MARP Member Meeting
Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m. – Noon
(Executive Committee will meet at 10:00 a.m.)
Millet Depot / Lansing Model Railroad Club
5309 Old Lansing Rd.
Lansing, MI  48917
(corner of Millet Hwy. not far from I96-I69 exit)
MAP 

 The Lansing Model Railroad Club will be our hosts for the regular monthly meeting of MARP. The club occupies the former Millet depot which was moved from the original site and carefully and painstakingly renovated by club members who are anxious to show us their model layout. Check out the LMRC Website for lots of information about the club. Click here for information about the depot relocation and renovation. Scroll to the end of this message for driving directions.

Also on the schedule is a very brief presentation “Trains: On Track for Energy Efficiency” developed for use at the “green” community events in which MARP is participating with increasing frequency.

Please note the MARP executive committee will meet at 10 am, an hour prior to the start of the general membership meeting which begins at 11 am. Of course, all are welcome and encouraged to attend this pre-meeting.

If you would like to connect with others in your area for carpooling, please reply to this email. We are looking forward to seeing you in Millet!

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS

Here are 2 other events to put on your calendar.

 National Train Day at the Toledo Amtrak Station, 30 April 2011. This is always a huge event with equipment displays, model layouts, interactive exhibits, food and music.

Click on the links below for more information.
National Train Day Event in Toledo, Saturday April 30, 2011
National Train Day Toledo Poster

Operation Lifesaver Michigan Quarterly Meeting, 6 May 2011, 9:30 am – Noon. Durand Union Station. MARP members are cordially invited to attend and will be guests of the Michigan Railroads Association for lunch following the meeting. If you plan to attend, please confirm. Send an email to samcrowl@comcast.net or phone Sam at 248-823-7037. 

 Details about the Lansing Model Railroad Club / Millet Depot:

Location:
The club is located southwest of downtown Lansing. Click Here for a map. The easiest way to the club is to take I-96 and use the Lansing Rd north exit (98B). Continue on Lansing Rd north to Old Lansing Rd (slight right turn).  The club is located about 1/2 mile east of the Woldumar Nature Center and next to a fire station (corner of Old Lansing Rd and Millet Hwy).  

Parking:
The driveway to the club is paved; however, parking is on uneven ground (grass or dirt) so it can get a little sloppy if we get a lot of rain.  If you have concerns about this, paved parking is available next door at the fire station/park or on Millet Hwy at a Baptist Church.  Both locations are a short walk to the club. 

Accessibility:
The building is wheelchair accessible via a ramp that leads to rear of the building; however, certain portions of the building require walking up stairs to get better views of the model railroad layout.  New bathroom facilities are ADA compliant.       

ANNOUNCING
MARP Member Meeting
Saturday, March 19, 2011, 11 a.m. – Noon
(Executive Committee will meet at 10:00 a.m.)
Bangor Amtrak Station
541 Railroad Street
Bangor, MI  49013

The beautifully restored depot in Bangor is the next stop on MARP’s tour of Michigan’s historical train stations. In addition to serving passengers daily on the Pere Marquette route, the building displays railroad artifacts and houses an excellent sandwich shop that has become a community meeting place.

Hosting the meeting is Ken Ratzlaff, whose Beacon Specialized Living Services, Inc. is housed on the 2^nd floor. Ken will share with us information on the history of the area and of railroading in this small town known for its toy trains and its pickles — at the right time of the year you can sit on the depot platform with a hot cup of coffee and watch the pickle vats being loaded!

Please note the MARP executive committee will meet at 10 am, an hour prior to the start of the general membership meeting which begins at 11 am. Of course, all are welcome and encouraged to attend this pre-meeting.

Following the meeting, plan on a delicious lunch right in the depot. Click on the links below for a map and directions. Also note the link to the National Train Day Event in Toledo OH which will take place on April 30, a week earlier than the “official” train day.

If you would like to connect with others in your area for carpooling, please reply to this email. We are looking forward to seeing you in Bangor.

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS

                  
Bangor Map and Directions
Bangor Depot
Kalamazoo Toy Train
National Train Day Event in Toledo, Saturday April 30, 2011

ANNOUNCING
MARP Member Meeting
Saturday, Feb. 12
10 a.m. – Noon
(Executive Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m.)
Durand Union Station

200 Railroad Street
Durand, MI  48429
(989)288-3561
dusi@durandstation.org
http://durandstation.org/

Jim Wallington, our indefatigable meeting coordinator, has chosen a “dusi” of a location for the second in our yearlong  schedule of visits to historic railway stations around our state of Michigan. Over the years, the beautiful Durand Union Station has been one of our most favored meeting places, filled as it is with railroad photos and artifacts, not to mention that sound of the frequent trains passing over the famous “double diamond”.  Plan to stick around after the meeting to browse through the museum and gift shop or to watch the train hobbyists put their equipment through its paces on the huge model layout in the former baggage room.

As if that were not enough, Bob Cosgrove, adjunct curator of the Glancy Trains Collection of the Detroit Historical Museum, will be with us to talk about the very interesting history of the Detroit River railroad tunnel built in 1909. We will also hear from Bob Jones on community development in NW Michigan.

Following presentation of a proposed change to MARP’s Vision Statement and a brief discussion of 2011 priorities for the organization, we will adjourn to a local restaurant for our usual no-host lunch.

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US FOR THIS INTERESTING & INFORMATIVE MEETING.

In addition, all who are interested are invited to attend the MARP Executive Committee which will convene at 9:00 am prior to the start of the general membership meeting and presentations at 10:00 am.

Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers

Map and directions to Durand Union Station are here:
http://durandstation.org/directions.html

Upcoming meetings include:

The restored Bangor depot, March 19
http://user.mc.net/~louisvw/depot/bang/bang.htm

The historic depot in Millet, April 16
Featuring a layout by the Lansing Model Railroad Club
 http://user.mc.net/~louisvw/depot/millet/millet.htm

MARP Member Meeting
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Meeting begins at 10:00 am

Williamston Historical Depot-Museum
369 West Grand River, Williamston, MI 48895
(Between East Lansing and Webberville)
517-655-1785 or 517-230-9030

MARP is celebrating the new year (and the new decade) with the first of a series of monthly meetings to be held in current or historic railroad stations. On January 15, we will convene at the Williamston Historical Depot-Museum. Following the meeting, we will enjoy our usual no-host lunch at Gracie’s place. If you are interested in carpooling to the meeting, please reply to this email.

Williamston, located on the Red Cedar River, owes it’s early prosperity to the coming of the railroad in 1872, connecting Detroit to the state capitol and aiding the development of agricultural enterprises.  Plan to spend some time exploring the downtown area before you return home. For more information visit the website http://williamstonmuseum.com/

See you in Williamston!
Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers

MARP Membership Meeting
10 A.M. January 15, 2011
Williamston Museum
369 West Grand River Ave.
Williamston, MI  

1. Call to Order & circulate sign-in sheet
2. Today’s agenda – additions, subtractions, approval. 
3. Check for badges
4. Welcome prospective members
5. Introduction of guest speaker – Tim Hoeffner
6. Guest speaker presentation – Questions & Answers
7. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings – Hugh Gurney
8. Treasurer’s report – Dave Randall
9. Coordinators report
   1. Government affairs – John Langdon
      1. Michigan By Rail
   2. Communications Coodinator – Kay Chase
      1. Outreach – Bob Tischbein
      2. Website – Larry Sobczak
      3. Membership – K. Newell – Letterheads, ID Cards, newsletter.
      4. Copy of  membership list from K. Newell – Bob T.
   3. Future Meetings – Jim Wallington
10. Regional Chapters reports
    1. Metro Detroit District –  Jim Hinkins
    2. Acting East Central District- Jim Wallington
    3. Acting Western – John Langdon
    4. Northern District – Don Montieth- remap of  MARP regions
11. Old Business
    1. Michigan Central Station at Jackson Group-withdrawl
    2. Reappoint  Jim Wallington as Indian Trails Liaison – Bob T.
12. New Business
    1. Assisting J.R. with  our newsletter – Hugh Gurney
    2. Port Huron/Sarnia  border crossing  – Hugh Gurney
    3. T.J. Gaffney – Jim Wallington
    4. Inviting  Railmark to speak at our meetings – Jim Wallington
    5. MARP role in supporting  RR’s in MI – Don Monteith
    6. Items for meeting with MAG, Lev, and monorail modes- D.M.
13. Fix time and place of next meeting
14. Adjourn