(CLICK TO ENLARGE) SCL E8A 593 leads a pair of SCL E7As on SCL/Amtrak train #88 the New York bound Florida Special at 62nd Street in Hialeah during the December 1971 - April 1972 Winter Season, the Last Florida Special. This train is covered in our Lines South issue 39-2 mailed this June, and more coverage will be provided in “Lines South: Second Section” in the Members Only section of the website this summer. photo by Bill McCoy
We have been providing this regular update via our e-news and Lines for Members, but I have decided to also add it to the website and provide more frequent updates as needed. This issue is in part a rehash of the June issue, but there are some updates.
Membership Dues Change
Well, we will get to the tough news up front. It’s been some time since we adjusted the membership dues, and about a decade since our costs of publishing Lines South were increased (apart from mailing). This spring White River Productions advised us they needed to increase their charges for publication and distribution of Lines South effective with the Q2 2022 issue. Given the length of time since the last increase, and current events, we had been expecting this for about a year. So effective immediately, the board voted to increase the basic annual dues from $35 to $42, adjust the other membership levels, and discontinue the two-year renewal options. Mailed renewal checks postmarked prior to June 8 will be honored at the old rates. An increase in the Lines South cover price (to $12) is also being applied starting with the Q2 issue. The new dues structure is also now on the website.
Your board spent most of a month reviewing the Society’s costs, the new charges from White River, potential cost savings, revenue enhancements, and other potential near-term cost increases. For example, the printed “Lines for Members” insert has been reduced from 4 pages to 2 (such as eliminating much of the catalog, which is available on the website), and the total magazine print run will be reduced. We will maintain the full-color, normal page length and 4 issues of Lines South. We’ve reviewed the changes at other societies, and others are in the same boat and need to adjust. One major society increased dues by $5 a year ago, and now a year later is considering another increase. Lines South is our major expense, but there are other costs such as archives insurance that we must cover. Remember, we are nonprofit, so our margins on dues, event charges, and store items are thin. By going to $42 we hope to forestall any other adjustments for a few years; $40 would have been too thin.
Still, we believe membership at $42 offers “good value.” Lines South is a fine publication; membership also provides access to our Members Only website content, and we’re always looking at other enhancements to membership value. Let us know how you feel about the adjustments, and any other thoughts or suggestions you have regarding the Society.
Dues Clarification since June: Regards the two-year renewal, we eliminated this for now for two reasons: one, the savings of doing two at once were far less than the discount, and second, the potential risk with current cost volatility. With regards to the latter, I know of one society that will be, or has, increased its dues twice on 18 months. Furthermore, if you pay for two or more memberships / renewals under your name and address, you will get multiple issues for one year! So, please do not do that; if you have we can likely cancel the excess ones and issue a refund. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and we will review this periodically and at some point may revive a multi-year membership/renewal in the future.
Good News on Meetings and Events!
Annual Meeting
JAX 2023 is only 8 months away! Mark your calendar for February 2-5, 2023; the annual Jacksonville Train Show is February 4. This will mark the Society’s 40th anniversary year, so we may be looking to “go all out” for a Thursday through Sunday extravaganza. The Sunday cookout at Folkston will likely return, as may the Saturday banquet in some form, and perhaps a field trip! Let us know what you would like to see in this event, and what you do not.
Divisional Meetings
We are advancing several possible meetings:
October–November 2022 – Florida Division, Central, at Winter Garden – Details should be set this August and posted on the website.
Winter 2023 – Florida Division, South, at Deerfield Beach – Should know more later this summer.
To Be Determined – Atlantic Division, Elm City and/or Rocky Mount, NC
Early Summer 2023 – Northeast Division, Baltimore & Ohio Museum in Baltimore, MD (home to one of our Budget Room sleeper, the Oriole).
Late Summer 2023 – Western Division, at Pueblo, CO, home to SAL Fort Lauderdale, ACL Naples, and several ACL and SAL/FEC coaches.
We would like to add one each for the Central and Midwest by the end of 2023. Please share your ideas with us at info@aclsal.org.
Events/Shows
DeLand, FL July 9 – I attended this event and had the pleasure of meeting several new and old members, thanks for coming by!
Duluth, GA (Atlanta) August 27 – Golden Spike Enterprises Show, Gas South Convention Center (formerly Infinite Energy Forum). We will have product tables
Jacksonville, FL Annual Meeting February 2, 3, 4, 5, 2023 – Initial planning in progress
Jacksonville, FL February 4 - Golden Spike Enterprises Show Prime Osborn Center. We will have product tables
Store News
The 2023 Calendar
The new edition is headed for production in June.
Potential New Products
Check the website store page later this summer as we will likely survey the membership on potential new car kits we are considering with Bethlehem Car Works. Teaser – this will likely include some ACL and SAL head-end cars, perhaps some ex-C&O Imperial Salon coaches acquired by SAL, and maybe even an office car.
Order Fulfillment
The Wilmington (NC) Railroad Museum is stocking and fulfilling orders for some of our more popular items and will continue to do so through at least summer. Let us know how we are doing.
Publications
Justin May is the new editor of Seaboard-Coast Line Modeler, we hope to have a new issue later this summer. We need articles!
“Lines South: Second Section” is now in the Members Only area of the website and has a three-article update for Q2 2021. We expect to add material soon for the Q2 2022 article on The Last Florida Special, more photos, car diagrams, assigned car roster and more!
Remember, as noted below, the Members Only Section was also updated in the last few months with additions to the 2018 and 2022 Jacksonville Annual Meetings and 2021 Zoom Annual Meeting.
Website
Pssst! – did you know we have a new website? www.aclsal.org. Yes, and since my last “From the President’s Desk” I have run into more members who have not looked at the website in more than two years! By the way, other new content in the Members Only section includes the full recording of the 2021 Zoom Annual Meeting and the recording of the 2022 Doug Riddell presentation on Auto-Train. There are also postings of new presentations for 2018, 2021, and 2022.
Perhaps you may have also noticed we have updated our “Tri-con” logo on the top left of the pages! Thanks Rudy!
Membership - New and Renewals at Website
You can easily join for the first time or renew membership at the website. We see renewals and membership reports almost every week right as they are processed. This is the best way to start or renew your membership!
Contacting Us
Contacting us is easy, send an email to info@aclsal.org, which goes to most of the board, and there are other contact options at our website, www.aclsal.org. If you do contact us, please provide us your full name in your e-mail and perhaps your phone number to help us get back to you. Some e-mail addresses leave us guessing as to who you are!
Until next time, be safe and stay well!
- W. James “Jim” Langston, III, President, ACL & SAL HS