Mid Eastern Region, NMRA The Philadelphia Division New Modeler Award

1) What is the award?

The Philadelphia Division New Modeler Award rewards excellence in model building by first time entrants in an NMRA sponsored judged model contest. The highest score achieved by a new modeler in the contest is worth not only a plaque, but a cash prize of twenty five dollars.

2) Sponsors:

This award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Division of the MER. The associated contact point for this award is the Superintendent of the Philadelphia Division of the MER, or his/her designate.

3) Who can compete for the award?

Any NMRA/MER member in good standing who chooses to enter a model for the FIRST TIME in the official NMRA/MER sponsored judged model contest at a MER convention may compete for this award.

4) Modeling Parameters --- definition and limits of what qualifies a model for the award:

The model can be a locomotive, a piece of rolling stock, a structure or an entry in any of the other NMRA Model Contest categories.

5) How the contest will be Judged and the winner chosen:

The model will be judged as part of the regular judging of the model contest at an MER convention. The Judging guidelines will be those established by the NMRA for the model contest and the AP Program. The first time entry achieving the highest score will be the winner. In case of a tied score, a member of the Board of Directors the Philadelphia Division, or their designee, will choose the winning entry.

6) The Philadelphia Division New Modeler Award (operations and award):

Once the winning entry has been decided, the sponsor(s) of the award will contact the winner. At the official MER awards ceremony, the Philadelphia Division New Modeler Award will be presented to the winner. The award will be handed out when the other special awards are distributed. This award may be presented by one of the sponsors. If this is not possible, the MER General Contest Chairman, or someone he or she designates, can announce and hand out the award. The sponsor(s) of the award will contact the winner directly for awarding the $25 award portion of the award.

7) Funding:

The sponsors of the award will fund the Philadelphia Division New Modeler Award.

8) Time limit for this award:

The sponsors of this award understand that in order for it to be placed into the special awards given at a MER sponsored convention this award must be approved by the MER Board of Directors. If approved, the award can be given at every MER sponsored convention over a two-year period. In order to continue presenting this award, the sponsors must seek renewal approval from the MER BOD every two years.