Why Attend a National Convention?

The National Model Railroad Association each year sponsors a national convention in order to provide a place for the membership to meet to continue their association with the hobby in a common forum.

The national convention consists of multiple activities for the member to learn and participate in all aspects of the hobby. In the course of a week, the convention attendee may tour and attend:

Clinics which instruct the member in the techniques of the hobby.
Symposiums on the prototype railroads.
Tour model railroads in the surrounding area.
Tour railroad facilities.
Tour hobby manufacturing facilities.
Tour railroad related industrial facilities.
Tour the sites and special attractions of the area of interest for family.
Attend an auction of model railroad equipment.
Participate and /or view the superb hobby models in the model contests.
Attend meetings on the future of the hobby.
Meet with hobby manufacturers and industry publication representatives.
Attend the largest train show in the country.
Attend meetings specialized for your particular interest.
Attend social functions and learning clinics on non railroad related subjects.
Meet and make friends with people who share the same interest.
Meet with representatives of the association and the Kalmbach Memorial Library.

There are so many activities at a national convention it is difficult to do it all during the course of a convention week. As an example, a national convention has almost a 100 different clinics and symposiums, and over 30 model railroad visits scheduled during a week long convention.