MARP Executive Committee Minutes
16 October 2018
Phone Conference Call  7:00 PM

Present:   Tom Purmort, Steve Vagnozzi, Adam Tauno Williams, Joshua Hamilton, John Langdon, Kay Chase, Mark Miller

Absent:   Robert Patterson

Call to Order:  Meeting called to order c. 7:00 pm

Approval of Minutes:   Minutes of the 11 Sep 2018 meeting were approved

Treasurer’s Report:   Vagnozzi reports no outstanding bills. Will insert a memo in the Registry notes that the $500 donation from America By Rail is designated for Annual Meeting expenses and the $350 donation from John Guidinger will defray a portion of the expense of printing Michigan train schedules for distribution to stations. Vagnozzi, Purmort and Gurney will begin work on the 2019 budget.

Nominating Committee Report:   Clark Charnetski, Hugh Gurney and Steve Sobel are still seeking a nominee for secretary and possibly for membership coordinator.

Annual Meeting Preparations:   So far 8-10 reservations have come in. Program will be limited to three speakers: Paul Larouche (confirmed); Tim Hoeffner (MDOT) and Joe Shacter (Amtrak) confirmation expected. Planning committee (Purmort, Williams, Langdon, Chase) will work out further details in conference call 17 October.

Membership Committee:   Purmort is developing some ideas about increasing membership.

East Central Region Chair:   Hamilton has met with people associated with Arts Council of Greater Lansing and found interest in a project to add some interest to the bare white walls of the Amtrak waiting room. He is interested in getting a committee together to work on regional issues.

Governmental/Public Affairs Coordinator:   Langdon reported on the West Michigan Express project, spearheaded by Hudsonville City Manager Patrick Waterman, that seeks to establish a rapid transit option between Grand Rapids and Holland. On Oct 10, the public was invited by the West Michigan Regional Prosperity Alliance to vote on projects seeking grant support. About 75 people attended and about ¾ of them ranked the West Michigan Express project as their top priority. The Prosperity Alliance executive committee will make the final choice on awarding $22,000 to the project to conduct a survey of businesses along the route to determine interest and potential ridership. MARP has contributed $500 from the MEC/Michigan by Rail grant to support the project.

Open Action Items:

Vagnozzi:   Next quarterly meeting with Indian Trails is scheduled for 15 Nov. Asks Miller to document his distribution of Thruway bus schedules and talks with Chambers of Commerce throughout the North Region. Indian Trails may be willing to reimburse some of his expenses.

Langdon:   The Detroit station agent is retiring 1 Dec. May have implications for the East Lansing station.

Vagnozzi:   Niles being one of the sites chosen for a station host volunteer pilot program. Niles DDA Main Street led by Peter Womer, Amtrak and the Rail Passengers Association are planning an open house 9 & 10 Nov to recruit volunteers.

Purmort:   Discussion of 2019 meeting plans. Vagnozzi moves, Chase seconds, to have 4 member meetings plus the annual meeting. 6 Yeas, 1 Nay. Motion passed

Next Executive Committee Meeting:   Saturday, Dec 8, in Lansing area. Plan 4-5 hours to finalize budget and plan for 2019.

Adjourn:    Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm

Respectfully submitted,

                       Kay Chase                                             Steve Vagnozzi_________________
Acting Secretary                                                          Chair

MARP Executive Committee Minutes
09 October 2018
Conference Call, 7:00-8:15pm

712-770-8041   code 426600

Present: Tom Purmort, Kay Chase, Robert Tischbein, Mark Miller, John Langdon,

Absent: Steve Vagnozzi, Robert Patterson, Charles Shong, Adam Tauno Williams, Joshua Hamilton

Call to Order at 7:10 pm

Quorum lacking

Update on Annual Meeting Planning     Annual meeting announcements mailed to all 2017-18 members, announcements and complete registration information is on the website, Oct ON TRACK will prominently promote annual meeting registration, email blast “last call for registrations” will go out mid-month. Contacts have been made with additional speakers: Bob Johnston (Trains Magazine), Joe Shacter (Amtrak), James Bruckbauer (A2TC Project). Langdon will be sending email invites to Senators Stabenow and Peters, Rep Debbie Dingell (who will be given opportunity to speak), the State Senator and Representative representing Dearborn area, Barry Murray (Dearborn Economic Development), and a number of allies and friends.

Langdon: Amtrak is putting additional trains on at Thanksgiving, Pere Marquette only as far as Holland, Wolverine only as far as Ann Arbor.

A2TC report has been in the news today, was released yesterday. Titled “Northern Michigan Passenger Rail Study”, it may be accessed at: www.groundworkcenter.org/railstudy

Budget adjustments – Donations of $500 (America By Rail) and $350 ( John Guidinger for printing Michigan time tables) need to be credited to the Annual Meeting and Outreach Budget lines, respectively

Nominating committee – still seeking candidates for West Region Chair and Secretary

Membership Committee – Purmort will have more to say at Annual Meeting about targets and strategies for increasing membership

North Region Report from Miller:    Attending a 3 day meeting of model RR group, stopping off at Chambers of Commerce along the way. Difficulty getting to Chambers when they’re open. Met Bryan Boyle of Issues Media and pitched A2TC as a possible story.

Langdon:   Meeting with Indian Trails next week. Asks Mark to document his mileage, with the possibility of getting some reimbursement for expenses (via a grant).

West Region Report: Purmort & Langdon will attend meeting tomorrow of the West Michigan Prosperity Alliance Public Engagement and Grant Prioritization Meeting, at which the public will vote on projects to be awarded grants. West Michigan Express Pilot Project (WMX) is one of six projects in the running. Optimistic about gaining the grant, which will enable a survey of all employees in businesses along the route with 50 or more employees in order to gage need and potential use of a proposed rapid transit line linking Grand Rapids and Holland.

Miller:   Need to strategize outreach to colleges & universities and also reach out to young professionals.  Langdon:  Larger firms often have a person who coordinates/arranges travel.
Chase:   At the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) meeting just attended, Derrick James spoke and during Q&A talked about the robust, very targeted social media efforts of Amtrak. Chase surmises that Amtrak may be doing a pretty good job of connecting with young professionals.

Chase:   Brief remarks on MIPRC annual meeting in Milwaukee last week. FRA-led Midwest Regional Rail Study consultants are still writing up, FRA will review it, uncertainty about when and how it will be released, likely not before 2019. Melissa Hatcher, FRA, said that PTC issues continue to delay introduction of the new Charger locomotives to the Wolverine and Blue Water routes. When the technical issues are resolved, there will be a period of training/testing before revenue service begins. Don’t expect before next summer.

Langdon:   Distribution of “Ride the Rails to Michigan Trails” posters is pretty well finished. Looking toward a June kickoff, Michigan Trails magazine will be working with us, will put an ad in the magazine. May have to seek additional money for a second printing of the poster.

The 3,000 Timetables printed on the initiative of John Guidinger are out to most stations. Everyone is appreciative.

Miller:   has talked with someone from Alpena newspaper and has sent information in hopes she will write an article on passenger trains and thruway connections.

Adjourn: 8:10 pm

Respectfully submitted,

                       Kay Chase                                             Steve Vagnozzi_________________   Acting Secretary                                                          Chair