History         Established in 1971, the San Diego Ship Modelers Guild celebrates years of   model ship crafting. Visit our Newsletter Archive for more information.
	1971  An Idea the following article was written by co-founder Bob Wright How Did Our Guild Get Started? With a Kit That Had Only Two Masts The San Diego Ship Modelers Guild started simply enough.  It came about with the building of a cute little model of the brig VOLANTE from a Model Shipways kit. After helping to restore the STAR OF INDIA weekends for several years, I became intrigued with the idea of building a ship model.  The VOLANTE was my choice because it had only two masts. While building it in 1971 with the help of my friend Al Hollie, the thought came to me that other ship model builders would benefit from the same type of assistance. Captain Ken Reynard was most responsible for the quality of the restoration of the STAR OF INDIA and was at that time executive director.  When approached about the possibility of having a ship model club meet on board, he was in favor of it.  (At that time the BERKELEY was not in San Diego.)  With that assurance, I went to talk to Russ Merrill, who owned the Hillcrest Hobby and Craft Store on Fifth Avenue.  He too thought it was a good idea, and knew some ship modelers.  A short letter was drafted for the museum and approved.  It was quickly granted.  The date was 17 August 1971. The first meeting was held in September or October of that year on the first Friday of the month.  We met in the aft cabin (sail locker) of the STAR, which was at that time the museum’s office.  Some four or five fellows would attend. The first year or so the attendance was very low.  A couple of fellows who were early Members were Stan Tarantino and Bill Benson.  Al L’Heureaux started to attend.  He was into radio-controlled models.  Before that the Guild concentrated on static models.  By combining both types of models the Membership grew. Over the past 29 years, the number of Members attending the meetings has fluctuated between 15 to 20 or more.  Now the meetings are held the second Wednesday on board the ferryboat BERKELEY.  The mailing list of the Newsletter has some 67 names. Russ passed away about 25 years ago.  He would be very pleased to see the success of the Guild now, I am sure. View the original article
	1971  A Home the following letter was sent to co-founder Bob Wright 17 August 1971 Mr. Robert C. Wright San Diego, Calif. Dear Bob: This is in confirmation of our conversation regarding your request to hold monthly meetings of the Ship Modelers Guild aboard the STAR OF INDIA. At our Board of Directors meeting on July 20th, your proposition was presented to the Board for consideration.  As you know, the request was approved with the stipulation that the Ship Modelers Guild join the Nautical Research Guild. Good luck in your endeavor! Sincereley, Captain Kenneth D. Reynard Master, Bark STAR OF INDIA View the original letter
	1971  The Guild is Launched The Guild meets aboard the STAR OF INDIA. Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month in the aft cabin, but as Membership grows it moves to the salon and eventually to the orlop deck. Early Members include Bob Wright, Russ Merrill (owner Hillcrest Hobby and Craft Store on Fifth Avenue), Bill Benson (owner Gray Whale Ship Shop on Shelter Island), Robert Crawford, Stan Tarantino, Doug McFarland, Bob Ross, Vic Crosby, Roy Neilson, Bob Pranka, and Dave Bash, among several others. Membership initially consists of static (scale vessel) modelers; in succeeding years radio control (R/C) modelers join and swell the ranks of the Guild. A simple postcard reminder of upcoming meetings is mailed to Members by Fred Fraas.
	1973  The BERKELEY Arrives The Maritime Museum purchases the steam ferry BERKELEY in 1973 and has it towed to San Diego from San Francisco. The Guild moves monthly meetings aboard the BERKELEY despite cramped quarters due to the Museum's restoration efforts. The Guild considers the feasibility of shore-based meeting locations for a time.   The BERKELEY, circa 1910 and 2010
	1977  Newsletter Published Logkeeper Fred Fraas writes, edits, publishes and mails the Guild's first Newsletter in May of 1977 to all Members. The Guild establishes Newsletter Editor as a new Officer position.
	1977  The Guild's First Logo In June 1977 Member Al L’Heureux designs the Guild's logo, representing the Maritime Museum's steam yacht Medea. The Guild logo, 1977-2017
	1979  Clouds on the Horizon In the years following the Guild's founding radio control (R/C) modelers begin to join and eventually help to swell the ranks to 107 members. In succeeding years the R/C contingent comprises up to 70% of Guild Membership. The differing focus of static (scale) and R/C modelers is noted in a Newsletter editorial.
	1992  A Transfer comes Through The Guild officially moves its monthly meeting place from the STAR OF INDIA to the BERKELEY.
	1992  Shoal Water A number of factors contribute to growing unease amongst Membership about the continued viability of the Guild. A lack of direction is criticized, the focus of meeting topics is debated, months of newsletters go unpublished, and a new Officer corps looks to reinstill the ship modeling principles upon which the Guild was founded. The debate surrounding the differing interests of static and radio control modelers intensifies with the publishing of the "them and us" questionnaire in the Newsletter to gauge Member sentiment.
	1992  Bylaws Codified Conversations about better defining the Guild's operations and Officer's areas of responsibilities results in the first formal codification of the Guild's Bylaws.
	1992  A Parting of the Ways The divergent interests of the static (scale vessel) modelers and radio control (R/C) modelers finally lead to separation. R/C modelers of the "steel navy" form the Eighth Fleet and head to Santee Lakes, while those interested in non-navy powerboats and sailboats migrate to the Argonauts at the Model Yacht Pond on Mission Bay. The Guild's secondary logo, circa 1992 San Diego Argonauts logo One Member's recollection: "...it became a matter of them or us. The R/C guys said [the scale guys] were too many rivet counters and didn't want to play with our toys. The R/C guys went to Santee Lakes and the scale guys [stayed on] the BERKELEY."
	1999  Nautical Research Guild holds annual conference in San Diego The Maritime Museum of San Diego, the Guild, and the Port of San Diego host the Nautical Research Guild's annual conference in November 1999. Former Member Gus Agustin presents a build of the MEDEA as one of the featured lectures.
	2004  Newsletter Goes Digital Incoming Newsletter Editor Chuck Seiler issues a digital version of the September 2004 Newsletter. Following a positive response from Guild Members the Newsletter is henceforth published in both paper and digital formats.
	2006  NRG Returns To San Diego Infamously known by some vendors as “The Great Monsoon”, the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the Guild host the Nautical Research Guild's annual conference in October 2006. Who knew the decks of the STAR OF INDIA leaked?
	2012  Community Build The formation of a Community Build group is proposed in 2012 under the leadership of Mike Lonnecker. The group is described as a forum "for Members to have additional time to work with other Guild Members on their models, discuss problems and concerns and provide a venue for show and tell."  This becomes the first in a succession of Community Build efforts by the Guild.
	2013  Worldwide Presence The Guild purchases the domain name sdshipmodelersguild.org and a website debuts on the Internet in October 2013, designed by the Guild's first Web Master, Barry Rishel.
	2016  NRG in San Diego for Third Time The Maritime Museum and the Guild host the Nautical Research Guild's annual conference for a third time in October 2016. Lectures include those by Members Mike Lonnecker and Dave Yotter. Dr Ray Ashley delivers the keynote address.
	2018  A Fresh Coat of Paint In early 2017, a motion was made to update the Guild logo. Chaired by Gary Seaton, the committee reviewed several different submissions. Having a working relationship with the Guild, the Maritime Museum's graphic artist, Julia Gomez, presented a striking design featuring the recently completed replica of the SAN SALVADOR, flagship of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's fleet that sailed into San Diego Bay on 28 September 1542.      The Guild logo, one of the proposed logos, the approved logo. In the summer of 2018 the Guild Membership votes on the proposed submissions, choosing to retain the original logo, stipulating however, that it should be made crisper, in multi-color, and, per Guild Bylaws, continue to depict the Maritime Museum's steam yacht MEDEA.
	2019  Website Redesigned The Guild introduces a refreshed and content-rich website in March 2019. New features include Guild history, Member build gallery, Newsletter archive, Museum Model Shop, and Guild documents and presentations.
	2020  Pandemic Response  Along with the rest of the world, the Guild is faced with dealing with a global pandemic starting in March 2020.  Unable to meet in person over the following fifteen months, Members keep the Guild vibrant by communicating, sharing tips, experience, builds, and comaraderie via online virtual meetings.
	2021  A Gala Celebration  In September 2021 the Guild finally convenes as a group once again aboard the BERKELEY to celebrate the Guild's Fiftieth Anniversary Gala. Member Howard Griffus wins the Gala's lottery prize: a mint-in-box Model Shipways kit of the VOLANTE that inspired the founding of the Guild in 1971.