Starting in 2006, the GCGRS membership awards a brass lantern to an outstanding member or couple who have gone above and beyond to contribute to the GCGRS. Nominations are accepted at the September meeting and published in the October Branchline. The nominees are voted on at the October meeting and the winner is announced at the annual Christmas party.

2009 - Larry Koehl

Larry has been president of the as long as there has been a president. He has been the editor of the GCGRS’s outstanding newsletter, The Branchline for 18 years. He runs each month’s meeting as well as each month’s Board meeting creating agendas, coordinating programs, dotting the I’s and crossing the Ts. Larry has only missed two meetings in 18 years. He serves as the main representative of the GCGRS, dealing with other clubs and coordinating group purchases. Larry coordinated the modular layout for numerous shows before handing off the duties to Dan Stenger. Larry has conducted numerous clinics at GCGRS meeting as well as lending his considerable knowledge and expertise to GCGRS members. Each year Larry contributes to the GCGRS Christmas party by acting as emcee, running the model contest and purchasing door prizes as well as getting door prizes donated to the GCGRS.Even though Larry has been very busy with Entertrainment Junction he continues to show his willingness to serve on the board.

2008 - John Lange

John Lange has been a key member since day one and has done a lot for the club as well as the hobby in general. He and his wife, Martha open their layout at Christmas and during tours and conventions introducing the Garden RR hobby to thousands of people. John devoted hundreds of hours reconstructing Ray Faragher's layout at the Behringer- Crawford Museum in Covington, Kentucky. John has served as a board member and program director. He is always willing to help out other GCGRS members. He has conducted demonstrations at GCGRS meetings and other groups.

2007 - Dan Stenger

Dan Stenger has contributed countless hours to the club in his myriad roles, some of which are Module Coordinator, Webmaster, Board Member, Clinic Demonstrator, Meeting Host (along with his lovely wife, Pam and son, Zach), and Live Steam Committee participant. He not only offers his time willingly, but excels in these many areas. Our web site does not remain stagnant, but is constantly updated with the latest news and presented in an easy to maneuver and aesthetically pleasing manner. For any event in which we are participating with the club modules, he prepares in advance for space and design, and participates with his presence throughout the events. Dan represents the finest attributes desired for this prestigious award.

2006 - Ray and Charlotte Hughes

The Hughes on numerous occasions have stepped up to make unbelievable contributions to the GCGRS. Ray was heavily involved in the convention, organizing the worker schedule, helping to design and build both the live steam track and gravity race track. Charlotte took care of all the reservations for the convention and steam ups, designing databases, manning the registration desk, and trouble shooting problems. Ray has organized and supervised the Holiday Junction setup for at least the last 5 years. Charlotte is involved in all aspects of the club from Holiday Junction to the modular display. Ray helped design and build the current live steam track doing much of the finishing work himself, including building the two bridges and the great crowd control barrier which surrounds the live steam layout at public shows to keep the people from being injured. He stores and hauls the live-steam trailer (which he was instrumental in researching and purchasing). He hauled the track on his own trailer before the GCGRS purchased our trailer. They organized the annual GCGRS Garden Railway tours, persuading members to open their layouts, advertising the tours in the media and at local train shops as well as generating excellent maps and directions, while opening their layout for every tour. Both Ray and Charlotte are heavily involved in the modular display, often hauling extra modules for others and/or decorating other modules besides their own. They are always there manning the layout and helping with setup and tear down. Ray has helped numerous members by building bridges, trestles, loaning tools or giving his time. Ray and Charlotte have helped others prepare others’ layouts for upcoming tours by ballasting and trimming. Both Ray and Charlotte participated in the St. Rita Garden Railway construction sessions as well as the garden railway built at the Campbell County Extension Service. Ray and Charlotte have “been there” for members going through difficult times, comforting them as well as helping to dispose of their large scale equipment.