Bulletin: March 2011

THE MINUTES

by Bobby Pokorny

February was a great month. We had 29 members and 2 guests who brought in 28 models, for a very impressive quarterly contest.

February Meeting

SHOW US YOUR TOOL: This is a fun activity with an AWFUL name! We had many members bringing in various items to show the group. Did you learn something new?

CONTEST NIGHT 1Q2011: The tables were FILLED to capacity with contest entries. This was a most impressive kick-off to the 2011 annual quarterly contest. Did you have trouble filling out your ballot, I mean with all the choices in each category, and not the under-complicated ballot we use!

MAY SUPER RAFFLE: In an effort to try to raise funds for certain activities Joe Bergman donated a 1/35 King Tiger Dragon “white box” with a tank crew. For such a nice prize we’ll have a special raffle in May. Tixx are only $5 a pop.

MODEL PLEDGE: We got a good number of members signing up for the 2011 Model Pledge. Will you join in the fun? More details below.

You can see pics from each meeting either at the Club Website or on the Photo-Blog: http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

On the agenda: March

DECAL SWAP NIGHT: Bring in decals to sell or trade. You might want to bring in some money in case the sheet you’ve been looking for shows up!

FAVORITE MODEL: Do you have a model that you consider your favorite? Whether it’s built of unbuilt, please bring it (or them) in and be prepared to tell the group a couple words about your fondness for it.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE THEME: We had three sponsors come forward for the June theme contest. More details HERE.

2011 MODEL PLEDGE: It seems that we kept the concept entirely too loose for members tastes last year so we’re tightening them up a little in 2011. Please bring in an unbuilt model between January and March to declare as your pledge model. Please have it finished for the OCTOBER MEETING for a display. In between there will be one WIP night, which would be nice to show us your progress (April). After October you may bring back your pledge to the November meeting for the last contest of the year. For your efforts you get an additional FIVE Super Raffle tickets for completing your pledge! Sweet! Easy enough? Now go have fun with it!

Troop Support Update – Report to Date for 2011

Since establishing contact with SPC Craig Perry at FOB Speicher at the beginning of the year, we have sent four shipments, totaling 86 hobby items, consisting of:

· 1 Airbrush

· 1 Compressor

· 30 Model Kits

· 14 Bottles of Paint

· 14 Paint Brushes

· 6 Hobby Knives

· 6 Hobby Magazines

· 4 Sanding Blocks and Sticks

· 10 Miscellaneous Tools

In addition to the request for the airbrush and compressor, SPC Perry has requested more paint and glue. Please keep in mind that paints and glues must be non-flammable. Also, we cannot ship aerosol cans through the USPS.

Thanks again for your donations!

A reminder – we can't ship any flammable materials, so no model airplane cement or paints with a flammable base such as enamels, lacquers, and some acrylics (Tamiya, for example). Frequently requested materials are paintbrushes and automotive kits.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Hugh

T-SHIRTS: The first wave of shirts arrived a couple months ago. The BPMS blue and white never looked better! Our t-shirt artist came up with another concept that we’re taking orders for now too. Logo on the left-side of the chest, with two options! Ask about it at the meeting. Approx. $12 a pop.

TAKE A PART / LEAVE A PART: Gordon will bring in the big basin monthly for “Take a Part / Leave a Part.” Please feel free to toss your spares into the big bin too! This is something we can all add to or take away from.

GENERATING MONEY: The club will continue to sell magnets and patches and run raffles and to generate some extra money. The reserves for raffles are hitting rock bottom, any donations of recent models would be greatly appreciated! Can we count on you to help fund various activities and sponsorships?

NEW MEMBER? If you're a new member, please see Hugh Alcock to have your photo taken for our newsletter and photo roster. Putting your picture and name in the newsletter is a great way for the membership to get to know you. And the photo roster is a great way for you to get to know the membership. If you didn't get a photo roster, see Bobby Pokorny or Hugh Alcock.

40 YEARS OF THE BPMS: 2012 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the BPMS. We have a year to set up a bash. It should be fun! A dinner is certainly in order. Maybe we should figure out a way to tie in a theme contest. Ideas? Let the officers know!

SUPPORT THE BULLETIN: Some ideas for the newsletter from Hugh –

* Members can write a paragraph or two on how they got interested and/or re-interested in modeling.

* Show us your workbench: Have folks take a picture of their modeling habitat at home and describe what they like and/or don’t like about the setup.

Our next meeting will be on March 18, 2011.

Same time

Same place

SPC Perry has sent several thank you e-mails to let us know how much our support is appreciated by the troops forward deployed in Iraq.