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.