I was looking at the NMRA site and the membership with magazine fee of $72 for ONE year. Anyone have this? Is it worth it? If so why?
Gary
Gary,
I feel a lot of the benefits of an NMRA membership is the activities of the local division. When I lived in Dayton, Ohio I was a member for many years. Mid Centarl Division 3 was and is a very active division with easy to attend monthly meeting and many activities. When I moved to western Colorado in 1998 I maintained my membership for a few years, but there is nothing NMRA related happening out here. Closest meetings and activitites involve hours of driving to attend. I do believe the NMRA deserves support for what the do for the hobby, but I need more than a magazine.
I'm a member and am glad I joined. The Garden State Division of which I am a member has regularly scheduled meets and the members are pretty active with opening their layouts and giving clinics, etc. Great opportunity to also meet other model railroaders. As I recall there is a very inexpensive 6 month trial membership that you can use to evaluate the value to you including the magazine.
gdelmoro I was looking at the NMRA site and the membership with magazine fee of $72 for ONE year. Anyone have this? Is it worth it? If so why?
I have been a member since 1968, worth every penny. I'm not a social type, never been to an event. But they are the reason you have DCC, they are the reason all your trains work together. They are always working hard behind the scenes to make the hobby better.
Back it the day, membership came with a great book of information called data sheets. today they are working or reviving that on the web.
Sheldon
You get more out of it if you participate in the local (divisional) activities.
With any organization, there can be personality clashes and factions that can make things not attractive.
With any volunteer organization, the quality and quantity of the opportunity depends on the participation, abilities and enthusiasm of the volunteer. Some divisions are more active than other, some have better quality than others.
If you search the internet forums you can find thousands of pages of discussion, argueing and ranting about the quality, relavance and mission of the NMRA.
Find out how active the local groups are and if you like what they are doing, join.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Speaking for the "no" side I have to agree with Gary that to me it seems the majority of the benefit stems from the local division and not the National part.
I was a member 2 times under several Local Divisions. The first time was worth the money for Bulletin magazine and information but evolved into a very long period of assinine jokes and while "cute for a while" it got silly and became stupid while dominating the Bulletin.
Years later I joined again to see how things had changed and the great magazine became nothing but an advertisemnet for the upcoming National Convention and a recap of the past one. Not much more for the money.
I didn't have the time or money to attend the National Conventions so I was getting ZERO for the money. So I didn't renew and spent the money on a couple RR historical societies. Much more enjoyable for the money.
YES.........before everyone gets their panties in a wad...........the NMRA has done a lot for the hobby getting standards for gauge, couplers, DCC, etc but I don't see bowing to them and paying $72 for past glories. It's a done deal to me. Many thanks for the PAST!
My past experience with Local groups hasn't been all that wonderful either as when attending shows and being asked if I were an NMRA Member and replying "no" the attitude toward me changed and I was basically snubbed. Great way to inspire folks to join.
I have known a lot of very skilled and dedicated NMRA Members, some also MMR's, and they were/are fine people but as a group I don't see any reason to join for the 3rd time. I still think being a part of several RRHS for the money is a better investment of time, money and thrills. They have their own conventions, publications and other things more in line with what I want for my investment.
Just my 2¢,
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
dehusman You get more out of it if you participate in the local (divisional) activities. With any organization, there can be personality clashes and factions that can make things not attractive. With any volunteer organization, the quality and quantity of the opportunity depends on the participation, abilities and enthusiasm of the volunteer. Some divisions are more active than other, some have better quality than others.
+1
I find my membership in the NMRA well worth it. I happen to live in an area where the local Region and Division are quite active. I choose not to receive the magazine, so my membership is cheaper.
A 6-month NMRA trial membership is very inexpensive (10 bucks), so you can find out for yourself.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
When I joined in 1963, membership was $3 a year and Model Railroader was 50 cents. Now it's $72 and $7. Dividing, you get a 24 fold increase and a 14 fold increase.
That "said", it's only for a year. I recommend trying out membership for that year and seeing what comes of it. If ya don't like it, don't re-up. If ya do, stay in.
And definitely check out any regional and local operations. They'll be who you'll likely be more involved with anyway.
As my little brother used to say: "It's a spearmint."
Ed
ATLANTIC CENTRALI have been a member since 1968, worth every penny. I'm not a social type, never been to an event. But they are the reason you have DCC, they are the reason all your trains work together. They are always working hard behind the scenes to make the hobby better. Back it the day, membership came with a great book of information called data sheets. today they are working or reviving that on the web.
I agree. It's the primary reason I have been a member since 1972.
I do go to some of the divisional activities when I have the time and have also enjoyed some of the other things like the long gone Heritage Car program. The magazine varies, but usually has something in it that I like.
Paul
Full NMRA membership without the magazine is $44.00. That's what I do. Regions and Divisions publish their own newsletters and are usually available for viewing online and are free.
Hello all,
In the NMRA magazine, at least every other issue has a discussion on this very topic.
"What do I get for my money?"
I joined in 2014, before I subscribed to MRM.
Yes, you probably get more out of your membership if you are close to division events, as has been posted.
I opt for the NMRA magazine and, like any other publication, some issues are great and some are sleepers.
The magazine covers many aspects of this great hobby that aren't often covered in other publications.
I also feel good supporting the organization that provides standards and recommended practices for this hobby.
Other advantages of membership are admission to the members only forums, select articles from other division publications and member only pricing on merchandise.
Members can also work towards certification of Master Model Railroader.
When it comes down to it, the decision is up to the individual.
The hobby as we know it will not suffer if you are not a member, but for me supporting this organization is definitely worth the price of membership.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I have mixed feelings about it. I've been an NMRA member for most of the last 30 years, but haven't been for about a year now. In a typical year, the only thing I get out of it is the magazine, so being a member without the subscription wouldn't really be worth anything. If the regional convention was 'in town' (usually every 4-5 years) I would go to that, and I attended the one national convention when it was held here. Otherwise, due to money / time issues, I'm not able to travel to attend conventions otherwise. The local monthly meetings are held about a mile from where I work, but the timing doesn't work out. (If they were in the summer instead of winter I would have had a much easier time attending.)
We'll see, if finances get better, I probably will eventually re-join. For now, my model money is better spent on hobby items, and magazine subscriptions and books.
oldline1YES.........before everyone gets their panties in a wad...........the NMRA has done a lot for the hobby getting standards for gauge, couplers, DCC, etc but I don't see bowing to them and paying $72 for past glories. It's a done deal to me. Many thanks for the PAST!
https://www.nmra.org/index-nmra-standards-and-recommended-practices
Maybe a done deal to you, but the S and RPs are still being revised and updated (some submitted for approval for next months BOD meeting). Not all divisions are great at the recruiting and retention process.
Sheldon, the data sheets are available to members here:
https://www.nmra.org/members/data-sheets
If you have not done so you may need to create a login.
Well... Thank You for all the posts and perspectives.
For $10 I'll do the trial but I cant attend chapter meetings so if the web products and magazine are not useful to the furtherance of my hobby, I won't be able to justify the membership fee.
Again I really appreciate everyone taking the time to post.
After the trial I'll be back with my experience and decision in case anyone is interested.
gdelmoro Well... Thank You for all the posts and perspectives. For $10 I'll do the trial but I cant attend chapter meetings so if the web products and magazine are not useful to the furtherance of my hobby, I won't be able to justify the membership fee. Again I really appreciate everyone taking the time to post. After the trial I'll be back with my experience and decision in case anyone is interested.
Since you are planning on joining, you can attend any NMRA division meeting. If the Metro North Division, Sunrise Trail or Hudson Division has a meeting time/location more convienient than Garden State you can attend those meetings if you wish. You might also look into the MER divisions to your west and south. I dont know where they meet.
https://nernmra.org/index.php/divisions
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/regions/regions-map.html
Andrew
Thanks Andrew, it's not that. I have MS and after work there's not much left in me.
Weekends I want to spend my time working on my layout.
So in the end, the information in the magazine, online and other benefits need to be worthwhile. Worthwhile for me is information I can use to improve my layout, trains, electronics or operations.
Hi Gary:
When I first got into the hobby about 12 years ago I dutifully joined the NMRA. I was disappointed by the holier than thou attitudes expressed in the magazine's Letters to the Editor, and I didn't attend any events, so after a couple of years I dropped out.
However, as I gained model railroading knowledge it became more and more apparent that the NMRA had done, and would continue to do, a great deal for the hobby, so I joined up again. I don't believe in free rides. I pay my own way. Somebody has to foot the bill for the process of coordinating the hobby standards.
Last September I joined a local train club that required 100% of the members to belong to the NMRA. In return, the NMRA provides insurance for the club at a very reasonable rate. I don't feel pressured to maintain my NMRA membership just for that. I choose to see a much broader picture.
Regards,
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critter Hi Gary: When I first got into the hobby about 12 years ago I dutifully joined the NMRA. I was disappointed by the holier than thou attitudes expressed in the magazine's Letters to the Editor, and I didn't attend any events, so after a couple of years I dropped out. However, as I gained model railroading knowledge it became more and more apparent that the NMRA had done, and would continue to do, a great deal for the hobby, so I joined up again. I don't believe in free rides. I pay my own way. Somebody has to foot the bill for the process of coordinating the hobby standards. Last September I joined a local train club that required 100% of the members to belong to the NMRA. In return, the NMRA provides insurance for the club at a very reasonable rate. I don't feel pressured to maintain my NMRA membership just for that. I choose to see a much broader picture. Regards, Dave
Every time this topic comes up, there are people who feel like me, and like Dave's comment above, and similar feelings/comments from others along with those who don't feel they get any "value" from the NMRA.
I learned years ago on this topic to just say my peace and leave it alone.
But after reading Dave's thoughts, from someone not nearly as long in the hobby as my 50 years (NMRA member for all 50 of them), I realized I have one more point to make.
As I said in my first post, I'm not really into the social side of the hobby, I would never travel some great distance and pay for a hotel to attend a convention, and seldom has my personal life allowed that luxury from a time standpoint.
But here is another way for me to explain my feeling about the NMRA. Several others commented that with any organization of this type you get out what you put in - well yes and no.......
I have happily paid my monetary dues to the NMRA for 50 years, largely because I am not the social type, I'm not a "committee joiner", "newsletter editor", "event coordinator", "clinic presenter". So I am happy to "contribute" a few dollars to suppor those who are willing and able to take the time do such work.
My personal and family life has seldom allowed time for such activities in addition to making time to actually build model trains. One can build model trains in whatever spare time one can find, but going to regular meetings or attending conventions and meets requries you to be available when those events are happening - that seldom seems to work out for me and I would not have others depending on me for commitments I might not be able to keep.
But I can afford to fund the NMRA to the tune of the dues they charge. After all I can afford this hobby to the tune of 130 locos, 1000 freight cars, and a 1000 sq foot layout space, even though it took 50 years to get that level - I would be embarrassed to say that the NMRA is "too expensive" for me.
So, imperfect as it may be, I am happy to help fund the good work they do, and have done for many decades.
And I respect the choices of those who don't feel they can afford to do what I do.
cuyama dehusman You get more out of it if you participate in the local (divisional) activities. With any organization, there can be personality clashes and factions that can make things not attractive. With any volunteer organization, the quality and quantity of the opportunity depends on the participation, abilities and enthusiasm of the volunteer. Some divisions are more active than other, some have better quality than others. +1 I find my membership in the NMRA well worth it. I happen to live in an area where the local Region and Division are quite active. I choose not to receive the magazine, so my membership is cheaper. A 6-month NMRA trial membership is very inexpensive (10 bucks), so you can find out for yourself.
+2
I met most of my train buddies through the NMRA - my layout has been on several NMRA layout tours, have given clinics at NMRA events...Big impact on my modeling
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
As with so many other things, it is a matter of "the more you put into it, the more you get out of it." You have to make the effort to make Divisional and/or Regional activities important to you. If you view it as just a magazine subscription, then it's hard to see the value per dollar. Having said that, the NMRA Magazine is a huge improvement over what it was when I first joined, when there was a definite sense that the articles were ones the "real" magazines didn't want. Many of the authors and articles are now fully worthy of MR or RMC and indeed many are the same folks.
Dave Nelson
I am a supporter of the NMRA and a member. I think there are many good reasons and I believe that many who do not think it is a good place to be a member are simply ignorant of all of teh benefits or truly misunderstand all that the NMRA does. Here are my following reasons to belong:
1 - The NMRA sets standards that we all benefit from. It is only reasonable that if we recieve benefits that we would support an organition that makes the MRR consistant and fun. Imagine buying cars with twenty different couplers thAt dont connect to each other ! Or ten different rail widths ! They work all together because of the hardwork of the NMRA
2- Fellow ship - Many divisions have regular meets where one can meet other like minded people and learn from them or share ideas
3- Education - The NMRA has a master modeler program where you can actually earn a master modeler degree.
4 - Resources - The NMRA has an online program where they are documenting photos of historical value and for research
5 - Videos they also now have videos that have been donated for the members to watch and learn from
6 - Many divisions have regular meets where a guest speaker will stand up and give a talk or display that educates us on how to some aspect of the hobby
7 - Layout visits - The NMRA divisions have regular site visits of different model railroads in your area
8 - operations - many divisions have groups that meet on a regular basisi and actually run the MRR like a real RR. Lots of fun
9 - Monthly magazine - They also have an outsanding magazine if you choose this option
10 - Division news letters- Many divisions put out a news letter that the local division members recieve about current events, activities and model railroad models etc...
11 - Yearly calendar - Heck this is worth half the price of admission ( if you choose this option)
12 - There are many more reasons but to me these are the big ones.
I hope you join and support the hobby.
YGW
Sorry, but with all due respect, I have to say this. The NMRA does emphatically NOT only represent what they've done for all of us in the PAST. Right now, they are working on recommended practices, working with manufacturers to develop new products/tools for the 2lst century, such as LCC. (DCC related), pay insurance costs and sometimes (I think) rental fees for local clinic groups to meet monthly, etc.
I have been a member for many years but admit to a lax occasionally due to financial or family illnesses/care, etc. But I always rejoin as soon as I'm able.
A member does indeed receive much more bang for the buck if one attends conventions, modeling meets, layout tours, etc. but the other benefits such as research material for a prototype based layout, etc. are beneficial to lots of us.
I don't always subscribe to the magazine due to it's added cost (depending on the year and life in general) and it's hit and miss aspects but I think very fondly of the NMRA every time one manufacturer's product works and plays well with another's on my layout and on others.
I can see the argument that one's limited funds might be better spent on historical organizations but then I guess I also regard the NMRA as an historical association! (And a future association).
Whatever cost benefit analysis one must consider, the comment that the NMRA only has benefits to our hobby (and us) in the PAST is simply not so. I personally know the current RP guy for the NMRA who lives in my state and I run into at OPs sessions and he and the others he works with are working tirelessy for no pay, as volunteers to help all of us whether we "want them to or not".
I rarely rant. And I respect reasons why some folks don't join or even want to, BUT the NMRA is still in my own opinion a valuable and useful association/organization.
I WOULD like to see them concentrate much more on getting youths involved via Ops, computer (game oriented) dispatching, nudging them ever onward towards physical, 3D modeling via after school programs, etc.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
I belong to the MNRA almost by necessity. Here, with the 3rd Division of the Pacific Northwest Region (PNR), I belong to a round-robin group of modelers. There are no dues to belong to it, but we meet once a month (mini meets), as well as having a monthly business meeting. Then we have a spring meet and a fall meet. At these seasonal meets we usually have a model contest, at least one clinic and a silent auction. For one to participate in the model contest and the clinics, one has to be an NMRA member. There's also a member discount on the admission to these meets. I also subscribe to the magazine. I belong to the NMRA for all the reasons that other members that responded on this thread have mentioned as well.
Well I mailed my trial membership form and a check 2 weeks ago, haven't heard anything yet. One would think there would be an online option these days, instead of snail mail.
The website says 2-4 weeks and 6 weeks to receive the magazine. According to Wikipedia they have 20,000 members and a staff of four.
If they had 80 million members like Amazon prime, you would have your membership before you finished reading this sentence.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
wjstix I have mixed feelings about it. I've been an NMRA member for most of the last 30 years, but haven't been for about a year now. In a typical year, the only thing I get out of it is the magazine, so being a member without the subscription wouldn't really be worth anything. If the regional convention was 'in town' (usually every 4-5 years) I would go to that, and I attended the one national convention when it was held here. Otherwise, due to money / time issues, I'm not able to travel to attend conventions otherwise. The local monthly meetings are held about a mile from where I work, but the timing doesn't work out. (If they were in the summer instead of winter I would have had a much easier time attending.) We'll see, if finances get better, I probably will eventually re-join. For now, my model money is better spent on hobby items, and magazine subscriptions and books.
I was hoping someone from the Twin Cities would respond. I've been contemplating subscribing for about a year, but haven't pulled the trigger to do so just yet. Was hoping to get more information about the Twin Cities area and how active it was.
In the meantime, I may join the Chicago & North Western historical society since it's cheaper, and I'll find more enjoyment out of those publications while continuing the slow build progress of my layout. I'd love to find a few other societies to join, too.
Does anyone else have feedback about the Twin Cities NMRA chapter?
I'm a member of Orange County Module Railroaders and enjoy running my trains /interacting with members at shows, but some say the cost of attending an NMRA Convention is way too high and the location for some people is simply "out of the way".
Still, it's a fun hobby.
BigDaddy The website says 2-4 weeks and 6 weeks to receive the magazine. According to Wikipedia they have 20,000 members and a staff of four. If they had 80 million members like Amazon prime, you would have your membership before you finished reading this sentence.
YIKES
gdelmoro Well I mailed my trial membership form and a check 2 weeks ago, haven't heard anything yet. One would think there would be an online option these days, instead of snail mail.
You could have applied for membership right online at nmra.org
My beef with them is I asked for lifetime membership back when that was possible, and they didn't answer me for 3 plus months because they were eliminating the program and only contacted me once they changed the rules. Left a very bad taste in my mouth at which time I dropped out, pluss other issues, many.