Those who've been to Milwaukee's Trainfest, which is run by the local NMRA Division, have seen how extensive the youth activities are and how much floor space is allocated and dedicated to youth activity. A make and take where Walthers would provide cases of free kits (and cements and tools) that kids could build and take home, and some of those boys and girls did great jobs on their kits. Coloring books, Brio trains and Legos for the very young. Youth layouts built by kids and a Junior Engineer program where young people could gain levels of certification by actually operating trains on those display layouts that agreed to participate, culminating in being invited to real operating sessions at Division member's home layouts who agreed to participate.
Well that's all over.
Within the last few weeks the NMRA has issued its new policy on at risk persons (youths under 18 and those with a legal guardian). And it is a flat prohibition applying to National, Regions, and Divisions.
The policy, with explanation and Q&As can be found here:
https://www.nmra.org/nmra-risk-persons-policy
Some highlights:
the NMRA, including divisions and regions, shall not participate in or have programs of their own which are directed at at-risk persons.
Why?
In society today we see lawsuits against various individuals who are in positions of trust who abuse that trust and abuse the vulnerable among us. These have been teachers, clergy, and volunteers in other organizations. In November 2019 the Boy Scouts had to mortgage Philmont Scout Ranch for $446 million dollars for payment of abuse judgments and settlements, and most recently the Boy Scouts declared bankruptcy. This happened despite the Boy Scouts’ comprehensive – and expensive – program used to screen and prohibit abuse.
The NMRA is not equipped to enforce the necessary protection policies for our members to follow. We do not have the money for the insurance or the company that provides training, or the staff to make sure the regions and divisions are complying with the necessary requirements to prevent abuse.
By way of example, we provide money to regions every year based on their membership, provided the region certifies by a declaration that all its members are members of the NMRA. Yet every year some regions will not even provide this simple one-page document to receive the money allocated to them. If we have difficulty getting regions to comply with this, we could not succeed at the far more important and complex enforcement of a youth policy.
Simply put, one instance of an abuse lawsuit by someone against the NMRA would bankrupt the NMRA and the organization would cease to exist. Statistically, based on the population at-large, we know that some of our members would abuse an at-risk person. NMRA insurance does not provide coverage for any accusations of abuse.
Needless to say this is sad, won't do anything to help grow our hobby, and terminates activities and programs that brought much enjoyment to great kids and to the volunteers who worked with them. Our Division has had a youth group for years that built and displayed a nice layout. That is in addition to Trainfest.
Even more sadly, I DO NOT feel it is an over-reaction. While we have never had an incident that I know of, involving Trainfest or our Division, there are at least two local modelers who I know (and there may be others I do not know) who are in jail or spent time in jail based on their on-line activities and habits. And the danger is not that something awful would be done right there in a room with thousands of people present to take notice and do something. The real predators don't work that way. They use far more insinuating methods that need only personal contact to succeed.
And speaking as the volunteer coordinator from time to time I would be uneasy about someone who would volunteer to work at Trainfest but only if they could be assigned to the youth area - even if all I needed was help in set up/tear down or handing out flyers or monitoring exit doors or helping out at the show office.
The NMRA policy speaks for itself and I'd have no objection if a moderator locked this thread.
Dave Nelson
At least we don´t have to worry about the future of our hobby any longer - there won´t be any, if we can´t get the youth involved in it.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
I was somewhat concerned about this when I first saw the headlines on it. However, our division's (Illinois Terminal Division) only youth activity is (or was planned before the train show got cancelled by the virus) a make-and-take that requires the parent to be present. We made the decision to do that prior to the National's recent decision, mostly because it just seemed like a good idea.
It's my understanding that so long as a parent or legal guardian accompanies the child in question, then you're good on this within the new policy. I'm sure we'll receive more guidance on this if needed, but I suspect we're OK where it stands now.
Yes, it's a sad situation, but we can also look at it as a way to also sell the NMRA to an adult, as well as a child, when operating a youth-focused program within the guidelines. That's probably as it should be, because I don't think that babysitting or childcare is within the core compentence of the NMRA.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I don't like it when NMRA business gets posted in these forums. It always ends up getting tangled up in a bunch of ugly posts.
I can see this one going that way very easily.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Tinplate ToddlerAt least we don´t have to worry about the future of our hobby any longer - there won´t be any, if we can´t get the youth involved in it.
Hobby might survive, but the NMRA will die out.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Tinplate Toddler At least we don´t have to worry about the future of our hobby any longer - there won´t be any, if we can´t get the youth involved in it.
Hmmmm, I'm more optimistic than that. While I support those in our division who have put effort into youth programs, I've never been one who thinks the NMRA depends on these to ensure the future of the hobby. Most kids simply don't have the resources to plunge into a hobby that requires a little bit of disposable income, an expanding amount of space to build in, and specific enough interests to get beyond the toy train stage.
Most who get serious about the hobby are middle-aged people with some access to a disposable income.
Train shows, Thomas, and tourist railroads, among other things, all provide entry points to the hobby. Locally, the aid to the Boy Scouts for the merit badge, etc is provided by an independent group of modlers, so this new NMRA policy won't change anything for that.
I got started with my Uncle's hand-me-down Lionel, but by age 14 I didn't need an adult's help for much of anything once I plunged into reading and building. I'm sure I'm not the ionly kid who's done that upon discovering model railroading.
OP has requested that the thread be locked.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.