OGF Foundation-Year in Review | O Gauge Forum (2024)

2021, what a year it has been. There was a lot going on with the OGF Foundation. We successfully delivered a beautiful 2021 OGF Club Car Caboose to our members. It is a wonderful addition to this growing train. Work is now in the final completion stages to deliver a beautiful 2022 OGF ES44 Engine to pull the OGF train. Harry Hieke should finish this project very soon and they will be sent to our members when completed. The first one is now in the mail.

The OGF conducted another highly successful fundraising drive to offset our annual expenses. Through good financial management, we were able to build upon our reserve fund, a very positive step. We are the only forum serving the O-Gauge community that is entirely member financed. Going this route, we can provide tasteful free speech without the fear of censorship. We never have to worry about protecting the interests of an advertiser as we have none. Now who else in the O-Gauge forum world can say that. A real plus for our members and guests that we don’t take lightly. A real plus for us.

With any organization, for profit or not for profit like us, you either grow or you go backwards, there is no such thing as standing “pat”. O-Gauge trains have been important to me since I was a kid. Along the tracks, I embraced two additional hobbies that are directly connected to our model railroading, Brooklin Model vehicles and Department 56 Buildings. Sort of like the famous Ballentine Beer sign with the three interlocking circles. Three different circles, but all directly connected. During my professional career, I taught my clients that an excellent way to grow was to diversify using the same facilities, equipment and employees. It was therefore a natural way for us to grow by embracing the two other interlocking circles as we already had the necessary tools to make this work.

Last April, we successfully launched the North American Brooklin Collectors Club (NABCC). In just a few short months, we have grown to the largest club in the world serving the Brooklin Model collecting community. This has added greatly to our O-Gauge Foundation membership total and provided at the same time additional financial stability for us. The NABCC’s 1st Club Model was just sent to our members and it is one of the nicest models ever produced by Brooklin Models. 130 proud owners of this model can now add it to their layouts/displays or dioramas. They were shipped worldwide.

To keep the ball rolling, we launched the D56 Club & Forum in late summer. It is now in the startup phase and wonderful things are ahead for this initiative. Our creative staff designed a first ever Santa’s Jeep & Toy Trailer as the Club’s 1st offering. It is expected to be one of the most important collectibles ever produced by Brooklin Models. The D56 Club has huge potential for our Foundation and will be an important part to make us one of the strongest Forums serving the hobby industry. And mind you, we are not a commercial for profit enterprise, so putting salaries and profits as a priority will never exist with the OGF. For us, it is all about serving our members as our ONLY priority. Refreshing. Perhaps that is why we are doing so well.

Finally, our OGF Foundation Management Team has been greatly strengthened as an important part of our growth. We now have three of our most talented members who supervise each of our Divisions and a new Treasurer to fill a vacancy who has an MBA in Finance. We also have two new very talented folks who serve us as Executive Editor and Assistant Executive Editor for our new and very dynamic publication, Model Cars, Trains & Villages. We are sure set up for success with these very talented folks.

The OGF Foundation is NOT just standing “pat”, we are growing, and growing quickly. Just wait till 2022. If you think 2021 was a good year for the OGF Foundation, next year is going to be awesome.

Thanks for the recap Brian, 2022 looks bright. Of all the positives that makes this forum great, to me the freedom to express positives or negatives about vendors, items, or issues without censorship as long as they're truthful , non political, and politely stated sets this forum apart. While this forum may not be perfect, I'll take it and glad to be a part of it.

Hoping all members and guests have a Happy and safe New Year.

You got it!!!!o-gaugeforum.com/thread/6148/es44ac-2022-arrived-photos-video