TLR History

TLR Conventions

TLR Honors

TLR Officials

TLR By Laws

The following is from the 1999 TLR 50th Anniversary Booklet:

History of the Thousand Lakes Region Mr. Robert F. Smith, president of the Twin City Model Railroad Association (TCMRA) in 1949, was informed at the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) Convention in Denver of the issuance of the charter of the Thousand Lakes Region of the NMRA (TLR). The TLR received the charter January 1,1950. The formation of the TLR began prior to receiving the charter. An organizational meeting was held October 30, 1949, at the Minneapolis Union Terminal club rooms located in the Great Northern Depot. On November 16, 1949, the constitution of the TLR was written and adopted by the Board Of Directors (BOD). The preamble of the constitution states the constitution is authorized and drawn up to promote the greater fellowship among Model Railroaders and to advance the hobby of Model Railroading.

Articles of Incorporation of the Thousand Lakes Region of NMRA, Inc. were signed on January 25, 1969. The purpose of the corporation is to engage in educational, recreational and social activities in connection with, and in furtherance of, the hobby of model railroading.

The TLR is one of the largest geographical regions of the NMRA. The boundaries of the Thousand Lakes Region: Including all Counties in Iowa north of and including Buchanon, Blackhawk, Calhoun, Delaware, Dubuque, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Ida, Sac, Webster and Woodbury Counties; Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota; all Counties in Wisconsin west of and including Ashland, Clark, Crawford, Grant, Jackson, Monroe, Price, Taylor and Vernon Counties; and Manitoba, all communities in Ontario west of and including the Port Arthur-Fort William area and Northwest Territories east of 102 degrees West Longitude in Canada.

Any person can become a member of the Thousand Lakes Region of the NMRA, Inc. Our original membership in 1949 is not known. We do know that from that date the interest in the TLR grew. In 1955 TLR membership was 295. The largest TLR membership was achieved in the mid 1980's when membership soared to 750 plus. Currently, the TLR has over 500 members.

The TLR stays in touch with the membership with the Fusee, the official Region publication. Our quarterly published Fusee contains modeling and prototype articles and regular columns informing the membership of Regional activities.

The September 1965 Fusee reported the Board of Directors authorized Arden Smith of the Big Sioux Model Railroad Club of Sioux City, IA to design a herald for the Thousand Lakes Region. The TLR design accepted at the Board Of Directors meeting held at Moorhead, MN on January 8, 1996 has not changed since. The design features a yellow locomotive driver wheel with large bright red TLR letters superimposed on a black background, edged in yellow lettering and lines.

To increase the effectiveness of the TLR, the BOD gave approval in May 1980 to Winnipeg, Minneapolis-Saint Paul (Twin Cities), and North Dakota to form divisions. The No.1 Northern, Twin Cities, and North Dakota were followed by the La Crosse-Three Rivers, Minnesota River Valley, Prairie Lakes, Bluffs and Rivers, Kashabowie, Dakota Southeastern, and the Red River. The TLR Divisions are the primary contact for the membership.

During the spring of each year, the annual TLR convention is held in a different location within the Region. The location is chosen via a bidding process. In the early years, two conventions, then known as the spring and fall rallies, were held. After Divisions were formed, Division conventions replaced the fall TLR convention held each year.

Annual conventions provide rail and non rail programs for attending members. The non rail program was approved at the October 1964 Minneapolis Fall rally. Iris Downs of Sioux City, IA filled the first non rail chair position.

At the annual convention the TLR takes time to honor members who have made contributions to the TLR. Current awards used to recognize such contributions are the R. J. (Bob) Dew Sr. Memorial Service Award, President's Award, Old Goat Award, and the International Order of the Bent Spike. A model and photo contest is held at each convention. Contest awards are presented by the TLR to the winning entries.

In addition to TLR annual conventions, the TLR hosted the national convention in Saint Paul, MN in August 1956 under the slogan "Back to the Sticks in 1956". In 1969 the national convention was held in Minneapolis under the slogan "Lakes and Pines in '69". The highlight of the convention was the fan trip on the Great Northern to the Allouez ore docks in Superior, MN. Again the national convention was hosted in 1983 in Winnipeg, Canada under the slogan "Railway Jamboree". Profits from the Winnipeg convention purchased investments which are still a source of income for the TLR general fund today. A fourth national convention, NorthStar '99, was held in Saint Paul, MN in July 1999 and attended by more then 2300 NMRA members.

The TLR Region has a proud past and a bright future due to contributions and support of all the membership. We must never forget that without the membership there is no need for the Thousand Lakes Region to exist.

Lester J. Breuer
Historian

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