News: NASG

Dick Kramer has been the NASG's Membership Secretary for 13 years. He is looking to retire, and so we are looking for someone to fill his shoes.

We had found an excellent candidate, but due to unexpected extenuating circumstances, he has had to withdraw his candidacy.

The Membership Secretary position is one that aids the NASG Treasurer in maintaining the NASG's membership database, accepting and reviewing new-member applications, notifying members of renewal deadlines, sending out renewals notices (via e-mail and postal mail), handling member's requests and changes-of-address, etc., and maintaining the list of active members to whom NASG Dispatch magazines are to be mailed.

The position requires an active membership in the NASG. Behind the scenes, you will be working with the NASG Treasurer and the NASG webmaster. The ability to handle e-mail (most interactions as done this way) and willingness to contact members via telephone (especially for those for whom we have no e-mail address) is necessary for this position. Ideally, you will be able to handle e-mail on a daily basis, but at least several times per week. The ability to enter and review data in a database application on a laptop computer is necessary for this position. However, no "programming" is needed, as everything is already set up and has been working well for more than a decade. Dick Kramer will be able to train you and help you with all of the necessary steps. Ideally, you live in the Connecticut area, but that is not a requirement (it might just make training easier).

Please contact the NASG's President, Jim Whipple, if you are interested in helping the NASG with this important position.

Start an e-mail message (president@nasg.org).

The 2026 NASG Convention, the S Event of the Year, is less than 3 weeks away. We are happy to announce that the Convention web site's list of planned clinics, and the list of local open layouts (open to attendees only), have been fully updated. The Convention web site's Layouts page includes photos of most layouts, as well as any links to web pages and/or YouTube videos that feature the layout. Note the final details about the layouts will be provided to you when you register or pick-up your registration packet at the Registration desk.

Important: online Convention registration and online Convention Car purchasing will be halted at approximately midnight July 31, 2026. You can, of course, walk into the hotel and register at the Convention's Registration desk in the hotel lobby. Note that Convention Car purchases are limited, and when bought in-person will be $75 each.

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Attention NASG members! The NASG Dispatch magazine is running low on articles. Please consider writing something about your current or recent S-related activities. Ideas are: a progress report on your layout's construction; a kit you have been building; a car or engine that you have been super-detailing or gotten to work again; a scenery tip that you would like to pass along; a review of a recent train show that you attended, etc. While your article can be long, a short product review and a simple tip can be sufficient to fill an empty spot in the magazine. Photos are great, if you can take them, but if not, that's fine, too. We have two assistant editors on stand-by who can work with you to get you the article that you envision. Please see the linked-to page for who to contact and for possible submission deadlines, if your article is time-sensitive.

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On behalf of the NASG's President, Jim Whipple:

Are there any insurance agents out there amongst the NASG membership who are knowledgeable about 501(c)3 organizations?
The NASG treasurer and myself would appreciate the opportunity to talk about the organization's insurance needs, this week if possible.

Start an e-mail message (president@nasg.org).

Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the March, April, and May 2026 NASG BOT meeting notes. The PDF files can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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If you are attending the 2026 NASG Convention in the Detroit area, or you live in the general area, and have some time available to present a clinic at this year's Convention, please contact Culver Anderson.

Presentations need to be railroading related, but do not necessarily need to be specific to S.

Prototype topics might be:
Various railroads
Buildings
Locomotives
RR car types

Modeling topics might be:
Buildings
Locomotives
Railroad cars
Scenery
Electronics
3D-printing
Photography
American Flyer modeling or collecting

Start an e-mail message (culveranderson@msn.com).

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As of today, the 2026 NASG Annual Member Cars have all been shipped by the NASG Company Store manager, Chris Crnich. He stated that we did receive a couple of extra orders, but American Models had, luckily, produced a few more than we commissioned, and they are now 100% sold out. This was a popular car. Thank you to all who pre-ordered the cars.

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the January 2026 and February 2026 BOT meeting notes. The PDF file can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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The 2026 NASG Convention group is happy announce that the Convention web site has been fully updated and both registration and Convention Car purchase is now available.

There are two major changes to the web site from previous years. First, the registration form is accessible via the "Register" page, but the Convention Car order form has its own dedicated page now, "Car". You can register and buy the car together, though. When you register, your registration will be added to the built-in shopping cart. You can then go to the Car page and order the Convention Car by adding it to the shopping cart as well. Of course, you can do one and not the other. Once everything is in your shopping cart, you can check-out. We offer PayPal as a convenience for those who want to pay by credit or debit card, and we also offer the option of postal-mailing a check or money order. When you get to the shopping cart "check-out" step, all information will be provided.

The second big change is that the NASG Board of Trustees has voted to allow non-members to attend this year's Convention. NASG membership is not required. Note, however, that non-members are not allowed to purchase the Convention Car and some activities (e.g. the Annual Membership Meeting held at the Convention) are off-limits.

The 2026 group is looking for attendees to volunteer to do a clinic at the Convention. See the "Clinics" page on the web site for more information.

Another new feature in this year's Convention web site is that the "Vendors" page is dynamically updated as vendors, and individuals with sales tables, register to attend. So, visit that page from time to time to see who all is planning on being there.

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the December 2025 BOT meeting notes. The PDF file can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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The 2025 (last year's) NASG Convention Car was so popular during the "pre-order" phase that we received more pre-order payments than we had commissioned from American Models. To satisfy the shortages, we commissioned American Models to do another small run. Those who pre-paid for their cars, should have already received them or will receive them shortly. Do NOT re-order if you have already ordered yours but haven't received it yet!. So, the second run gave us a handful of additional cars that are available now. Please note that they are in very short supply and can be sold-out at any moment. You can place your order for a car via this web site and pay via PayPal, as per usual. If you want one and you want to pay by check, please contact Roger Gerhart (NASG Treasurer) immediately, so he can set one aside for you. Roger has them in stock, so he is the only one that can give you availability information.

Caveats:
- First come, first serve! (based on e-mail date/time or PayPal payment date/time)
- Hi-rail or scale option may not be available, based on demand.
- Desired road number may not be available, based on demand.

Start an e-mail message (treasurer@nasg.org).

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the November 2025 BOT meeting notes. The PDF file can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the September 2025 BOT meeting notes. The PDF file can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the August (Convention) 2025 BOT meeting notes. The PDF files can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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The NASG Board of Trustees announces that the NASG is now the official new Special Interest Group (SIG) within the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). The previous S-scale SIG disbanded when their web site maintenance became onerous. Since the NASG already fulfilled all the requirements of the SIG program, it made sense to apply and become the replacement organization to represent S-scale interests. What does this mean? The NMRA will list and promote the NASG both on its web site and in its newsletter, and any group of S-scalers can meet at an NMRA convention event and get space for discussion and socializing, or even a display booth. This SIG link on the NMRA's home page of their web site takes you to a page that lists the NASG.

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On page 17 of the current September/October Dispatch there is a completely false statement about ScaleTrains.com stopping production of S scale. To the contrary, their current run of S-Helper Service wood-side reefers has been completed and is in the process of being shipped to the US; they are projected to be available in September. To order them, visit their web site. The NASG regrets this error and any confusion it may have caused.

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the July 2025 BOT meeting notes. The PDF file can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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Darby Marriott (as of yesterday the former Eastern VP of the NASG) has created a survey. His message is as follows:

We are conducting a survey aimed at newer converts to S Scale who can help share their experiences in S. The objective is to make this journey easier in the future for other prospective modelers by finding common areas of success as well as challenges. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

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Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the May and June 2025 BOT meeting notes. The PDF files can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.

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