| Volume 40 Issue 7 | March 2001 |
| Volume 40 Issue 7 | March 2001 |
Thanks to Don Bedrosky and all the members who showed up to buy and sell ‘stuff’ at the February auction. As always, there were bargains to be had. I’ve already stripped and repainted the Keystone Shay that I got - I’ve been wanting one of these for years, but haven’t been able to afford one until now!
In March, Don Kriegbaum will let me how to keep that Keystone, and all my other engines, in top running form with his clinic on Locomotive Maintenance. Don last presented this clinic about five years ago. Our motive power is the single largest investment that many of us have on our layouts. It makes sense to keep it in good running condition, and Don will help us with that. Please join us at the Park Manor activity room for what is sure to be a good time!
Also in March, beginning at 1:30, we will have the first in our new series of ‘basic skills’ clinics, “Layout Planning.” This new feature to our monthly program is tailored to our newer members, although I’ve always found I learn something new at any clinic. Please note that the starting time is one-half hour earlier than our normal 2 pm. We will go with the basic skills clinic for 1/2 hour, then continue either after the meeting or prior to next month’s meeting (depending on what y’all want to do.)
We continue to look for people to help with the 2002 convention. John Reck is the latest to step forward and offer his assistance. John has volunteered to help out where needed, when needed at the convention. Just something that simple makes the lives of the convention committee easier, because we know that ther will be people who are willing to help out manning registration, or the contest room, or helping out with making certain our clinicians have what they need. Thanks, John!
Have you ever been to a Regional convention? I hadn’t, until the 1993 Dayton Regional, headed up by Bob Fink. In fact, I wasn’t even a member until then. At that convention, Merv Hardman drafted me to help with transporting people back and forth from the Crossroads Railroad Club operating session. I went ahead and registered for the convention, because I wanted to go to a couple of the clinics and was interested in seeing what the NMRA had to offer.
Little did I know what that would begin. Between the Dean Freytag clinic I sat in on, the contest room entries, and the Dalmation Switching District, I was convinced that there was something there for me. I started attending the monthly meetings, and by July, I was on my way to the Valley Forge National Convention with a model that I had put together the previous month.
Early in the week, I had a long conversation with Ralph Oxenhandler of the Pacific Coast Region on what the judges looked for in a model entry. I went back to my in-laws and took a look at my station and started making notes on things that needed to be changed to help my score. After a few late nights putting the final details on and filling out the paperwork for the contest, I entered the model. The judges were generous, upping the score from 86 points to 87.5, giving me an Honorable Mention, my first Merit Award, and making me wonder, “What is a Merit Award?”
I recall seeing a few Division 3 members at that convention, but I didn’t really know anybody. I still had a great time. I still look forward to the Nationals for a chance to chat with Ralph, who I credit with making my first experience with the Achievement Program and Contest Room a pleasurable one. I consider Ralph’s assistance at that 1993 convention one of the keys to getting me involved in the Achievement Program and putting me on the track towards an MMR sometime in the future.
Since then, I’ve not missed a MCR regional convention, and made about half of the nationals. In 1994, Ed Brewer and I went railfanning up in Berea - the first time I’d been railfanning in years. In 1995, I met Sam Swanson at the Atlanta National, and we’ve been good friends since then. In 1996, I met Bob Prehoda and developed an interest in trainorder operation. In 1999, I met Doug and Jackie Hole at the Madison National and talked with them about Jackie’s bird modeling and how she got into that aspect of the hobby. I’ve made a lot of other friends in the Region and from around the country at the various conventions, as I‘m sure you would if you started attending these events.
The conventions are an important part of your membership benefits, and it pains me sometimes to see how few members take advantage of them - about 10 percent, on average. To me, that means that 90 percent of our members are not getting everything out of their membership that they could. Yes, there is a price tag to be attached to attending a convention. In my mind, at least, that is a small price to pay for a weekend (or a week) of relaxation and fun with a few hundred (or few thousand) friends.
Happy Modeling!
Ray
© 1999, 2001 Division 3, MCR, NMRA