| Volume 39 Issue 8 | April 2000 |
| Volume 39 Issue 8 | April 2000 |
Thanks to all the members who attended the March meeting. Jim Leapley gave an enjoyable and informative overview of DCC. This is the most recent advance in the hobby. A layout wired for DCC can run in the most prototypical fashion to date. No longer are toggle or rotary switches needed, and the independent running of locomotives and consists is possible. It is definitely the wave of the future.
February 27 was the most recent MCR BOD meeting. The meeting brought everyone up to date on National and Regional happenings. The trailer kit tooling is still being done, and a model was not available for the meeting. The arrangement is essentially a Region investment opportunity that should bring the region a 50% return on its investment. The Divisions will be offered a discount. The Medina Convention is coming up in May, and everything is on track. I urge everyone to register and attend. The 2001 convention should be in Louisville and it is sounding like another good one. THe Region accepted Division Three's preliminary bid for the 2002 Convention. There have been more personnel changes at National Headquarters. THe changes sound like they will provide improved service. Refinements are still being made to the computer system. Response times are definitely improving. The proposed $2.00 dues increase passed for a second time and will take effect in the near future. (1 April 2000 -- Ed.) Dues will be increased to $34.00. You may wish to renew for several years at the current price. The Ravenscroft property did sell, and the money should go a long way toward propping up the life member fund.
Campaigning on the national level always seems to include a fair amount of mud being hurled around. You would hardly know that Division Three is having its own election, but WE ARE!!!!! Ray Persing is running unopposed for Superintendent. Fred Schneider and Don Bedrowsky are running for Assistant Super, and John Smith and Eric Saunders are running for Chief Clerk. I strongly urge all members to vote. This is one of the benefits of membership.
This has been a sad weekend in the Miami Valley. Two pedestrians and a vehicle driver have been killed in accidents involving trains. The pedestrians tried to run across the tracks in front of trains in Miamisburg and Piqua, and a driver attempted to beat a train by going around the crossing gates that were down and in place. I know that all of our members are keenly aware of crossing safety, but we all need to do our part in educating the public to proper safety. The next time you hear someone talking about trying to beat a train at a crossing, take the time to let them know just how dangerous it is. You may be saving their or their families' lives.
This is my last Super Saying column. I remember my first Super Saying column for the Call Board. It was a "guest" column as George Muller had gone into the hospital with severe leg pains for what we all hoped and assumed would be short stay. My next Super Saying sadly reported George's death to the membership. There have been an awful lot of Super Sayings in between, some of them even on time (this one is not, Sorry J!). George has been a tough act to follow. I will leave it up to the membership to gauge how I have done, but I certainly have enjoyed my tenure as Superintendent. A large part of that has to do with this being a great organization composed of many fine people. I also want to thank my fellow BOG members and Committee Chairs, J Hedge, Frank Bauer, Kirk Perkins, Ray Persing, William Niebes, Dave Decker, Fred Schneider, Bob Fink and Norm Courtney. It has been a pleasure to serve with you. I am looking forward to the job of Past Super, where I get to sleep a lot during meetings, and do even less than Ohio's Lieutenant Governor. I am sure that the incoming BOG will continue to advance the goals and mission of the Division, and wish them much success.
Happy modeling.
Brian C. Petroziello
Superintendent
© 1999, 2000 Division 3, MCR, NMRA