Narrow News

June 2008

Exhibition & AGM 2008

Another Annual Convention and Annual General Meeting has come and gone. Saturday 10th May saw the largest get-together of Association members since the previous Convention and although numbers were down in comparison a good time was enjoyed by all of us who made the effort to get to the Town Hall at Burton-on-Trent. With twelve layouts on display and fifteen traders in attendance there was plenty to see and to spend your money on. The Association trade stands reported a very busy day, especially the Second Hand Department who started the day with a full display of goodies which looked considerably depleted at the end of the day. Also on display were examples of the new publicity material now available which members are asked to display wherever possible. The Annual General Meeting was dealt with quite speedily and was followed by the presentation of prizes for the competitions. The number of entries this year was perhaps a little disappointing, but the standard was as high as ever. Details of the competitions, and of the winners and runners-up, together with appropriate photographs are in Issue 171 of Narrow Lines, but one entry deserves special mention. New member and novice entrant to our competitions, John Clutterbuck, won not only the John Stitson Shield for his model of the K class Garratt, but also The Monkton Wylde Shield for the best entry from a novice. The meeting closed with the well deserved presentation of the Association Award for 2008 to David Charlesworth in recognition of his long service on the Committee as Publications Sales Officer.

Exhibition Photographs

A DVD of the photographs taken by Nigel Auckland at the Convention can be obtained on request from Nigel Auckland. The cost will be £3.50p, which is the cost of postage, padded package and the DVD. Contact Nigel by E-mail through this web site, or by telephone on 01489 890620 (please note Nigel works fulltime so evenings only please). Overseas members can get a cost by contacting Nigel as the postage will be higher

PUBLICITY

A number of initiatives have now come to fruition.

Publicity Leaflet. A new leaflet has been produced by Ian Virgo and stocks are available from our Secretary, Graham Chalmers. Three Digital Photo Frames have been purchased and Nigel Auckland has created a slide show of pictures of models and layouts for use at exhibitions to help to explain 7mm NG modelling. These photo frames are held by the 3 largest Area Groups, Surrey (Brian Cameron), Trent Valley (Mike Bellamy) and Yorkshire (Rod Tickner). These may be borrowed for local exhibitions by making suitable arrangements for the collection and return of the equipment with respective custodians. If you have your own Digital Photo Frame, then please contact Nigel Auckland who can make copies of the presentation for you.

Publicity Packs. Would all current holders of Publicity Packs please contact Graham Chalmers. If you do not already have a Publicity Pack and would like one please also contact Graham who will happily supply you with one. The Committee would like to encourage any member who exhibits their layout(s), to be a publicity pack holder. There are only about 25 members who have had packs in the past and there are many more member who participate in exhibitions.

Display boards. A number of display boards are being purchased, which will be held by the above 3 Area Groups for use at exhibitions by any member.

Advertisements. Advertisements will shortly start to reappear in Narrow Gauge World.

Area Groups. Area Groups are amongst the best way to publicise the Association and 7mm NG modelling on a local level. As groups grow particularly in areas where we are currently poorly represented, as much practical and financial help as possible will be provided.

Remember that all payments for subscriptions by cheque and credit/debit cards and standing order applications must be sent to:

When members send in a new Standing Order form they MUST include the Post Code of their bank as Nigel cannot guarantee that it will reach their bank and be put into effect. With many banks operating from remote service centres Nigel finds it very difficult to locate their Post Code if it has not been completed. Nigel has had quite a few magazines returned marked either "Not known" or "Gone away". If you have not received your February magazine, or you know a member who hasn't, please let Nigel have the details. There is an on-going problem with members not informing Nigel of their address changes and we would not like to loose members because of this, or for members to loose out on their magazine.

Can anyone renewing their subscription with an old form please add somewhere the three digit security code (found on the back on the address strip) as it is impossible to process payments without this. Newer forms have a space for this and it is now essential for this to be added. Any credit card transactions with the Association, will be rejected if this number is not provided.

Can we remind members not to send Credit Card orders by email. If there is no alternative then please do not put all of your details on the same email. It is necessary to send half the card number in one email and the other half and the security number in another. A better alternative is to add your home phone number and Bob will ring you for the card details. He has a ‘free evening calls’ package and it would also be more secure.

This latter charge will be levied on items such as tubes of track and rail. We cannot be specific, since each package will be charged to us in accordance with the new Royal Mail charging rates.

Members regularly ask for more details about both prototype lines and modelling techniques. Go to the publications section, where there is a link to Amazon Books. If you purchase any books by following this link, the Association will receive a small commission from Amazon.

We cannot make the books cheaper but their stock is usually competitively priced. If you follow our link to Amazon and then purchase any other goods that they offer, then the Association will also benefit from a commission payment. This is not available if you go direct to Amazon - it must be through the link from 7mmnga.org.uk You cannot lose but we could gain!

The Power of the Internet

There are about 350 users registered with the 7mm NG discussion group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7mmnga/ Two recent examples highlight how helpful this facility can be. A new member joined and asked if there were any other members in USA - within a day he had been contacted by 6 people, all with an interest in 7mm Narrow Gauge modelling. Another of our North American members enquired about UK coal merchants, which resulted in numerous reminiscences from our older members(!!), who explained all about coal yards at stations and the methods of delivery to the customer, as well as a comprehensive list of suitable model wagons and figures. That kind of detail could not be found so quickly anywhere else and shows the benefit of joining the group.

The Association insurance is arranged by Taylor McGill Insurance Consultants Ltd, who took over the model railway insurance business, following the death of John Dennison about 4 years ago. They have sent us a brochure about their services, which were previously for Clubrooms and Exhibitions, but they now also offer individual Layout Insurance with cover at home, in a garage or locked outbuilding, as well as 'All Risks' in the UK including 'in transit' (that means being moved and not just in a Ford van!!) Annual premiums start at £52.50. For further information please contact: Taylor McGill Insurance Consultants Ltd, Chapel Court, Clapel Lane, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 7DR, Telephone 0115 926 9073, e-mail info@modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk, or visit the web site at www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk <http://www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk/>