Attendance policies have varied from convention to convention. Here's one example:
To attend the core convention (tours, unlimited access to the display/sales floor, clinics, and the like) requires a membership. You'll see two prices on application forms - one for members; one that includes a membership. Saturday attendance is open to the public for a nominal price (membership not required). This is generally for the sales/display floor but may include other things. I've seen, I think, where the display layouts are in a different room with separate access for either free or a nominal charge but membership isn't required. Additional layout tours would be scheduled for Sunday during the trip home. These would be 'free'. >From my experiences and observations anyway.... Ken On Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 6:50 PM, Pieter Roos <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I don't know if the NMRA has changed, but as of 2008 when I went to the > Hartford convention, I had to take a $9.00/six month membership to > participate in clinics and other events besides the train show. > > This may have changed since, in the interest of drawing more people to the > hobby. > > More generally, you can get a good debate going on just about any model > railroad list about the value of NMRA. Or the merits of Model Railroader. > Some take one side or the other for good reasons, some for reasons that > don't really hold a lot of water. These are "opinions", with all that > entails. I'm not currently a member of NMRA, but there are certainly many > benefits to being one. I would never discourage anyone from joining. > > Pieter E. Roos > > > --- On *Mon, 1/9/12, Bill Lane <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > Rich, > > > > I don’t recall anyone ever being able to go on a tour at an NASG > convention without being an NASG member unless you went to a joint NMRA > convention and registered with them. It is as close to a private event as > you can get. Depending on the venue and management there have been a > certain portion of the train show that was open to the public. I remember > some of them being on a Sunday when the convention was officially over. > > > > Thank You, > Bill Lane > > >
