RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE LIBRARY FOUNDATION      POSTAL HISTORY RESEARCH – ARTIFACTS PRESERVATION

https://railwaymail.org/ – WEBSITE

(571) 379-3409 – TEXT MESSAGE

(540) 837-9090 – TELEPHONE

rmslf@railwaymailservicelibrary.org – e-MAIL

117 EAST MAIN STREET

BOYCE, VA  22620-9639

August 15, 2024

Dear Railway Mail Service Library Foundation (RMSLF) members and friends:

The site preparation continues at the RMSLF-owned rear lot at 127 East Main Street, Boyce, Virginia 22620-9629.  The planned archival building measures 50 feet deep, 80 feet wide, and 24 feet tall.  A 40-by-40 feet mezzanine plus the ground level within the document preservation portion of the structure will yield the same square footage for display and archival storage that is within the Boyce depot which is 141 feet long and 26 feet wide.

The principal accomplishments during January through July 2024 have been completion of the Howards Lane driveway entry as well as preparation of Autumn planting of trees, shrubs, and ground cover on the set-back areas around the new facility.

Figure 1 – 127 East Main Street as it appeared in 2010 before the roof was repaired and painted.  This building and the lot are owned by the Railway Mail Service Library Foundation and named the “Nagle Archival Center.”  The new steel vehicle preservation building, and the document and artifact storage building will be named for benefactors who principally complete their erection.

The Paul A. Nagle Archives is the next step forward towards long-term historical preservation of railway and postal history by the RMSLF within a secure, climate-controlled building.  The document and artifacts relocation from the train station building will concurrently enable the Boyce Railway Depot Foundation to preserve Boyce's iconic structure for future generations.

Figure 2 – The 1913 Norfolk & Western Railway depot at Boyce, Virginia, presently the home of the Railway Mail Service Library.  When the library collection is moved to the new archival center behind the station, this historic structure will see a new purpose for community uses.

You, your company, or foundation can make a substantial impact upon the Archives completion.  A pledge of $50,000 has been made by a member to invite matched donations of any amount during the remainder of 2024.   Other bequests towards funding, or project support as a general or sub-contractor for labor, materiel, or equipment used during construction will aid towards completion during 2026.

Any individual or organization which provides substantially all the erection cost for the vehicle preservation building, the archival storage and display structure, or both entities will be recognized with having their name associated with these additions as a legacy for the future of post office and railway history.  Erection of the building will occur when funds have been raised through grants, donations, gifts, or bequests, but not before.  The RMSLF is debt-free and must remain that way since ordinary income is limited to smaller donations and membership fees.

Included with this letter is an article that was published in the AMERICAN PHILATELIST August 2024 issue, along with a full-page ad soliciting financial support.  The call-in arrangements for the 2024 RMSLF and Boyce Railway Depot Foundation (BRDF) membership meetings also appear.  Your support is gratefully appreciated –now as well as in the future!

Looking ahead to a promising future,

Frank R. Scheer

Secretary-Treasurer

Railway Mail Service Library Foundation

Annual Required Minimum Distributions

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amounts you must withdraw from your retirement accounts each year. You generally must start taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts when you reach age 72.  Although the IRA custodian or retirement plan administrator may calculate the RMD, the account owner is ultimately responsible for taking the correct RMD amount.  These amounts are taxable and may increase the income bracket for the tax rate paid by an individual or a married couple.  This impact can be offset by donating some or all that RMD to the RMSLF if the funds are not otherwise immediately needed for retirement living expenses.  Please discuss this with your financial advisor or tax preparer.  This approach can provide substantial support for the RMSLF in completing the new archival center and a lasting monument of your generosity for historical preservation.

Beneficiary Designation Gifts

A beneficiary designation gift is a simple and affordable way to make a gift. You can designate us as beneficiary of a retirement, investment, or bank account or your life insurance policy. With a beneficiary designation, you may support the causes that you care about, continue to use your account as long as needed, simplify your planning, and avoid expensive legal fees.

To make your gift, contact the person or trustee who helps you with your retirement account or insurance policy. He or she will send you a new beneficiary designation form. Just complete the form, sign it, and mail it back. When you pass away, your account or insurance policy will be paid or transferred to your selected recipient.

Please keep in mind that beneficiary designation gifts are among the most flexible of all charitable gifts. Even after you complete the beneficiary designation form, you can take distributions or withdrawals from your retirement, investment, or bank account and continue to freely use your account. You can also change your mind for any reason at a future date. A gift through a beneficiary designation is simple and flexible.

SAMPLE BEQUEST LANGUAGE

Here is some basic bequest language to assist you and your attorney.

1. Bequest of a Specific Dollar Amount

“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath [Dollar Amount] to Railway Mail Service Library (RMSLF) Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization located at 117 East Main Street, Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639, Federal Tax ID #37-1852514, for the use and benefit of the Nagle Archival Center, operated and maintained by said corporation.”

2. Bequest of Specific Personal Property

“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath [Description of Property] to the Railway Mail Service Library (RMSLF) Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization located at 117 East Main Street, Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639, Federal Tax ID #37-1852514, for the use and benefit of the Nagle Archival Center, operated and maintained by said corporation.”

3. Bequest of Specific Real Estate

“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath all of the right, title, and interest in and to the real estate located at [Address or Description of Property] to the Railway Mail Service Library (RMSLF) Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization located at 117 East Main Street, Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639, Federal Tax ID #37-1852514, for the use and benefit of the Nagle Archival Center, operated and maintained by said corporation.”

4. Bequest of Percentage of an Estate

“I hereby give, devise, and bequeath [Percentage of Your Estate] to the Railway Mail Service Library (RMSLF) Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization located at 117 East Main Street, Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639, Federal Tax ID #37-1852514, for the use and benefit of the Nagle Archival Center, operated and maintained by said corporation.”

5. Bequest of Estate Residue

“I give, devise, and bequeath all of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, whether real or personal, and wherever situated, of which I may die possessed, to the Railway Mail Service Library (RMSLF) Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization located at 117 East Main Street, Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639, Federal Tax ID #37-1852514, for the use and benefit of the Nagle Archival Center, operated and maintained by said corporation.”

Thank you for considering the RMSLF as a legacy for the future.  Because you may have special needs, we know that you will want to contact your own attorney.  She or he will be your independent advisor and will have an obligation of trust and confidence for you.  With the advice of your independent attorney, you may have a customized estate plan that truly fulfills your unique family, healthcare, estate, and planning circumstances.

Figure 3 – Virginia Department of Highways replaces a deteriorated culvert to assure that precipitation run-off from the new archival center building site does not pond in East Main Street.

NOTICE OF 2024 BRDF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Boyce Railway Depot Foundation (BRDF) will have its annual membership meeting on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 3 PM Eastern Time.  This will be a call-in meeting because the interior of Boyce depot does not permit appropriate social distancing.  If you cannot attend and want to execute a voting proxy, please fill in the bottom of this message and mail or email the form by Friday, October 4th, for it to be counted.  If you do have an email address, please reply via email to brdf@railwaymailservicelibrary.org or letter mail to:

Boyce Railway Depot Foundation

117 East Main Street

Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639

Kindly include your email and telephone number plus any other contact information updates in your reply.   If you include updates with a proxy form, you do not need to send this information to the Foundation address.

Robert C. Moore is chair of the 2024 nominating committee for the Board of Directors.  All members are eligible to serve as one of two directors for three years from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028.   An individual may nominate themselves or another member but must check with the other member to confirm that they are willing to serve if elected.  Please send your nomination(s) by October 4th, 2024, via email or letter mail to:

ROBERT MOORE

rcmoore67@comcast.net

413 HANCOCK CT

BERRYVILLE, VA  22611

A nomination should include a short summary about the person.  Please include background (for example work experience), capabilities (such as knowledge of using Excel spreadsheets), and vision for the Foundation.

The BOD will nominate and vote upon BRDF officers during its January 18th, 2025, Directors’ meeting.  The officers will be selected from the BOD to fill these positions for a one-year term:

• President

• Vice-President

• Secretary

• Treasurer

The newly elected officers will replace the present officers effective March 1, 2025.  An incumbent officer may continue to serve if voted into that office during the January 2025 Directors’ meeting.   The BRDF particularly needs dedicated persons willing to carry the foundation forward by serving in these critical positions.  One person may be allowed to fill two positions, such as Vice President and Secretary.

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Boyce Railway Depot Foundation – Annual Membership Meeting

Saturday, October 12th, 2024, at 3 PM Eastern Time

Please join the meeting from a telephone.

1. Call your dial-in number: (667) 770-1030

2. Enter the access code: 622652

If you encounter connection issues, please call Frank Scheer at (540) 837-9090.

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Submitting a Proxy for the Annual Membership Meeting:

Dear BRDF Member:

Each year, the management of the Boyce Railway Depot Foundation (BRDF) gives members who are unable to attend the annual membership meeting the chance to participate in the business of the Foundation.  Management accomplishes this through the solicitation of a proxy for any member who cannot attend the membership meeting.  While we would rather have you attend the shareholder meeting, we know that many members cannot attend this important event.

A proxy allows you to express your desires and participate in the decisions the membership makes.  A proxy permits someone you designate to act on your behalf, if necessary, at the Annual Meeting. This year, the proxy will authorize Robert C. Moore, Nominating Committee Chair, to act on your behalf as you designate on the proxy.

The solicitation of a proxy is routine in the governance of a corporation and the BRDF   will follow this process. The BRDF has sent a proxy to you with this letter which can be returned to the Nominating Committee Chair.  I encourage you to complete the proxy and mail it so that we can hear your voice at the membership meeting.  To be effective, your proxy must be in the Nominating Committee Chair 's hands by October 4th, 2024.

Frank R. Scheer

Secretary-Treasurer

Boyce Railway Depot Foundation

BRDF PROXY – 2024 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

KNOW ALL MEN BY THEIR PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned member of the Boyce Railway Depot Foundation, Incorporated, do hereby appoint Robert C. Moore as my true and lawful attorney and agent, with the power of substitution, for me and in my name to vote at the Annual Meeting of the members of said corporation, to be held via teleconference call on Saturday, October 12th, 2024, or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, for the following:

Election of all nominated Directors:

For ___

Withhold ___

For any other business which may come before the membership.

For ___

Withhold ___

If you execute this proxy without checking any of the boxes, you authorize Robert C. Moore to vote for the items listed.

Name: _______________________________________

eMail Address:  _______________________________________

Telephone Number:  _______________________________________

Please add mailing address or other corrections below.

Signed (typed name in lieu of handwritten signature if returned via email):

______________________________________ Date:  ______________________

Instructions for return of proxy form:  Please return your proxy statement by October 4th, 2024, via email or letter mail to:

ROBERT MOORE

rcmoore67@comcast.net

413 HANCOCK CT

BERRYVILLE, VA  22611

Frank R. Scheer

Secretary-Treasurer

Boyce Railway Depot Foundation

NOTICE OF 2024 RMSLF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Railway Mail Service Library Foundation (RMSLF) will have its annual membership meeting on Saturday, October 12th, 2024, at 4 PM Eastern Time.  This will be a call-in meeting because the interior of Boyce depot does not permit appropriate social distancing.  If you cannot attend and want to execute a voting proxy, please fill in the bottom of this message and mail or email the form by Friday, October 4th, for it to be counted.  Also, if you are receiving this notification via U.S. Mail, it is because the RMSLF may not have your email address.  If you do have an email address, please reply via email to rmslf@railwaymailservicelibrary.org or letter mail to:

Railway Mail Service Library Foundation

117 East Main Street

Boyce, Virginia 22620-9639

Kindly include your email and telephone number plus any other contact information updates in your reply.   If you include updates with a proxy form, you do not need to send this information to the Foundation address.

Ronald J. Albers is chair of the 2024 nominating committee for the Board of Directors.  All members are eligible to serve as one of two directors during three years between January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028.  An individual may nominate themselves or another member but must check with the other member to confirm that they are willing to serve if elected.  Please send your nomination(s) by October 4th, 2024, via email or letter mail to:

RONALD J. ALBERS

ralbers2@wi.rr.com

N30W22171 GREEN RD

WAUKESHA, WI 53186-1008

A nomination should include a short summary about the person.  Please include background (for example work experience), capabilities (such as knowledge of using Excel spreadsheets), and vision for the Foundation.

The BOD will nominate and vote upon RMSLF officers during its January 18th, 2025, Directors’ meeting.  The officers will be selected from the BOD to fill these positions for a one-year term:

• President

• Vice-President

• Secretary

• Treasurer

The newly elected officers will replace the present officers effective March 1, 2025.  An existing officer may continue to serve if voted into that office during the January 2025 Directors’ meeting.   The RMSLF particularly needs dedicated persons willing to carry the foundation forward by serving in these critical positions.  One person may be allowed to fill two positions, such as Vice President and Secretary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Railway Mail Service Library Foundation – Annual Membership Meeting

Saturday, October 12th, 2024, at 4 PM Eastern Time

Please join the meeting from a telephone.

1. Call your dial-in number: (667) 770-1030

2. Enter the access code: 622652

If you encounter connection issues, please call Frank Scheer at (540) 837-9090.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Submitting a Proxy for the Annual Membership Meeting:

Dear RMSLF Member:

Each year, the management of the Railway Mail Service Library Foundation (RMSLF) gives members who are unable to attend the annual membership meeting the chance to participate in the business of the Foundation.  Management accomplishes this through the solicitation of a proxy for any member who cannot attend the membership meeting.  While we would rather have you attend the membership meeting, we know that many members cannot attend this important event.

A proxy allows you to express your desires and participate in the decisions the membership makes.  A proxy permits someone you designate to act on your behalf, if necessary, at the Annual Meeting. This year, the proxy will authorize Ronald J. Albers – Nominating Committee Chair, to act on your behalf as you designate on the proxy.

The solicitation of a proxy is routine in the governance of a corporation and the RMSLF will follow this process. The RMSLF has sent a proxy to you with this letter, which can be returned to the Nominating Committee Chair.  I encourage you to complete the proxy and mail it in a timely fashion so that we can hear your voice at the membership meeting.  To be effective, your proxy must be in the Nominating Committee Chair 's hands by October 4th, 2024.

Frank R. Scheer

RMSLF Secretary

RMSLF PROXY – 2024 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

KNOW ALL MEN BY THEIR PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned member of the Railway Mail Service Library Foundation, Incorporated, do hereby appoint Ronald J. Albers as my true and lawful attorney and agent, with the power of substitution, for me and in my name to vote at the Annual Meeting of the members of said corporation, to be held via teleconference call on Saturday, October 12th, 2024, or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, for the following:

Election of all nominated Directors:

For ___

Withhold ___

For any other business which may come before the membership.

For ___

Withhold ___

If you execute this proxy without checking any of the boxes, you authorize Ronald J. Albers to vote for the items listed.

Name: _______________________________________

eMail Address:  _______________________________________

Telephone Number:  _______________________________________

Please add mailing address or other corrections below.

Signed (typed name in lieu of handwritten signature if returned via email):

____________________________________ Date:  ______________________

Instructions for return of proxy form:

Please return your proxy statement by October 4th, 2024, via email or letter mail to:

Ronald J. Albers

ralbers2@wi.rr.com

N30W22171 GREEN RD

WAUKESHA, WI 53186-1008

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION OR RENEWAL

Please select one or both Foundations.  Life members can ignore this annual reminder, as well as anyone who joined during 2024 or already renewed during the past eight months.

___ Your membership in the Boyce Railway Depot Foundation will support preservation and community use of the historic 1913 Norfolk & Western Railway station building.

BRDF EIN: 30-0965189

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Virginia Corporation

___ Your membership in the Railway Mail Service Library Foundation will support stewardship, preservation, and post office history research of the Railway Mail Service Library collection.  

RMSLF EIN: 37-1852514

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Virginia Corporation

Each Foundation’s annual dues are $10; a life membership is $250.  Please provide the information below for the membership roster.  This information is not distributed outside of either Foundation.  The email, telephone number, and mailing address will only be used for maintaining the Foundations membership rosters and not provided to anyone else.

First, Middle Initial, Last Name: ________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ________________________________________________

City, State, Postal Code, Country: ________________________________________________

Telephone Number: ________________________________________________

eMail Address: _______________________________________________

Donations are also invited.  Both Foundations are 501(c)(3) public charities, so donations or contributions are tax deductible as provided for and to the extent provided by law.  Please check this box if your employer will match your donation: ❑   If the employer requires an invoice, please provide contact information.  If you are already a member and have not already paid 2024 dues for one or both Foundations, please provide a separate check payable to “BRDF” or “RMSLF” since each Foundation has its own checking account and separate financial records.

Thank you very much for your interest.  If you have questions, please call, email, or write.

Sincerely yours,

Frank R. Scheer

Secretary-Treasurer

(540) 837-9090

fscheer@railwaymailservicelibrary.org

117 East Main Street

Boyce, VA 22620-9639

The Boyce Depot Foundation received and appreciated a grant from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s THE POWER OF CHANGE which supported installation of a new 240-volt, 30 ampere circuit using #10-gauge copper conductors enclosed in exterior PVC and metal conduit between the depot and the pump house.  There has not been any functional wiring to that structure since the 1980s.  The wiring that had been installed was inadequate, deteriorated, and would not meet electrical code requirements.  Total project value utilizing all volunteer labor was approximately $700.

Figure 4 – Barry McNew attaches the ¾-inch conduit to the upper wall of Boyce depot.  The new 240-volt, 30-ampere circuit is barely noticeable above the green ledge under the soffit.

Figure 5 (Left) – Rick Mazza measures well depth inside the pump house.  The pump house interior requires wall repairs and repainting after completing the wiring project.  The new circuit installation was completed on July 31st, 2024.  The objective is to provide electric power for a submersible motor and pump in an existing 60-foot well with the top of the water at a constant 28 feet below the cap.  There are branch circuits for 120-volt outlet and ceiling light fixtures.

Figure 6 (Right) – Dennis W. Singhas, Valley Drilling Corporation, Upperville, Virginia, provided additional technical guidance and pump fixtures (Below).  The pump house is behind him in this view.

As a courtesy…

This is inserted at the request of Susan Guillotte, whose heritage includes a Railway Postal Clerk.  What does this true story have to do with a Railway Post Office?  You can unravel the amazing mystery along with the author.  Just do not peek ahead!

Signed copies are available by check payable to: Susan Guillotte, P.O. Box 321, Church View, VA 23032.   $30.33 covers the book, sales tax and shipping. If you would like a special inscription, please include that with your order.

Also available on amazon.com, bn.com (Barnes & Noble) and bookshop.org in hard cover, paperback or eBook formats.