Eric Bracher and Tom Olsen related anecdotes of idiotic behavior by NMRA judges. Yes, this happens, the NMRA has not managed to reach perfection <grin>, but it does not mean that NMRA contests are badly run or badly judged in general. Often they can be quite professional.
That said, the NMRA may well be in its death throes right now, and though I'm a life member (boy, did I save a bundle on dues) you won't catch me shedding any tears, based on performance in recent years.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2942 Linden Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history