NMRABULLETIN An Official Publication of the National Model Railroad Association APRIL2005 EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT What I Learned by Becoming an MMR

By Gerry Leone, newly-minted MMR Judgment Day I also learned that while there are a plethora I went into the Achievement Program thinking I hate being judged. I love being judged. I’ve of articles in the commercial press on scratch- I knew a lot of stuff. I came out of the AP realizing often heard that the Merit Awards are the single building structures (including a few by yours how little I knew. Either the program somehow greatest reason modelers choose not to enter the truly), there are precious few on scratchbuilding sucked information out of my brain, or it was AP. They don’t realize how they’re short-changing freight cars. I’m not talking modifying kits, I’m what’s known as a “growth experience.” I’m pretty themselves. talking “here’s a pile of styrene; have at it” arti- sure it was the latter. Maybe it’s testosterone overload, but guys, lis- cles. My thanks goes out to John R. Porter for writ- For me, becoming an MMR was a “life goal”— ten up: Merit Award judging really isn’t a “me vs. ing the 1977 Model Railroader article that got me the kind you hear about everybody else pursuing. him” contest. It’s “me vs. me.” That means I to jump in the pool for the very first time. So in 2002, when I passed my half-century mile always come out the winner. The good guys marker and realized that reaching the goal was I learned big-time from Merit Award judging. I I learned that there are an awful lot of really never going to get easier, it became a total and com- learned that things I’d done that I thought were good guys in this hobby. I mean really good guys. plete commitment. I put down the plaster bucket great… weren’t. I learned that things I took for Guys who are willing to help. Guys who are willing and literally stopped all work on my beloved half- granted were actually kind of great. I learned that to offer advice and constructive criticism. Guys built Bona Vista Railroad to pursue each of the there’s always room for a cleaner cut, a smoother who are friends enough to be fair, impartial, seven certificates, one after the other. Bang, bang, paint job, a straighter window. I learned that I can objective judges when the time comes. bang. Yes, indeedy, I got “tunnel vision.” do things I thought I could never do. And that I I started as a lone-wolf modeler. I’m still a It was work. It was fun. And much to my sur- can’t do things I thought I could. Eye-openers, all lone-wolf modeler. But along the way I met one prise, it was fun work. And I learned a lot along the of ’em. guy, who introduced me to another guy, who got way, some of which I’d like to share. It taught me how to take off my “loving creator” me involved with a group of guys, who volunteered Humility glasses and see my modeling objectively. Some of it me for… Doors opened up to learning, to fun, to This came in all shapes and sizes during the AP. really isn’t very good. Some of it actually is. a whole side of the hobby I never thought I’d like. Just when I was ready to show the world my “mag- Most important, I learned that by raising the I don’t know nuthin.’ So in the end, three years nificent” scratchbuilt boxcar, I ran across a 31-year- bar for myself, my joy in clearing that bar is multi- later, I find that the MMR program has taught me old issue of Railroad Model Craftsman, spotlighting plied. If that isn’t a “life lesson,” what is? what I don’t know, has taught me what I didn’t the NMRA National contest winners for that year. Mr. The kindest cut know, and has taught me what I always knew. Quite Leone, would you and your boxcar please sit down? a tall order for seven paper certificates. I knew that rock beats scissors. I knew that scis- There were models on those pages I couldn’t sors beat paper. Now I know that scalpel beats X- Has it made my modeling better? Without a even dream of building. Models like a fully-appoint- acto. And that nothing beats a good pair of tweezers. doubt. But more important, the MMR program ed, scratchbuilt Nn3 steam loco created with no made my hobby better. Can’t ask for more than I learned that “the right tool” really does make power tools except an electric eraser. Or an auto that. transport car with working, locking doors, each con- a difference. I learned that nobody makes a T- taining over 297 parts. They took my breath away. square shallow enough for cutting sheet styrene or Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get back to Boxcar? Heh, what boxcar? wood. I learned that I want—no, need—most of slopping some plaster. the items in the Micro-Mark catalog. My wife, who The experience made me realize how really, real- I’d like to personally thank those guys whose pays the bills, learned that I’m well on my way to ly good the guys like Jack Work and Jock Oliphant encouragement and support helped me reach my achieving that goal. and John Allen were. And how many more really, lifetime goal of MMR: Chuck Diljak, Dave Hunt, really good modelers there are out there. Without Put on the brakes Les Breuer, John Hotvet, MMR, Tom Mauszycki, having built my boxcar, without having tried myself, Before the AP, the most superdetailing I’d ever Wayne Wesolowski, and the entire Twin Cities I’d have never realized the true craftsmanship of done to a freight car was gluing on the brakewheel. Division of the Thousand Lakes Region. Most of what I was looking at, and how good some of those Now I know how to pipe an AB brake system. And all, thanks to my extraordinarily supportive wife, Old Masters were. what an AB brake system is. And why it is. Renay, who always told me it looked good, even when it didn’t. z

APRIL2005 31 BULLETINBOARD

In Memoriam Master Builder - Scenery We wish to bid farewell to our members and friends Jim Rollwage, Crestwood, KY who have reached the end of their journey. Our sin- Jack Parker, Charlotte, NC cere sympathy is extended to members of the families Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA they left behind. For the month of December 2004. Harold Shelton, Phoenix, AZ Norman L. Wedekind, Harbor City, CA Hunter Womble, Birmingham, AL John T. George, King George, VA Michael Armstrong, Lexington, KY* Charles W. Storz, Portland, OR James Heidt, Clockville, NY* Cal L. Thacker, San Antonio, TX Richard Lautenslager, Marcellus, NY Arthur L. Chapman, Pittsfield, IL Master Builder - Prototype Modeler Charles L. Lamoureux, Cleveland, OH Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA Robert G. Gillum, Sun City West, AZ capacity for use of color. The beige background Donald J. Bedrowsky, Dayton, OH Model Railroad Engineer - Civil fits in nicely with the overlay of the locomotive Ian MacMillan, Victoria, BC Charles Kirk, Dallas, TX Claude T. Baker, Bartlett, TN and the text. His blue shield RR logo is lined up Jack Parker, Charlotte, NC Ronald L. Cosolaro, Matamoras, PA nicely with the NMRA and regional logos and the Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA Malcolm Vordenbaum, Wichita Falls, TX red shows up well for the necessary data. To get Dave Woodrell, Bothell, WA Brendal Arthur, Whitehall, OH Harold Shelton, Phoenix, AZ Robert B. Johnson, Whitehouse Station, NJ your copy of this pass, e-mail yours to Chuck Model Railroad Engineer - Electrical William Brookes, Titusville, FL Batherson [email protected]. Jack Parker, Charlotte, NC Pass Exchange —W. Robert Stobbe, MMR Robert Price, Collingswood, NJ Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA Pass Exchange Chairman Pass Exchange is a free program for all Harold Shelton, Phoenix, AZ Rick Knight, Huntersville, NC NMRA members. It enables you to send and Achievement Program Chief Dispatcher receive passes from model railroaders all NMRA AP Certificates Dave Chance, Kannapolis, NC over the world. Even if you don’t have an Report for January 2005 Michele Chance, Kannapolis, NC operating model railroad, you can make up a Note: This report also contains some listings previous- Martin Oakes, Denver, NC pass for your ideal imaginary railroad which ly omitted from prior months. Jack Parker, Charlotte, NC will serve as an introduction to other model *Indicates first Certificate of Achievement Robert Price Collingswood, NJ railroaders. Golden Spike Association Official Bill McPherson, Rowlett, TX* To get started, send one of your passes with Gary Shurgold, Chatham, ON Russell Grills, Cazenovia, NY James Heidt, Clockville, NY your address and NMRA number to Robert Stobbe, Edward O’Rourke, Syracuse, NY Stanley Seeds, MMR, Ft. Myers, FL MMR, 1303 Lytle Street, Kerrville, TX 78028. You Andrew Wasowicz, Ridgewood, NY John Wilkes, Winter Haven, FL will receive a list of Pass Exchangers and your Michael Adams, Portland, OR Association Volunteer name will be published as a Pass Exchanger in the Dan Dexter, Portland, OR Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA J. J. Johnston, Bellevue, WA Bill McPherson, Rowlett, TX Bulletin as soon as possible. Your pass will also be Bob Kentrenos, Las Vegas, NV Michael Armstrong, Lexington, KY considered for the “Pass of the Month” feature in Hunter Womble, Birmingham, AL Dennis Smith, Springfield, MO the Bulletin. Master Builder - Motive Power Al Warren, MMR, Ames, IA Alan Mende, Hummelstown, PA To get started as an E-Passer, e-mail your Noll Horan, Annandale, VA James Heidt, Clockville, NY pass to me at [email protected] with a note Brian Block, Las Vegas, NV Richard Lautenslager, Marcellus, NY Model Railroad Author showing your NMRA number. Your name will Master Builder - Cars Clinton Hyde, Chantilly, VA be added to my E-Passers list, which is dis- Donald Woodwell, Calabash, NC* tributed periodically to all on the list. You Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA Barb Rothwell, Fitchburg, WI Jerry Hoverson, McKinney, TX James Heidt, Clockville, NY also may be selected as “Pass of the Month” Paul Myers, Kansas City, MO* Jeff Paston, Manlius, NY* and have your pass printed in the Bulletin. Gail Allen Komar, Tampa, FL Master Model Railroader Pass of the Month Master Builder - Structures Didrik Voss, MMR 325, Mill Creek, WA Jack Parker, Charlotte, NC Jerry Hoverson, MMR 347, McKinney, TX Chuck Batherson has done a fantastic job with Gary Shurgold, MMR 348, Chatham, ON Didrik Voss, Mill Creek, WA z his Blue Ridge & White Mountain RR pass. He has Harold Shelton, Phoenix, AZ Gail Allen Komar, MMR 349, Tampa, FL taken full advantage of an Electronic Rail Pass Richard Lautenslager, Marcellus, NY WELCOMEABOARD

New members for the month of December Stephen, Masri, New York, NY Niagara Frontier Kenneth M. Zimmerman, Bluffton, OH 2004. Steve, Norring, New York, NY John Kanakos, London, ON Eric, P. Menzel, Saline, MI Life Members Joseph M. Brownstein, Framingham, MA Darryl E. Bailey, Bolton, ON Manfred W. Grunwaldt Sr., Traverse City, MI Beverly J. Fuller, Troy, MI George Konow, Redding, CT Eduard J. Pfister, Ramsey, NJ John Falls, Bobcaygeon, ON Thomas G. Toth, Washington, MI John Kelley, Gilbertville, MA Carol Bakken, W. Warwick, RI Arthur J. Silber, Thornhill, ON Jonathan Black, King Of Prussia, PA Thomas Gaulien, W. Warwick, RI Thomas Scheibner, Endwell, NY Thousand Lakes Region Foreign and APO John E. Tutein, Albany, NY Stephen A. Puchalski, Hamilton, ON David C. Rogers, St. Cloud, MN Dave Plourde, E. Longmeadow, MA Tim Rhodes, Vestal, NY Jim Pfeifle, Cokato, MN Rowan C. Johnson, Kwa Zulu Natal, S. Africa George Reneris, Sunderland, MA George M. Whitaker, Binghamton, NY Thomas M. Johnson, Woodbury, MN, Northeastern Bruce S. Kelly, Westport, CT North Central Bruce J. Selb, Burnsville, MN Eustace L. Greares Jr., Brooklyn, NY George Konow, Redding, CT David B. Millerort, Wayne, IN Continued on Page 33 Martin J. Hornung, Bronx, NY Donald R. Sahtoro, Harrison, NY Gerald H. Taylor, Wayne, IN 32 THEBULLETIN ACHIEVEMENTPROGRAM John M. Johnson Earns MMR 339

John Johnson’s first train set was a Lionel Navy, and raised three daughters. He retired from Pennsylvania freight, received in 1941. By the time he was 12, he Western Electric and moved to Franklin, Va. Railroad had a large Lionel layout in the basement featuring John joined the NMRA in 1964 and the Mid- Technical and Historical Society many structures he had scratchbuilt from articles Eastern Region in 1965. He has attended many for over 30 years. in Model Railroader. John switched to HO scale in NMRA national and regional conventions and has He also belongs 1954 after seeing a Varney dockside freight set in a served as model contest judge several times. He has to the local store. The O-gauge layout was taken apart and presented clinics at regional and national conven- Philadelphia construction started on a small HO pike. He tions, is a charter member of the New Jersey scratchbuilt a few freight car and structure models Chapter of the Division and has served as Assistant Superintendent PRR T&HS and from articles in Model Railroader in the 1950s and and Superintendent. He has also served the Mid- early 1960s. the Norfolk and Eastern Region as model contest chairman and Western Historical Society. He enjoys building accu- After graduating from high school, he enlisted in Vice-President. He currently serves as Archivist and rate HO models of freight cars and has attended sev- the Navy and served over three years on an aircraft Nominations Chairman for the MER. Since moving eral Railroad Prototype Modeler seminars and carrier. Finding a hobby shop on the carrier, he was to Franklin, he has joined the Tidewater Division meets. able to assemble freight car models in his spare time. and is serving as the division’s model contest chair- John holds AP certificates for Master Builder- man and achievement program coordinator. After leaving the Navy in 1963, he returned to Cars, Prototype Modeler, Engineer-Civil, Chief New Jersey and landed a job with Western Electric as John models the Pennsylvania Railroad and Dispatcher, Volunteer, Author and Official. z a communications equipment technician. John started construction on his new home layout four married a girl he had met in Virginia while in the years ago. He has been an active member of the

Welcome Aboard J. Craig, Whitcomb, Arena, WI Michael G. Redin, Centre Hall, PA Russell Childs, Crossville, TN Ray Etzel, Menomonee Falls, WI Jack Rubinsohn, Bethlehem, PA Robert Olds, Crossville, TN Dell Fisher, Butler, WI Scott D. Sayer, Olyphant, PA Frederick M. Boucher, Gray, TN Continued from Page 32 Bill Heim, Signal Mtn., TN Daniel Montaine, Grafton, WI Lone Star Pacific Northwest Jim D. Mordell, Greenville, WI Richard Shank, Chattanooga, TN Ronald R. Westerhous, Fond du Lac, WI Arthur Houston, Hanahan, LA British Doug Houghton, Mission, BC Mark Losinjecki, Munster, IN Tom Mantooth, Garland, TX Rob W. Iiams, Gresham, OR None this month Alvin G. McKinley, Lake Station, IN Mid Central Cederic C. Green, Mountain Home, ID Paul Rudolf, Bradley, IL Sunshine Maitland Hardyman, Townsend, WA Clint E. Voelm, Strasburg, OH Steven K. Thomas, Grove, IN Daniel Kuepper, Jacksonville, FL Gregory J. Lawson, Camano Island, WA Muried A. Pepling, Kittanning, PA Jim Mullaney, Glenview, IL Pliny Emil Otero, Clermont, FL Howard D. Copp, Pullman, WA David Bastow, Concord, OH Prescott Happ, Woodstock, IL Stephen Thompson, Leesburg, FL Leonard A. Kessler, Perry, OH Pacific Coast Jon Hutchison, Rochelle, IL William Brady, Palm Harbour, FL Tom Petronio, Middlefield, OH Ken Olsen, Poplar Grove, IL Russell Hammer, Naples, FL Gary B. Saxton, Clovis, CA Tobias Giles, Florence, KY Paul R. Hoffman, Cape Coral, FL Fred C. Wilson, Rockford, IL Don Johnson, Placerville, CA Lawrence F. Lampe, Cincinnati, OH Roy F. Schrett, Riverview, FL William Becker, Sycamore, IL Lowell N. Kamrar, Lodi, CA Greg Bergman, Crestwood, KY Larry R. O’Connor, Marengo, IL Pacific Southwest Robert Boddyort Bragg, CA Kenneth B. Hanks, Lexington, KY Jerome, Ringel, Lockport, IL Ron Bracklow, Sebastopol, CA Southeastern Glenn D. Flaherty, Poway, CA Rocky Mountain Jerry J. Zeman Jr., Willowbrook, IL Duncan McRee, San Diego, CA Mid-Continent Zana Ireland, Norcross, GA Gregory L. Schmock, La Mesa, CA Greg Buczynski, Denver, CO Gerald Johnson, Douglas, GA William E. Adams, Walnut Park, CA David H. Anderson, Churdan, IA Gerry L. Glancy, Littleton, CO Gene Kelley, Acworth, GA Craig Buckel, Westlake Village, CA, Andrew Husman, Omaha, NE Anita Karl, Cheyenne, WY Allen McBride, Acworth, GA Donald C. Clark, Van Nuys, CA Robert G. Gibson, Millstadt, IL Gary C. Muse, Conifer, CO Scott Povlot, Alpharetta, GA John R. Oliver, Newbury Park, CA Peter J. Pennington, Westlake Village, CA Charles H. Blouch, South Jordan, UT John M. Acken, Sumter, SC Jason E. Trebes, Tucson, AZ Harlan E. Francis, Layton, UT Mid-Eastern Donald C. Brooks, North Myrtle Beach, SC Robert G. Wachs, Murray, UT Australasian James D. Aveson, Harrisonburg, VA Homer Davis, Charleston, SC z Midwest Samuel Johnson, Newark, DE Greg Scharfette, Bartlett, TN None this month Pat Adas, Milwaukee, WI Kevin M. McLaughlin, Doswell, VA Jim Beix, Union Grove, WI Robert J. Williams Jr., Millsboro, DE Membership Thermometer Erik Desotelle, Milwaukee, WI Robert H. Barney, Egg Habour Township, NJ Robert Injeski, Greenfield, WI Craig L. Giovinazzi, Malaga, NJ Total Count Change Robert R. Pearson, Cherry Hill, NJ Steve Kalman, Milwaukee, WI Feb. 2004 ...... 19,137 ...... (383) Brian W. Sheron, Poolesville, MD Don Leutner, Thiensville, WI Mar. 2004 ...... 19,790 ...... 653 Eric Manke, Milwaukee, WI Edmund J. Armon, Hatboro, PA Apr. 2004 ...... 19,762 ...... (28) Owen C. Pritchard, Ixonia, WI Herb Taylor, Virginia Beach, VA May 2004 ...... 19,798 ...... 36 John B. Roehl, West Bend, WI Ora E. Brooks, Chester, VA Jun. 2004 ...... 19,877 ...... 79 John A. Ruminski, Milwaukee, WI Scott A. Morris, Bedford, VA Jul. 2004 ...... 19,789 ...... (88) Ray Sanin, Racine, WI Michael A. Calo, Glen Burnie, MD Aug. 2004 ...... 19,823 ...... 34 Jenny Schwartz, Burlington, WI Marvin Zelkowitz, Columbia, MD Sep. 2004 ...... 19,545 ...... (278) Mark Westerfiel, Wauwatosa, WI Robert J. Thomas, Myersville, MD Oct. 2004 ...... 19,550 ...... 5 Bill Baumann, Verona, WI Virginia Bell, Gettysburg, PA Nov. 2004 ...... 19,510 ...... (40) Dec. 2004 ...... 19,365 ...... (145) David M. Grant, Baraboo, WI John Bell, Gettysburg, PA Jan. 2005 ...... 19,478 ...... 135 Don Quandt, Middleton, WI Vivian S. Bordlemay, Annville, PA

APRIL2005 33 ACHIEVEMENTPROGRAM – CONTINUED Didrik Voss Earns MMR 325

Didrik Voss can remember pushing a wooden 30s to raise a family and had many other interests He has been train set under his parents’ dining room table such as skiing and hang-gliding. Model railroad- the Editor of the when he was just three years old, so he must have ing was on the back burner and something that he monthly a gene in him that likes model railroading. would get back to when he retired. Division However, until he was 11 the hobby didn’t move His interest in model railroading was rekin- newsletter, up a notch. His older brother, Don, came home dled in 1994 when a friend invited him to attend GrabIron, that one day and said a neighbor had some HO trains a clinic put on by the 4th Division, Pacific averages 16 for sale. Northwest Region. He occasionally attended the pages an issue; Although the brothers had an American Flyer clinics and volunteered to help at the 1996 PNR on the board of train set, they did not have the room to set up an Spring Conference in Seattle. This is where the the 4th Division, elaborate layout that was fun and interesting. With small flame of his interest flared up into a bon- PNR, for the the smaller HO, they could really make a layout fire. One of the exhibitors was a local group try- past four years; and was General Chairman of the that was interesting. So, in their 11' x 12' bedroom ing to preserve the right-of-way of an earlier rail- NMRA National Convention in Seattle. (which also contained two beds and two desks) road, The Everett & Monte Cristo Ry. Co. They His interest in the AP program started when he they built a 4' x 8' layout. This soon became too had assembled a set of photographs showing the submitted two models in the contest room of the small so they punched a hole in their closet ceil- railroad in its glory days of 1893-1905. He had 1996 PNR Spring Convention. In fact, he went ing to get into the attic. This hole was soon found the railroad and the time era he wanted to home to get the models because he did not know plugged when their mother put a pull-down lad- model. there was a contest room. He earned three ribbons der in their bedroom ceiling. So, now they had a Of course, modeling a 60-mile-long shortline and certificates for the two models he submitted. 20' x 40' area to build a layout in. The conditions railroad in a 10' x 12' bedroom would not work. Since then Didrik has been working on all the were not ideal since the peak of the roof was four So, he had to campaign for a new train room other certificates with hopes of becoming an feet high and in the hot summer months in (basement) with a house on top. Didrik has been MMR. He waited, and submitted all seven AP cer- Mississippi, it was a little hot. But they had fun. working on his 30' x 36', L-shaped layout, The tificate applications at once. He has earned AP Then Didrik went off to West Point Military Everett & Monte Cristo Ry. Co., in his basement certificates in Cars, Structures, Civil Engineering, Academy, became an Army officer and moved all since February 1998. Electrical Engineering, Prototype Models, Scenery, over the world. He rejoined civilian life in his early and Volunteer. z Michael Hohn Earns MMR 334

Michael Hohn’s model railroad journey start- layouts in succession through junior high and friends were made ed with three events around the age of 10: First, high school. During this time he gained a friend through the hobby. he was introduced to toy trains in the form of a also interested in model railroading, and spent Early railroad- best friend’s Lionel setup. Next, he received an many hours in his basement, building models, ing was an interest HO-scale model train set for Christmas and, final- scratchbuilding, and learning the basics of track of Mike’s back in ly, he attended a neighbor’s model railroad club laying and electrical systems—all while listening the 1960s, and meeting. The first taught him that running trains to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Johnny Cash continued to be as fast as possible around an oval soon tires; the on the radio. when the hobby second got him started in the hobby; and the third Graduation from high school saw model rail- was taken up again taught him that model railroads need not have an roading relegated to a box in the closet. During the in the late 1980s. oval at all. college years that box was moved a couple of This was due in part to an interest in antiques The club meeting was pretty dull for a young times unopened. Attending train shows and build- and to the always-in-progress restoration of a fellow, but he did leave with a stack of model rail- ing a model or two maintained some interest, but Victorian home. Today the home layout roading magazines that emphasized the impor- no layout was completed until after he married emphasizes authenticity of time and locale. tance of scratchbuilding in supporting the hobby and had his first child. Growing up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State led to a locale for the new railroad, on a weekly allowance. After that, no cereal box About 15 years ago, that box was moved once and the time was set in the 1880s. Accurate was safe. They turned into general stores, mining again during a flurry of organizing the attic, but modeling of rolling stock requires a lot of buildings, and factories, with the help of razor this time it was opened. Fortuitously, a hobby research. Mike was helped by John White’s blades, the old double-edged variety, to cut those shop opened locally and a new club formed. A first books on freight and passenger cars. boxes into boards and battens. The results were visit to an NMRA division meeting, train shows, Structures on the layout are based entirely on primitive, but effective. and the annual MCR Division 2 Jamboree bol- stered his interest in model railroading. And new Continued on Page 35 This was followed by several years of building 34 THEBULLETIN MEMBERSHIPNEWS NMRA Board of Trustees 2005 Mid-Year Meeting

By David Thornton money taken from the Howell Day Museum noon on Friday, 10 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. North Central Region Trustee Fund in 2001 has been repaid in full. on Sunday. The NMRA Board of Trustees 2005 Mid-Year Meeting was held on January 13, 14, and 15, Secretary Dave Liesse reported that the bal- Dave Messer is the new Chair of the Library 2005 in Phoenix. This was the last Board of lots for the new directors would be mailed out to Department. There is a new book project under- Trustees meeting to be held, as the new Board of all members in the February Scale Rails. The way by noted freight car historians Larry Kline Directors will be elected under the new NMRA ballot is due back in May. It was noted that all and Ted Culotta. The book will be a collection of Regulations and seated at the 2005 Board of updates to region president information for the 300 photographs of freight cars taken in the Directors meeting in Cincinnati, on July 1, 2005. Scale Rails masthead should be sent to the Harrisburg, Pa., area in 1947 and 1948. The NMRA secretary. photographs were donated by former President President John Roberts opened the meeting The Administrative Department report was Bob Charles. The book is currently planned to at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13, and welcomed seven new come out in July. trustees to the meeting. The agenda for the delivered by Office Manager Jenny Hendricks. meeting was outlined and the meeting broke There is a new researcher, Thomas Mosback, The MAP Department report was delivered by into a Trustees Caucus in which several of the working in the Kalmbach Memorial Library. All Chair Dave Burman. Displays are being made to issues to be covered in the meeting were dis- e-mail changes for the regions and divisions take to train shows to promote the NMRA and the cussed among the trustees. The meeting should go to the NMRA headquarters. The dead- new Rail Pass trial-membership program. adjourned at 11:40 p.m. line for Cincinnati Clinic book is 2/15 and Advertising for the current open loads book is requires articles on 15 clinics. Only three have going into Scale Rails and Model Railroader The meeting reconvened at 8:30 a.m., Jan. been received to date. with tie-ins to articles. Additional promotion of 14. President John Roberts and Vice President Past President Allen Pollock, now the the Modeling with the Masters program, Mike Brestel reviewed their reports to the board. Heritage/Living Legends cars, and membership Brestel outlined the key program of establishing Development Department Chair, reported that he is just getting started taking over the depart- retention are in the works. A “Your NMRA at a new membership database. Three separate Work” promotion is also in the planning stages. requests for information have been sent out to ment. A first letter will be going out shortly and he is working on getting information on the Web Effort will also be made to promote the hobby in the region presidents and region membership the youth market. chairs for information. Only 15 responses have site. been received to date. The new database is to be The Museum Committee is working on a site Chair Henry Jordan reported on the Meetings professionally done and the target date is to start in Sacramento, Calif., at the California State and Trade Show Department. The site of the it up in parallel with the current system on July Railroad Museum, located on the site of the for- 2011 convention was discussed. The two com- 1, 2005. A new dial-up server is being installed at mer Southern Pacific shops. There are issues to peting sites were San Jose, Calif., and NMRA HQ to accommodate the database. be resolved with taking title to the land from the Sacramento, Calif. After a review the trustees voted to site the convention in Sacramento. Treasurer Tom Draper reported on the Union Pacific and possible environmental issues upcoming National Train Show in Cincinnati. to be resolved. The museum committee is in dis- The Membership Department report was Sixty-five percent of the booth spaces have been cussion with the Narrow Gauge Foundation given by the new department chair, Clark sold to date, which is ahead of past shows. The about a joint museum. Kooning. New promotional packs will be pre- Cincinnati show also has more booth space than Education Department Chair Jan Wescott pared. The Pounding the Rails newsline will be the Seattle show. The books on the Seattle Train requested trustee assistance in finding Region revived. A new national-membership-recruit- Show have been closed. The NMRA is slightly in education chairs. The need to publicize region ment contest will be announced with two the red after the first three months of the 2005 and division youth programs was noted. The rounds: one from March 1 to June 30 and the fiscal year. This is due to the once-a-year tax pay- Modeling with the Masters program has been second from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31. There will be ments being made during the 1st quarter. Dues growing and more MMRs are needed to be prizes with possible brass locomotives for the income is running to plan, but non-dues income instructors. Also, more volunteers are needed for winners. A corporate-membership program is is below budget for the first quarter. Other than the Junior College Program that is run at the also under development at this time and will be the taxes, spending has been held to match National Train Show. There are three three-hour launched this spring. Contact information with income and there is no reason for concern. The sessions that will be run during the show; at region membership chairs and region member- ship programs is being requested. An initiative to

Hohn rolling stock, and motive power for the become active as a volunteer, clinician and Continued from Page 34 Appalachian setting of the club’s permanent lay- author. out and modules. Mike has earned Achievement Certificates in actual buildings, many modeled from pho- Early in his revived interest in model railroad- Master Builder-Cars, Master Builder-Structures, tographs. ing, Mike accepted the Achievement Program as a Master Builder-Scenery, Model Railroad Engineer- Meanwhile, the club layout provides opportu- challenge to learn new construction techniques, Electrical, Chief Dispatcher, Association Volunteer nities to model or acquire pre-1960 structures, model to a high, but reasonable, standard, and and Model Railroad Author. z

APRIL2005 35 MEMBERSHIPNEWS – CONTINUED

ensure that there is an NMRA presence at every three departments in the Technical Department: delivered to locations outside of the U.S. at sub- train show will be started. The importance of Electrical (including DCC), Mechanical, and scription rates that reflect the actual postal costs doing membership-development programs at Conformance/Inspection. There are now man- for delivery to that country. The board voted to the division level was noted. A number of ideas agers and usually deputy managers at all levels accept the plan and it will begin effective on Sept. for programs at the divisional level were present- within the department. There are currently 27 1, 2005. ed: sub-departments manned by over 100 people New Business • An introduction-to-model-railroading with 45 managers and deputies and 10 positions program to be offered at the division level in yet to be filled. A major target is to form a U.S.- The region trustees reports were reviewed. January and February for new model railroad- based task force and central administration for One item that was specifically noted was a con- ers. standards. The C&I test policy is developed and cern by Division 1 of the NCR about how to dis- in place. Test equipment updates are planned for • Educational meets with clinics and miss an unruly or disruptive member from their the last half of 2005. The Z-N-HO scales team is hands-on programs. meetings if they were automatically a member of to be restarted. The S-1 through S-4 standards the division when joining the NMRA. The proper • “Make a friend, retain a member.” have been revised. The Technical Handbook has response is to use Roberts Rules of Order to have • Renewal programs including follow-ups been revised. A template for external licensing is the offending person removed from the meeting. and surveys. being developed. Large-scale coordination activi- Publications Department Chair Larry ties have been slow. There have been some Some issues with the 2006 Philadelphia con- DeYoung reported on Scale Rails. He has been issues with the DCC working group, that have vention were discussed. Development of a table investigating many of the reported issues with hopefully been resolved at this writing. The of responsibilities and accountabilities for the the magazine. He recommended and the board European DCC coordination is working. There host committee and national committee was dis- approved extending the contract with Winchester are some DCC patent issues to be resolved. An cussed. Communications for one year through fiscal year issues-review group has been formed. A total of 22 motions were presented and 2006, from Sept. 1, 2005 through Aug. 31, 2006. Investment and budget requirements are being passed. Highlights of the motions include the fol- Alternative sourcing of the magazine will be developed. A pre-study on consumer issues is investigated during the next several months and being developed. The 2005 targets are: lowing: a report will be made back to the board. • Implement the U.S.-based Central • The NMRA will cease selling life member- Nominations Chair Eric Dervinis reported on Administration. ships as of 1/15/05, but will honor any quotes the candidates for the upcoming election of dis- • Have open Technical Department meet- that were provided back to November 15, 2004, trict directors, which will start in February. There ings at the convention provided that they are executed by March 1, will be two or three candidates for all positions 2005. Current life members will retain their sta- • Further decentralization except the Central District. Unfortunately, all but tus, but no new life memberships will be sold. • Launch the new Technical Handbook one candidate for the Central District director Honorary Life Membership can still be granted position had to withdraw due to personal rea- • Explore invoice-based C&I service to by the Board as in the past. sons, leaving NCR trustee Dave Thornton run- manufacturers ning unopposed. Member dues will be $33.00 per year. The • Improve US-EU Technical coordination annual subscription to Scale Rails will be an Audit Committee Chair Bob Gangwish report- ed that the NMRA passed the 2003-2004 finan- additional $12.00. An electronic form of the cial audit for the year ending 8/31/04 with no Unfinished Business Bulletin, which will include association news issues. Commitments to update all region bylaws by only, will be made available to all members by John Roberts reported on the Insurance 9/1/05 have been received, except for the British Sept. 1, 2005, on the NMRA website. The $12.00 Program. Property insurance costs have gone up, Region. subscription figure reflects the current actual but most of the insurance was able to be Three candidates for the Region Advisory net cost, including advertising income generat- renewed within the budgeted goals. The insur- Council (RAC) representative to the new Board of ed, to deliver 12 issues of Scale Rails to a U.S.- ance guidelines have been updated. The model Directors have been identified and the RAC will based member. insurance program has seen a big increase in vote on the candidate in the spring. • A written plan with targets for repayment participation since the column in December AAR Trustee David North presented the of the funds borrowed from the Life Fund sever- Scale Rails about John Roberts, flood experi- International Committee’s proposed plan to ence. Club insurance through the NMRA has also al years ago is to be developed and placed in the address international cost issues due to curren- seen and increase in participation. budget from 2006. cy valuation differences and fluctuations. The The Investment Committee met in Phoenix plan would have regions outside of the U.S. pro- • An annual amount of $2.00 will be rebat- and reported that a risk assessment is underway vide a significant part of their administrative ser- ed to the regions within the United States by the for the association and a report will be given at vice (membership tracking) in country and only NMRA for each member residing in the region, the BOD meeting in Cincinnati. provide monetary support for the programs pro- starting Sept. 1, 2005. The intent is to cover the Technical Department Chair Rutger Freiberg vided from the NMRA HQ and the U.S. at cost in region’s administrative costs for NMRA members reported on the department activities. There are U.S. dollars. In addition, Scale Rails would be living within the region. z 36 THEBULLETIN