WHAT’S A MINI-MEET?

Bill Fassett, Superintendent, PNR 5^th Division

(Click here to download a .pdf of this page.)

 

The 2017-18 executive committee has established a goal of holding 3 mini-meets within the division during 2018 and will allocate funding to support local clubs or just groups of individual NMRA members who will set up a mini-meet.

We will also provide support for local clubs or NMRA members who wish to hold a stand-alone clinic if it is open to all NMRA members.

I’ve been asked, as a result, “what’s a mini-meet?” Here’s my take:

A 5^th Division mini-meet is a get-together that provides activities of interest to model railroaders. Mini-meets are often open to “soon-to-be NMRA members,” or to the public. As far as I can tell, there are no set rules, other than to meet, greet, learn, and have fun.

 

Some key elements of other divisions’ mini-meets appear to be: (1) not a business meeting; (2) not a swap meet; (3) geared to encouraging participation in the hobby, for NMRA members as well as non-members. Almost all mini-meets include some clinics and most include a layout or other tour. Some charge a modest registration fee to cover costs (typically around $10).

I’d probably distinguish a 5^th Division “mini-meet” from a “stand-alone clinic” in that the stand-alone clinic is a single session, typically 60 – 90 minutes on a single topic, whereas the mini-meet has a longer format of 3 hours or more with more than one activity.

If you are interested in putting together a mini-meet or a stand-alone clinic for Division 5, contact Bill Kleinert (Assistant Superintendent) at reklein72@hotmail.com or Bill Fassett (Superintendent) at b.fassett@comcast.net.

Here are some examples from other divisions and regions: