January 2026 Annual Meeting Summary

When:  January 10, 2026, 12-4p

Where:  Andrei Bulawka’s home

Minutes/Actions(*):

-12:00 Attendees arrived with assigned food items

-12:15 Lunch was served.  Various tamales, pizza, side dishes and desserts

-13:00 Photo taken of attendees in back yard

-13:15 Meeting called to order by Manny Tobias, SoCal Chapter President 

  -Andrei, Anne-Marie & Claire Bulawka were thanked for hosting the meeting

  *M.Gee to provide host stipend to A.Bulawka via Zelle

  -M.Tobias thanked the Chapter members for attending
  -M.Gee noted a handful of members still to renew.

      -M.Gee requested members to provide their emergency contacts.  4 emergency contacts were provided for A.Bulawka, J,Caley, B.Henwood, and P.Philips

  *M.Gee to provide updated Roster by 01/31/2026
  -Completed 2026 ETE Southern California Chapter elections:

    -Southern California Chapter 

      -President:  Is:  Manny Tobias, Was:  Manny Tobias

      -Vice President:  Is:  Joerg Hendle, Was:  Joerg Hendle

      -Treasurer:  Is:  Mark Gee, Was:  Mark Gee

      -Secretary:  Is:  Mark Gee, Was:  Bill Henwood

    -Southern California Chapter SIG

      -President:  Is:  Bill Henwood, Was:  Bill Henwood

      -Vice President:  Is:  N/A, Was:  N/A

      -Treasurer:  Is:  Mark Gee, Was:  Mark Gee

      -Secretary:  Is:  N/A, Was:  N/A

  *M.Gee to setup ‘MSIG’ (Museum SIG) account with Comerica bank to account for deposits and expenditures of Chapter members running their trains at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum layout on the 2nd Sunday of every calendar month

  -M.Gee noted the Chapter and SIG bank account balances at the end of December 2025

    *M.Gee to provide 2025 financial details in a separate email

  -ETE SoCal website ‘etesocal.org‘ was discussed and is being managed by C.Higgins

    *C.Higgins:  Add ‘Ventura’ to the counties included in the ETE Southern California Chapter

  -B.Henwood discussed ETE SIG:

  -J.Ponkala noted updates to the roundhouse yard, including the use of a CS2 and the possibility of a CS3 going to the main layout

    -Use of Arduino
    -M.Tobias noted the Dracula castle donated by B.Toole
  -M.Tobias asked for volunteers for the 2026 ETE Southern California Chapter monthly meetings. See the complete list at ETE Southern California Chapter and SIG events