(NOTE: Minutes presented here are paraphrased summaries of discussions and comments of meeting participants. Only statements with quotation marks represent exact quotes. Content and phrasing of the Minutes is subject to final approval by the board of directors.)

Board members present:
Wendell Goodwin
Eric Hadder
Tom Paradis
Jerry Snow
With club members present. Ryan Gallagher is currently in the Reserves, called up for national duty.

Meeting called to order at 8:10 PM at the Clubhouse

1. Schedule for April, May. Acting President in May
The Tuesday night schedule for April and May was presented to the club for review and additions. John Lovely will present an operating night (clinic on operations) at his house on Tuesday, April 15. Directions to his house will be forthcoming. Curtis Deibel volunteered to present a clinic on Tuesday, May 20, on desert vegetation for model railroads, including cactus of different species.
 Paradis announced his planned absence throughout May, 2003, due to teaching responsibilities and trips out of town. Eric Hadder agreed to serve as acting President during May, to preside over the May board meeting and other necessary duties.

2. Cleanup Night.
The club’s next cleanup night will be May 6, first Tuesday of the month. Section crews will be responsible for cleaning track, others will help clean the facility. We will continue to hold cleanup nights once every two months. Two sections of the HO layout still need volunteers for section crews.

3. Project Update
The N-scale layout is in the process of having track switches replaced. Commercial buildings in Oildale are still being detailed and will require work prior to the Fair. Two project proposals were approved by the Board, one for completing the rock facing on various HO layout cliffs, and one for completing Red Mountain, as some form of mesa. The Club will vote on these projects in the next two weeks following review.

4. Treasurer’s Report
Snow reported the current balance of the Club checking and savings accounts. See the budget handout provided by Snow for more details. Much of the maintenance and project budgets have been spent for the year, due in large part to the purchase of DCC equipment for DCC Phase 1 and for club maintenance, such as shop vacs. Goodwin reported that two sets of 6 Switchmaster switch machines have been ordered (maintenance budget).

5. Trainmaster’s Report
Goodwin noted that several switch machines and track switches have been repaired, including switch 5 at Hill Valley and the switch machine for Track N in the staging area. Several dead spots in the HO layout exist and will be fixed at a later date, pending diagnosis of the problems. One problem includes the upper loop, and Timber Creek siding and associated switches. Replacement of the Main Line at Timber Creek is ongoing, and the Board thanked John Lovely and Mark Babbitt for their efforts in improving the roadbed and trackwork there. Goodwin further discussed the idea of adding an extended yard lead to Flag Yard ladder, wrapping around Oildale. Discussion ensued. A proposal will be written and considered.

6. Vice President’s Report
The Grand Canyon Railway will sponsor Thomas the Tank Engine in May and September, 2003. Hadder asked club members about interest in displaying the club’s portable layout for that event. Several volunteers will be needed to take shifts for this event if the club is interested. Hadder commented that the portable layout was very popular with kids and families last year at the Thomas event, but that he will not be able to staff the display without some help this year from other club members.

7. DCC Committee Update
Goodwin reported the need to build a toggle switch device of some kind so that the layout can be switched easily between DC and DCC operations. A meeting of the DCC committee was suggested, to be held at their convenience. Paradis informed the club that the remainder of the back-ordered DCC materials from Bruce (Litchfield Station) has not arrived yet, and Bruce is expecting them to arrive from Digitrax in weeks or months.

8. New business
Snow inquired about club interest in a hat/shirt uniform for club members for this year’s Fair. Much interest was displayed. Ideas for hat and shirt designs were discussed. Snow will attempt to acquire a catalog of hat styles for the club to choose. It is likely that club members will be expected to purchase their own hats (and possibly shirts), and more hats will be ordered for resale to the public. None of these ideas have been formalized yet, as decisions still need to be made.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10pm