Page 5 - NMRA Roundhouse January-February 2020

I’m writing this just following the huge Warley Train Show at the NEC, where we have had a presence for many years.The show is very eclectic with layouts rep- resenting many regions and parts of the world.This year I was pleased to be able to attend on the Saturday and support our superb team from the A5 modellers group led by Brian Clark. I was delighted to meet a number of you, and we met many more enthusiasts attracted by our eye-catching display. We recruited several new members who signed up on the spot, and many more who were very interest- ed whom we will hope to recruit. Huge thanks go to our dedicated team who were there all weekend on your behalf.
Talking to numerous interested people gave us an opportunity to get across the true advantages of NMRA membership. The two most important ones, to my mind - and this has been borne out by the responses I’ve received from many of you (keep them coming, please!) - are firstly, fellowship and support and secondly, the Achievement Program.
The AP is totally unique, rather akin to gaining a degree in Model Railroading: a hugely valuable way to structure our
modelling and improve our skills - and yes, gain recognition for our work. I’ve been talking with colleagues about anoth- er way that we might increase interest
in the NMRA, by looking to interest non-American outline modellers in the AP. I’d be interested to know what you think about this idea.
Perhaps I’m stating the obvious here, however I hear plenty of reports of people talking as if Roundhouse – great though it is – were all that the member-
ship fee provides. It certainly is not. Being an NMRA member enrols you into the fellowship of a community of over 20,000 modellers and enthusiasts – worldwide
– in North American Railroading.That’s a huge resource of talent and potential friendship. It always excites me to hear about domestic, European and trans-At- lantic friendships brought about through being in the NMRA.
I want to work on both of these with you during my term as VP, and they can come together in many ways. I was hearing during the show about our Northamp- ton group, for example, where several members are working together toward their Golden Spike and Chief Dispatcher certificates.We’re looking into ways to encourage members to form your own ad-hoc groups to work together in a similar way, in partnership with our AP officials.
Wishing a happy and successful new year’s railroading to you all.
Jonathan Small
Vice President NMRA British Region
vicepresident@nmrabr.org.uk
FROM THE HEAD END
Sunday 2 February 2020
Benson Village Hall, Sunnyside, Benson, Oxfordshire OX10 6LZ
Doors open at 10:00, though the café will be operating before that if you arrive early. The meet finishes at 16:00 after the raffle has been drawn. Admission is £4 for NMRA mem- bers (please remember to bring your
membership card), and £5 for non-members.
• Catering, this year by Too Perfection; teas, coffees, cakes, light lunches. • The Raffle • On30, HO and N Layouts:
Kamiack Falls – HO 1970’s Washington State-based switching layout (Anthony Quinlan and Graeme Wheeler)
Florence, Iowa – HO 1950’s Rock Island Mike Arnold
Squaw Falls – N-Scale ‘run-by’ layout Dennis C. Kamper
Pickett’s Post – Fun On30 layout designed by John Levesley
N-Scale modules supplied by Gosport Group
• Traders: Anoraks Anonymous, Sunningwell Command Control, Mech
Models, Amberley Tool Man, Richard Maxwell’s brass table, and books
from Linda Tinker and Peter Gibbs.
• Bring and Buy tables cost £10 for a single 6-foot table contact Keith Webb
If you’d like to volunteer to assist, we’d also like to hear from you. We will need a small number of volunteers to help with setup and teardown, and also to man the admission table and sell raffle tickets during the day.
Contacts: Mick Moignard or Keith Webb; NMRABensonMeet@gmail.com or 07774 652504
Contributing to Roundhouse
If you have an idea for an article or have a story to tell then please, please, please send your comments, ideas, club or division news and announcements to editor@nmraroundhouse.co.uk
ROUNDHOUSE - January/February 2020
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