Author: Al Lowe

Gerry Leone, NMRA Communications Director

National Election

NMRA Secretary John Stevens announced the 2013 National election candidates. Ballots will arrive early next year. The candidates are:

At-Large Worldwide Director

Stan Ames
Mike Brestel
Larry Smith, MMR
Leslie Eaton, MMR

Atlantic District Director

Alain Kap
Kathy Millatt

Western District Director

Larry Alfred, MMR
Jack Hamilton, MMR

Other News

President Charlie Getz has named Jim Lupfer head of the Convention and Trade Show Department, replacing Bob Amsler, who remains NMRA Counsel.

An interview with President Getz is in the current Model Railway Show podcast. Jim Martin talks with him about his plans for the NMRA. To listen, click here, or go to iTunes and download Episode 44. All episodes remain on the TrainLife website, so you can listen to them anytime. In two weeks, Charlie will return to the podcast to discuss “The Magic of Scale Model Railroading” exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum.

Western Director Jack Hamilton and his committee are working on a new Long Range Plan for the NMRA. Jack is still looking for input from members, and writes, “The October edition of NMRA Magazine put out a general call (“NMRA – Where do the tracks lead?”) to members for input for NMRA strategic planning. There have been a number of excellent responses to the call but not nearly in the numbers that might be suggested by the normal level of grousing and gripes about the organization. This is your opportunity to make a difference and have some direct say in the direction the NMRA takes into our future. This is your organization and your ideas and input will be treated with equal value and respect. Please read the October article and make your desires known to me at westdir@hq.nmra.org.”

Allen Pollock, Museum Committee Chairman, would like to put the word out about fundraising efforts for the California State Railroad Museum’s “Magic of Scale Model Railroading” Gallery Project. Allen writes, “You’ve read the article by President Getz in the November NMRA Magazine about the Gallery project. I’m asking for your help. We’re close to making it happen, so please discuss the idea of making a donation with your Region or Division Boards. If all participate, we’ll be successful in raising the $250,000 we need by early next year to receive the matching grant. Right now we already have $160,000 of the needed funding. If you have any questions or need additional info about this unprecedented chance to spread the word about our hobby, contact me directly at 573-619-8532.”

From Vice President of Special Projects, Bill Kaufman: “Sometime in February, the NMRA national will send out an Electronic Bulletin. It will be filled with calendars, Divisional success stories and the like. Sent out every two months, it is not intended to replace NMRA Magazine, but to be a collection of teasers with links to info. We hope you like it. One key to its success is email addresses. We currently have emails for about 75% of our members but more is better and we know some of what we have are wrong. If your email address has changed (or you never gave it to us) please send it to secy@hq.nmra.org.”

Brett Lambert has left the Kalmbach Memorial Library to pursue other career interests. We wish him the best and thank him for his many years of service. In his absence, requests will be handled by the HQ staff.

The Standards and Conformance Committee has been working with Bachmann and Soundtraxx to be sure both companies are in conformance to NMRA standards for DCC decoders. In the past there have been some concerns about each company’s wiring harnesses not meeting specs.

The Winter Board of Directors Meeting will be held inAtlanta,Georgia, on February 8–10. All NMRA members are welcome to attend. Times and location will be announced later.

Gerry Leone, NMRA Communications Director

About half of the money needed to meet the “matching gift” to the Magic of Scale Model Railroading exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum has been raised. An anonymous donor has offered $250,000 if we can raise a matching amount. In addition to NMRA member donations, manufacturers have made substantial donations. No NMRA dues are used to fund this project. Watch for an article in the November issue of NMRA Magazine for more details on the exhibit and fund raising efforts.

The newly formed NMRA Marketing Department is working with Amtrak stations in major cities to get modular layouts placed there in an effort to raise awareness of our hobby.

• The NMRA website is undergoing a facelift and update under the direction of our new IT Director, Ben Sevier, and his web team. Members should see the changes within the year.
• As part of an effort to improve communications with members, and specifically those who don’t receive NMRA Magazine, the NMRA leadership team is discussing adding an “eBulletin,”  a short, concise emailed newsletter which will list NMRA news, announcements, and other important information. It won’t replace NMRA Magazine, but instead will be an adjunct to it and will be available free to those members with email. A proposal will be made to the Board of Directors in February.
• The Executive Handbook and By-Laws Committee is currently working diligently to simplify and shorten both documents, making it easier to understand our organization and how it’s run.
• The Winter Board of Directors Meeting will be held inAtlanta,Georgia, February 8-10, 2013. All NMRA members are welcome to attend. Times and location to be announced.

Al Lowe

Click photo for enlargement

In case you were not in attendance, the NMRA National Committee presented its Meritorious Service Award to the 4D’s own Didrik Voss, MMR, for his service as Standards & Conformance Department Manager. The photo shows Ed Liesse making the presentation at the 4D Summer Meet in Issaquah.