Page 4 - July August 1998

Paul D. Atkinson
President’s Car...
On going round the Regional and Divisional meets it would appear talk- ing to the members that more and more of you are acquiring the neces- sary hardware to “surf the Internet”. As those of you who have put a foot into the Internet world will know, the NMRA have what is called a “Web site”, which gives details of NMRA person- nel, Regional Presidents and Secretaries, and a whole host of other information, all of which can be down- loaded and printed out.
This brings me to a potential new development within the Region. As I mentioned in February’s “Roundhouse” (glad to know you all read the President’s Car) Peter Thompson has offered to compile a register of members’ E-Mail addresses with a view to publishing them in “Roundhouse” or better still in the Directory.
Peter has now offered to take it a stage further by providing the Region with a Web Site. The first section of the site would cover the full British Region Officers list, i.e. those who appear on the back page of the Directory, and would give their names and telephone number.
The second section would then list the Divisional contacts, again with name and telephone number. However if anyone objects to their name being included please let me know before we start putting the site together.
Since it appears that space on the site is not a problem it is proposed to cover
During the last three or four weeks two incidents have been brought to my attention which I feel merit wider pub- licity. When attending Divisional meets all members are asked to sign in and pay a small (I emphasise small) admit- tance fee. However a number of mem- bers have been observed attending a meet without signing the list or paying their dues. When it was pointed out that the list of members was for their safety (fire regulations and for the insurance company they very reluc- tantly signed in but were very reluctant to pay: “It’s not worth it, I am only stay- ing a few minutes”, was the response.
It cannot be emphasised too strongly that the money is collected in order that the meet can be financed and it doesn’t matter whether you are attend- ing for one minute or all day the meet has to be paid for, or are these mem- bers expecting to be subsidised by those who do pay? Where else can you get a day’s entertainment with tea, cof- fee and biscuits thrown in for a couple of pounds? I hope the aforementioned practices will cease forthwith.
The second incident was more upset- ting as it involved people who are not members yet kindly offer their services to help with the smooth running of meets. This incident occurred at our Spring meet at Rainhill where the Ladies helping on the desk were sub- jected to verbal abuse from some members (I am sure they know who I am referring to) when asked to pro- duce their membership cards. This is NOT the behaviour we expect from NMRA members and I sincerely hope we do not have another incident like it again.
Finally on a more cheerful note: Len Firth and I visited a hotel (Cedar Court) at the end of the M606in Bradford. This hotel proved to have some of the best public rooms for a convention I have seen for a long time. Jean Grant was able to negotiate a price of £65/p/n for October 20th/21st 2000. I have provisionally accepted on behalf of the Region but if anybody else has it in mind to put on the year 2000 Convention a ‘phone call would be appreciated.
Remember:
MODEL RAILROADING IS FUN
all the Region and Division meeting dates, together with any other shows similar to Derby where we have a sub- stantial NMRA British Region presence.
A final section would provide URL’s (Uniform Resource Locators) which would act as a guide to other rail-relat- ed Web sites, particularly those with an American Flavour.
As I was writing this I received a call from Mike Arnold who had received an E-Mail from the 1999 National Convention Chairman with a request directed at the Region. This we hope to fulfil but it does go to show the poten- tial locked up in the Internet and World Wide Web. Incidentally Peter is a mine of information concerning the prototype and he would be only too pleased to share this information if you care to contact him. His address is in the Directory, and his E-Mail address is: thompsonpe@aol.com
Steve Park our Region Trustee and Secretary has been in contact with Chattanooga recently and during a conversation with Connie Rudder (the Office Manager) it appears that the Office have been waiting for new membership cards to be printed. Since they ran out about three months ago this means that a potential 4000 to 5000 members are without current membership cards! If you are one of these unfortunate members please be patient as I understand things are moving again and the backlog is being cleared, hopefully by the time you read this.
Rail
trading
Recently started by an escapee from the rat race intending to spe-
Particular needs are to purchase:
1. General US Railroad Books
2. Freight Rolling Stock - either N or HO, and... 3. Any Modelling Books
...so why not clear those overloaded shelves NOW.
Call John Bloom at Rail Trading by phone/fax/snail mail/anyday/anytime. We’re looking forward to hearing from you...!
26 Oxford Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 5EH. Tel/Fax: 01403 263026
cialize in
US Railroad Litera- ture and (initially) N Scale Freight Stock.
4 ROUNDHOUSE