase a permit as long as sales are not conducted on city property. The city clerk did say that sales at the caboose are permitted without a permit. It was also mentioned that vendors selling in the Downtown Mall will not have to purchase a permit. Membership The revised by-laws will be sent to the membership as soon as they are completed. The newest member of the FCVRRHS is Dan Williams. Welcome aboard, Dan! For those that have not attended a meeting of late, a closed raffle is being conducted featuring several donated prizes. The cost is $5 for three tickets. Prizes have included a jar of blackberry jelly, a pie, drinking glasses, and a framed photo. All the money raised goes towards the depot fund. Thanks to Scott Ladner for this event. Model Railroading The Meadville Model Railroad Club will have a different format this season. Instead of students reporting to a specific place to work on building a model railroad, the students will tour 5 or 6 operating model railroad layouts and possibly help with certain tasks, like scenery, or take part in an operating session. Ed Cronin and Bernie Hanmore are making their layouts available to the students. It is expected that an O scale layout will be donated soon by Tony Petruso. The layout will be one of three, possibly four layouts to be on display in the depot, during the holiday season, should the depot be completed enough to accept visitors. Museum John Snyder praised all the volunteers helping restore the depot. There has been quite a bit of work accomplished so far. The crews have installed four new windows, removed some trees and brush, stabilized a wall, stabilized the area under the restrooms, framed several walls and windows, ordered a door. Other work to be done soon is pulling out nails in board that were removed, and installing the ceiling joists for the workshop. Arden Hibbard mentioned how much he enjoys the camaraderie of the work crews. Regular work sessions are on Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 10:00 a.m. Work on the roof is to be started on Tuesday, the day after this meeting. Alvin Hostetler and his crew will be the contractor. There has been no word about the progress of the sign yet, but it is expected to be two or three weeks before anything is known. Nick Ozorak mentioned that Allegheny College's Service Saturday is this Saturday, September 14. If students show up to help, a stump and dirt needs to be moved. Ed Cronin said that the Cambridge SpringsTrolley Station will have free refreshments on Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. Property/Equipment Planned work on the snowplow is floor repair and replacing the glass windows. Jack Sheets said two panes are paid for, with 8 window panes and the doors still to have the glass replaced. Members are asked to contribute towards the glass to save the organization from having to divert funds from the depot renovation. The Erie Railroad #518 will have the roof repainted by Scott Royer. Jack Sheets said the roof was in need of fresh paint. PublicRelations/Education The caboose tour is done for the season, with the exception of tours by appointment. The attendance this year was not the best. But, we did manage to have some sales, including t-shirts and the new B&LE 150th Anniversary Commemorative postcards. The postcards are still available for fifty cents each. Contact Jack Sheets or CarlTimko. The last visitors were the Grooms, a family from Pittsburgh. Mrs. Groom grew up near Steamtown in Scranton, PA. The tentative venue for the model railroad layout display is in the depot, should the first phase of renovation be complete enough to allow visitors inside. It is expected that three or four layouts will be available to view. It is also expected that the FCVRRHS will have two raffles this year as we did last year. Special Events/ Programs There will be train shows of interest in the next few months. September 21, 2019 - Canfield Train and Toy Show at the Canfield (OH) Fairgrounds. Admission is $5; the hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 22, 2019 - Penn-Ohio Model Railroaders 23rd Anual Train andToy Show at St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, located at 2230 Highland Rd., Hermitage, PA. Admission is $5; hours are 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. September 28, 2019 - Fostoria Rail Festival at the Fostoria Junior-Senior High School in Fostoria, OH. Admission is $4; hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 5,6, 2019 - The Great Berea Train Show hosted by the Mid-Central Region of NMRA Division 4. It will be at the Cuyahoga County (OH) Fairgrounds, located at 19204 E. Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights, OH. There are now five buildings for this event, with 700 plus tables to visit. Admission is $8 per day, or $10 for a two-day pass. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. October 6, 2019 - Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society Fall Train Show at the Shenango Volunteer Fire Dept. Social Hall, located at 2424 E. Washington St., New Castle, PA. Admission is $5; hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. October 27, 2019 - Castle Shannon Train Show and Rail Event at the Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Dept., located at 3600 Library Rd., Pittsburgh, PA. It is four miles north of downtown Pittsburgh; three lights south of Route 51 (Route 88 and Grove Rd.);Admission is $7; hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. November 3, 2019 - Erie Train Show at Rainbow Gardens, Waldameer Park, Erie, PA. The ErieTrain Show is on! The Hartles of Iron Spike Productions and Clarion Model Railroad Club are hosting the show after long-time promoter CarlAmidon passed away this year. Admission is $5; the hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a number of excursions for the fall season. September 21, 2019 - Everett Railroad "Steam in the Cove" featuring Everett Railroad 2-6-0 #11, traveling from Hollidaysburg to Martinsburg, PA. September 21, 22, 27-29 - CuyahogaValley Scenic Railroad's "Steam in theValley" featuring Nickel Plate 2-8-4 #765, from Independence, OH and Akron, OH. There will be a photo run-by. Departure times are 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the 21st and 28th; 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the 22nd; 7:30 p.m. on the 27th; and 2 p.m.on the 29th. September 27, 2019 - Oil Creek & Titusville RR Brew Choo; $25 per ticket, ages 21 and over only; ID required. Departs at 6 a.m. September 27 - 30, 2019, October 4-7, October 12-14, 18-20,26,27, 2019 - Strasburg Railroad will have N&W 4-8-4 #611 running excursions, some with N&W 48-0 #475. October 2 - 20, 2019 - Oil Creek & Titusville RR Fall Foliage Tour - Departs Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 11 a.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a..m. and 3 p.m.;Tickets: $20 adult, $18 seniors; $14 children ages 2 to 12, under 2 are free); First class coach $35 all ages. October 12,13,19,20 - Reading and Northern will run excursions between Reading, PA and Jim Thorpe, PA and Pottsville, PA to JimThorpe. October 25-27, 2019 - Bellefonte Railroad Historical Society Fall FoliageTour from Bellefonte, PA; there will be 6 excursions. Next Meeting The next meeting will be Monday, October 14, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room of the U.S. Bronze Foundry & Machine, Inc., located at 18649 Brake Shoe Road, Meadville, PA. See you there!