How effective is the NMRA?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This question has dogged me for years and I do not know the answer, but I’d suspect the NMRA could do more to promote our hobby. I was once a member, not so much for the standards page, track gauge, and magazine, but knowing or hoping some of the funds would go for more promotion. I was the co-owner of the Great Scale Model Train Show for 31 years and each year we offered free space to regional and national NMRA folks…no takers. I’m yet to see a large display at a major show…or any show for that matter. Possibly I could have missed an NMRA presence, and if so I do apologize.

I have heard arguements that promoting hobby in mass media like Cable TV and other magazines would be futile. I’m not sure. I’d love to see on the National Geographic, History, or Discovery channels do a program on model railroading. Back in the 40’s and well into the 50’s model railroading was on TV. I’d think a national model railroad organization could and should promote coverage in mass media.

As a show promoter, we once tried to get more kids into the hobby by offering free admission to both boy and girl scouts, invitations to schools, free admission for teens, etc…no avail! We did find that the show attracted many newly retired folks as they remember trains, now have time for a hobby, and have the funds to pay for it. Kids have none of this. So what about articles in the AARP magazine, airline magazines, and other similar publications which could reach these folks.

The NMRA backed National Train Show is a plus, but it is really put on by local regions and pales to shows like The Big E in Mass.

Any comments or ideas

HZ

2

From Trains on Stamps to Master Model Railroader, the NMRA has left me behind (or, not kept up). And yet, that does not appear what is under discussion.

Is this ONLY a discussion about whether the NMRA is adequately promoting the hobby? That is what seems central to Howard’s comments.

Ed

3

The orginization is a dinosaur. It was once very important but now there is so much infighting that it makes it ineffective. They used to fight for standards but that time is long gone. They make no effort to regulate the standards of the various regions so some areas have become nothing but clicks while others at great, no consistacy. I was a member but left, came back years later but nothing had changed.

4

The Niagara Frontier Region must be an exception. They attend many shows in Ontario. There are usually 4 or 5 guys doing some excellent modelling and talking the hobby up with visitors to the show.

I choose to maintain my membership in the NMRA even though our club no longer requires it, if only to support their work in developing standards for what may come along in the hobby.

Dave

5

I have been a member for 46 years.

I think the chief benefit has been the standards (and RPs). As one who remembers command and control before the NMRA standard, I would say the standard has been the reason for DCC becoming so popular.

It’s hard to tell since the NMRA is secretive about it’s finances (even with the membership), but I don’t think they have the money to promote the hobby.

One nice thing about the National Train Show is that it does occur in different parts of the country (unfortunately not all parts) and seems to have a large number of manufacturers. Never having been to the Big E I can’t compare the two.

With the death of hobby stores and Toy R Us, train shows are about the only way to get people into the hobby. Unfortunately, many of the small local shows are really more like flea markets and have few if any good layouts. Larger shows like the GSTS and Greenbergs are too infrequent and/or too far away.

Another problem I see, is what are we promoting? What little the NMRA does is geared toward contest model building and mostly for adults. The operation side (OPSIG) has been become mired in minutia and paperwork. Frankly, it’s Thomas the Tank getting kids interested in trains, but there isn’t any real path from there to scale model railroading.

Getting electric trains into places like Walmart and Target would be a big help, but I don’t see any way for the NMRA (or anyone else) to make this happen.

At this point standards are the only real benefit of the NMRA to the hobby. But that is important.

Paul

6

I looked into joining the NMRA and discussed the organization with a club member who was a Division Superintendent at one point.My feeling was/is that the NMRA does a good job on standards and recommended practices, and, as Paul noted, this is important.

However, at this point, before the organization can promote the hobby, it needs to promote itself to the vendors, manufacturers, and, yes, publishers like Kalmbach. I base my opinion on almost 40 years of experience with national professional associations which have special membership categories of this nature. The club member agreed with me.

There is one disturbing comment in this thread. There should be complete, total and unconditional transparency regarding the NMRA finances including an annual budget and year-end financial statement audited by an independent CPA. Otherwise, I would not think twice about joining the organization.

7

I’m going to have to agree about financial transperancy. I would think any organization which wants to be above reproach should be able to publish an anual budget and what categories the monies are being allocated to. That is a reasonable expectation to have to mitigate any concerns of misuse of funds (which unfortunately is all to common if you read the news often).

It does sound like Howard has again, answered his own question, with the original post in this topic and used a question to point out a fairly serious endemic issue with the organization.

8

I totally agree, bear. Even my historical society, the NYCSHS, shares those annually with members and any non-members interested.

Tom

9

The biggest benefit of the NMRA I’ve heard of is standards (1961) and DCC (proposed 1993, current standard 2006)

presumably it currently has some involvement with LCC today. not sure how they are involved

what is or should the NMRA be doing today if not promote the hobby?

10

Just kind of a bystander on this thread, as I know nothing about the NMRA, except the standards that have been set, but what is LCC ?

It seems that the only place I hear about the NMRA is in forums. I never considered being a member.

Mike.

11

I really do not want to start another argument about this, but Howard asked what the NMRA is doing to promote the hobby.

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From my point of view… nothing.

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I attended the National NMRA convention in Orlando, 2017.

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The group did nothing, NOTHING!.. to encourage any curious passers-by to get into the hobby. In fact, they openly shunned anyone who was interested.

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The dollhouse convention in the next hotel over was a much more fun event. I even had more fun with the swimming pool sales convention in the Hilton where I was staying.

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Shameful.

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-Kevin

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12

Layout Command Control

13

Having been a member of NMRA for a year, I found that organization unhelpful at best. Besides my mentor, no one offered to help me answer questions, etc. I attended one of their mini-cons and learned from the seminiars. The problem with a power-point slide is reducing things to the least common denominator.

The NMRA could easily encourage new blood into the hobby. Forget about social media blitzes and instead tap into STEM! There are many young kids engaged in robotics, wiring, etc. Coupling that with DCC is a fantastic way of potentially steering kids toward this hobby.

Bottom line: the NMRA has limited value. Their standards are of some help, but leave much doubt about their ability to draw new members. Gaining new blood is critical to encouraging the next generation of Howard Zane, Andy Sperandeo, etc.

14

The Green Mountain Division of the NE NMRA has a medium size switching layout based on Bellows Falls, VT.

15

Well I agree the NMRA could be more proactive in promoting the hobby.

I do have to say the NMRA saved the MSMRC after the 2016 flood, the insurance policy through them allowed the club to bounce back from that disaster without many lasting problems.

Walking into Walmart or Target and being able to buy the latest Athearn pr Walthers locomotive or rolling stock would be pretty cool.

16

Well, as a 50 year member of the NMRA, I agree, it could be run better and do more.

BUT, I don’t have the time or the temperment…

So I pay my dues to help support those who do. They are doing what they can…

If you are not willing to chip in your dues or your time, what business do you have to complain?

By all estimates, less than 1 in 20 active, serious, modelers are NMRA members. Maybe if dues revenues were 10 or 15 times what they are now they could do more…

Silly me, to think that one should pay, or work, first, then see the benefit later…

Having made all those points, I will say that I have never been to an NMRA function. It just never fit into my lifestyle/situation, and I have a hard time justifing the time and expense of distant travel for such things.

I’m not that much of a social creature…

But I consider the things the NMRA has done, and has provided me with, well worth the price.

Promoting the hobby…not my job, I did my part 40 years ago behind the counter in a hobby shop.

But, generally, I’m not one to try to recruit people into hobbies, churches, political parties, etc.

All the NMRA needs is for all its critics to join, and for 10% of them to volunteer to do something…

Sheldon

17

Is that just a more generic umbrella name for DCC? For those of us who live in a cave (man cave), differentiate LCC from DCC?

18

Just for the record, work by the NMRA on the Standards date to the 50’s and before.

I still have my original print set of Standards, RP’s and Data Sheets from 1968 when I joined. Still a valuable resource.

Many have original issue dates from the 50’s.

Sheldon

19

To start with - if you don’t see something worth spending the money on, then you don’t want to waste it. Secondly, if you know about an organization which has a very long term vested interest in the hobby, it’s definitely ok to have an opinion about it and ask the question Howard did, especially if he has an interest in the status and future of the hobby, as many do.

Silly me to think after all this time, a benefit should be visible to the bystander.

All well and good, but many of us don’t have the time, but still may have an opinion and ask valid questions.

20

From the useless NMRA:

https://www.nmra.org/lcc