From the Chairman of the Board

The Arizona Model Railroading Society quietly passed its 25 year anniversary this past year. 2009 was a busy year and culminated with another successful AMRS Starlight Christmas at Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park. Many of the visiting moms and dads thanked us on for providing a delightful, low-key evening for their family to enjoy trains, lights, rides, music, Santa, cookies and hot chocolate. They were grateful for an outing that could be enjoyed without the stress of long lines or being quickly pushed through one place to the other. Thanks to all our club members who worked to make Starlight an event that has become a memorable annual Christmas tradition for many families.

As a recap of the past year, AMRS hosted our annual lunch and day at the park for disadvantage foster children, took brand new N-Trak modules to operate at Winslow Railroad Days, constructed a Timersaver layout, held an open house for the Train Collectors Association convention, planted new shrubs along the front fence line, hosted the Boy Scout Camporee for about 500 boys plus their leaders, set up the N-Trak modules at the McCormick-Stillman Railfair, held two swap meets and upgraded the AMRS web site in addition to our usual Sunday afternoon public operation sessions.

The 25 year mark in combination with a new decade seems an appropriate time to look forward. We are already committed to be part of the N-Trak layout at the Great Train Expo in Tucson this March and the National Train Day activities in early May. The society however, has decided not to participate in 2010 Winslow Railroad Days.

AMRS will participate along with Sahuaro Central and Maricopa Live Steamers in the railroad signal bridge project for the front gate. The AMRS board also approved participation in the project at the December board meeting with funding to be discussed at the January membership meeting. Other projects in the works include planting more shrubs around the front of the property and increasing our visibility through marketing and public relations efforts. The photos for the AMRS brochure turned out great; thanks to all those who volunteered to be photogenic models.

Ideas and guidance are crucial to the continued success of the society. So heads up,? board elections are just around the corner with three positions to fill this year. I strongly encourage folks (including newer members) to consider running for the ?G?, ?HO? or ?N? board positions. I have also been invited to join the long range planning committee that includes members of MLS and Sahuaro Central. Therefore by all means bring your ideas for AMRS and the park to me so they can be considered in the planning process. Let?s have a great year!

Bob Ginger, Chairman of the Board

From the President

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but we will have a new newsletter for everyone. Due to various reasons, the newsletter has not been done for almost a year, but hopefully everything has been worked out and you look forward to one every quarter.

Things have been very busy around the park during the last couple of months. The N-scale division participated in Railfair in Scottsdale, then our Fall Swap Meet, and then the Boy Scouts held their Camporee at the park. And by the time you read this, Starlight 2009 will have come and gone. And as usual, work continues on all the layouts.

The club has committed to participate in both the Great Train Expo (in March) in Tucson and National Railroad Day (in May) in Williams in 2010. So mark your calendar and plan to attend both events.

Also, Arizonans for Children will be making their annual visit after the first of the year. The tentative date is January 30th-we will let you know when the date has been confirmed.

We are continuing to run the layouts on Sunday afternoons. If you can come out and show off your equipment, feel free to come out-we need more members to run on Sundays.

We have had a problem with food being left in the indoor trash cans-some of it is us while some of it is visitors. This problem is attracting flies. Please let’s do our part and not put food in the indoor trash cans. We should also take them out to the dumpster more often.

New club patches have been ordered so if you are new to the club and have not received your patch, let Marshall Wales or Bob Johnstone know and they will get you one when they come in.

Bob Ginger is in the process of making a club flyer to promote the club. It will have some words but lots of pictures-be sure to check it out when it comes out. Thanks to Bob for taking on this project.

I would like to take this time to thank all of the members of the board, the officers, and the superintendents who have taken the time to keep our club functioning. Please let them know that you appreciate their efforts.

We welcome all new members of the club and encourage all of you to get actively involved with the club-all us “old-timers” will be glad to help you. It takes all of us to make this one of the premier railroad parks in the country.

We hosted the Arizonans for Children this past weekend. A good time was had by all and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Steven David, AMRS President