The Gandy Dancer
The Official Publication of
the Alameda County
Central Railroad Society
The Gandy DancerThe Official Publication of
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In This Issue: |
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| Railroad World News | ||||
| Home and Garden Show Hours | |
| Saturday, October 2nd: | 10:00 to 4:00 |
| Sunday, October 3rd: | 10:00 to 4:00 |
18th Annual Alameda County Fall Home and Garden Show:
October 2 and 3, 2004.
Great American Train Show (GATS):
Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28.
Annual Club Holiday Potluck:
Friday, December 3. The potluck will replace the usual business meeting.
This Month's HO Scale Run Schedule: |
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| Date: | Mode: |
| Friday, October 1st | Shakedown |
| Saturday, October 2nd | Digital |
| Sunday, October 3rd | Analog |
| Friday, October 8th | Analog |
| Friday, October 15th | Digital |
| Friday, October 22nd | Analog |
| Friday, October 29th | Digital |
From the HO Trainmaster:
Hello "HO" Members-
First of all, I would like to see if any of you would be interested in the position of "HO" Trainmaster or would like to nominate someone. This should be determined at our October 1st "HO" meeting. I feel my two term should be handed over to another member of our "HO" group.
On to other matters: Gary will have some ideas he would like to present in the Charmin area of our layout which will pertain to the container loading dock. He has gathered up some material to show different aspects of what we can acheive. We would also like to finalize the October Saturday run day Dennis Stokely has been organizing. Don't forget our Home and Garden Show scheduled for October 2nd and 3rd. The sign-up sheets have been posted. We can use a few more helping hands.
We shall see you at our next Friday gathering.
Andy Herrera
HO Trainmaster
From the O Scale Trainmaster:
George is involved in a trial and was not able to provide comments this month.
Don't forget to attend this club meeting to find out who the nominees for club office are.
Observations about the Ambassador's Chair, Donations and our tenure at the Fairgrounds:
The Ambassador's Chair near the front entrance to our layout room has been the subject of some controversy. I have heard complaints leveled at certain members and groups within the club to the effect of, "They ain't pulling their weight." Leaving aside questions of who 'they' are, and what constitutes 'pulling their weight,' I'd like to point out a more insidious and potentially fatal problem surrounding that isolated blue chair and the responsibilities that go with sitting in it. To wit: Members seem to resent it.
We are present at the Fairgrounds as an attraction-People who come by the layout pay our bills even if they don't slip a fiver into the donation box. The fact that they enter our domain and are counted sends a message to the Fair board that we are a valuable part of each event that we're open. If the public stays away, the Fair board will eventually find something more attractive and profitable to fill our space. Smiling at the public seems like a reasonable trade for the space we're using.
I'll say it again. Members seem to resent sitting in the Ambassador's chair. They sit in it with arms crossed, silently scowling at passer-by, daring the public to set foot inside our sanctum. They slouch down, seemingly counting down the seconds until they can demand release, like a delinquent juvenile serving detention. Gang, THAT WILL NOT DO! Nobody likes being frowned at, and they're certainly not going to pay for the privilege. Sit up and smile!
Now, I'll be the first to say that I'd rather run a train or shuffle cars than count noses and answer the same four questions over and over. But: When I sit in that blue chair, I make it a point to greet each person or group that stops at our door, even if I'm conversing with someone else at the time.
And you know what? People respond. At least one person reaches for their wallet in something like a third to an eighth of the groups who enter on my watch. If I get distracted, that number goes down to something like a twentieth. The donation amount slips, too. Greeted people seem to average about $2 per donation. Un-greeted, we get pocket change.
Even better, I get more thoughtful questions, like, "Can you recommend a way to get started?" or "What's the name of that silver train?" Those questions are why I call that blue seat the "Ambassador's Chair." When you sit there, YOU are the face of American railroading.
If that's too big a burden, come get me. I'll pull for both of us.
--Dan Espinosa
Guest columnists are asked to refrain from personal attacks on individuals or public figures, strictly political diatribes or 'Rated R' language. Ideally, columns will be topical to the ACCRS membership, and articles complaining about a situation will include a suggestion for improvement. If you have a subject you'd like to see in print, please contact the editor.
| Club Officers: | |
| President Gary Lewis |
Vice President Henry Chandler |
| Secretary Dean Lewis |
Treasurer Don Pomplun |
| HO Trainmaster Andy Herrera |
O Trainmaster George Cumming |
| Newsletter Editor Dan Espinosa |
Webmaster Wayne Toigo |
| Visit the ACCRS website | |
| If you have any information that would be of interest to the ACCRS membership please contact Dan Espinosa. The deadline for submitting information for the November issue is 21 October. Members are also encouraged to submit photos, announcements and other club and railroad related material for use on the club website. | |
The Gandy Dancer, a monthly publication of the
Alameda County Central Railroad Society.
Copyright 2004, ACCRS Inc. All rights reserved.
Last Revised 27 September, 2004.
For more information, email Dan
Espinosa, Editor, at: steelnomad2002@yahoo.com