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News and Notices


The following NMRA News and Notices are posted here for the purpose of getting organizational information to our Membership as fast as possible. All items of information are posted in dated order with the latest item at the top of the list. News and Notice postings will be deleted after a suitable time.


Unaudited 2008 Annual Report

June, 2009

I am pleased to release the NMRA 2008 Annual report for the benefit of our membership to review.

It is strongly advised that if you are not conversant with corporate financial statements, that you consult someone who is, in order to fully understand the content of the Annual Report.

Mike Brestel

Communications Director appointed

June, 2009

I’m pleased to announce that Gerry Leone, MMR, has agreed to serve the NMRA as our Communications Director. This newly created position is designed to help foster communications within the NMRA, as well as monitor NMRA communications with the outside world.

Gerry’s been sending out eblasts to Division newsletter editors for the past four years as Deputy Chair of the Membership Services Department, and last April he began a monthly NMRA Info Net eblast to region presidents, giving them an overview of what’s happening at NMRA National. He plans to add division superintendents to this mailing in the near future. In addition, Gerry will be overseeing many of the other communications generated by the NMRA.

Chances are you’ve already seen his work – he’s had over 30 articles published in the model railroad press (including Scale Rails) in the last decade. Gerry is also editor of the TLR’s Fusee, as well as PR Director for the region. He works as a creative director and writer at a large Minneapolis advertising agency.

Mike Brestel

2009 Election Results

June, 2009

The results of the 2009 National election are:

President - Mike Brestal

Vice President - Allen Pollock

At Large Director - Charlie Getz

Eastern Director - John Roberts

Pacific Director - Peter Jensen

BOD Minutes added

June, 2009

Mid-year BOD Meeting draft minutes posted to webiste.

Convention Survey Results

May, 2009

Results from the Convention survey are now available. Details will be in the President's Car column in the June Scale Rails. Or, you can click on this link to see the results of the survey.

Webmaster Blog entry added

May, 2009

NMRA Webmaster Blog added. You may follow it here.

Now accepting online donations....your donation dollars at work!

April, 2009

Online donations now available through the website

NMRA Webmaster available on Twitter

March, 2009

For a very sweet tweet....

Anahiem National Convention Contest Winners Photo Album"

February, 2009

A pictorial of the winners from the Anaheim 2008 Convention

2009 NMRA Election Candidate Statements available here

January, 2009

Statements by the candidates for the 2009 NMRA Election

2009 Calendar Screen Saver available now available(3.58MB. Have to run as Administrator in Vista).

January, 2009

Statements by the candidates for the 2009 NMRA Election

National Convention survey now closed

December, 2008

NMRA Convention survey now closed. Thank you for your participation.

Press Release on status of RRE patent challenge (11/23/08)

November, 2008

NMRA instrumental in overturning controversial DCC patents.

NMRA now part of Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

October, 2008

Federal employees can now designate the NMRA as part of their charitable giving

Updates on Anaheim Awards Results

October, 2008

Update on Anaheim results

Annual Meeting Draft Minutes posted

October, 2008

Posting of draft Minutes from the Annual BOD meeting.

Banquet awards from Anaheim updated

September, 2008

Some updates to the banquet awards fromt he Anaheim Convention

Thanks from the Anaheim Convention and PSR

September, 2008

A special thanks from the Convention hosts.

2008 Calendar screen saver now available

August, 2008

An update on the patent challenge

DCC-sound patent challenge upheld

July, 2008

Another step forward in the DCC-sound patent challenge: RRE fails to respond to NMRA legal brief

2008 Mid-Year meeting minutes posted

June 8, 2008

The Minutes from the 2008 Board of Director's meeting have been posted online in the BOD section here.

2008 Ballot in February Scale Rails

The February 2008 issue of Scale Rails contained your ballot for officer/director nominations for 2008

Update on Real Rail Patent challenge

The update on the NMRA challenge to the patent on sound

Patent Challenge

NMRA Insurance

February 17, 2008

NMRA President John Roberts has written a new memo regarding NMRA Insurance. Full information on the Insurance Programs can be found by following this link.

Great Lakes Express Contest Photos

You may view photos of the Great Lakes Express Contest photos on the web. We thank Paul Voelker and Dick Flock for allowing us to use their work.