Volunteer

1. Active satisfactory service as a National Department Head: 4 TUs (Time Units) per month.
2. Active satisfactory service as a National committee Chair/Manager, reporting to a Department Head: 3 TUs per month.
3. Active satisfactory service as a Region committee Chair/Manager or a National committee member, or Division Superintendent/President: 2 TUs per month.
4. Active satisfactory service as a Region committee member, a Division Officer other than as Division Superintendent/President, or Division committee Chair/Manager: 1 TU per month.
5. Active satisfactory service as a Division committee member or Division board member: 1/2 TU per month.
6. Editors of an NMRA publication shall receive credit at the rate appropriate for committee Chairmen at the same level. At least four (4) issues of the publication, edited by the person applying, shall be attached to the SOQ or a URL provided for electronic newsletters before points will be considered for credit.

   So what exactly constitutes a "committee"?
   Basically, just about any office or function that isn't covered under Association Official. Most other officers in a Division (or Region) are considered Committee Chairs/Managers. For example, if your Division has a person who runs the contest at the monthly meeting, they can be considered the "Contest Committee Manager", your local AP representative is a member of the "Region AP Committee", and so on. Conventions (at all levels) are chock full of committees (Only the convention General Manager receives "Committee Manager" points - all others receive "Committee Member" points, even if their title includes the word "Manager"). Individuals who work just the day of the event (for example at the convention registration desk) receive credit for one month's work as committee members.

7. Service as a Division officer (other than Superintendent/President) or Division Director: 1 TU per month.
8. Newsletter Editors of 100% NMRA clubs having 10 or more members, may earn one time unit per issue of the club newsletter (print or electronic), providing it is four pages or more. Four (4) issues of the newsletter, edited by the person applying, must be attached to the SOQ, or a URL provided for electronic newsletters, before the time units will be considered for credit.

   (Other club officers, even of 100% NMRA clubs, DO NOT earn Volunteer credits.)

9. Official judges at NMRA sponsored model contests (including non-rail) shall be given time units for such service at the contest only (not monthly), as a one-time service credit per contest as follows:
   1. National Contest Judge 3 Time Units
   2. Region Contest Judge 2 Time Units
   3. Division Contest Judge 1 Time Unit

   This credit is in addition to any credit that you may receive for being on the committee that works to set up the contest event.

10. Individuals (and their crews) who open their home or club layout for layout tours or operating sessions in conjunction with NMRA conventions or other NMRA sponsored events earn credit as follows for each day that the layout is open for viewing.
    1. National Event 3 Time Units / day (12 TUs maximum per event)
    2. Region Event 3 Time Units / day (6 TUs maximum per event)
    3. Division Event 3 Time Units / day (3 TUs maximum per event)

    This credit is in addition to any credit that they may receive for being on the committee that works to set up the event.

11. Individuals who participate in modular layouts in conjunction with NMRA Division events, or at NMRA sponsored events, earn credit as follows for each day the layout is open for viewing at the event.
    1. National Event 3 Time Units / day (12 TUs maximum per event)
    2. Region Event 3 Time Units / day (6 TUs maximum per event)
    3. Division Event 3 Time Units / day (3 TUs maximum per event)

    This credit is in addition to any credit that they may receive for being on the committee that works to set up the event.

    NOTE: There is generally a maximum of 48 time units credited for any one National convention, 24 time units credited for any one Regional convention, and 6 time units credited for any one Division event.

12. Boy Scout Railroading Merit Badge Counselors who are NMRA members can earn: 1 TU (time unit) per month plus 1 TU per Scout that qualifies. This credit is retroactive with no time limit for those who have served as counselors in the past provided that they were also NMRA members during the time of service.
13. A live clinic that is presented more than once earns Association Volunteer credits for each additional (the first presentation is credited toward Author unless the person already holds the Author certificate) presentation at the following schedule:
    1. National Clinic - 3 Time Units
    2. Regional Clinic - 2 Time Units
    3. Divisional Clinic - 1 Time Unit
14. Certification of accomplishment shall be by the Committee Manager (in the case of committee members), or by the appointing officer (in the case of Committee Chairmen). The Region (or National) President or Secretary may certify when the appointing officer is not available or when many positions will require several signatures.

    KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SERVICE AS YOU DO IT: Obtain the record form from your local, or Regional, AP Manager, then fill it out and have it signed at the time. This is much easier than going back and collecting signatures later when you're ready to apply for your certificate.

15. Must submit a completed Statement of Qualification (SOQ, see below) itemizing evidence of completion of the above requirements, along with the signed record of service.

    Note: The Association Volunteer SOQ may be initiated by others.

Further Information

Contact the AP Committee General Manager at achiev [at] nmra.org, or your Region or Division Achievement Program Manager for more information.

Also refer to the article "Achievement Program Skills and Service Awards", NMRA Bulletin, September, 1992.

Forms available for this category:

• 2019 SOQ Form: (PDF)(DOC)
• Record and Validation form: (PDF)