La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grand Voiture du Texas OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND du TEXAS Winner of the Arthur McDowell Award 1991 – 1992 – 1993 – 1994 – 1995 – 1996 for the Best Grand Voiture Publication in the Nation without Advertising
September 2016
From the Grand Chef de Gare…. It has been very busy with Promenade Nationale and several work related trips since I accepted a new position at work. I did not expect to be gone so much and it has made it difficult for me to do some of my duties as Grand Chef de Gare. I am thankful for the assistance I have received from our Cheminot Nationale David Knutson with Grand matters and Locale Correspondant Lowell Mix with Voiture 542 matters. Our world shook when we lost John Powell. He was a solid pillar of our locale and is dearly missed. We, like everyone, are working to bring in new members. Grand du Texas did not do a very good job of that this past year and we fell from 11th overall in 2015 to 42nd in 2016. We need everyone’s help to do better and several changes that have been made will help us, but we also need your help at the Locale level. Renny Keagle, El Paso V-605, was Nationale Voyageur of the Year. Their locale has been doing a great job and Renny will help put out the word of their successes in both the Voiture 605 newsletter “The Train” and as Nationale Sous Directeur of Public Affairs. He has also taken on Grand Directeur of POW/MIA and will have more on that program soon. We have always done well with Nurses Training and Grand Directeur Paul Chevalier is available to assist if you have questions on the Nurses Training Program.
Brian Smock, V-266 in Copperas Cove, has taken the challenge of Grand Directeur Youth Sports and has information to share on that worthy program. Working your programs will help bring in new members – if you ask them. However, your invitations into La Societe should be treated as a golden opportunity. Talk to the person, give them some literature, answer questions, but if they are not interested – drop it. You should not have to persuade someone to join. Of course we need new members, but we want members who will help make your locale successful. They don’t have to attend every event, but should attend locale promenades and help out with events when they can. Those who are interested will make the time to help. Make your events count and keep track of your activities. At the Fall Cheminot coming up in a few weeks we will be recognizing several locales who have worked hard on their programs. You don’t have to work all of them, but should be working at least some of them and report your activities! Items from the Merci Boxcar will be on display during the Spring Cheminot and we have invited 2017 Chef de Chemin de Fer Mark Moots to come. I spoke to him at Promenade Nationale and he hopes to be able to attend. With your help - we will do better this year!
THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS” AND AT HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRANDEVOITUREDUTEXAS
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