Harry Huckemeyer
With a larger degree of confidence, we are approaching the second half of 2021 with hope and are looking forward to having a rather busy schedule. Keeping in mind that there is still a multitude of concerns regarding the virus that has set us all back over the past year and a half, it is encouraging that, at present, there have been many things that are showing positive progress here locally. Clubs that have been relatively quiet recently are starting to open up a larger portion of their activities. Additionally, we are slowly seeing that the major ballrooms are now allowing full capacity, and the entertainment provided associated with these facilities is starting to fill up with new offerings.
The Short Line Model Railroad has been somewhat active over the summer months with their Friday lunches and staying in touch with its membership. Our current plans are to resume our monthly meeting in early September. Our monthly meetings are held in the Lakeview Room in the SunBird Community Center. This is located on the first floor close to the Golf Pro Shop and the building elevator. Also, you may be interested in arriving a little early and stopping by our restaurant on the second floor where you can enjoy a delightful cup of coffee with breakfast, if desired, prior to our meeting. Our meetings start at 9:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month from September up through the month of May. At times, due to conflicts, there may be adjustments made, which should be well known prior to the meetings scheduled.
Now, for a little good news on the positive side. Coming off several months of hesitancy on the event providers’ part, due to restrictions put in place, crowd isolation, and other safety factors, many of the major events that are typically held annually were temporarily taken off the drawing board. Almost overnight, this has changed significantly, and now many of the providers, both locally and outside the area, have come up with firm dates on their intent to move forward in several areas. For railroad enthusiasts, McCormick Stillman Railroad Park is moving ahead with its popular Railfair, sponsored by the City of Scottsdale, which is scheduled over the first weekend in October. Additionally, locally, the Chandler Railroad Museum is planning on celebrating its annual Arizona Railway Day on Nov. 13 of this year. Of local interest, four of the Sun Lakes communities already have announced dates for their individual Community Days in the October/November timeframe. This includes SunBird, Cottonwood, Oakwood, and the Sun Lakes Country Club. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. I suggest you closely watch the calendars in your local papers, which are published monthly, or the websites made available to many communities. If you would like to participate in any of these Community Days, I suggest you contact the associated event coordinators within your HOA who are instrumental in putting these events together.
If you are interested in or have any questions regarding our club membership or its activities, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at [email protected], or you can call 480-802-4976. Hopefully, we’ll cross paths in the not-too-distant future and enjoy some magical moments of the past, recalling when setting up those trains around or close by the Christmas tree was a big part of those memorable holiday celebrations. Have a great day!