Achievement Program

I have been trying to come up with a snappy title for this column, but so far I have not.  So snappy or not, here it comes.

I am going to try and give you an overview of how the system works or sometimes doesn’t.  When I receive an AP form, I try to process it in a day or two.  Usually I am successful.  I then forward the required paperwork to my contact at the National Level.  He usually processes the paperwork during the 3rd week of the month.  If he does not receive it during this timeframe, it is not processed until the following month.  Therefore, if you have a submission, it would be best to get it to me as soon as you can so we can meet this deadline.  When it comes to the question of “When will I see my name in print” or “When will I get my AP certificate?” I do not have a clue as to what the lead time for either is.  As far as merit award certificates and Golden Spike awards, I print up the certificates and mail them directly to the individual modeler.  So much for the nuts and bolts of the operation.

I intend to bring to the next Region Board meeting a request to establish an AP committee member in each of the 4 states of our region.  My thought is that hopefully there would be someone geographically close - that each modeler would have a more local contact person to bounce questions and ideas off of.  Additionally, these people could form a cadre to help man the contest room at the Region Convention and assist in the judging process.  I am hoping that each division has an AP chairman, who could also be tapped for contest room and judging duties if his division is sponsoring the Region Convention.

The whole purpose of this exercise is to allow more people to get involved in the AP program and to have sufficient qualified judges. They can then go back to their respective divisions and guide those modelers along through the AP program.

I am sure that this extension of the AP program will require some fine tuning, but I think there is a necessity to improve upon what we have (that is me).  There are instances where modelers in remote areas do not have anyone to come and judge their work, in scenery, or civil, or electrical - I would hope that this might alleviate that problem.

Good News and Kudos, this has been a busy time for the AP program:

Golden Spike Award recipients:

Bruce W. Klawitter

Doug Whetstone

Merit Awards from the Rails Along the Rio Grande:

Denny Krausman for ATSF Stockpens at Hartman, Colorado

Bill Sedivec for “I Have it Lumber” and “Cheryl’s Tractors”

Lynn Daugherty for Shed at Akela Stockyard

Jeffery West for ATSF Combine Caboose and Pacific Electric interlock Tower

Master Builder certificates:

Master Builder Prototype Models

Buzz Lenander

Master Builder Structures

Buzz Lenander

Master Builder Scenery

Dick Durston

Buzz Lenander

Model Railroad Engineer Civil

Buzz Lenander

If you see any of these modelers congratulate them for a job well done and excellent submissions.

That rounds up the activity for this issue, as always if you have any AP questions drop me an e-mail at

wisconsinsouthwestern@g-mail.com

Jim Laird

AP chair