NMRA WISE Division Meets & Events

The Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization which holds many events thoughout the year to promote and educate the public on the hobby of model railroading. All meets are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted (Trainfest, bus trips and MWR Convention are extra fare events).

Note: New contest schedule took effect in January 2006, and the prize for 1st Place and Best of Show increased from $10 to $20 (it had not been raised since 1992). Same rules will apply, but only certain catagories will be featured each month. The catagory schedule is now posted with each month's meet.

Are you onboard for 2010?
The NMRA will be coming home again to hold their 75th Anniversary National Convention in Milwaukee on July 10-18, 2010. And even though the NMRA will be running most of the show instead of the WISE Division (the NMRA got greedy a few years ago and decided to take over operating the conventions so they can keep more of the profits), a lot of help will still be needed on the local level. If you would like to help, please print out the .pdf form and send it in.
The Early Registration form is now available in .pdf format, so print it and register early.
The NMRA was founded in Milwaukee in 1935 and in 1985 the WISE Division hosted a very successful 50th Anniversary Convention which drew over 3,000 modelers from around the world. Milwaukee has been the site of NMRA conventions in 1935, 1940, 1950, and 1985.

Meet Reviews:
Couldn't make it to the last meet? If so, check out the Meet Review to see what you missed.
- January 17, 2004 meet - Milwaukee
- February 15, 2004 meet - Milwaukee

Layouts in the Division:
Take a virtual tour of a number of home and club layouts in the Division.

Little WISE Guys and Gals:
The Little WISE Guys and Gals youth group works to get youth involved in the hobby. Unfortunately, it is currently in search of some new leadership and a new home. To see what's new with them, visit their web site!

Video Library:
A list of the Division's video library (now over 650 tapes) as of 2/01/03 is available in the Video Library listing in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf). For any questions about the library, contact Neal Michel.

Contests:

The Best of Show winner from the January 15, 2006 meet was Jim Spice from the Northshore & Western Division, NMRA, for his HO scale Colorado & Southern 2-10-0.

To see the contest rules (effective December 2002), and view the Best of Show model from pasts meets, visit the WISE contest page.

The September 21 meet of the National Model Railraod Association's (NMRA) Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division will be at the Best Western Midway Hotel - Milwaukee Airport at 5105 S. Howell Ave. across from Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wis. To get to the Midway Motor Lodge, exit I-94 from either the north or south at the Airport Spur. Exit the spur at Howell Ave. and turn left (north). The Midway Motor Lodge will be on your left about three blocks to the north.

The meet is free, open to the public and features clinics on model and prototype subjects, swap area, a popular vote contest (open to non-members) with prizes, and self-guided layout tours.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m., clinics start at 1:00 p.m., and layout tours begin shortly after 4:00 p.m. and continue until 6:00 p.m. (layout tour maps are distributed at 4:00 p.m.).

September 21, 2008 WISE Division Meet Schedule
12:30 p.m.	Popular vote contest registration (free and open the the public) until 1:30 Models in all scales welcome, as are photos and slides. All Categories Featured: All categories featured So bring what you built or shot on film over the summer!
1:00 to 1:45	TBA
2:00 to 2:45	Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear Al Lederman shows what railfanning was like back in the 60's and 70's. (slide)
3:00 to 3:45	Scenery Making Tips II Joe Russ returns with this second-generation clinic covering the basics of making scenery with cheesecloth, newspaper and molding plaster in the second-generation clinic. Creating inexpensive ground cover, trees, rock molds, and castings, will also be covered. Loaded with helpful techniques, regardless of what scale you model! (live demonstration)
3:45 to 4:00	Announcements and Presentation of Contest Awards
4:00 to 6:00	Layout Tours (maps distributed at 4 p.m.)

The October 19 meet of the National Model Railraod Association's (NMRA) Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division will be at the Fair Park Pavilion, Washington County Fair Park, at 3000 County Road PV in West Bend.

The meet is free, open to the public and features clinics on model and prototype subjects, swap area, a popular vote contest (open to non-members) with prizes, and self-guided layout tours.

Doors open at 12:30 p.m., clinics start at 1:00 p.m., and layout tours begin shortly after 4:00 p.m. and continue until 6:00 p.m. (layout tour maps are distributed at 4:00 p.m.).

October 19, 2008 WISE Division Meet Schedule
12:30 p.m.	Popular vote contest registration (free and open the the public) until 1:30 Models in all scales welcome, as are photos and slides. All Categories Featured: Motive Power - Steam Passenger Equipment Non-Revenue Freight Equipment Model Photos & Slides
1:00 to 1:45	TBA
2:00 to 2:45	TBA
3:00 to 3:45	TBA
3:45 to 4:00	Announcements and Presentation of Contest Awards
4:00 to 6:00	Layout Tours (maps distributed at 4 p.m.)

For a full listing of other events in the Southeastern Wisconsin area visit the Schedule Board.

Pages designed, written, and hosted by Joe Russ, WISE Div., NMRA.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 by Joe Russ
Updated 9/13/08