Past President's Wire by Glyn Bailey

Happy New Year!

As you read this article during January, 2011, I am sure those of us up north will be having our usual cold weather and possibly a number of snowfalls to make life exciting for all and looking with envy at those living in warmer climates. Enjoy the winter weather, wherever you are!

During my three one-year terms as President, many new and repeated activities took place.

The first new activity was the Yellow Ribbon Fund bus trip to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, for wounded service members at Walter Reed Medical Center at Washington, DC. For the three bus trips that were run during the years 2008, 09 and 10, RABO members donated a total of $6,720.00 toward the cost of the buses and meals for the service members and their families. The RABO ladies prepared the food for those events and the RABO men assisted the service members with the tours of the Museum.

In 2009, the RABO Executive Committee created “The Gold Watch Society”. Certificates have been presented to our members who have reached their 90th birthday. A total of 26 members have now been awarded a “Gold Watch Certificate” during the past two years. We look forward to many more members joining this august society.

During September, 2008, a biography about former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad President Jervis Langdon, Jr., was authored by H. Roger Grant entitled “Visionary Railroader”. This book project was initiated by the RABO Club and its members underwrote the cost of getting the book published by Indiana University Press. Many RABO members and friends have purchased this most informative and wonderfully-written biography.

Bob Patterson, RABO’s Wire Chief, located in Jacksonville, Florida, joined us in person at our regular monthly meeting in Baltimore on May 28, 2008. Bob gave us an update on retirement activities in the Jacksonville area and the progress of our southern branch of the RABO Club. Then, at the RABO South meeting in Jacksonville in December, 2008, the RABO Club presented Bob with a “Telegraph Key Plaque” for his dedication to keeping all RABO members informed via “The Wire” emails about the Club’s activities and news about its members.

The southern branch of our club is moving right along with their quarterly meetings. At their Christmas party on December 9, 2010, a total of 68 members and spouses attended. The party was held at the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club with Michael Ward, Chairman, President and CEO of CSX, as the guest speaker. In addition, RABO Vice President John Baesch traveled via Amtrak to Jacksonville to be present at the Christmas party and to present to our southern members a RABO banner which is a duplicate of the one we proudly display at our meetings in Baltimore.

Also, in December, 2010, I appointed Tony Braden, “Assistant to the President–Jacksonville”. Tony will represent the Club in Jacksonville and keep communication lines open between there and Baltimore.

We have had many informative speakers during the past three years at our Baltimore monthly meetings. Among them was Jim Dilts who spoke during our June, 2010, meeting about the 175th Anniversary celebration of the Thomas Viaduct which took place on July 5, 2010, in Patapsco State Park. The Thomas Viaduct, located in Relay, Maryland, is the oldest major railroad viaduct in North America.

Mel Trimble, RABO’s Chaplain Coordinator, wrote and published a book, “Sites Insight”, in 2009 about his experiences making property acquisitions for the railroad. Ray Lichty and Norman Murphy assisted Mel with publishing his book. The book became a “Best Seller” and many members have read and enjoyed his unusual experiences.

On September 14, 2009, thirty-two members and their significant others enjoyed a tour of the former B&O Central Building in Baltimore. The building has been converted to the 200-room Monaco Hotel, except for the 5th thru 7th floors which are leased offices. The tour brought back a lot of memories to those who worked there.

Our Annual Reunions have been held for many years in Baltimore. At our Reunions, our spouses and or significant others join us for a great lunch and fellowship. For quite a few years, the Reunion had been held at the Boumi Temple. However, in 2009, we moved it to Snyder’s Willow Grove restaurant where we feel we get more value for our money. It is a most enjoyable and well-attended event.

A fine tradition is now well-established with our annual Christmas party being also held at Snyder’s. Each lady receives a nice Christmas gift.

Among our social events, we have made three trips each year to Friendly Farm restaurant in Upperco, Maryland. A number of members and spouses enjoy dinner at the Ashland Café in Cockeysville, Maryland, on the first Thursday of each month. Vivian Stockdale coordinates this activity.

On November 3, 2010, a bus-load of members and friends traveled to the U S Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia. Many wartime exhibits had been added since our last trip there some three years prior. Everyone was inspired with the updates. We even got to see the bullet holes in the glass dome of the building where, recently, a disgruntled person had fired a number of shots.

The RABO News & Notes newsletter continues to be printed and mailed by CSX in Jacksonville. We are most grateful to CSX for this great service! The July 2010 issue was entirely focused on the topic “War”. Members sent in tales of their wartime experiences from which our Editor, Ray Lichty, did a superb job of presenting their amazing stories.

Finally, I was most pleased to be a part of the RABO Club’s concern for our members being made aware of the changes in the CSX medical policy for retired management employees effective January 1, 2011. We used our Wire Chief to send emails to our members, alerting them of the need to contact Extend Health, the firm CSX has engaged to work with retirees to secure health coverage prior to December 31, 2010. We also sent letters to the widows of former members as well as made telephone calls to some to alert them about the importance of these changes. From the feedback we have received, our efforts have paid off by being able to help many members and widows of former members undertake this process.

During the past three years, in spite of the inevitable passing on of members, our membership has grown from 350 to 418, an almost 20% increase. I encourage all members to invite their friends and former colleagues who might be eligible for membership to join the ranks of RABO.

Many thanks to members of the RABO Executive Committee, Newsletter Editor, Committee Chairmen and Members, Callers, Wire Chief and Web Master for all their efforts to make the Club a successful adventure and enjoyment for our members and spouses. I appreciate the support you have given me during the past three years.

Many thanks also to our RABO ladies for their help and support during the past three years.

I will still be serving the members as Social Activities Chairman during the coming year.

I wish the new officers, John Baesch, President, and Diane Homberg, Vice-President, the very best in their positions with the RABO Club.