Our last club meeting for 2024 was held on Monday December 2 at Fundemonium and was a fun evening enjoyed by all. We had 21 enthusiastic members in attendance along with several guests.

• President Dean Wallace started the meeting by giving an overview report.
1. Dean reported on the accolades the club has continued to receive for our October 12, 2024 model show and particularly for our success in implementing the first ever model show to use an Open/GSB judging format held in IPMS Region 9. Dean announced that as a result of our trailblazing efforts the club had been awarded the prestigious Steve A. Travis award from the IPMS Fremont Hornets modeling club to recognize our club’s service to the Region 9 community. The award was presented by Region 9 Coordinator Chris Bucholtz to President Dean Wallace at the Fremont Hornets model show held last month.
2. Dean announced that James Morando had agreed to take over and serve as club treasurer in addition to club secretary. The election of James to take over as treasurer was ratified by club members.
3. Dean announced that the annual club dues for 2025 will remain at $30 and will be due by our first meeting of the new year on January 6, 2025. Dues allow the club to pay for the annual holiday party, summer picnic, club contest awards and other club activities. Payment should be made by either cash or check to our new treasurer James Morando.
• It was announced that the IPMS Santa Rosa holiday party will be held on January 11 from 6 to 9PM at Mountain Mike’s located at 6314 Commerce Blvd, Rohnert Park. We will again use our popular elephant gift exchange format which will include up to 3 steals. Details to follow by email. Be sure to mark your calendars for what is always one of the most fun events of the year!
• A report was given on the successful delivery last month of 892 model kits and over $1,700 in donations to the Help Heal Veterans program headquarters in Southern California by club member Chris Zanella along with Ziggy Bumgardner and friend. A huge thanks again to Chris, who spearheaded the club’s charity initiative to put together this amazing donation and who did a tremendous job putting this worthwhile charitable endeavor together. Chris reported that upon delivery the Help Heal Vets organization was ecstatic and extremely appreciative!
• Plans were made for club members to caravan and car pool together for the next two upcoming local model shows. First up is the last ever and not to be missed NNL West model car show on Saturday January 4, 2025 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. This will be their 40th Anniversary and Farewell show with the theme of “Hot Rods & Long Roofs.” Then there will be the Dragon Lady Modelers Yuba City “Dragon Fest 2025 Model Expo” which will be held on Saturday January 18, 2025 at the Hope Nazarene Church in Yuba City. Contact Dean if you wish to join for either event.
• We enjoyed another great Show and Tell session with high participation, including some helpful discussions about various “lessons learned” the hard way. As can be seen from the pictures, there is some truly outstanding work being done by club members. Greg Reynolds also showed off his very cool and useful new Dspiae reciprocating sander.
• This meeting saw the culmination of the club’s group build with the contest theme of “Gift or Prize.” Qualifying entries were presented by members for judging and after due deliberations the top three entrants were selected and announced. Third place went to Jack Riggar for his outstanding Gloster Meteor, second place to John Sullins for his very cool looking Scrat figure, and first place was awarded to Ted Riehl for his creative and multi-faceted diorama. Gift cards were awarded to the three winners.
• The meeting culminated with a significant group joining for post-meeting food and libations at nearby Applebee’s.

December’s Pictures

Our next meeting will be at 6:30 pm on Monday January 6, 2025 at Fundemonium.

NOVEMBER 4, 2024 MEETING MINUTES:

• We had a fantastic post-show meeting on Monday November 4 with 18 members and several guests attending including Michael Klieman. Consistent with our new schedule, the meeting commenced at 6:30 pm and culminated with a significant group joining for post-meeting food and libations at nearby Applebee’s.
• We continued to utilize our new “horseshow” seating arrangement and the use of name tags both of which continue to contribute to better interaction.
• President Dean Wallace started the meeting by giving an overview report on our October 12, 2024 show held at the Rohnert Park Community Center. Dean gave a big thanks to all of the volunteers who helped setup and run the show, to all of the attendees and contestants, to the many vendors who showed up to sell their wares and to the many outstanding people who supported the club putting on the very first ever model show using an Open Judging format in IPMS Region 9. There were 80 contestants who put 325 models on the tables. That’s about the same number of contestants but over 50 models more than at the club’s last show. Certainly a high-water mark in recent memory for us. By all accounts, it was quite a success.
• Co-head judge for the show Randy Bumgardner then gave a report on the results of the model contest. Randy started with giving a hugh thank you to his co-head judge Michael Klieman and to all of the outstanding judges who volunteered their time to learn and for some, took the time to receive significant training on executing an open judging system. In addition to club members, Randy reported about the significant number of quality judges that participated from other clubs in the region, including from the Mt. Diablo, Reno and Sacramento clubs. Randy said their help was an important contribution and truly appreciated. Randy reported that the open judging went very smoothly overall. The bulk of the judging was done by 1:00pm, and the balance of the time was spent determining the Best Of’s from the Gold medal winners. Randy reported that the feedback has been tremendous and that the show, as well as the judging format has received many favorable reviews.
• Following Randy’s report, treasurer Chris Zanella provided a report on the financials for the show, which ended up not too far off of our break even goal.
• A report was then given by Chris Zanella on the tremendous success of the club’s charity initiative to support and benefit the Help Heal Veterans program. A significant number of additional kits, as well as monetary donations were received at the October 12 show, where we hosted a separate table to promote our charity initiative. This put our final totals at an amazing 892 kits plus $1,731 which Chris and team with be delivering next weekend directly to the Help Heal Veterans program.
• We were reminded that the club’s current ongoing Group-Build, with the theme of “Gift or Prize” or any kit you’ve been given or won, will be concluding at next month’s meeting on December 1, 2024.
• Plans were made for club members to caravan and car pool together for the next local model show being put on by the Fremont Hornets on Saturday November 9, 2024 at the Fremont Elks Lodge. A reminder was also given to save the date for the last NNL West show ever on January 4, 2025 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. This will be their 40th Anniversary and Farewell show with the theme of “Hot Rods & Long Roofs.”
• James Morando reported on an interesting new development in the hobby – the fact that Arma has included as part of their new 1/48 P-39Q kit a link allowing the purchaser to download 3D print files. James showed off his Arma P-39Q kit along with the wonderfully detailed cockpit seats with molded harnesses that Chris Zanella was kind enough to print for him from the 3D print files downloaded from the kit. It seems likely that, just as many years ago kit manufacturers evolved into the now standard practice of providing PE and resin parts with kits, we may now routinely see them providing 3d print files as part of the basic kit purchase price.
• The meeting concluded with a great Show and Tell session with high participation. As can be seen from the pictures, there were some truly outstanding work being done by club members.

November’s Pictures