NMRA News

NMRA NEWS

L-Gauge Motion Doesn't Pass

"The minutes of the meeting will explain the actions taken by the BOD.  The BOD agreed that L-Gauge as it is called by its fans, is an exciting pathway to scale model railroading and a real asset at the NTS and other train shows.  Youngsters especially are enthralled and the skill involved can be amazing.  We hope to see an enhanced presence of L-gauge in the NMRA as a SIG. 

As for adopting an L-gauge standard, we could not.  The effort failed because we do not control the standard already established and patented by the major maker of L-gauge trains.  In other words, nothing to set.  When we set a standard, it is available for any manufacturer to use but where the sole standard is someone else's and patented, it is not available for use without permission from the patent holder.  Hence, nothing for us to do.  We have not adopted a standard in such a case without the right for free use of it.  So we could not act upon the request from the L-gauge community. " 

Charlie Getz, NMRA President

We held a lengthy discussion on the topic. We all know the amazing layouts that the L Gauge groups display at train shows.  There are sophisticated software programs that you can use to design a layout.  They use a battery operated power system using wireless controls.  In the end, the BOD determined that they could not set a Standard for a system that is patented and controlled by one manufacturer.  The L-Gauge group will be invited into the NMRA to form a Special Interest group (SIG) where they can set standards for standard gauge and narrow gauge.  Notice I said standards and not Standards.  

John Stevens, NMRA Secretary

Highlights of the Winter 2014 Board meeting

The NMRA Board of Directors held its Winter meeting in Las Vegas, NV, on February 14, 15 and 16.   The first day consisted of the Operations and Budget meeting with Department heads, and a closed Board caucus that evening.  On Saturday the Board held its regular meeting, which was open to the public, and on Sunday the Board, Officers, and Department heads discussed the goals of "NMRA 2019," the Long Range Plan that is still being crafted.  That meeting was also open to the public.

Here are some highlights from the Board meeting.  Please note that this is an informal recap and should not be assumed to be definitive.  The official meeting minutes will be issued shortly by John Stevens, NMRA Secretary, and published in NMRA Magazine and on www.nmra.org.

• New Europe Region approved - The Board unanimously approved a contingency motion to accept a new Europe Region into the NMRA.  Some of the names needed on a petition were not yet received and/or verified by headquarters at the time of the motion, hence the contingency.  When it's official, the new region will have over 100 members from the outset.  Atlantic District (AD) Director Kathy Millat worked alongside former AD Director Nobby Clarke to bring this to fruition.

• Video recording/streaming policy - The issue of commercial companies recording and/or streaming clinics at NMRA National Conventions was discussed at the Atlanta Board meeting in 2013.  At that time a special committee was appointed to investigate alternatives to a temporary policy that had been put in place for that convention.  The committee could not agree on a new policy, so at this Winter Meeting the Board agreed to adopt the temporary policy as permanent.

• New Marketing Director  - Marketing Director Page Martin was promoted to Vice President of Marketing, and introduced the new Marketing Director, John Parrish.  Page also presented an impressive recap of his efforts over the past year.

• NMRA in the black for 2013 - Chief Financial Officer Frank Koch reported that the NMRA ended last year with a surplus of over $240,000.  He also reported that the NMRA headquarters building sold for almost $900,000 - a sum that was higher than comparable properties in the area.  The deal was a win/win for both the NMRA and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, who would have had to build a new building to accommodate their operations.

• California State Railroad Museum Display - Paperwork is continuing on this initiative, which has raised over $600,000 to date.  Currently approvals are being slowed down by governmental entities within the CSRM.  The Board would like to remind members to please send in their pledges or contributions if they haven't done so.

• Kansas City approved for 2018 Convention - Stephen Priest, NMRA Magazine editor and current RAC Director, gave the Board an impressive presentation pitching Kansas City as the location for the 2018 convention.  The Board approved the site.

• Redesigned website nearing completion - IT Director Ben Sevier reported that the completely revamped NMRA website is nearing completion and will hopefully be ready to go live sometime this summer.

• Self-certification program ratified - The Board ratified a self-certification program for standards and conformance, as proposed by S&C Department manager Di Voss.