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Home   Forums   Events Calendar   Sponsors   Support the RRLine   Guestbook   FAQ     Register Active Topics | Active Polls | Resources | Members | Online Users | Live Chat | Avatar Legend | Search | Statistics Photo Album | File Lister | File Library [ Active Members: 8 | Anonymous Members: 0 | Guests: 119 ]  [ Total: 127 ]  [ Newest Member: fd ]  All Forums  General Forums  The Crew Lounge  NMRA Achievement Program "Support" Threads Next Page  New Topic |    New Poll |   Reply to Topic |  Author Topic Page: 1 2 3 4 of 4 Dutchman Administrator Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  3:40:13 PM     Back in the late summer/early fall, we had a thread here on the forum discussing the possibility of creating a series of threads to help RR-L members who are working through the Achievement Program of the NMRA. There seemed to be quite a bit of interest in the concept. Here is the link to that earlier thread: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22837 The purpose of these threads would be to provide focused areas where members working toward a specific Achievement Award could post questions or have a common discussion on their progress. In that earlier thread, it became obvious that the Forum already has a number of members who have earned their MMR and were willing to offer advice based on their experience in the program. Many more members, while not yet MMRs, have earned the Achievement Awards in one or more of the categories and also expressed a willingness to help fellow forum members. In the next post, I will include links to some of the first such threads that will be created. We will try to place them in the sub-forums which make the most sense, based on the focus of the individual Achievement Program category. As we add additional threads, I will add the appropriate links as well. We want to make it clear that this is a RR-L Forum initiative, and is not formally associated with the NMRA. Whenever the topic of the NMRA and/or the NMRA’s Achievement Program comes up, we tend to see a number of comments, pro and con, about the Association and/or the AP. That is fine, and there are certainly places to express such opinions. However, we want to make it clear that this thread, and the individual threads linked to it, are not places to post such comments. The sole purpose of these threads is to support RR-L members who are working through the program. Any posts in these threads ‘bashing’ the Association or the Achievement Program will simply be deleted by the moderators. More information about the NMRA’s Achievement Program can be found at this link: http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/ Bruce Country: USA | Posts: 32073 Dutchman Administrator Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  3:53:24 PM     Before we get to the actual categories within the Achievement Program, let’s talk a minute about the Golden Spike Award. Although not an AP category, the components that go into the Golden Spike are similar to those categories, and thus the Golden Spike is often seen as a good ‘first step’ if you are interested in delving into the AP. More information about the Golden Spike Award can be found at this link: http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/gold.html For those RR-L Forum Members interested in working towards the Golden Spike Award, you can find a thread devoted to that topic at this link: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24677 Bruce Country: USA | Posts: 32073 Dutchman Administrator Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  4:01:35 PM     Here I will list the links to the individual “support” threads for the various sub-categories within the Achievement Program. Master Builder – Structures Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24678 Master Builder - Scenery Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24680 Master Builder - Cars Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24682 Master Builder - Motive Power Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24766 Master Builder - Prototype Models Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24769 Model Railroad Engineer - Civil Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24798 Model Railroad Engineer - Electrical Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24800 Model Railroad Author Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24820 Chief Dispatcher Certificate: http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24819 There are two final Certificates available in the AP Program. By their nature, they do not need 'Support Threads' here in the forum. Any questions you have on these two could be posted in this thread. Here are the links to them on the NMRA website. Association Official Certificate: http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/ap_official.html Association Volunteer Certificate: http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/ap_volunteer.html Bruce Edited by - Dutchman on 02/12/2009 10:04:26 AM Country: USA | Posts: 32073 hunter48820 Fireman Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  4:41:53 PM     Hi Bruce, Thank you much for getting this started and thanks to those that have gone before us and are willing to help us climb the mountain!! Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! Andy Keeney Dewitt, MI Country: USA | Posts: 6117 Orionvp17 Fireman Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  5:09:40 PM     Bruce, Thanks for getting this off the ground, or "on track," if you prefer! I like the concept, and hope it will answer a lot of questions and reduce the misconceptions about the AP. There are a number of knowledgeable folks on the Forums, and I hope they'll continue to chime in. And for the record, the only "dumb" question is the one you're afraid to ask. If you, the Forum members, have trouble asking "in public," shoot me a PM; I'll try to get you a good answer as soon as I can. The AP is a great way to improve the quality of your modeling, learn new techniques, and have a lot of fun in the process. Pete MMR in Michigan Country: USA | Posts: 7068 AVRR-PA Fireman Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  7:23:00 PM       Hi, Bruce -- Thank you! I will be participating in the Structure thread immediately and in others later. I'm really glad you got this going. Don Country: USA | Posts: 5005 railmus Fireman Posted - 02/01/2009 :  9:10:09 PM       Here in southern Ontario we have started what we call a "mentorship" group. Forum member Chuck Faist is our "secretary" and has put all our names and contact info, AP certificates earned and those we are working on into an "Excel" spreadsheet. The spreadsheet also includes those qualified to "judge" as well as MMR's willing to help. It was easy to start. At a recent International Division meet in Hamilton (ONT), division superintendent Harvey McIntyre and Chuck put out a call for NMRA members interested in the program. About thirty members showed up from three divisions (WOD, ID and CD?). We had several presentations on what it takes to get certificates from several MMR's in our area. A general discussion followed and the mentorship group was formed. Since I am from the WOD, we have a little sub-group in the London area. I have already received help for the Chief Dispatchers Certificate, namely how to calculate hours and also timetable and train graph information. Forming such a group should be a nice addition to the new threads the moderators are creating so I hope other divisions might give this a try as well. Edited by - railmus on 02/01/2009 9:19:50 PM Country: Canada | Posts: 1989 wvrr Fireman Posted - 02/01/2009 :  9:52:15 PM       Great idea, Bruce. RR-L has always been a great forum for ideas, techniques, and tips. And, the Achievement Program is another way of improving your skills. I'll check the other threads! Chuck Country: | Posts: 6506 Gerry Engine Wiper Posted - 02/01/2009 :  11:05:16 PM       This really IS a great idea, Bruce. I'll do my best to check in here more often than I usually do and see what I can do to answer questions or help folks! Gerry (MMR #346) Country: USA | Posts: 264 Orionvp17 Fireman Premium Member Posted - 02/01/2009 :  11:16:05 PM     quote: Originally posted by Gerry This really IS a great idea, Bruce. I'll do my best to check in here more often than I usually do and see what I can do to answer questions or help folks! Gerry, Welcome Aboard! For the record, your "What I Learned" essay on the NMRA website should be required reading for every NMRA member. It's elegant. Pete in Michigan Country: USA | Posts: 7068 hunter48820 Fireman Premium Member Posted - 02/02/2009 :  12:32:37 AM     quote: [i] And for the record, the only "dumb" question is the one you're afraid to ask. If you, the Forum members, have trouble asking "in public," shoot me a PM; I'll try to get you a good answer as soon as I can. The AP is a great way to improve the quality of your modeling, learn new techniques, and have a lot of fun in the process. Pete MMR in Michigan Hi Pete and All, As a person interested in participating in this program as I'm sure many others are and since there is no such thing as a dumb question as Pete stated, it would be beneficial to all if all questions were posted to the group to help all of us out. If the writer feels funny about posting the question on the forum and wants to contact a mentor directly, I request that the mentor repost the question with the answer to the forum, minus the questioner's name of course! Thanks! Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! Andy Keeney Dewitt, MI Country: USA | Posts: 6117 Peterpools Engineer Posted - 02/02/2009 :  06:47:41 AM       Bruce Thanks for bringing up the topic again. I've always wanted to work towards my MMR certificate but just never did. Maybe this time with the help and a group effort, I'll get going and actually do it. Peter BCT Country: USA | Posts: 12335 wvrr Fireman Posted - 02/02/2009 :  07:40:03 AM       The article that Gerry wrote and Pete referred to can be found here: http://www.nmra.org/education/achievement/pdf/mmr.pdf Chuck Country: | Posts: 6506 railphotog Fireman Posted - 02/02/2009 :  08:11:43 AM       I sort of "fell into" the AP program many years ago, before Al Gore invented the Internet. I attended NER conventions in New England and always entered my models in the NMRA judged contests. When I heard of the AP, I checked and already had enough models that had earned Merit Awards to apply for certificates in Cars, and Structures. I had to make an application for Scenery with photos showing the required elements that were in my several pairs of HO modules. With all of the help here and other places these days, it should be somewhat easier for modelers to apply for the AP. I also got my Author certificate without having to work on it through the articles and photos I had published without any knowledge of the Program. I had also presented a clinic at the 1986 NMRA convention in Boston, which went towards the requirements. Bob Boudreau My model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/ Country: Canada | Posts: 4027 George D Moderator Premium Member Posted - 02/02/2009 :  08:27:56 AM     I think this is a great idea, Bruce. I have a Golden Spike, but I’ve never pursued any of the AP’s and probably should. George Country: USA | Posts: 15591 Dutchman Administrator Premium Member Posted - 02/02/2009 :  08:57:10 AM     Thanks, guys. I will be creating threads for additional categories within the AP, and adding the links over the next few days. (Okay, knowing me, it might take a few weeks.) 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