FROM THE PRESIDENT

Our November open meet was well attended with over 45 Lakes and Pines
Members in attendance and 76 paid guests. We were able to add $228 to our
bank account which was ahead of last year since we didn’t offer any coupons
this time. My Mom was able to cover the refreshment table and did a great job
and increased our balance by over $100. Many thanks to her for helping. I also
want to thank IRA and Sue for covering the front table while I bounced between
running trains, heating up hotdogs and miscellaneous other tasks. I want to
thank the membership for filling the tables with great trains. I couldn’t find an
open table and brought home a couple of cool items for my collection. I saw a lot
of guests walking around with trains and it appeared to be worth everyone’s
efforts. I also want to thank Mike Helde and Ralph Reiners for running trains. Bill
Kane and Al Osterud did a great job as the Train Doctors.

The dues will remain at $30.00 for 2019 thanks to the Board’s focus on keeping
costs down while finding new revenue streams while also providing a summer
picnic and a Holiday Party every year. Our postage reduction continues to be a
big reason why we can do the things we do. If you have an email address and
would rather get it emailed, please let us know.

Please note that the 2019 meeting dates are listed on this newsletter.
Membership cards will be mailed in early 2019 once your dues are paid. I hope
you all choose to renew! If not, please let us know why you aren’t.
We are all set for December 9th and the Lakes and Pines will be providing the
main course, chips and pop and water. Members are encouraged to bring a dish
in the usual potluck style. A reminder if you are bringing hot food and need an
extension cord, bring an extension cord. If you are bringing a salad that needs a
serving spoon, bring a serving spoon. You get the idea. The current board, and
anyone else who would like to set up will be meeting at 10:45 to begin setting
up. We will open the doors at 11:00 for anyone who would like to set up trains on
the south side of the floor. We will open up to the membership at 11:45 and
begin the party. We will target having the food ready at 12:30.

If anyone would like to donate a door prize, simply bring it to the party and track
down a board member and they will make sure it makes it to center stage. We
will be having a drawing after the annual meeting and discussing me staying on
as president thru 2019. Send any agenda topics for the annual meeting to me at
Mpspeltz@juno.com. Ira has donated another beautiful print in Judy’s honor. He
is selling tickets to raffle it off at the December Holiday Party. The Angela Trotter
Thomas print (shown in the newsletter) will be on center stage. We will be selling
raffle tickets at the front table for 1 for $5 or 4 for $10. All proceeds will benefit
the Lakes and Pines. Many thanks Ira!

We will also be presenting Ron Johnson and Ralph Reiners with their 50 year
TCA membership certificate.

Happy Holidays and see you all on the 9th,

Mike Speltz
President Lakes and Pines

​​Lakes and Pines Division - Train Collectors Association