This Thanksgiving and Christmas Season, take a moment to slow down a tad. Think a kind thought on someone. Do a decent deed for someone truly in need. Say a short prayer or reflect on those in harms way. Be careful about hugging puppies though. They can be excitable and have small bladders.
The parking lot fee program has been kicked in the slats and is in effect. There is also rumors that the museum will charge an additional fee to park in the garage. If that is the case, it will be cheaper to get a museum membership for $55.00. Plus you get discounts at the café etc. ad-nausea.
November Meeting Recap.
Charles Haines called the meeting to order around 7:30 P.M. and first asked for guests to introduce themselves. Crickets responded, as only the usual suspects were present. Charlie opened the business part and started the meeting with a sad announcement. Rupert has died.
A word in memoriam, Rupert Daily passed on earlier in November quite suddenly. The funeral had taken place before club members learned of his death. He was one of the original chapter members and a long time IPMS National Member. He had a love for WW1 and WWII aircraft. He was a kind and gentle person, in a quiet way. He loved his near lifelong hobby of plastic modeling. Sir, we'll miss you.
Dues are due in December. It's only $12.00 for the year so plan accordingly. Please see Ken and get squared away ASAP.
The Treasurer provided a quick report and discussed contracts proposed for the March Contest at Raymond Park Middle School. One proposal is for 09 - 10 March 2012 for $910.00 with a 50% deposit. This proposal is increased from $715.00 which was this past contest rental contract cost. The members present voted to settle the contract with Raymond Park for the contest in March.
The second contract item was for the club to remain at the Museum next year. The club members present voted to remain at the Museum, as no one has yet found a more conducive location.
Steve Pavey suffered a house fire in his basement with significant but repairable damage. He lost an extensive part of his model collection. Any help or assistance would be beneficial and appreciated.
Meetings for next year are as follows: April and July 2012 will be held on the 2nd Friday of the month. The rest of the years' meetings will convene on the 3rd Friday of the month.
There must be a minimum of five Chapter Members who are members of IPMS National to retain standing. We currently have six. There was some discussion as to how to increase the membership ratio.
2012 Contest Update
The Club sponsored Model Contest held in March 2012 is on March 10 at Raymond Park Middle School. Set up will be March 9, 2012 starting around 5:00 - 5:30 P.M.
Contest staff are so far:
*An advertisement will be posted to the IPMS Journal ASAP
*Charlie Haines will contact Web Site Points of Contacts' to distribute show information.
*This time around we'll arrange to have banks of bleachers pulled out so the patrons can sit, relax, chat, and watch the judging.
*The Chapter discussed putting up tables and inviting local model clubs to display their work and attend the contest.
*The Chapter discussed preparing commemorative awards for Steve Bridges and Rupert Daily
Some policy and rules changes follow. These changes were voted on by all present.
*Dioramas will have to 'tell a story' using figures, vehicles, or mechanical devices. A tank or aircraft model sitting
on a flocked base is not a diorama. The same applies to ship models in sculpted water. They are models on a display
base.
*Models which have placed 3rd or better in Nationals, Regional, or official Chapter Contests can not compete again.
*Categories 39 and 56 are deleted.
*Paper models and Collections will now compete in the Miscellaneous Category
*Categories 51 and 52 will be combined, those are real and sci-fi spacecraft
Other New Business
December 16 is the Christmas meeting with Pizza provided. Rick Wilkes will bring plates and Ken will bring drinks.
The January 2012 meeting will convene at the MCL Cafeteria at Castleton Corners on January 20, 2012. Gift Wars will
be held once more. This is also when the famous or infamous White Elephant scrum is convened. If you wish to partake
in the White Elephant Exchange, there are a few rules in place:
*Bring a gift wrapped model, a suggested average value is $25.00, all gifts will be piled on a tabletop.
*Every participant pulls a number out of a hat. The lucky person with number 1 retrieves a gift from the pile on the
table and unwraps it and places it in front of them.
*The person drawing number two can either retrieve a gift from the table or acquire the item from person 1.
*If a gift is acquired, aww heck, stolen, a colored sticker is placed on the box. If the gift is stolen from Person 1
he goes back to the table and gets another gift which he then unwraps and places in front of himself.
*Person 3 may retrieve a gift from the table or take from persons 1 or 2.
*Each time a gift is stolen a colored sticker is placed on it. When a third sticker is placed on the item, can no
longer be taken.
*The process is repeated until all gifts are off the table and have changed hands 3 times.
In the past this escapade in cheerfully juvenile conduct has been accompanied by a fair amount of mirth. I'll try to remember to bring a camera to document the ebullient shenanigans for the next February newsletter.
Show and Tell
December - Double D's, contact Erik Fox & Angelo DeGrassi for details.
Has 2 D's. Delta Dart, Douglas Dauntless, Elvira, etc.
(this has been postponed until 2012. More info will be forthcoming.)
If anyone has ideas/suggestions or events they would like to sponsor, please bring it up at any upcoming meeting. Model contests will be held during even numbered months while hobby related events/displays/visitors etc. will be held during odd numbered months.
After the contest and some more chatting around the meeting room, the meeting for the evening.
If someone knows of any good local model contests or pending events, please let me know and I'll add
them to the newsletter.
I will try to get the November - December Newsletter out, however I'll be offline from December 6, 2011 recovering
from Knee Replacement Surgery. I'll more than likely not be attending the December Club Meeting so don't anticipate
a December-January Newsletter to be posted.
See you all next year and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!