Personal Goals Reinforced at the AWMM

 

Last weekend I traveled to Erie, Pennsylvania, across the state, to attend the 2022 Alleghany Western Mini-Meet (AWMM). The event, sponsored by Division 12, MCR, NMRA, is probably the last event with my former division with which I will contribute any kind of leadership or institutional knowledge. The AWMM was a one-day mini-convention with model railroad tours, operating sessions, clinics, merit award judging and model displays, and raffle sales. I participated in at least a smattering of all the offerings provided.  In looking back at the event, I realize that it was a valuable experience for me, both in reinforcing or refocusing personal goals for myself as a NMRA member/model railroader and reinforcing several primary goals for my new version of my model railroad: the 4th Subdivision of the Cascade Division of the Great Northern Railway.

Personal Goals:

1. I do want to take more seriously working towards some NMRA AP certificates. For example, I can use the clinic I gave towards the "Author" category. In writing up the accompanying label for the scratchbuilt bridge that I displayed, I got started with the first of the six non-judged structures for the "Structure" category.
2. I participated with the judging committee, where we evaluated four entries for merit awards. Without going into details on that, I want more training as a merit award evaluator. I went through training at the 2019 Mid Central Regional Convention at Boardman, Ohio, and I have worked as a part of a judging committee a couple of times since then. In addition to being out of practice, I feel that I would benefit from additional training. As a former teacher, I am aware of the critical importance of reaching congruence in scoring of standardized assessments, which to my mind is what merit judging should be thought of. 
3. Continuing with the theme of evaluation of merit judging, I want to continue with the development of standards based rubrics for the "Scenery" Achievement Program category. Not only do I suspect that that evaluation has little in the way of documented criteria for determining a numerical score, but Mike Hauk, Division 12's AP manager, recommended that I continue working on that project. 
4. In the next day's model railroad tours, I had the opportunity to chat with Mike about a number of things. Beyond just comradery, I believe that a large part of my growth as a model railroader has been from interacting with, bouncing ideas off of, and being on both ends of mentoring relationships with other members of Division 12 and the NMRA in general. This leads to another important personal goal. I need to work towards making more connections here in northeastern Pennsylvania and with my new division: The Susquehanna Division, Division 11, MER, NMRA.  

In my next post, I will explore the goals for the 4th Subdivision reinforced by participating in the AWMM. Some of the clinics, ops-sessions, and model railroad tours really helped me to substantiate my priorities in building my new railroad, here in our new home.