Please share your thoughts on the Hartford National. Here is my brief report and
a link to my photos.

July 2 I arrived in Hartford so that I could attend the board meeting on July 3
and 4. This is a holiday weekend in the USA and the Marriott was empty. Friday
morning, we were the only people in the Marriott restaurant -- with coupons for
the non existent buffet. The manager came over and fixed this oversight,
allowing us to order anything for the buffet price.

The board met on Friday July 3 and Saturday July 4 at the Crown Plaza. The
Hartford National convention started on Sunday at noon and continued until the
next Sunday with the National Train Show.

Over 11 days, I took 350 pictures. An edited 42 slide show is available at
http://www.dervinis.com.  Put your mouse at the top of the picture and you can
see the captions.

The Metro North and Nutmeg Divisions of the NER NMRA were the local host
committee and they put on a great show. They delivered on all of the usual
activities, plus they had an amazing collection of model railroads on the tours.

Please enjoy the slide show and I hope to see many of you in Milwaukee next
year. It is the 75th anniversary of the NMRA.

Regards,

Eric Dervinis

To: NMRA Members in Division 8

From: Eric Dervinis, 2009 Candidate for NMRA President

RE: NMRA President and Vice President Election Results

Thank you for voting in the NMRA Elections!

ONE QUARTER (27%) of the current NMRA membership returned the ballot and this is
a record turnout. In the last five Officer elections the percentage of ballots
returned was 4%, 4%, 5%, (Three ballots in Scale Rails) 14% ( New Regulations
ballot in 2004) and 15% (Mailed Ballot in 2000).

ONE THIRD (33%) of the members voted for Eric Dervinis and Ray deBlieck.

The unofficial results* released by the NMRA Secretary are as follows:

Eric Dervinis (1,500) and Ray deBlieck (1,716) = 3,216 votes (33%)

Mike Brestel (3,478) and Allen Pollock (3,189) = 6,667 votes (67%)

The three directors were running unopposed and of course they were elected. They
are Pacific Director Peter Jensen, North America At Large Charlie Getz and
Eastern Director John Roberts.

* Election results are not official until accepted by the Board Of Directors at
the Hartford meeting. Once accepted, the board votes to destroy the ballots. A
total of 20 write-in votes were cast.

The incumbent officers and the Board of Directors have huge challenges in front
of them. Serious decisions on finances, convention, expanding the ABC, train
show, museum and the library await them in Hartford. I wish the board and
officers the best.

The campaign web site will remain on line until September at www.ericandray.org.
Please review our platform and post questions. We will reply and put the answers
on the web site.

---

From: division8@yahoogroups.com [mailto:division8@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Larry Wolohon
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:22 PM
To: Dean Pyers; Dave Simmons; Dave McMullian; Dave Thornton; Uwe Thormaehlen; Saul Kalbfeld; PRMagoun; pat vreeland; nlogan114@...; ncr.div.5@...; Milton Moore; MICHAEL MCCREIGHT; Michael Tranquilla; Marv Linke; Marty LaForte; ken roche; Kay & Jim Morandini; JOSEPH BLISS; Jones, Rad; John Wissinger; John Jackson; John Grubb; John Alaniva; Jim Zinser; Jim Clements; Howard Andrews; HOJIM@...; Greg Rich; Glenn Joppich; Edwina G Pittaway; Ed Beamish; doug beaver; Div 5 John Hartman; Dick Dittus; Charles White; Bill Rubarth; Bill Rubarth; Bill Gawthrop; bcstover@...; Barry Hensel; aoslapas@...; anderwent@...; division8@yahoogroups.com; div6_ncr_nmra@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Kenneth D. Chick
Subject: [Division8] Fw: Joe's Hobby Center [4 Attachments]

To All of you,

 

F.Y.I. As I received this from Ken Chick. This to me, isn't a great surprise. This is a sad time.

 

Hope some of you don't get this more than a couple of times.

 

Larry W.

----- Original Message -----

From: Ken Chick

To: Larry Wright ; Mark Castelli ; Dewey Norton ; Jack Watson ; Bill Huebner ; Bill Neale ; Lynn Wells ; Rick Neibert ; Guy Quick ; Scott Kremer ; Terry Carver, Sec. ; Tim Kilroy ; Lee Turner ; Mark Castelli ; Mark Olstyn - Home ; Joe Kocsis ; Pete Forbes ; John Lavender ; Darrell Kenyon ; Glen Duke ; Tom Decker ; Gary Miller ; Dan Lewis ; Larry Wolohon

Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:02 PM

Subject: Joe's Hobby Center

I stopped at Joe’s Hobby Center today.  This is what I saw.

I stopped at Joe�s Hobby Center today.  This is what I saw.

Division 8 Members,

Is the national ballot still on your desk? You have until the end of April to
mail yours to the Ballot Committee.

This year, the NMRA membership has an alternative to the current administration.
Vote for Eric Dervinis for President and Ray deBlieck for Vice President.

Please visit our web site, www.ericandray.org and ask questions. We will
respond.

Thanks to all members that have already voted.

Regards,

Eric Dervinis
Candidate for NMRA President

Very glad to become a member of your Yahoo Group. Divisions provide tangible
benefits for NMRA members every day.

The NMRA is at a crossroads. You can vote for the current incumbents or vote for
the "Alternative to Business as Usual".

Every member in Div 8 should have received a ballot by now. It was mailed in a
#10 NMRA white envelope, hand stamped "Ballot enclosed".

Not received? Contact NMRA headquarters at 423-892-2846 or hq@....

Please visit our web site www.ericandray.org and read the statements in the
March Scale Rails. You have a choice - vote! Ballots must be postmarked by May
1, 2009.

Thank you,

Eric Dervinis
Candidate for NMRA President

Ray deBlieck
Candidate for NMRA Vice President