Newsletter

The Oncay's Host November Meeting

The Oncay's are still working on getting a layout outside but for now their well thought out and working railroad is on display in a train house (shed). It is interesting how each of us became involved in model railroading and particularly G-scale garden railroading. Bud and Cass were having lunch in the Rio Diner in Rio Grande, and discovered a train store ad on the place mats. Since they were close to Secluded Acres, they drove on down and were introduced to an outdoor layout and lots of LGB trains. They dropped in every weekend after their discovery and began buying G-scale trains. After five years of storing trains in boxes Bud built a platform in the living room so that Cass could set up and begin running her great buys. Outgrowing this layout, Bud built the train shed and now there's room for more trains. We keep hoping that next year we'll be invited to an "Open Garden Layout Party" at the Oncays. Cass is also fortunate to have daughters who prepared a great luncheon.
Attending: Tom & Anita Brown, Jim & Marilyn Fox, Larry & Donna Grady, Elaine Grindlinger, Jack & Janet Heath, Bill Keller, Joe McConaghy, Mac & Ellyn McMullin, Bud & Cass Oncay, Larry Paakh, Joe & Darlene Profetto, Al Schmidt, & Tom & Marie Tomasello.

BUSINESS MEETING

Joe Profetto, President conducted the business meeting. Donna Grady gave the treasurer's report. Shirt order is in and distributed to members.

Larry Paakh has the nine sheets of plywood donated by an anonymous member. We thank you guys for supporting our shows and club.

Joe Profetto is finalizing things at the Big Apple Cafe on Rt. 40 in Buena for our February annual luncheon there. Target date us February 21st.

Nominations for 2009: Joe Profetto President and Anita Brown, Vice President. No other nominations made.

Reports:

DECEMBER 6-7

OCEAN CITY TRAIN SHOW

Set up Friday, December 5th beginning at 2pm. Ed DeSipio is coordinating the layout and needs help from volunteers to lay track and decorate our Holiday Snow scene. Ed plans a loop on the floor circling 8 risers with a switch in the back for easy access; risers will hold the second level and thanks to the nice guys in Ocean City they found two more risers for the third level. We need snow blankets to hide the levels and for the snow effect. If you are coming to help, bring a couple of snow blankets if you can. Ed plans to begin laying track and decorating from the top down so if you have holiday decorations to add to the layout try to be there by 2pm. Saturday, Dec. 6th our run will be from 10am-5pm and Sunday Dec. 7th, 11am until 4pm and breakdown. If you can help to set up or tear down call Ed or be on the Music Pier at 2pm Friday or by 3:30pm Sunday. We also need help with Thomas, writing certificates for the children and handing out candy canes. So come on down whatever day(s) you can. The check isn't in the mail - we already have it so let's put on a great show. Wear your shirt and/or name tag or both to get in free.

CONVENTION 2010

Anita Brown, Chair reported that we have a proposal from the Clarion Hotel Atlantic City West on the Black Horse Pike (Rt. 40) 6 miles from A.C. Wayne Richter, Convention 2010 Treasurer is working on the financial impact of the proposal and will report to the committee on his findings. We have secured a train ride from Richland to Tuchahoe thanks to the good work of Dave Gairo who is a conductor on the

Seashore Line and we'll also do a garden railroad tour. The convention will be held Wednesday, June 23 - Saturday, June 26, 2010. We know it's early but we have to get our ducks lined up to make this a great convention. Visitors will be attending from Germany, Australia, England and all over the U.S. and we want to let them see that the South Jersey Garden Railroad Society know how to put on a show. As soon as the proposal is complete and we have finalized things with the Clarion, a special newsletter will be sent out to let you know what to expect and what you can do to make this convention great. The Logo was voted on and D was the winner. We changed the Absecon-Atlantic City to Atlantic City since we couldn't find a hotel in Absecon to fit our needs.

This is our logo:

Jim Fox sent in his registration to the BTOC along with his brochure and received a letter back asking for photos and a news article. If our club provides photos and a brief overview of their layout we would be the focus of the fall 2009 or spring 2010 issue of the BTO. Al Schmidt will look into putting together articles and photos from the web page information. He will highlight the layouts that will be on the 2010 tour. However, if you would like your layout included, contact Al.

Ross Carson, Longwood Gardens will be sending our check and passes soon. I'll contact members when they arrive.

If you have an event coming up contact me and I'll see that it gets in the newsletter. Folks in your area might want to stop by.

Al Schmidt & Fr. Nat Elliott will be doing a train show at the Grace Church in Haddonfield Children's Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 7, 4-5pm.

Tom & Anita Brown and Rich Muller will set up a holiday layout at the Absecon Historical Society on New Jersey Ave. Dec. 13 & 14 - 10am-3pm.

Ed DeSipio and Fred & Ann Neal will set up a layout in a home on the Dennisville Annual Christmas House tour, Saturday Dec. 20th 5-9pm.

Rich Drobil sent in an invitation to visit the Train Show and meet Sun., Jan. 11, 2009 10am-3pm Brooklawn American Legion Post #72, Railroad Ave. For further information contact Rich at rdrobi@hotmail.com or 856-506-4875.

50/50 - $27 won by Al Schmidt - $27 to the club. Other items were donated and won.

MEETINGS & EVENTS IN 2008


January 6th	Open House @ Lurakis' 1-5
January 20th	Club Meeting @ Bill Shellhas (Bring your own chair!!)
February 23rd	Annual Luncheon @ Gourmet Italian Restaurant
March 9th	Club Meeting @ Shore Mall
March 28 & 29th	York, PA - Large Scale Train Show
April 20th	Club Meeting - Lehner's Nursery in Dias Creek
May 4th	Club Meeting @ Jim & Betty Marshall
May 15, 16 & 17th	Vineland Days
May 18th	4-H Spring Fling & Train Show, Mays Landing
May 25-28th	Big Train Operator 30th Anniv. -- Click her for Details
June 7th	Garden Railways Tour (George Clark) Click This link for the details
June 8th	Richland Show/Profetto
June 15th	Club Meeting @ Al & Bobbie Schmidt
July 13th	Club Meeting @ Rich & Debbie Muller
August 1st	Cold Spring Village Train Show - Setup
August 2nd & 3rd	Cold Spring Village Train Show
August 16th	Open House @ The Brown's
August 17th	Club Meeting @Tom & Anita Brown's
August 26th	Fly Fest/Neal - Cape May County Airport - Set up after Noon
August 27 - 29th	Fly Fest/Neal - Cape May County Airport (Set up on the 26th)
September 14th	Club Meeting @ Tom & Marie Tomasello's
Sept. 20 - Oct. 4	Longwood Gardens
October 19th	Club Meeting @ Jim & Marilyn Fox
November 9th	Club Meeting @ Bud & Cass Oncay
December 6 & 7th	Ocean City Train Show (Setup Friday, Dec 5th @ 2pm)
January 11th, 2008	Club Meeting @ Dr. Mike & Pat Lurakis
NOTES:	Dates are subject to change Please Check for Updates Due to holiday events, OC Show etc. the Lurakis' have graciously offered to move their meeting to January 11, 2009. A December Newsletter will be sent out after the O.C. Show. *Names listed with show dates are contact people, if you would like to participate.
ATTENTION - If you have any firm dates, for meetings or shows, please contact Anita B. as soon as possible. Thanks.

If you know someone who would like to advertise in our newsletter, have them send their business card(with a check for $25 which will cover their ad for one year) to:

We now have a business card that we hand out atThe Shore Mall to people who inquire about our hours, days, etc. Please pick some up, if you can and hand them out to anyone who you think may be interested in seeing a great layout.