Division 12, Mid Central Region, NMRA, Inc., also known as the Alleghany Western Division, is a recently formed division of the National Model Railroad Association, located in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Southwestern New York.
For the most up-to-date information about our organization, membership meetings, or public events please use the News/Events page or search button at the bottom of this page.
Next Membership Meeting Event:
Saturday, March 8th, 2025. Program: “Photography 101 for Railfans and Modelers, Pt.1 & Pt. 2″ by Mike Hauk. Lincoln Library, 1255 Manchester Road, Fairview PA 16505. Mike’s Susquehanna & New York layout will be open for visitation following the meeting. Directions will be given to attendees at the meeting.
Superintendent’s Letter for January 2025:
Well, it’s been a long winter and it’s not over yet, and that puts me in the mood for a good rant, and what’s the use of a bully pulpit if you can’t indulge in a good rant, tirade, or polemic once in awhile…Anyway….
Zoom. We (and I mean us in the hobby, not just Division 12) have been using Zoom for various types of meetings since 2020; five years! Zoom is an excellent tool in our toolbox for getting things done on the admin side of the hobby, and just for getting together on the “fun” side of the hobby. Our Thursday night Zoom workbench session/chat is still going strong after all these years.
And yet…There are still many people who do not know or understand how Zoom works or understand the etiquette of being on a Zoom chat. So, next time you find yourself in a Zoom meeting:
- As soon as you log in, mute yourself. Nobody wants to hear you rustling around and squeaking your chair as you get settled in.
- If you don’t have anything to say, mute yourself.
- If you have something to say, unmute yourself, say it, then mute yourself.
- If you have a cold and are coughing/blowing your nose, or whatever, mute yourself.
- If you are watching a ball game, listening to music, running a belt-sander, or eating anything while on the chat, mute yourself.
- If you don’t have a headset with a microphone, mute yourself. Nobody wants to listen to your spouse yell at you from across the kitchen about letting the dog in. Bare laptop and cellphone microphones pick up every ambient sound, including if you are sitting in the can.
- If you are going to pick your nose or floss your teeth while on the chat, close your video. Nobody wants to see that.
There, now I feel better…
Here is a link to the headset I’ve been using for the past 5 years, not only for Zoom, but also when I’ve been on podcasts. Lightweight, sounds good, and durable (I’ve sat on it once or twice…) Less than half the cost of a new Rapido freight car: Sennheiser Headset
See you on our next Thursday night chat!
Mike Hauk
Superintendent, Division 12, MCR
Current Builder’s Plate newsletter available here.
Current Mid-Central Region Kingpin newsletter available here.
Know of any train shows in Western Pennsylvania, Western New York, or North East Ohio? Please send them to me at webeditor@div12mcr.org
Allegheny Western Facebook Page or Facebook Group
National Model Railroad Association
Mid Central Region