Author

Achievement Program Certificate

Author

Although the category title is Model Railroad Author, it may just as well be Model Railroad Media Specialist. All fields may be used to earn points.

To qualify for this certificate, you must:

1. Prepare and submit material on any of the following subjects:

• Model Railroading.
• Prototype Railroading, Applicable to Modeling.
• NMRA Administration (e.g. Officers or Committee Reports)

The material being claimed must be the work of the author, photographer, artist, draftsperson, etc. applying for the certificate. A total of forty-two (42) points must be earned from a combination of material in the following areas:

A. Formal Publications

This is material that appears in printed or electronic media, such as magazines or newsletters and may include text, photographs, drawings, etc. A key requirement is that the publication must have an editor and that the author works with that editor to refine the material for publication. Material that has been published or accepted for publication, may be claimed. A copy of the published material or of the acceptance receipt from the publication or the URL for electronic media must be submitted as proof. Points are awarded regardless of size or number of features appearing in any particular issue.

• A "page" is defined as 800 words. Credit may be claimed for partial pages down to quarter pages.
• NMRA Publications (including SIG publications) with a circulation of more than 2000 may be considered National Publications; those with a circulation of more than 1000 may be considered Region Publications.
• Material published in 100% NMRA Club publications earns half the number of points as for an NMRA Division publication.
• No more than half of the total required points (21) may be claimed for Division or 100% NMRA Club publications.

Material that is electronically published and has a formal editor is credited at the same rate as printed material. This would include the publications of Historical Societies, NMRA organizations, and others who have a formal editor to manage content and have moved to electronic publishing in addition to or in lieu of print publication. 

B. Live Clinics

These are live, streamed, or pre-recorded presentations given at conventions or other NMRA live or virtual events. To be eligible for credit, the clinic must be prepared and presented by the member applying for the certificate, it must be at least 30 minutes in length, and it must include a handout or other record of the material presented (e.g. a pdf copy of the presentation material.) A copy of this record must be included with the certificate application.

A live clinic can only be claimed for Model Railroad Author points once, even if it presented more than once. Additional presentations of a clinic earn credit towards Association Volunteer.

C. Informal Publications

This is for material that does not go through a formal publication process with an editor and is most likely published on the Internet but could also include self-published books. Key requirements are that material must be educational in nature and applicable to model railroading. No more than half of the total required points (21) for the Author certificate may be claimed for Informal Publications.

Written material on a blog, website, or online magazine meeting the requirements earns credit at the same rate as Published Articles in Region publications. (See above) All photos, drawings, etc. are treated as 1/3 of a page.

• Material that is published in more than one place or way (for example, both in a magazine and electronically, or in multiple electronic formats) can only earn credit once.
• The address (URL) of the material must be included with the certificate application.

Audio/Visual material such as online videos earns credit at the same rate as Clinics in Non-NMRA National Sponsored Events. (See above) Credit earned is for each hour of completed production time (eg, a 1-hour video earns 3 points). Material presented via NMRAx or the NMRA Youtube channel earns credit at the same rate as Clinics in NMRA National Sponsored Events if not claimed as a Live Clinic. 

• Material that is published in more than one place can only earn credit once.
• The address (URL) of the material must be included with the certificate application.

Podcasts earn credit at the same rate as Clinics in Non-NMRA Region Sponsored Events. (See above) Credit earned is for each hour of completed production time (eg, a 1-hour podcast earns 2 point). 

• Material that is published in more than one place can only earn credit once.
• The address (URL) of the material must be included with the certificate application.

General:

• Material claimed must be documented in a Record and Validation form and be reviewed by an NMRA member who must ensure the following:
  • Material covers model railroading; prototype railroading applicable to modeling; or NMRA administration
  • Material is educational in nature
  • Accessible on a public forum; not behind a paywall
  • URL provided and functional
  • Is original work of author, with appropriate citations or credit given to materially fairly included in the publication or presentation

• Regional AP Managers are authorized to evaluate work for credit for both printed and electronically published work. Final determination of what material is acceptable for credit, and how much credit it earns, lies with the National AP Manager.
• For all material that is the work of more than one person, each person may claim 1/2 of the applicable points, provided that they did at least 40% of the work involved.

2. Submit a completed Statement of Qualifications which shall include a Record and Validation listing of all material claimed giving the subject matter, name of the publication or place of presentation, the dates, and the handouts or other documentation. The Record and Validation listing for informally published material must include an affirmation of an NMRA member who attests that the submitted material meets the standards above. The number of points claimed for each item must be shown.

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 NMRA AP regulations (1992), the AP Handbook (1991), and the articles "Model Railroad Author" and "Helpful Hints for Authors", NMRA Bulletin, June, 1992.

Forms available for this category:

• SOQ Form (fillable pdf)
• Record and Validation forms (fillable pdf)