RC-1 Update: 06/28/06

Greetings Boys and Girls,

Time for another update. A few things to pass along this time, so hold on, we'll be going from 0-60 in no time flat!!!

By now many of you should start receiving the latest issue of the Journal. I'll say up front, I'm really impressed by the changes the new team have made. The cover is very flashy, and really grabs your attention. There also have been many changes inside that will make for an easier publication to read. My hat's off to the new editorial team. Which makes it easier to ask for some new authors from Region 1. I know that an article showing off the beautiful Seagrave aerial truck from this years Noreastcon will be appearing in an issue in the not to distant future. My thanks to Charley Rowley for sharing his work with all the members of the Society.

It's time to vote once again. This time, it's for a number of Constitutional Amendments, which are important to determining the future of the Society. Voting can be accomplished right on the web site, or by traditional paper ballot that appears in the new Journal. Please, take a few moments and cast your ballot, it's really painless, and the future is in your hands. Vote early and often!!

Also on the horizon is Rechatering time. The rechartering window will open in October and run until the end of December. Please make sure all your necessary number of members (5)is up to date, and all officers are current members. These two items will greatly speed up the process, and eliminate anything getting bounced back for lack if info, incorrect info, and the other things that cause heartburn to our DLC, Dick Montgomery!! Dick tells me that he's cut back on his supply of antacids this year, so lets all get it right the first time, and in early to avoid that last minute rush. As always, please let me know if your chapter is encountering any problems getting it done. I'll offer any help I can to make this as smooth as a gravy sandwich!!

I'm very happy to report that my pleadings to free up the April event schedule has resulted in some changes for next year. Both Wings and Wheels and Long Island have moved to different dates to accommodate the scheduling bottleneck. My extreme thanks to both these chapters for stepping up, and working for the betterment of the Region!! I'm expecting one or two new approvals to come my way within the next few days, so my next update will contain the upcoming event dates. If your chapter hasn't gotten approval for either this years date, or next years, let me know what you plan to do so I can pencil you into the book. I'll hold off putting any entry in pen until you've confirmed the date, and approval has been granted.

Back to IPMS national news. The latest thing of note is the formation of the new Region 13. This group holds all the off shore, electronic and SIG chapters in a unique region. In our little world of Region 1, it means that Toronto is no longer an official member. I'm sorry to lose these guys, but know that the newly appointed RC-13, Glen Broman will do fine job for these chapters. These groups all have issues that are different than any home soil chapters, and I think it makes sense to have an RC that is dedicated to working with them, and helping them stay on track. Welcome Glen to the madness of the RC's!!!!!

On a similar note, our good friend Tim Hortman is standing down as RC-2. It seems real life is getting in the way of Tim continuing as an RC. He isn't leaving the hobby, and I know we'll still see him at Region 1 events as we have in the past. Personally, I'll miss Tim as an RC. He and I have been friends for longer than either of us have been an RC. Tim has graciously offered to stay on until his replacement can be named. No word yet on who that may be, but whoever it is has some large shoes to fill. Good luck in the future Tim, but maybe now you can spend more time at the bench!!!!!

I went to Montreal last weekend with IPMS President Jack Kennedy to see the Formula 1 race. What an awesome event!! I'd never been to an F-1 race before, and now I know what all the fuss is about. These guys put on a fantastic race. Montreal is a very cool city and the drive wasn't all that bad. It rained all the way home, sometimes to biblical proportion, but it was a very uneventful drive. I'd love to get to another one of these races sometime in the future. Also while we're talking about racing, the American Le Mans Series will be invading Lime Rock over the July 4th weekend. Not sure if I can make it yet, as our City fireworks are scheduled for that Monday. How does that effect any racing plans you may ask? Well, I work for the City of Stamford, and make mad OT during events like fireworks. Given a choice, I think I'll make the cash!! Sorry race fans, real life gets in the way again!!!

That brings us to the checkered flag. I'll take a cool down lap now, and close this by saying please, share this with the officers and members of your chapter. Until next time.........

Semper Fi
Doug Hamilton
RC-1

2006 IPMS Region 2 Convention

Fellow Modelers,

IPMS Tidewater is excited to host this year’s Region 2 convention on October 20^th and 21st, which is just 4 months away. TidewaterCON 2006 will be a memorable modeling event in the same location of the 1996 and 2002 IPMS Nationals. The venue this time will be the newly built, spacious Virginia Beach Convention Center which replaced the Virginia Beach Pavilion is gone; the new facility is far nicer and a great venue for a convention. The theme is “A History of Innovation” as we commemorate the pioneering events that occurred in this region – The Monitor vs Virginia, the Great White Fleet, The Wright Brothers, James Ely’s first naval flight and of course the engineers of NACA/NASA.

TidewaterCON 2006 will be more than a local show. Starting at 3:00pm on Friday, there will be two days of activities to keep you busy. The focus of the convention naturally is the model competition and the vendors, but we are planning seminars, display tables, static displays and family activities to make it even more enjoyable. We have a cash bar social hour planned for Saturday just before the awards ceremony. We have over 90 tables set aside for vendors and already have commitments from nine vendors. If you have a favorite vendor, please encourage them to sign up soon, before the best tables are gone and to take advantage of our discount price until July 15^th. As for convention registration, it is never too early to sign up. As an extra incentive to attend we are offering an IPMS discount on the registration good up to an including the days of the event and an early bird discount before September 15^th.

We have reserved rooms in the nearby Double Tree hotel and very attractive rates so that you can make it a relaxing fun filled weekend; rooms are only $75 a night for either a king or two full beds. Please checkout our website http://www.ipmstidewater.org/2con_home.htm , which is linked to the IPMS-USA website, for the latest and complete information. The hotel is only a mile from the oceanfront and the amenities of the resort area; so plan on making the convention a relaxing get away weekend. Plus there are a lot of activities nearby including the USS Wisconsin, the new USS Monitor exhibit, Fort Monroe, the Army Transportation museum, Langley AFB and NAS Oceana.

For this event we have developed a very attractive trophy for the contest patterned after the challenge coins used by the armed services. These medallions are beautifully enameled with gold, silver, bronze or pewter (for out-of-the-box) borders and come in an attractive rosewood display and can be seen on our website. This basic awards package is only $35 making it affordable for both smaller clubs and even individuals. This same medallion is used in the “best of” trophies and special awards. While the costs of these packages are higher, they are still reasonable. Please consider sponsoring one or more categories – we look forward to your support.

As more events/activities/information firms up we will be posting it on our website – so please check back often. The Region 2 convention has always drawn modelers from around the East Coast and points west and is one reason that it has always been so much fun. This convention will be a great opportunity to catch up with old friends/acquaintances, share the hobby, and share our history. We hope to see your club there in force.

Best regards,

Charles Landrum

Chairman, Region 2 Convention

President, IPMS Tidewater

A note from Hugh

Bobby,

Here's Major Samouce's lastest update.

I sent a small package of mostly supplies and some small models since the last meeting. I have a big box almost ready to go which I will top off with 1/72 WWII a/c (see the Major's request in his update). Note the change in emphasis from car models. I won't be at the JUNE meeting, but Frank C. will have the donations box. I'll update the totals after this next big box ships.

I'm going to include in the next box to Speicher a selection of photos of models taken at our March and May meetings.

Hugh

PS: My mistake. The small box mentioned below went out just before the last meeting rather than after. Also, the Major mentioned that acrylic paint is in short supply.

Hello all,

I hope this finds you well. Here is the June update to the Speicher Model Group. First and foremost, thanks for the continued support of the group. We have moved to another area in the MWR building and had KBR build some shelf to hold the kits.

We have also had a lot more soldiers taking part in the Group. Everyone is just amazed at the selection and supplies that you guys have provided. I do have a request to pass on from some of the soldiers. They would like more 1/72 scale WWII era aircraft kits. They have proved very popular and we only have a few remaining. We are also running low on acrylic paint.

On Memorial Day, we had a model display show in the MWR Library. I set the display up at 0700 in the morning and at 1800 when I arrived to remove all of the kits, there was quite a crowd still looking at them. I of course brought the soldiers back to the Group area and showed then the kits they could build.

Here some other models that have been completed –

I had one soldier who’s husband is located at another smaller FOB send him several kits with construction supplies. So it looks like we are doing “care” packages too.

I would like to thank the following organizations and individuals who have donated to the group.

Groups – Micro MARK Co, Fine Scale Modeler Magazine, The Polish Coastwatchers.


Individuals – Shawn Doughtie, Richard Redmond, R. Ekstrom, H. Lapa, Andy Kwong
So it June now, August will be here before I know it and we will all be returning to our families. The days drag buy but the months seem to move fast.

Thanks again and you all take care,

MAJ Duke Samouce

Noreastcon Review: 5/24/2006

Greetings and Salutations,

For those that didn't make it to Marlboro this past weekend, y'all missed a great Noreastcon. Our hosts, IPMS Bay Colony, Granite State, Patriot, and Wings and Wheels chapters did an awesome job putting together a fine event. Thank You!!

These folks went outside the box in providing entertainment for us, even before we arrived at the site. A methane tanker tipped over, and closed the Mass. Pike in both directions for over ten hours!! The traffic was horrendous in both directions, and nearly everyone I spoke to arrived tired, thirsty, hungry, thirsty, cranky, and did I mention thirsty? Actually, it was way out of their control, and while most everyone arrived later than originally planned there was a great event waiting when we finally got there.

A few of the numbers read as follows: over 500 models on the tables, and about 112 registered competitors, 9 of which were juniors. The quality of the models was very high, which meant the judges had very hard decisions to make. Best in Show went to a beautiful 1937 Seagrave Aerial Ladder Fire Truck that was scratch built by Charley Rowley. This had to been seen to be believed, it was absolutely outstanding!! Charley wrote a nice article detailing how he built the model, and it will submitted to the Journal for future publication.

There were about 60 vendor tables filled with all sorts of goodies, and I found some cool stuff to add to my pile. The facility was a little small, at least that's what a few guys have said, but I'd prefer the term cozy. The model room held all the models quite nicely, and the vendors managed to get all their wares in, so it worked!!!

On to the business. The Region 1 Business Meeting was well attended, and I'd like to thank those who gave their time to attend and give their thoughts on what we discussed. I mentioned that on the IPMS front the new Journal Editorial team is seeking authors for future articles. If any one is interested is doing some writing, please don't hesitate to put pen to paper, as it were. It would be great to see some Region 1 folks write for our publication.

Also, I stressed the importance of getting RC approval for your event, and the need to get the form on the IPMS web site filled out and sent in. Dick Montgomery, our DLC is working on a streamlined system that will be unveiled in the near future that will greatly improve the way event notification is handled. I'll let everyone know when it's on line. In the mean time, keep doing what you've been doing. On a similar subject, if your event needs a Certificate of Insurance for the facility, please request one well in advance of he event. Don't wait until two days before to request it. It won't happen.

A month or so before Noreastcon I was notified about the passing of Ron Lowery, Scratchbuilder par excellance. Ron was a member of IPMS Toronto, and had attended Noreastcon for quite a few years, practically owning the scratchbuilt aircraft category. It was proposed to come up with a suitable memorial for Ron by perhaps naming the scratchbuilt aircraft category in his memory. During the discussion that followed, it was brought up that a number of our friends, comrades and fellow modelers had passed away during the last year, and while Ron was an honored member of our region, it wouldn't be right to honor him alone while doing nothing in regard to our other friends. Also, if the trend continues to memorialize every friend that passed away, we'd soon run out of categories to honor them with. The assembled body discussed this at length, and it was decided that beginning with this Noreastcon, and at all future events, a roll of departed members would be read at the banquet honoring those that have gone before us. Before the meeting was adjourned I was given a list of six names of our missing friends. During my remarks at the banquet I explained what we discussed, and read the six names. When I was done, I looked up from my notes, and the entire room was standing. I believe this new tradition is one that is a suitable memorial for those we've lost in the year past, and will have more suitable words prepared for next year. The members honored are:

IPMS Toronto- Ron Lowery,
IPMS Southern Maine- Cliff Hanes,
IPMS Niagara Frontier- John Bishop,
Lee Repolas,
Bob Railhel,
IPMS Stratford- Jim Hyslop

We also talked a little about freeing up some of the April events. As I've spoken to in the past, we have far too many events in the month of April. I'd like to see one or two move from that month to give our region a better balance in our schedule. Location and timing being what they are I think it's important to every chapter to have an event that isn't in conflict with an event in close proximity to another. When that happens, every chapter is hurt in attendance by both attendees, and vendors. Well I'm quite happy to announce here that our friends over at IPMS Long Island are moving their show, RepLIcon to 31 March 2007. (More info on this event will be posted later)

Region 1 Chapter of the Year for 2005 was awarded to IPMS Wings and Wheels, a very deserving chapter. And 2005 Region 1 Person of the Year award went to a very surprised Ron Garland of IPMS Southern Maine. Congratulations Wings and Wheels and Ronny G!! I'll say here the Mainiacs really did an excellent job of keeping Ron in the dark regarding the award. My thanks to Gordon Smith for nominating one of the good guys here in Region 1.
The 2007 edition of Noreastcon will be held in Fishkill NY, (Where's Fishkill?) and our hosts will be IPMS Mid Hudson, and IPMS Stratford. Again, more information regarding next years event will be forthcoming.

Also presented at the banquet was the ever popular Noreastcon Cup. This is awarded to the chapter who's members win the most awards in competition at Noreastcon. However I've been informed there was a miscalculation in the results this year, and IPMS Bay Colony was awarded the cup erroneously. I've been told that the correct winner this year is actually IPMS Patriot. Negotiations are under way to ensure the cup is presented to the rightful winners. I've been told it will be cleaned before the hand over!!! Congratulations IPMS Patriot!! I guess the Bay Colony folks will be gunning for a win next year to make up for having to give the cup up. This should be interesting!!!

I was very honored to receive a copy of the History of IPMS Bay Colony. It a very good read, and is quite interesting. I'll also urge all chapters to write down your histories for future posterity. Thank you John Gisetto, and your lovely wife Bette for writing a fine document!! It will occupy an honored place in my library.

I guess everyone is getting eye strain from all this reading, so I'll end the review by thanking Chairman John Nickerson, and his entire team that put together a great event for us this year. I'll also single out John Gisetto, Ray Rosario, Al LeFleche, Devon Terpenning, and Pip Moss for their hard work at the show and during preparation. Without their efforts this years Noreastcon would have just been another show. Well done Gentlemen!!!

Until next time, that is, if there is a next time......

Please share this with the officers and members of your chapter.

Semper Fi
Doug Hamilton
RC-1