The Contest Chair

How is your special project progressing for the Denver model contest?  I hope it is nearing completion.

There will be over 40 award certificates available for presentation to the winners of the Popular Vote.  With 12 categories to choose from, selecting a winning subject for the contest should not be difficult - just pick an area where no one else is likely to have an entry!  I have yet to see a Traction model entered in the contest during my 9 years as your Contest Chairman.  Just watch, there will now be 10 Traction models entered and I have printed only one certificate for this category!

I also have a Youth Award available for the younger modelers.  So far I have had no entries in this category.  Therefore I may have to raise the minimum age to 65 or so just to have a model entered into this category!

Get your Mini Diorama finished!  I would like to see more than 6 at Denver, which will exceed the number at the Loveland Convention.

Denver will be my last convention as your Contest Chairman, so it would be appreciated if the contest room is filled to capacity with entries - to the point where the convention committee will have to obtain another room for the overflow.

Ten individuals will be required for the Achievement Program judging.  If you are interested in learning how to become an AP Judge, let Bill Tulley know of your interest.  Learning how to use the NMRA judging guidelines will help you become a better modeler.  Judging will begin at 1:30 pm on Saturday afternoon and depending on the number of models to be judged, we should be finished by 4:30 pm or so.

I am retiring from the Contest Chairman position effective at the end of the Denver Convention.  After 9 conventions, it is now time for someone with new ideas to take over this position.  That person is Gary Myers who will be your new Contest Chairman beginning with the 2016 convention in Colorado Springs.  He already has fresh ideas for new awards for the three highest scores in the Achievement Program.  I have seen them, which tempts me to start entering contest models again to try and earn one of these awards.

Just remember that the difference between a good modeler and a great modeler is that the great modeler knows how to hide his mistakes!