Category: Grab-Iron

Cliff Green, Grab Iron Editor

Welcome, new 4^th Division (PNR) NMRA members (or former members recently renewed)! An e-mail notification is sent out to all subscribers every time a new Grab Iron post is made, so this may be one of the first messages you see from our Division. Our 4D web site has clinic info, modular group info, an events calendar, some excellent model train photos, and many pages of other related info as well as all of our Grab Iron posts – click here to navigate to the front page.

The 4^th Division Spring Meet is on May 14^th at Tacoma Community College, and there are three tracks of great clinics presented by multiple well known (and very skilled) 4D members. The clinic info is complete and up to date – click here to view. Lunch is included (if registered by May 1^st) – click here to register and reserve a lunch.

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Cliff Green, Grab Iron Editor

If you’re a new 4^th Division (PNR) NMRA member (or a former member that has recently renewed), welcome! Every time a new Grab Iron post is made, e-mail notifications are sent out to those on the notification list. We have a lot of information and some great model train photos on the 4D web site (including all Grab Iron posts) – click here to navigate to the front page.

Ron Hopkins On30 layout, under construction with mock-up buildings, in Edmonds, WA.

My job as Grab Iron editor is to publicize info relating to model and prototype railroading in the 4^th Division and surrounding areas. I get paid well for this. Not in money (definitely not, hah!), but in the hobby relationships I’ve made and in the personal satisfaction of helping this organization. And I’m guessing that every 4D volunteer would say something similar.

But I don’t produce the content for the Grab Iron and the 4D web site – the articles and posts and web page content (mostly) come from other people. I may organize and edit and manage it, but I don’t originate it. For that I rely on our 4D members and Grab Iron subscribers.

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Jim Sabol

The Golden Grab Iron Service Award is presented each year to an individual who best exemplifies “outstanding service to the organization.” This year the award will be given at our Spring Meet scheduled for May 14.

The winner of the Golden Grab Iron Service Award traditionally is selected by a committee comprised of three of the most recent winners. Currently that would be Russ Segner (2013), Jim Sabol (2014), and Jim Younkins (2015). This year the committee would like to make sure we have considered all deserving members in the selection process.

All clinic chairs, all club presidents, and all NMRA/PNR/4^th Division members individually are invited to submit a name or names of fellow members they deem deserving of the service award for 2016. (Previous winners are listed on the Golden Grab Iron Service Award page.)

By March 1, please submit your nominations to Russ Segner, russseg@gmail.com, or Jim Sabol, jimsabol@msn.com, or Jim Younkins, jcyounkins@comcast.net. Please include a short paragraph detailing the contributions made by this individual toward the growth and well-being of model railroading in the 4^th Division.

Kurt Laidlaw

I am the clinic chairman for the 4^th Division’s Spring Meet, to be held next May. While that seems a long time away, from a planning perspective it’s just around the corner. And I need your help.

Hands-On Clinics

We are going to offer two hands-on clinic sessions this year. These will be 3-hour sessions teaching you about some area of interest. I need suggestions from you on what you want to learn. Email me here.

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Jack Hamilton / Photos by Jeff Moorman

(Editors note: Jack presented this award to Dr. Ferris at the Seattle North Clinic on November 5, 2015.)

Three Fellow of the NMRA award winners; from L to R: Gay Liesse, Dr. Roger Ferris, and Ed Liesse

From time to time, the National Model Railroad Association takes special notice of the service and contributions of members and recognizes that contribution through one or more of several special awards. Tonight, on behalf of the NMRA president Charlie Getz, the Board of Directors, and the membership association, I have the honor of recognizing one of our own. Tonight’s honoree is well known to all of us in the Pacific Northwest Region for his years of dedicated service and his boundless energy and willingness to undertake any challenge. His personal leadership has been a mainstay in the success we all enjoy in our hobby and through our membership in the NMRA. He has served as a personal role model for all of us in our dealings with each other and in finding the ways to get the most out of our NMRA fellowship.

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