2008 Convention NMRA Mid-Eastern Region
	Sheraton Reston Hotel, October 16 - 19, 2008

The annual Region convention is fast approaching until we gather at the Reston Sheraton on October 16th.   Early registration has been set at $45.00. After September 1, 2008, registration will be $50.00. One (1) day registration will be available.

At this writing, the general plan of activities will be: Thursday – registration, clinics and layout open house: Friday – registration, clinics, contest room, white elephant, prototype and layout tours; Saturday – registration, clinics,  contest room, white elephant, prototype and layout tours, banquet and auction; Sunday – annual meeting, operations call board, and homeward bound layout tours. Check the Schedule page for details.  In support of the NMRA spotlight this year on the Achievement Program, the banquet program will feature some of the Region’s 24 Master Model Railroaders (MMRs) in a discussion and question and answer session.  Click on a menu item to the left for more detail on any feature.

As usual, the contest room will feature both merit judging and popular vote (nonjudged) contests in all the regular model and photo categories. MER President Hyde will present a special award for one lucky modeler; click on the contest menu item for details). The Chairman’s award will be presented to the model of his favorite passenger car equipped with truss rods, past or present, any scale. The ‘Pride of Dixie’ award will be presented to the winning (judged) model in the category of “Roadside Vendor”. [This might be a farmer selling stuff from a truck or some sort of roadside stand]. You still have plenty of time to hibernate in the train room and prepare your entry.

If you have never attended a Region convention or have lost count of the number you have attended, mark your calendar now and plan to join us in Reston in October. Bring the family and enjoy the other numerous attractions in the nation’s capital area. You could spend the entire weekend in the new Air and Space Museum at near-by Dulles International Airport.

I look forward to welcoming you to Reston in October.

     Bob Minnis, Chairman PJ ‘08