Is the NMRA worth membership? What are your thoughts? I am a life member of the NMRA but have moved around a lot. I joined the NMRA because I was elected Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent of the Division to which I belonged. That club (division) was very active and had monthly meetings with clinics etc. We started a Divisional train show twenty some odd years ago. It was a great experience. But, to be an officer you had to be a member of the NMRA. I have moved several times since then. In some of my other towns, there were no clubs or like my present situation, no active divisions nearby. I have been to NMRA regional train meetings. I receive the monthly magazine, Scale Rails. I have 2 certificates in the Achievement Program. What is anyone else’s experience or thoughts. Is it worth it to be a member or is it something that may have served its purpose and is ready to pass on into oblivion?
Sounds like another hate NMRA thread starting. However, I have been in the NMRA for 36 years, hold an MMR, belong to the Turkey Creek, was very active with national and region activities until the last few years when time has slowed me down. Now I let the young guys run things and I attend. They do a good job, most are dedicated and generally my experiences have been very good.
On the other hand, I have no interest or intent to debate the pros and cons. If you are looking for someone to argue with, forget it with me. I have just said all I intend to say. Your membership is up to you, not me.
Bob
Bob, I am not an NMRA hater. I was a VERY active member. I am more of a frustrated member at the moment. I do have problems filling out all of those forms for the AP program. Since there is no active Division in my locale, how do I get some of my AP projects (on the layout) judged? I have admiration for the MMR. My best friend in Asheville, NC earned his MMR in the 1990’s and I went with him to the Regional meet and watched he receive the award that he richly deserved. The division had several MMR’s at the time and I believe my friend is still an active member all these years later.
I have been a member since 1972. I have been to a few divisional meetings and plan to attend more. I feel one of the biggest benefits is the standards. I don’t think that DCC or the rest of the hobby would be where it is today without the NMRA. I also enjoy the monthly magazine and bought Heritage / Living Legends cars until they quit doing them in S. I have also bought a number of the other publications. I’m not interested in the achievement programs and haven’t used the library, but I think those are worthwhile for those who do.
On balance I think it is worth being a member even though the dues have gotten a little high of late - probably should have become a Life member before they discontinued it.
Enjoy
Paul
I can only underline this. The achievement program is one way to sharpen your skills.
My problem, living in Germany I have no chance for NMRA convention. And membership becomes expensive for me.
Wolfgang
I too am a life member, since 1974. Joined 1 week after life dues doubled[banghead] but still a bargain. Moved to another region a year after joining. In the past 35 years I’ve received perhaps four mailings from the TLR, but frankly had little available time to get involved. I did finally just subscribe to their quarterly newsletter. Over the years the NMRA has been more than worth it to me, even with my minimal involvement. My “layout” is in the raw component stage (mostly boxed) and has been for the past 25 years. I don’t even remember what I have for locos, other than three are articulated, and almost all are brass. The grand plan is to work with BFI or WM to make enough room to finally build again, around the time commitment required for my disabled wife (scheduled home tomorrow after six weeks hospitalization/nursing home rehab). Retirement is nice, but there’s hardly time for anything![:(] Gary
At the NMRA Website there is a list of the Regions listing the Region people and the websites. If your region has a website a contact person should be listed. That person would be very glad to put you in touch with the AP Chairman for the region. He (or she) can work out ways to get your work judged for merit awards towards the certificates. If you can’t find out who that is, contact me by PM and I will try to help you.
There is also an on-line group (members only) that discusses the AP program in some depth. it can be found here. Good luck!
Oh, and yes I have very much benefited from being a member of the NMRA. It may not be for some lone wolves, but i have met some wonderful people who are incredible modelers and very willing and able to help others along the way. I am currently Superintendent of the Lakeshores Division, Niagara Frontier Region of the NMRA.
A commmunity search of the archived threads on this topic bring up many threads, including these that might interest you:
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/32276.aspx?PageIndex=1
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/27864/368780.aspx#368780
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/129261/1454576.aspx#1454576
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/123245.aspx?PageIndex=1
-Crandell
I too belong to the NMRA, though I didn’t get on the life member deal. I’ve considered working on certificates, but like you, there is no active organization nearby that I can find. I wonder if there’s some distribution data somewhere, but active model railroad clubs, individuals, etc seem to be geographically driven. I’ve lived in other locations with plenty of hobby shops and clubs, and in others, with a similar population and economy where hobby shops and model railroading are non existent. I wouldn’t say that’s an NMRA thing, but perhaps a socialogical one.
I’ve been a loyal member for many years and I would say that while the NMRA Bulletin went through some pretty dry spells for a time, the Scale Rails magazine under Stephen Priest is a great improvement and has had some really first class articles lately. The NMRA gives you the option of joining and not getting the magazine but IMHO I think it is a mistake not to get Scale Rails.
Based on conversations I have had with guys during various conventions, I would say it is one of the oddities of the NMRA that in some places the Region dominates and the Divisions are fairly weak, and in others the Divisions are very active and the Regions hardly exist. Geography may play a role and personalities make a difference, but the result is that that “NMRA experience” is not uniform or consistent and that is largely because when push comes to shove, everything other than the national office is pure volunteer. The tradition of a strong Division can be almost self perpetuating. My Division has monthly meets with clinics, layout tours, model contests, and a small swap meet room. Guys have told me their Division has not had a real meet in years. To my way of thinking the Division is the primary reason to join and stay a member.
Dave Nelson
Back in the early 80’s I belonged to the NMRA when there was a model railroad club in Leesville. After the club folded in the mid 80’s I saw no reason to renew my membership in the NMRA. I don’t go to shows and I don’t compete in competitions anymore so there seems to be little reason. I don’t hate the NMRA. It’s a very good organization. I just don’t have a need for it.
I model in N scale, which the NMRA regards in the same category as crop circles and the lost city of Atlantis… They’ve heard of it, and know that there are some wild eyed believers, but typically they don’t pay it much attention.
Another, “hate the NMRA?” I don’t read the OP in this way at all.But as on previous occassions I suppose it could lead to this - pretty sad if it does though.
Whether you participate in the many areas the NMRA has to offer or not, membership offers several features such as research facilities - which I availed my self of during my membership. My membership lasted a couple of years and the magazine was worth the dues alone. A personal budget reassessment meant that I had to cut back on spending for a while so I let my membership lapse.
Membership of the NMRA is just another avenue where you can support our hobby where your dues get you the magazine and contribute a bit to the show itself.
I think in your current position, and assuming you don’t mind paying the dues, then just sit back, wait for the magazine to show up in your mail box while feeling good that you have contributed to our hobby and have access to a comprehensive repository of books and magazine and all kinds of resources you can use - obtain photocopies of to help out with your enjoyment of our hobby.
Bruce[:)]
I have to admit for years I had my doubts about the NMRA which were honestly not founded in fact but rather then from listening to the opinions of too many nay sayers. After a while I decided well let me see for myself and I’ll be my own judge. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at what a great bunch of guys the local chapter here has and even before joining they were not the bunch of stuck up snobs I was lead to believe they were. That being said I am personally one of the belief of W.C. Fields why would I want to join any club that would have me for a member. I don’t like rules or conformity and being told what I should or should not do on my own railroad. I will say though that for the most part their accepted practices and standards make very good sense and are good guidelines to follow. Occasionally though I do like to color outside the lines so I have a hard time living up tot he expectations of what a member in good standing should and shouldn’t do. Just because it’s not for me doesn’t mean that I think they are a bad group but rather quite the contrary. It’s just that I guess I don’t take model railroading all that serious enough to belong to it. I have too many other things going on right now that are more of a priority then model railroading.
I think there will come a time in the future that I will get more out of what the NMRA has to offer
Too bad you found your Region to be that way. Kind of a surprise, given the N scalers in your area I know who are members of the NMRA.
Out here in our Region, folks seem slightly more welcoming to a variety of scales and gauges. HO scale is always the majority, so things can seem tilted that way.
Where are you located? Maybe those of us in active Regions can track down some NMRA contacts that are local to you.
And what is it that you’ve experienced personally that makes you think that’s what the NMRA is about? It’s certainly not that way where I live – there’s a broad variety of interests and approaches.
Unless it’s a behavior that can be booked as a misdemeanor or felony in your jurisdiction, I can’t imagine to what you could be referring. There’s no list of “expectations” I’ve ever seen or heard of. OK, you do need to pay dues …
But hey, if you don’t want to be part of the NMRA, that’s 100% your prerogative. Plenty of different ways to enjoy the hobby.
You’ve probably already emailed the Achievement Program contact in North Carolina who’s on this page to find out what they do in a situation like yours. Did you hear back? What did they recommend?
I have been modeling for most of my life, mostly on my own. Two of the most enjoyable things in this hobby are, my wife taking a big interest and working on the railroad with me and, joining the NMRA. The mentoring and friendships we have gained are things to last a lifetime. Our division is very active. And our local group has a steady membership. It may sound silly to some of you, but before getting involved with the NMRA I could never stand in front of a group of people and give a presentation. I now volunteer for shows, and we have opened up our railroad for review and received our Golden Spike award this last month. I hope that my story isn’t unique. We all have our own reasons for being a member or not. But I think that the most important thing we need to do is promote this fine hobby to the next generation. Because one of these days I’m going to be the old guy and I want someone to pass it on to. Hope I didn’t sound like I was on the soapbox there, but man am I having fun!
I’ve been in the NMRA for only about four years. So far it’s been great.
I’m a member of the New Jersey division, which is very active. It’s a generally good group of guys (there are a few women, too - maybe 1%) who get together for division meets every other month from September through May. Clinics are generally good (though ther have been a few clinkers!), and the afternoon layout tours are always fun!
I’ve attended one National convention and one Regional convention. I presented clinics on my helix at both. This year I’ll be attending my second Regional, and am helping with its organization.
It’s not all sweetness and light, certainly - there are issues that crop up occasionally. So far, though, they haven’t been significant enough to be more than irksome, IMO. There aren’t that many of them, either.
For me, the best part of the NMRA membership is the local crew I’ve met, and all the layouts I’ve seen as a result.