The year 1978 started out in chaos and confusion.

          The questionable manner in which the administration controlled the museum's functions came to a head in January with their annulment of the December 1977 trustee election. And to this, they did not make available a year-end financial statement for inspection by the trustees.

          Concerned that the future of the museum was in doubt, several members and trustees sought legal counsel in an attempt to restore order and accountability to its administration.

          A landmark April board meeting accomplished the following changes;

          1. A new Board of Trustee election was held, and several of the old officers resigned.

          2. A new Chairman was elected.

          3. The surplus booklets, "Detroit, it's Trolleys and Interurbans", were returned to their promoters in exchange for the cancellation of a debt incurred by their unauthorized printings.

          Later, two trustees resigned their positions, and were replaced by temporary appointees.

          An attempt is now being made to operate the museum for the benefit of the members and the general public according to our Articles of Incorporation, which states in part, "...to operate trolley cars..."

          Steps are being taken to secure a home location for the museum, and to acquire a diesel locomotive for train operations, until trolley wire can be erected. A General Liability Insurance Policy, covering our train operations. has been purchased, and assuming an affordable locomotive can be obtained, regular summer weekend operations are being planned.

          Our new equipment acquisitions for the year included a wooden GTW caboose, which has been a welcome addition through it's multiple use a ticket office and bunk house, and several track speeders.

          Still incomplete at this time is the removal of the museum's two ex-D.S.R. work cars, #1981 and #7284 from Detroit D.O.T. premises. The museum and its membership have spent many thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of time to obtain, transport, and restore these cars. However, we have been unable to transfer them to a safe storage site at Selfridge ANG Base. Slowly, the museum's investment in these old cars is being destroyed by bureaucratic red tape.

          It appears that the Addison Oaks Park Project is defunct. The Oakland County Commission has not provided the funding or the enthusiasm to undertake this project with the museum. The future of the thee ex-CTA 'el' cars they have purchased still remains unclear at this time.

          The M.T.M. has a stray electric car!!!

          One of our ex-CTA 'el' cars is still in Michigan City, Indiana on the C.SS. & SB. RR property in derelict conditions. Funds are needed to ship this car, or parts of it (spares can be used on the other cars) to Michigan.

          Financial assistance is required to make the M.T.M. expand and grow.

          So now that 1979 is just around the corner, I want to remind our members and supporters that we need your dues, donations, and willing hands to keep the wheels turning, as we attempt to returning a long ago vanishd pleasure to Michigan ----- a Sunday afternoon trolley ride.