HO MOD SIG MONTHLY MTG. MINUTES, March 14, 2009, IHOP at Bellevue/Overlake
by Norm C, Chairman

COMMENTS:
1. Meeting Date: The next breakfast meeting is April 11, ‘09, 8:30 am, Site to be determined (Note: The Black Bear Diner in Redmond is closed)

PAST SHOWS:
2. None

NEXT SHOWS:
3. GTE Apr 25-6, 09, Mike Confirmed, show details expected soon
4. Lynden, Oct 09, Pete. is the next "confirmed" show.
5. Snoqualmie Falls, summer, Ross, We are looking into the details
6. Trailer movements, Norm will bring to April breakfast, Mike will take to Ross’s, and Rob will pick up from Ross and bring to GTE on Friday, Ap 24. Norm will bring home from GTE on Sunday.

NEW BUSINESS:
7. Breakfast site, Norm: Hopefully you have seen my email on this, out last Monday.

OLD BUSINESS:
8. Ballast samples, Norm: I brought in some vinylbed ballast to consider for the new yard. http://www.vinylbed.com/
9. Status report: Metal Wheel delivery, Mike: Mike delivered to those present. If you ordered some, contact Mike mikepce@comcast.net If you want some, Mike has a few left @ $.57/axle both 33 and 36 inch.
10. Status report: Toolbox, Mike: We discussed the results of the surveys and found that we had to narrow the function or purpose first. Our choices were to
1. Repair broken stuff on the layout,
2. Add to that "kit building tools,"
3. Whether to include small parts like those in the 4D tub kit
It was decided to include the stuff from the 4D pack to make it easier to find. The kit building tools were omitted, as it would be counter-productive to encourage people away from our primary goal.
11. Status report: Help for newness, Norm: Continuing to work on this
12. Status report: Programming equipment, Brian: He searched among those available and found one he really likes, the Sprog. It installs between a program track and a computer using Decoder Pro. Using it has no effect on the layout. We were impressed and in favor, but need to see how well it operates with our slow laptop. Brian will bring one to GTE in April. Attached is Brian’s search results.
13. Yard improvements, Norm: We are making great progress with this project. Bob brought in an enlarged drawing of the latest designs for comments, Milt has determined precise measurements of the new modules, and Mike brought in a cost estimate of the project. I am working on getting the costs down by reusing existing parts, searching bargain prices, and maybe breaking it up into a two-year project. We should be able to start very soon.

MISSION STATEMENT
Promote participation, sharing, railroad history, and the NMRA/4 Div
Entertain and inform people about the hobby
Help charities, community organizations, and other RR groups