NWI CHAPTER
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
September 2026 from
Jerry Pyfer

NWI August Chapter Meeting

We hit the road again to conduct our August meeting in Oregon, Illinois at the Oregon Depot Museum. As you might know, the train activity was
dead prior to the meeting. Once we got started we had two meets right outside the doors among the traffic. I tried to get a head count but guests would arrive intermittently during the meeting.

We had eleven presenters of railroad slides and videos of a wide variety of topics which were well received.

And we thank the Oregon Depot Museum for furnishing six-large pizzas from Alfonso’s. One more guest and we would have run out of pizza.

During the business portion, I was happy to present Mark Nelson with his 50-year NRHS membership pin and certificate. By the way, the Nelson brothers will be our feature program at the March 20, 2027 meeting. My thanks to Lance Wales for recording the presentation.

Prior to the meeting, we conducted a Board of Directors’ meeting at the depot. Topics included:

1 - The nominating committee for 2026

2 - Treasurer’s report, we stood at $2,284.34 in the checking account and $6068 in the savings

3 - Chapter donations to the depot museum and the Silver View. The membership approved to grant the depot museum $100 for the use of the depot, which has been standard practice. The membership also moved and approved to donate $200 toward the Silver View.

4 - The 2026-2027 meeting schedule. March 27th will be Easter weekend. We moved the meeting to March 20.

5 - Holiday Party is set for Sunday, December 13 at the Davis Junction fire station. The board will make every effort to maintain the $28 price while reducing the costs.

One other thing about the regular meeting:

I tried to keep the meeting going while some of the trains were passing. The idea was to finish the programs before the pizzas arrived at 5pm.

I have heard that part of the fun of meeting at the Oregon depot, is the train watching. And I agree. As many railfans know, the Aurora Sub comes to life in the afternoon.

The big conundrum comes when a train is at the depot waiting on a meet. By the time they come to a stop, the counterpart might still be at Chana, the next station east. Do we pause the programs for 30-minutes until the meet is completed? What has priority, the meeting or the trains? Admittedly, just the sound of a passing freight train right outside the windows made it clear, speaking over the passing train is most difficult. I could better understand the need to see the train if this was a new railroad with unusual consists to our group or special paint schemes were expected to be leading the next SSECHC intermodal.

If we did wait, then the programs might have to continue after the pizzas are consumed. By that time, the audience has lost interest in the meeting itself as they scatter around for inspecting the Silver View or visiting with friends and other interests, then try to regroup everybody and settle them down again for the next showing.

NWI Chapter Officer and Board of Directors Nominating Committee

The NWI Chapter will require assembling a committee at the regular September 26th Chapter meeting to seek nominations for officer and board positions. Committee participants will need to be Chapter-NRHS members. It is not a difficult task.

Chapter Secretary Norm Hoisington has offered to chair the committee. Now he could use two assistants.

The committee will present their nominations at the October 24th meeting.

The Chapter elections will take place during the Annual Business Meeting in November. Terms run for two-years.

For more information about the Chapter, see Meetings and Join.