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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.
2010 Convention Honor's Awards
HLM
- Rutger Friberg. For his work in the field of DCC - was one of the early handful of folks to meet and push for standardization in the digital command control that eventually led to the DCC Working Group and the NMRA DCC Standards. Also creator and implemented the highly successful Junior College Program, both in Europe and the USA.
- Robert "Bob" Brown. For his contributions to and for shaping the direction of the hobby of model railroading, both personally and through his publication "The Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette." Prior to the Gazette, he published Finelines, publishing articles focusing on narrow gauge, but the techniques were applicable in any scale and gauge. He continues his support of NMRA today with his contributions in the development of the Howell Day Museum.
DSA:
- Aubrey Olsen. For his contributions to the hobby of model railroading, by producing economical and effective ground throws that revolutionized layout operations, and offered today by his company, Caboose Industries.
- Stan Ames. In 1992 he met Bernd Lenz, and helped put together the initial group of folks that included Bernd Lenz, Rutger Friberg, Mike Green and Dick Lord. He made several trips to Europe at own expense to formulate the initial group to establish standards for DCC. This group include manufacturers Lenz, Wangrow and Digitrax, and brought in other engineers (the folks named above) in the electronic field. These three manufacturers and the previously mentioned folks agreed on the basis for a standard, each having to modify their existing products. In 1994 the standard was adopted by the NMRA, which included the functions from 4 to 8, and the speed steps from 14 to 128
NMRA FELLOW:
- Len Firth. Len has held offices in British Region activities from 1952 to 2004, taking time out from serving as Treasurer for this entire time period only to serve terms as Secretary, Vice President and President. Has been involved in almost every activity offered by the British Region. He is the recipient of several awards from the BR and received a PA in 1966.
In addition to the above, the following awards were announced.
PIONEER AWARD:
- Leo and Ruth Campbell of Campbell Scale Models
- Bernd Lenz of Lenz Gmbh.
- Allen McClelland
PRESIDENT AWARDS:
- Robert (Bob) Amsler
- Chuck Diljack
- Gerry Leone, MMR
- Eric Lundberg, HLM, MMR
- Allen Pollock, HLM, DSA
- Jim Sacco of City Classics
- Miles Hale, MMR
- James (Lumpy) Lupfer
MERITORIUS SERVICE AWARD: (These are recommended by Department Managers)
Standards & Conformance Department:
- Ed McCamey
- Ken West
DRAFT Minutes February 2010 Winter Board Meeting -- San Diego, California: February 19-20, 2010
March, 2010
DRAFT Minutes from Feb 2010 BOD Meeting
Meeting notes from Winter 2010 BOD Meeting posted
February, 2010
ALWWD Koester's notes from BOD meeting
Official Draft Minutes from 2009 BOD meeting
August, 2009
DRAFT Official Minutes of BOD Meeting now posted
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
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.
Now accepting online donations....your donation dollars at work!
April, 2009
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
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
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
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.