your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
1. Serve actively on NMRA committees (National, Region or Division) long enough to accumulate at least sixty certified time units.
a) Active satisfactory service as a Department Manager of a national committee shall accumulate at the rate of four (4) time units per month.
b) Active satisfactory service as a National Committee Chair shall accumulate at the rate of three (3) time units per month.
c) Active satisfactory service as a Region Committee Chair or a National Committee member shall accumulate at the rate of two (2) time units per month.
d) Active satisfactory service as a Region Committee member, a Division Official or Committee Chair shall accumulate at the rate of one (1) time unit per month.
e) Active satisfactory service as a Division Committee or Division Board member shall accumulate at the rate of one half (½) time unit per month
f) Editors of an NMRA publication shall receive credit for their service at the rate appropriate for committee Chairs.
g) Service as a Division Officer or Division Director (other than at the Region level) shall be credited at the same rate as that for service on Region Committees.
So what exactly constitutes a "committee"?
Basically, just about any office or function that isn't covered under Association Official. Most other officers in a Division (or Region) are considered Committee Chairs/Managers. For example, if your Division has a person who runs the contest at the monthly meeting, they can be considered the "Contest Committee Manager", your local AP representative is a member of the "Region AP Committee", and so on. Conventions (at all levels) are chock full of committees (Only the convention General Manager receives "Committee Manager" points - all others receive "Committee Member" points, even if their title includes the word "Manager"). Individuals who work just the day of the event (for example at the convention registration desk) receive credit for one month's work as committee members.
h) Division Superintendent (President) at the rate for a Region committee manager or two (2) time unit per month. All other Division Officers will accumulate at the rate for a Region Committee member or one (1) time unit per month.
i) Editors of 100% NMRA Clubs, having ten or more members, may earn one (1) point per issue of the Club Newsletter, providing it is four pages or more. All Newsletters must have four issues submitted with the SOQ, edited by the person applying, before points will be considered for credit. (Other club officers, even of 100% NMRA clubs, DO NOT earn Volunteer credits.)
j) Official judges at an NMRA - sponsored model contest shall be given time units for such service at the contest only, not monthly, as a one-time service credit per contest as follows: National Contest Judge = 3 Time Units Regional Contest Judge = 2 Time Units Divisional Contest Judge = 1 Time Unit
k) Individuals (and their crews) who open their home or club layout for layout tours (in-person or narrated virtual) in conjunction with NMRA conventions or other NMRA sponsored events earn credit of three (3) time units (TUs)/day that the layout is open for viewing to a maximum of 12 TUs for a National event, 6 TUs for a Regional event, or 3 TUs for a Divisional event. This credit is in addition to any credit that they may receive for being on the committee that works to set up the event. These credits are available for both in-person and virtual layout tours.
l) Individuals who participate in modular layouts in conjunction with NMRA Divisions or at NMRA sponsored events, earn credit of three (3) time units (TUs)/day for each day the layout is open for viewing at the event to a maximum of 12 TUs for a National event, 6 TUs for a Regional event, or 3 TUs for a Divisional event. NOTE: There is generally a maximum of 48 time units credited for any one National convention, 24 time units credited for any one Regional convention, and 6 time units credited for any one Division event.
m) Boy Scout Railroading Merit Badge Counselors who provide Merit Badge counseling through the local District and are NMRA members can earn 1 TU per month and 1 TU per Scout that qualifies for the Merit Badge. This credit is retroactive with no time limit for those who have served as counselors in the past provided that they were also NMRA members during the time of service. (Note: This credit can also be earned by volunteering with some outside-the-NMRA groups that serve youths if the group has a process for vetting and training volunteers. Contact the AP General Manager to discuss requirements and credits.)
n) Presentation of an in-person or virtual clinic (with handouts available in-person or online) can earn time units if that presentation is not being applied toward the Model Railroad Author certificate. Time units are earned according to the following schedule: Presented at National level = 3 Time Units Presented at Region level = 2 Time Units Presented at Division level = 1 Time Unit
2. Certification of accomplishment shall be by the Committee Chair in the case of committee members and by the appointing officer in the case of a Committee Chair. Certification of active service as chair of a convention-sponsoring group shall be by the Region or National President as appropriate. Current Regional Secretaries or the National Secretary may certify when the appointed officer is not available or when many positions will require several signatures.
3. Submit a completed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) itemizing evidence of the completion of the above requirements.
In case of exceptionally outstanding service, the chair of a committee or the appointing officer, in the case of a committee chair, may initiate the SOQ for a member whom he or she knows to have met the requirements. However, the member must sign the "Member's Statement and Agreement".
Contact the AP Committee General Manager at achiev [at] nmra.org, or your Region or Division Achievement Program Manager for more information.
Also refer to the article "Achievement Program Skills and Service Awards", NMRA Bulletin, September, 1992.