Newsletter: 4/23/2004

THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING was held on April 2, 2004. Treasurer Bob Ciolino presented the membership with a detailed financial report. Ted Cwik, who helped explain the insurance portions of the report, assisted him. Director Ed Carter presented the agreement that was reached between the CLRC and the Union Pacific railroad allowing the Club to use UP and affiliated road names on club cars. In addition Ed also reported on the progress of copyrighting the Club logo. Director Irwin Bross reported that the Club's new web site is now up and running. Check it out at www.clrctrains.com.

During the latter part of the meeting President Herb Koch, Bob Ciolino, and Ted Cwik reported that the Club is looking at a building that has very good prospects for a permanent home. The members present were quite receptive to this presentation. Our thanks go to those members who were able to attend. Also, a special thanks to Herb Koch, who set up the meeting, and to Bob Ciolino, Ed Carter, Ted Cwik and Irwin Bross for jobs well done.

FINAL REMINDER If the address label on this mailing says, "Expires 2-2004 Past Due" then you need to renew your membership. THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST MAILING OF THE NEWSLETTER UNLESS WE HEAR FROM YOU. When you renew your membership or if you are a member who has recently joined, you are entitled a $10 discount certificate good towards the purchase of a club car or locomotive. These coupons are printed by Rich Thayer, VP and Membership Director, who passes them on to the secretary, Charlie Cereghino. Charlie includes them with the current newsletter. Many of you will find them with this mailing. In addition to the coupon you will find a 2004 sticker which should be affixed to the back of your name badge. Please remove this sticker before redeeming the coupon for a club car or locomotive. In addition some members who ordered patches will receive them with this newsletter.

CLRC Board of Directors meeting will be held on April 30, 2004 at the Koch house beginning at 7 P.M. Contact Herb Koch at the number below if you are planning to attend.

First Annual Homewood Railroad Heritage Day and May Run-Meet. - We will be setting up the layout for this combination weekend on Saturday May 1, 2004 at 10 A. M. The run-meet will take place at 1 P.M. Members can run trains all day Saturday. On Sunday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. the layout will be open to the public as part of the Heritage Day celebration. The location is the Homewood City Hall BoardRoom, 17950 Dixie Highway, Homewood, IL. You are encouraged to participate on one or both of these days.

The regular monthly run-meet for June will be held on Friday June 4, 2004, at Proksa Park, 3001 Wisconsin Avenue, Berwyn, IL. Set up is at the usual time, and trains run as soon as the layout is ready until 10.P.M.

The annual picnic and 10th anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the Illinois Live Steamers. More information will come later. Plan to attend this special event.

There is no run-meet scheduled for July because of the Club's participation at the two national conventions listed below.

Your CLRC is planning to participate in the LOTS convention July 15 - 18, 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the LCCA convention July 22 - 25, 2004 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Plan to spend a long weekend at one or both of these summer train events. You can show off your trains to a national audience of convention attendees. Herb Koch is coordinating these events. Please contact him at (708) 361-2483 if you can help.

There will only be one Boy Scout Merit Badge Jamboree in 2004.It will be held on October 16 and 17, 2004.

If you attend any of the Great American Train Shows (GATS) at the Du Page Fairgrounds on June 6, August 8, or September 12, 2004, be sure to stop at the CLRC table and say hello to Lyle Eimen and some of the other members who help him.

THESE SPECIAL EVENTS ARE ALSO LISTED ON OUR WEB SITE UNDER "TIMETABLE"FOR QUICK REFERENCE.

We would like to remind everyone that there is still time to order the "city" club cars. There are a limited number available on a first come-first serve basis. So get those orders in soon! Use the order form contained in the newsletter. IN ADDITION TAKE NOTE OF THE SPECIAL OFFER FOR A CLUB GP 20 LOCOMOTIVE. You can still get in on the special offer to purchase a club locomotive and a green or yellow CNW cylindrical hopper and receive an additional green hopper free. See John Flinn at a run-meet or contact him at (847) 541-7339. These two, unadvertised offers are being made to current regular members only! Support your club and add to the good looks of your layout.

NEW PSE EDITOR APPOINTED - We would like to welcome aboard Amanda Napravnik, who volunteered to take on the job of co-editor of the Prairie State Express. Retiring editor Lyle Eimen has agreed to help to insure a smooth transition.