1. About
Loose Ties
History
Loose
Ties (a name chosen by the members) is an
informal group of toy train enthusiasts who
share a common interest, a love of toy
trains. Formed in 1996 by A. Robert Walker,
aka "Grandpa Cho Cho", with a core group of
less than a dozen, today active membership
has swelled to twenty five.
The ages
and backgrounds of the members are as
eclectic as the trains they collect and
operate. What all members, whether eighteen
or eighty, have in common, is their love,
appreciation, and enjoyment of toy
trains.
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On
a monthly basis, Loose Ties gather
at a member's home or at a site of
special interest. Activities range
from running each other's trains on
home layouts, staging shows, viewing
very special train collections, or
touring manufacturing facilities in
the area.
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Despite the
relatively small size of the group, each
month's meetings are interesting, exciting
and generally well attended. Some members
have extensive train collections, consisting
of toy trains representative of all eras of
the train maker's art, while others
concentrate less on collecting and more on
operating.
Some
members have few if any trains, but yet have
a passion for them, and are in the early
stages of developing their hobby. What all
have in common, is that they are "hooked" on
trains.
Modular
Layout
The
group built a modular railroad for public
display in 1999, and have updated it several
times. You can see photos on the photo
pages.
Dues &
Donations
- Loose
Ties is a self sustaining organization.
Annual dues, which primarily cover mailing
and printing costs, are $15.00. There is
never a charge for admission to shows or
displays, although donations are much
appreciated. All contributions are used
for maintenance and expansion of club
activities.
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Bylaws
. . . (last
revised Nov 14, 2000)
LOOSE
TIES MODEL RAILWAY Club---By-Laws
ARTICLE
1--
Section
1: Name: The name of this organization shall
be the Loose Ties Model Railroad Club. This
Club is a nonprofit organization.
ARTICLE
2--
Section
1: Purpose: The purpose of the Loose Ties
Model Railroad Club is to promote the hobby
of model railroading, to provide education
and information to it's members and to the
general public regarding model trains.
ARTICLE
3--
Section
1: Membership: Membership shall be open to
all persons interested in the promotion of
model railroading.
ARTICLE
4--
Section
1: Duration of Membership: Membership shall
be continuous with the paying of the annual
dues on January 1st.
Section 2:
Non-payment of Dues: Any person failing to
pay dues by March 31st., will automatically
sever their membership.
ARTICLE
5--
Section
1: Officers: The officers of this Club shall
consist of a President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers shall
constitute the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE
6---
Section
1: Finances: The revenue of this Club shall
be derived from the annual membership dues
and from other sources as may be approved by
the Club.
ARTICLE
7--
Section
1: Quorum: a quorum is defined as those
members present.
Section 2:
Acceptance by Members: A member, by payment
of his or her dues thereby accepts the
principles of the Loose Ties Model Railroad
Club as expressed in its objectives and
submits him or herself to, and agrees to
comply with, and be bound by the by-laws of
this Club.
Section 3:
All new members will be required to pay
annual dues.
Section 4:
All children sixteen (16) years of age may
attend meetings as a guest and must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian.
ARTICLE
8
Section
1: Amendment of the By-laws: Proposed
amendments to the bylaws shall be submitted
to the President for consideration by the
membership. Bylaws will be amended by a
majority of the votes cast by the membership
present.
Section 2:
Amendments: These by-laws may be amended, or
added to, at any regular or special meeting
of the Club, by a majority of those present
provided that all members have had at least
ten days prior notice of the proposed change
to the by-laws.
ARTICLE
9--
Section
1: Election of Officers: At the October
meeting the President shall appoint a
nominating committee. At the next regular
meeting in November the nominating committee
shall report the names of the persons
selected for the different offices, at which
time the President shall open the nominations
for each office in order--President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer. The election
will take place at the November
meeting. The person receiving the highest
number of votes for each office will be
declared elected to that office. Newly
elected officers will assume their
responsibilities in January.
ARTICLE
10--
Section
1: Duties of Officers: President: It shall be
the duty of the President to preside at
meetings of the Club and such other duties as
may pertain to the office.
ARTICLE 10
(Continued)
Section
2: Vice President: It shall be the duty of
the Vice President to preside at meetings of
the Club in the absence of the President, and
to perform such other duties as may be
assigned to the office.
Section 3:
Secretary: It shall be the duty of the
Secretary to record and preserve the minutes
of meetings, keep the records of membership,
send out notices of meetings of the Club, and
such other duties as may be assigned to that
office including the management of all
correspondence.
Section 4:
Treasurer: It shall be the duty of the
Treasurer to have full custody of the funds,
accounting for the same to the Club at its
annual meeting, and to present a financial
report at each regularly scheduled meeting of
the Club. The Treasurer will make all
payments by the Club by cash or check. The
Treasurer is to pay no bills unless
instructed to do so by a vote of the Club,
except in an emergency, and then by the
direction of the Executive Committee. A
report of such action by the Executive
Committee and all other action taken on
accounts payable shall be made at the next
regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 5:
Executive Committee: For the Executive
Committee to act on any business that may
arise requiring action prior to the next
regularly scheduled meeting of the Club, will
require a vote of two thirds of the Committee
(at least 3 members).
ARTICLE
11--
Section
1: Dues and Fees: Any changes to dues for the
ensuing year shall be set at the December
meeting. If there are no changes, dues shall
remain constant from the year just
ending.
ARTICLE
12--
Section
1: Methods of Voting: The voting of this Club
shall be by voice, except for the election of
officers, which shall be by secret
ballet.
ARTICLE
13--
Section
1: Committees: The President shall, subject
to the approval of the Club, appoint such
committees as he or she may deem necessary.
The President is to be a member of all
committees, but may vote only in cases of
ties.
Section 2:
Duties of Committees: Each committee shall
transact such business as is delegated to it
by the President.
ARTICLE
14--
Section
1: Order of business: The order of business
at all meetings of this club shall be:
- Call to
Order
- Check
of Officers
- Introduction
of Visitors
- Minutes
of Previous Meeting
- Treasurer's
Report
- When
Appropriate--Nominations of
officers
- Committee
Reports
- Correspondence
- Old
Business
- New
Business
- For the
Good of the Club
- Collection
of Dues, Fees
- Adjournment
ARTICLE
15--
Section
1: Obscene Language: Obscene language will
not be permitted in the Loose Ties Model
Railroad Club. Fines are as follows: First
offense, a warning; second offense, a fine
not to exceed one dollar; third offense
thirty (30) days suspension from the
Club.
Section 2:
Alcoholic Beverages: Alcoholic beverages will
not be permitted at Club meetings.
ARTICLE 16--
Section
1: Amendments: No amendments or additions to
these by-laws may be made which are not in
harmony with the stated purpose of the Loose
Ties Model Railroad Club.
These
By-Laws were adopted by a unanimous vote of
the membership present at a duly called
meeting of the said Loose Ties Model Railroad
Club held at Lewisburg, County of Union,
State of Pennsylvania, on the eighth (8) Day
of December in the year nineteen ninety seven
(1997), and revised by a unanimous vote of
the membership present at a duly called
meeting of this Club at New Berlin, County of
Union, State of Pennsylvania, on the
fourteenth (14) day of November in the year
two thousand (2000). (Revision Underlined:
Article 9, Section 1)
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