Great Meeting in March and April Hangout Up Next on 8th

 We had a great in person meeting with a good crowd even with the crazy weather.  Yes, I had almost an inch of snow on my car at one point.  But we had 2 great clinics and 3 wonderful open houses.  Days like that Saturday are what will grow our hobby with projects any modeler can do from a basic boxcar even kids can afford to a start at scenery which will get us away from the plywood pacific.  

Our next event is the Friday Night Hangout on April 8th. This will be on Zoom and all members of the division will receive an invitation via email the week of the Chat.  These chats held us together in many ways during the pandemic and are still a good way of bridging the gap even now for those who cannot make every meeting.  

Our next in person meeting is on May 14th in Richmond with a Clinic by Rick Lull on LCC and Rod Vance on the changes in publications at the NMRA.  There are many good things going on in the Hobby.  LCC promises to solve many of the control and auxiliary issues.  Rick will be able to not only tell you about them but you will be able to see in use on his layout.  The changes at National in the publications arena are pushing new boundaries for the NMRA.  Rod Vance will explain the changes to us from the perspective of an editor and reader.  After lunch we will tour Mike Pulaski and Rick Lull’s layouts.  

I hope to see you via Zoom in April and in person in May. 

Meeting Still On

 The March Meeting is still on for those who feel safe to travel to it.  Please put your safety above getting to the meeting.  We would like you to be at the one after this one. 

Virtual Hangout Friday for JRD Members

 This Friday the 11th of February we will have a members hangout at 7 pm. Our special guest will be NMRA President Gordy Robinson.  Come to hangout and hear what Gordy has to say about the hobby and the NMRA.  Bring your questions or just come to listen.  Check your emails for meeting information.  Hope to See you there.

Virtual Meet this Saturday January 8th

 VIRTUAL JAMES RIVER MEETING THIS SATURDAY JANUARY 8TH ON ZOOM

Hello! Just a friendly reminder that this coming Saturday we will have our first meeting of 2022 virtually on Zoom. 

Due to the rapid increase in both cases of the COVID-19 and the hospitalizations the leadership team has decided to have this Saturday’s meeting virtually.  I intended to put this notice out Monday evening but the total lack of power and any reliable internet connection precluded that idea from coming to pass until tonight.

Clinics
We have one clinic by Ken Montero who will be giving us “Kool Tools with Ken”.  Ken loves his tools and will be sharing some of his favorites along with others that well he is not sure why they are in the tool box.  Come and learn from Ken’s love of tools.

Door Prizes, Coffee and Donuts
Since we are virtual there will be no door prizes.  Please bring your own coffee and donuts.  The Super will try to open the room at 9 AM so we can sip, munch and catch up some before the first clinic

Layout Tours
We do not have one lined up but if some one wants to do an impromptu one please let the Super know.

White Elephant tables
If you have one thing you absolutely can’t wait to get rid of then put a for sale on it and have it in your video feed. Who knows you may get lucky.  But outside of that no formal sale this time.

Doors will open at 9 AM. 
First Clinic at 930 AM
Supers Update on the State of the Hobby.
Social Time
End around 1130 AM.

January 8th Meeting Going Virtual

 It is with regret but believing it is the right thing to do that I am announcing that the January 8th meeting will be going virtual due to rising Covid-19 Omicron cases.  This is the consensus opinion of the leadership group.  

We will be holding a social time via Zoom in its place.  If we can offer a Zoom clinic and/or layout tour we will do that but with a short lead time it may not be possible.  If any of you can do so please let the Superintendent know of your availability or a lead to someone who is willing to give either one. 

Details about the Zoom clinic will be mailed to those on the Divisions email list.  

NMRA President Gordy Robinson Interviewed

 In what I hope is the beginning of a long term trend Gordy Robinson the NMRA President was interviewed on Lionel Strang’s A Modelers Life.  It is worth listening to since Lionel in his own way even gives his friends a hard time while prying out information.  If you want to understand where we are going as an organization please listen.

http://modelerslife.libsyn.com/

Electronic Edition of NMRA Magazine Coming

 In a huge step forward the NMRA will be moving forward with the digital edition of the NMRA Magazine.  This will available to all members which is great news.  Life Members will still receive the print version along with the digital copy. Full announcement by Gordy Robinson 

https://app.sparkmailapp.com/web-share/YEdOe8NglIlpgfRwVCmgBWlsWaF-51gkkB9KAY92

Coming up on the Holidays

 We are coming up on the holidays after the successful joint meeting with the Potomac Division.  There were many who helped out in so many positions to make this meeting a success.  If you have ideas for making it a better meeting please let one of the officers know your idea..  

We will be meeting next in January. The plan is to continue the Signal series and we are looking for one more clinic.  If you have an idea please let the Superintendent know about it.  

Joint Meeting with Potomac Div This Saturday Nov 6th

 Just a reminder about the Joint Meeting with the Potomac Division this coming Saturday November 6th with the Potomac Division.  All the details are here

http://potomac-nmra.org/PDnewsite/Minicon/Minicon.php

It will be a packed Saturday. 

Meeting still on for the 11th of September

 Our next in person meeting is still on for September 11th.  Please note we are asking everyone to where a mask and those who are not vaccinated (2 weeks past final shot) must where a mask.  Please bring proof of vaccination with you by having the original CDC card, a photocopy or a digital copy on your phone. 

The JRD will provide supplies for weathering and should have a number of cars for you to use if you do not have one available.  

A this time the open house is still on but it is restricted to those who are fully vaccinated while Bob asks that all attendees please wear a mask while inside his house.  

July 10th Meeting Reminder

IN PERSON JAMES RIVER DIVISION MEETING THIS SATURDAY

Looking forward to seeing y'all in person at the July 10th meeting of the James River Division of the NMRA in Orange, VA.  

The meeting will be at the former Southern Ry Orange Train Station which is now the Orange Visitors Center which you can find on Google Maps Here. In addition, a list provided by our hosts at the Orange Visitor’s Center of local places to eat which are beyond the fast food joints can be found with this link. I was sorry to see that Wise Guys closed (Burger Joint) but I am sure there are others which may interest you on the list.

Orange County Visitor Center

(540) 672-1653

https://goo.gl/maps/YzEK4JdYe1CWXeBm9

Eating ideas

https://app.box.com/s/dxgmlmibcg83y9jdmwh75ixkbg5w7fj7

We will have the normal activities including the modeling theme which is flat car with a load.  We will have coffee, donuts, door prizes and the white elephant table.  Doors will at 9am with the meeting starting as close to 930 as possible.

Clinics

Building a Retirement Model Railroad - Andrew Dodge.  A noted author who has had many articles published in the national magazines on his On3 DSP&P layout and his recent P48 Colorado Midland layout.  He is planning but transition current layout to a new geographic location but there is a new retirement layout which we will be hearing about in this clinic.  The needs of those heading into retirement matches very well with those who are much younger and coping with family needs and space restrictions who want more operation but can’t yet build that empire. 

Building a Car Together. The modeling theme is an important part of our regular meetings. This is not a contest but more the show and tell of the Railroad Prototype Modeler meetings where we show and tell about our modeling.   To further participation the JRD will distribute free of charge to all members who wish one a Accurail 4300 undecorated box car.  The only requirement is you build it and bring it back to show your progress or return it. We will be sharing about our in progress work at the September meeting in Charlottesville and the finish car in January 2022.  

For those who can’t be In Orange we will attempt to have a Zoom available session.  

Following the meeting we will adjourn to meet and catch up with each other.

There are no layout tours available for this meeting  

All the details are at the JRD website:  www.jrdnmra.org

Hope to see you Saturday July 10th at the meeting.

Philip Taylor

JRD Superintendent