Membership
Q. How do I join the NMRA?
A: There are two ways to join the NMRA, by paper mail-in form, available on the NMRA website (https://www.nmra.org/membership-application-and-renewal), or on the NMRA Member Portal through the Membership->New Membership Purchase menu choice: (https://www.nmraportal.org/portal/membership/new-membership-purchase). US Memberships ONLY. From the Purchase screen you can select the type of membership you wish to join at, and get details about each type.
Q. What do the numbers on my NMRA Membership card mean?
A: There are several items on your membership card that provide important information. In order on the card:
- Membership Number - The first 2 blocks are your NMRA member number (12345 00). The first set being your actual sequential number on joining followed by 2 characters that show your place in the number since the "number" actually refers to your family. If you are the only or primary member in your family you will usually have 00, the next having 0A, etc. The next block (format of XX) is your Region. Regions are numbered from 21 to 39 (00 is for those not in a Region area of the world) If you go to the Region page on the website and go down to your Region Number in the list (shown as XX00 or 2100) you will find your region. On that section are the Divisions in that Region with the format region + division, or 2101 for first division. Match those numbers to find your Region.
- Expiration Date - this is the date your current membership will expire. To maintain continuation of your NMRA membership and access to the Member section of the website, you must renew before that date.
- Member Since - this is the date that shows the date you originally joined the NMRA, or, If you had a long break in membership, this shows the date you last re-joined the NMRA, called your "Rerail Date".
Q: When I review my membership information on the My Membership page, I noticed that some of the information is incorrect, out of date or blank. How do I get it fixed?
A: When you are logged into the NMRA Membership Portal as a member, in the Membership Menu there is a choice called My Membership. Choosing that option opens your NMRA Membership record, where you may make changes to selected data fields as necessary. Some fields are Read Only due to the fact that they are generated in the master NMRA Membership Database, reflecting several that are permanent (NMRA Member ID, original join date and a couple of others), and several that others that are linked to your primary mailing address. Those fields are updated in your Portal profile by submitting either a) Member Address Change Request Form for address changes, b)Email Change Request form to change the email address on file in your membership, or c) the Member Profile Change Request form, all in the MyMembership menu. After any changes have been processed by the NMRA Office in the Membership Database, you will see change reflected in your profile. The remaining fields include your email/username, your name and related fields, all of which may be edited. Any changes you make are effective immediately, with the Membership Database fields being updated after those changes are processed during business days in the NMRA Office. Changes on the NMRA Member Portal that are part of your NMRA Website profile will be updated from the Membership Database as part of that processing. There are several change issue reporting forms available on the NMRA Member Portal website, including Member Issues or Questions, Website Issue or Questions others through the Support Menu.
Q: How do I renew my NMRA Membership?
A: When you log into the NMRA Membership Portal with a login account that matches the email address in your NMRA Membership, you will be placed in the My Membership screen, where you can view your membership profile, view your membership history, and be able to Renew or Change the type of your membership.
If you have a renewable membership (RailPass memberships are NOT renewable) or one that can be changed to a different type of membership (change from Basic Membership to Premium Membership to get the NMRA Magazine mailed to you), you can start that process on this screen.
Q: What are the types of NMRA memberships?
A: The types of memberships currently available to new or renewing members are listed below. Membership in the NMRA commences at the time in which the requisite membership fees for the class of membership sought and for which the applicant qualifies, is paid to an authorized representative of the NMRA. Said membership shall enlist the member, with the exception of Corporate Member, at all levels of the NMRA organizational structure on both the National (and International) and local levels.
- Regular Member. Any person interested in model railroading may become a Regular Member upon application to the Administration Department and payment of the appropriate member fees as set by the BOD. This class of membership includes full rights of membership plus access to the digital NMRA Magazine, receives the e-Bulletin, has voting rights, can hold elected and appointed offices, and can participate in the Achievement Program. This class of membership may subscribe separately to the print NMRA Magazine.
- Family Member. The spouse or minor child of any member in good standing may become a Family Member upon application to the Administration Department and payment of the appropriate fees as set by the BOD. This class has no publication benefits, has no voting privileges, cannot hold elected or appointed offices, but can participate in the Achievement Program. NOTE: A valid, current, logged in member may purchase a Family Membership in the Membership Purchase screen (Membership menu, select Membership Purchase). The purchase form requires the sponsoring member's NMRA Member ID, along with a couple of fields pertaining to the member (member email, etc.). The remainder of the purchase form has family member specific fields for entry.
- Student Member. Any person 18 years of age and under, and interested in scale model railroading, may become a Student Member upon application to the Administration Department and payment of the appropriate fees as set by the BOD. Additionally, any person between the ages of 19 and 25, possessing a current valid student ID from an accredited institution, may also apply for Student Membership. This class will include access to a digital version of the NMRA Magazine and the NMRA e-Bulletin, has voting privileges, can serve in elected or appointed offices, and can participate in the Achievement Program.
- Sustaining Member. Any person, association, corporation, or other business organization interested in scale model railroading may become a Sustaining Member upon application to the Administration Department and payment of the appropriate dues as set by the BOD. This class of membership includes full rights of membership, plus access to the digital version and a print subscription to NMRA Magazine and the NMRA e-Bulletin, has 9 voting rights, can hold elected and appointed offices, and can participate in the Achievement Program.
- Corporate Member. Any manufacturer, retailer, wholesaler, or other person engaged in the business of scale model railroading may become a Corporate Member of the NMRA upon application to the Administration Department and payment of the appropriate dues as set by the BOD. This class will include access to the digital version plus a print subscription to NMRA Magazine and the NMRA e-Bulletin. Corporate Members do not have the right to vote, cannot hold elected or appointed office, and cannot participate in the Achievement Program.
- RailPass Member. A RailPass membership (U.S. and Canada only) is a trial membership for a period not to exceed nine months from the date of activation. The following provisions apply to the RailPass class:
a. U.S. RailPass memberships are available only to persons holding a U.S. address of record.
b. NMRA Canada RailPass memberships are available only to persons holding a Canada address of record.
c. A RailPass membership is available only to those persons who would otherwise satisfy requirements for Regular Membership.
d. A RailPass membership is available only to persons who have never been NMRA members or who have not been NMRA members for at least two years and have never had a Rail Pass Membership.
e. A person shall hold no more than one RailPass membership during his or her lifetime.
f. A RailPass Member shall have the full rights of membership with the exceptions of the right to hold office or elected or appointed position and do not have the right to vote.
g. RailPass Members are eligible to attend conventions and participate in contests at every level of the NMRA.
h. A U.S. or NMRA Canada RailPass membership includes access to a digital subscription to the NMRA Magazine and the e-Bulletin during the period the membership is in effect.
i. A RailPass Member is eligible for all awards presented by the Achievement Program, except the MMR Award.
j. A RailPass Member is eligible to earn and receive a Golden Spike Award.
- Life Member. Other than Honorary Life Member, this class of membership is closed. All categories of existing Life Memberships have access to the digital version and also receive the print NMRA Magazine, NMRA e-Bulletin, have the right to vote, can hold elected and appointed office, and can participate in the Achievement Program.
- Honorary Life Member. As recognition for meritorious service to the National Model Railroad Association, any person or organization may be elected as an Honorary Life Member by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors and shall not be required to pay any additional dues. This includes full rights of membership plus access to the digital version and a print subscription to NMRA Magazine and the NMRA e-Bulletin.
