NMRA Nov/Dec eBulletin

November/December 2022

President's Message

Gordy Robinson MMR®

Welcome to another eBulletin. It’s now November 2022 and the pumpkin carving will soon give way in the United States of America to Thanksgiving and families being reunited. October was particularly hard on our model railroading family with the loss of Iain Rice, Dick Elwell and Allen McClelland MMR®. We are all thankful for the contribution they made to our hobby and the huge impact each made on our own model railroading journey.

None of these gentlemen would want us to stop modelling and driving the hobby forward. I am really excited to reflect on their contribution to the hobby whilst knowing that the next generation of super contributors to our hobby are already driving forward and making their own huge mark on those who will in turn become the future greats of the hobby - a cycle that I know will continue down the generations as it has for the past nearly 90 years of the NMRA. We have lots of news to share with you in this edition of the ebulletin so let’s get into it.

Bill Hutton Appointed as General Counsel

On October 24th, NMRA President Gordy Robinson MMR®, appointed Bill Hutton of the Mid Continent Region of the NMRA as General Counsel. Bill has been an attorney with Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA) for 24 years (31 total years in practice), and became General Counsel in 2011. He also has experience with non-profit organizations, both in private practice and through service to Voices for Children. Bill can be contacted at legal@nmra.org

Detroit Selected for 2025 Convention

Subject to final contracts, the NMRA Board has selected the bid from the North Central Region to host the 2025 NMRA 90th Anniversary National Convention & Train Show in Novi, near Detroit, Michigan. Dates of the convention will be confirmed in the next few months but we expect it will be in July 2025. The convention committee is led by Scott Kremer MMR® who was chairman of the Indy Junction Tri-Regional convention held in Indianapolis in May 2022.

The NMRA Board would like to invite bids or expressions of interest for the 2026 and 2027 national conventions and train shows. Please contact the M&TS Department or the NMRA President to discuss your bid.

Thank You

Bob Amsler has stepped down as the NMRA General Counsel and Head of Meetings and Trade Shows, after over 20 years’ service with the NMRA. The President and the NMRA Board of Directors would like to thank Bob for his many years of service to the NMRA.

Gordy MMR®

NMRA President

2023 International Convention

Howdy! As everyone knows, everything is bigger in Texas, and the 2023 Texas Express is going to prove it! There is so much planned for this convention that takes full advantage of all of the great railroading and attractions of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The convention is super conveniently located smack-dab in the middle of DFW in historic Grapevine directly adjacent to DFW Airport, so getting to and from the convention is the easiest it could be. Once you arrive at the fine Gaylord Texas Resort and Convention Center, the convention and train show is right there, and the many tours, trips, and activities will keep you as busy as you please with convenient scheduling and great transportation services.

All of your favorite events will be there including SIG activities, layout tours, operating sessions, contest and layout displays, tons of clinics, a banquet, and lots of general interest tours and activities. Special to this convention are keynote speaker Spencer Christian from Tracks Ahead, BNSF HQ and Intermodal Yard tours, a UP Dallas International Terminal tour, a trip to the Texas State Railroad, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, the Museum of the American Railroad, the multi-day National Train Show, a Fort Worth & Western Railroad back shop tour, local historic stations, private railcars, and so much more!

So, get all of the info and register early to reserve your spot at the biggest NMRA celebration of model and prototype railroading of the year at 2023TexasExpress.com. And don't forget to pack your cowboy hat and boots!

Volunteers Needed

The NMRA is run by volunteers. Get involved by contributing your expertise and time.

Meetings and Trade Shows Department

The NMRA is seeking expressions of interest in the role of Manager, Meetings and Trade Shows, a key member of our operational team who is responsible for working with local host committees to deliver the annual national convention and Train Show. We are ideally looking for someone with experience in the events or hospitality industry, who is comfortable with negotiating with a number of vendors and advising host committees. The role is supported by a team of experienced volunteers, however all department heads are encouraged to grow their team. This is a volunteer role with a commitment to attend the annual convention and NTS as well as to undertake site visits as required. Expressions of interest should be made to the President at president@nmra.org

Marketing Department

The Marketing Department is looking for women who participate in any aspect of our hobby to please consider writing an article for the NMRA Magazine. The Women in Model Railroading series was quite popular and we would like to revive it. Articles should be approximately one page long, and please include a high resolution photograph of yourself. All submissions can be sent to marketing@nmra.org.

Fundraising Committee

The NMRA has recruited an experienced team of fundraising experts and we now seek a person to coordinate the efforts of this group. The role will involve ensuring the efficient running of committee meetings and tracking the work that is being done by committee members. Close liaison with the national HQ team and the CFO is essential. This role would work closely with Eastern District Director John Doehring who has led the effort to grow this essential organization activity. Contact him at eastdir@nmra.org.

New Volunteers

All NMRA Departments are actively recruiting new volunteers year-round, so if you want to share your experience & skills and help the NMRA deliver something you are really passionate about, then please reach out to me.

Gordy Robinson

NMRA President

president@nmra.org

2023 Calendar Arriving

Jenny Hendricks

NMRA Chief Administrative Officer

For U.S. members, the 2023 Calendar should be landing in your mailboxes by November 20th! If we have additional copies available, they will be for sale on the member store.

Thank you for being a member!

NMRA Winter Board Meeting

The NMRA Board of Directors will hold its Winter Board meeting at the Big E, the Amherst Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show, in Springfield MA on January 27th 2023. The open meeting will start at 12:30pm. Members can attend the open meeting by registering their interest with the Secretary.

The NMRA will also have a booth at the show where you will be able to meet members of our national team including directors and department heads. You will also be able to hear from our Women in Model Railroading SIG and our convention team from the Texas Express 2023 convention, and register foir that event.

To find out more about the Amherst train show please visit railroadhobbyshow.com.

The NMRA are very appreciative of the support from the Amherst Railway Society to make our attendance possible.

Upcoming Conventions

Nov. 4-6 Crewe North Junction 2022, Crewe, UK (BR)
Apr. 26-30, 2023 Rails By The River 2023, Sacramento, CA (PCR)
May 4-7, 2023 Rails to Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh (MCR)
May 10-14, 2023 Prairie Line Experience, Tacoma, WA (PNR)
May 18-21, 2023 TLR Convention (TLR)
June 7-11, 2023 Grand Canyon Special, Flagstaff, AZ (PSR)
Aug. 20-26, 2023 Texas Express, DFW Area, Texas (2023 International Convention)

Now available to all members*

Women in Model Railroading SIG
Jim Packer's Nevadun Railroad
Majestic Mining's I5-D in S scale

* Visit nmra.org/nmra-digital-magazine

Partnership Program

The companies listed below give discounts to NMRA members when orders are placed using a special discount code. Newly added companies are in bold red. Check them out! You can find descriptions of these companies and their products, links to their websites, and the discount codes on our Partnership Page at nmra.org/partnerships . Remember you need to be logged into our site as a member to see the codes! Go to nmra.org/user/register to register your name on the website.

Bear Creek Model Railroad

CatzPaw Innovations

Clever Models LLC

CMR Products

Coastmans Scenic Products

Daylight Sales

Deepwoods Software

Deluxe Materials

Digikeijs

Dwarvin

East Coast Circuits

Feight Studios

Gatorfoam

Great Decals!

Green Frog Productions

Hot Wire Foam Factory

K.I.S.S. Method

LaBelle Woodworking

LARC Products

Logic Rail Technologies

MAC Rail

Micro-Mark

Mine Mount Models

Miniprints

MinuteMan Scale Models

Model Railroad Benchwork

Model Train Catalogue

Modelers Decals & Paint

Motrak Models

MRC (Model Rectifier Corp)

Nick and Nora Designs

Northlandz

NScaleWorks

Old West Scenery

Ram Track

RR-CirKits

Rusty Stumps

Scale Model Plans

Scalecoat Paint

Scenery Solutions

Showcase Miniatures

Team Track Models

The N Scale Architect

The Old Depot Gallery

Tichy Train Group

Touch of the Brush

Train Installations

Train Show, Inc.

TRAINZ

Trainmasters TV/MRH Store

TSG Multimedia

UGEARS

Unreal Details

USA Airbrush Supply

WiFi Model Railroad

Newest Master Model Railroader® recipients

715. Paul Brennecke (RMR)

716. Pete LaGuardia (MER)

717. Robert Price (MER)

718. Robert Rodriguez (MER)

719. Richard Steinmann (MER)

720. James Whatley (NER)

721. Paul Buhrke (PSR)

"Master Model Railroader" and "MMR" are registered trademarks of the NMRA. A list of all MMRs can be found at nmra.org/master-model-railroaders

Editor: John Bate, Canadian District Director

The NMRA eBulletin is an official bi-monthly production of the National Model Railroad Association, Inc. Publishing Department (Riley Triggs, Manager). Its purpose is to keep every NMRA member informed about organization news and events. If you know of an NMRA member who is not receiving this mailing, please direct them to nmra.org/members to update their email address. If you no longer wish to receive these mailings, please don't mark them as spam. Instead, click the safe Unsubscribe link at the bottom of this page. ©2021 National Model Railroad Association, Inc., P.O. Box 1328, Soddy Daisy TN 37384.

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