any NMRA Members in here????

[N Gauger]

I belong to the Private Road Name Modelers Forum (An SIG of NMRA) . I'm no longer a member of the PRNM, but I still read the posts, because once in a while there is some good information.

The following was posted there last week:

Date: Thursday, 13 Oct 2005 20:02:09 -0000
From: "Tracy Mitchell" <_traymit@yahoo.com_ (mailto:traymit@yahoo.com) >
Subject: Changing the NMRA Contest Form

Dear Fellow NMRA Members,

What follows is a request to sign a petition that Jim Packer MMR started.
Many of us scratchbuilders feel the same way that Jim Does. The present
contest form hinders the scratchbuilder and favors he RTR crowd.

I am posting this message to all NMRA members. I ask that you please
forward it to all NMRA members known to you. It is my hope that eventually most
members with e-mail addresses will be given the opportunity to express their
opinion on this subject. If you are not an NMRA member and could forward to
others who are, your assistance would be appreciated. We hope to complete this
prior to the Mid-Year Meeting of the NMRA Board of Directors

In 1995, the long-standing scoring system for NMRA contests was changed.
The revised scoring reduced the maximum for Detail from 25 to 20 points and
reduced the scoring for Scratchbuilding from 25 to 15 points. The maximum
points for Conformity was increased from 10 to 25 points. Members of the Lone
Star Region believe that the scoring system in Conformity points greatly reduces
the opportunity to compete with a freelance entry, no matter how well the
entry may have been built. The term "conformity" remains a mysterious term,
with few people able to really define to what standard a model must conform in
order to be considered well done.

We also believe that the reduction in points for Scratchbuilding reflects a
lack of respect for the modeler who does the research and uses the ingenuity
to build without the benefits of a kit. A modeler can build a kit, using
pre-cut parts and explicit plans, then scratch build two or three small
additions and earn nearly as many points in that category as the modeler who puts in
hundreds of hours determining how to cut and assemble an original model.

Following my article in Scale Rails I have received lots of encouragement
from the NMRA and members of the Lone Star Region, supporting this position.

We ask that you sign this petition requesting that the NMRA revise the
scoring for NMRA-sponsored contests and the Achievement Program to the following:

Construction - 40 points

Detail - 25 points

Conformity - 10 points

Finish & Lettering - 25 points

Scratchbuilding - 25 points

Please go to the following link and include your name and your NMRA member
number when you sign:


http://www.PetitionOnline.com/NMRA2005/petition.html

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Note: I no way endorse the NMRA or the model judging function, I have neer participated in any contest, This is only an announcement for any Gauge members that are also NMRA members..

~~ Thanks