The Future ?

[NW Mailing List]

I second this vision!

Nate
*Moto X*
On Oct 16, 2014 12:37 PM, "NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List" <
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

>
> I appreciate Jimmy defining what a "Vision Statement" is.
>
> Personally, I'd like to see the "Vision" stripped to the barest minimum (I
> understand that, by definition, it can be as short, or long, as you want it
> to be). It bothers me that the proposed "vision" contains wording like
> "intends to be" and "as resources permit". All that is a given, but
> shouldn't define, or restrict, the vision. To me, the vision should
> be limitless and not restrained by any "can we, will we, should we"
> statements.
>
> As an example, I would submit to you the following, dropping any reference
> to anything that limits or restricts any portion of the vision:
>
> *“NWHS will establish and maintain the Society and its Archives as the
> recognized, authoritative sources for information about the history and
> operations of the Norfolk & Western and Virginian railways. We will do so
> by implementing the latest, proven research technologies to make our
> collections available to the widest possible communities of historic
> research.”*
>
> Just my personal thoughts on the matter.
>
> Jeff Sanders
>
>
>
>
>
>   On Thursday, October 16, 2014 7:02 AM, NW Mailing List <
> nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>
>
>  Alex,
>     Doing away with the fluff and keeping to the subject at hand, which is
> the Vision Statement of the N&W HS, maybe we should look at the definition
> of "Vision Statement".
> One reads, and I feel that this is universal:
>
> *"A vision statement is a declaration of a company's goals for the midterm
> or long-term future. Ranging from one line to several paragraphs, a vision
> statement identifies what the company would like to achieve or accomplish.
> A good vision statement provides the inspiration for the daily operations
> of a business and molds its strategic decisions. Aspirational in nature,
> vision statements lay out the most important primary goals for a company."*
>
> Looking  at the N&W HS vision statement one more time:
>
>
>
>
>
> *“Over the next 20 years we intend to implement the steps necessary to
> establish and maintain the Society and its Archives as the recognized,
> authoritative sources for information about the history and operations of
> the N&W and VGN railways and their respective places in the development of
> the Central Appalachian region and in the development of rail transport in
> general. As our resources permit, we intend to put in place up-to-date,
> proven research technologies to make our collections available to the wider
> history and research communities.” *
>
> This clearly discriminately targets the "Central Appalachian" region. In
> essence, separating it from the rest of the N&W/VGN systems and making it
> the aforementioned "primary goal". This is in *direct contradiction* to
> your item number 4 below.
>
> Now, let us look at the NS' vision statement:
>
> *"The NS vision: Be the safest, most customer-focused, and successful
> transportation company in the world."*
>
> Nowhere in the NS statement do I see any one area singled out. In fact, it
> clearly states "in the world."
>
> So again, I submit to you that something along the lines of the way I have
> changed the N&W HS Vision Statement below is more in keeping to the vision
> that we should be keeping.
>
>
>
> *“Over the next 20 years we intend to implement the steps necessary to
> establish and maintain the Society and its Archives as the recognized,
> authoritative sources for information about the history and operations of
> the N&W and VGN railways and their respective places** in the development
> of the regions along their "Right of Way"*
>
>
>
>
> * and in the development of rail transport in general. As our resources
> permit, we intend to put in place up-to-date, proven research technologies
> to make our collections available to the wider history and research
> communities.” *Sincerely yours,
> Jimmy Lisle
>
> On 10/15/2014 12:24 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
>
>  Some particular points:
>
> 1)     Any member of the NWHS is eligible to present their candidacy to
> be on the Board of Directors or an officer of the NWHS. If elected by the
> membership any member can than become part of the “powers that be”  and
> make decisions that affect the direction of the NWHS. Three BoD members are
> elected every year and we are always looking for candidates. Additionally
> officers are appointed every year by the BoD from those who step forth and
> volunteer to serve.
> 2)     When you deal with history it is hard to assume that Event B would
> not have happened if Event A did not happen. If Event A did not happen
> there may have been an Event C that caused Event B to happen. As an example
> the N&W chartered the Guyandotte & Tug River (Event A) in 1903 to get from
> Clarks Gap to Wharncliffe via Pineville (Event B). By 1907 the route was
> surveyed and all of the right-of-way was acquired, but the railroad was
> never built. Pineville(Event B0 was developed because the Virginian (Event
> C) extended its railroad from Mullens to Gilbert.
> 3)     The N&W/Virginian had more effect on the development of the
> Central Appalachian Region than any other region, but if the N&W had not
> done it some other railroad probably would have simply because of the
> mineral wealth.
> 4)     The vision statement does not give precedence to one region or
> another, but does recognize the prominent role the N&W/Virginian had in the
> Central Appalachian Region, The added statement “and in the development of
> rail transport in general” has equal weight in the vision statement.
> 5)     The attached region map defines the Appalachian Region. In 2009
> the region was divided into subregions. The 2008 Subregions Map shows the
> counties in each state defined to be in the Appalachian Region.
> 6)     In reality the NWHS does not concentrate on one region or another.
> We publish what *volunteers choose to produce*. The data items we enter
> into the data base are what we find when we open the boxes on the pallets.
> It would be difficult to say that all of the mechanical and structural
> drawings, photographs, and other data items are regional directed.
> 7)     I expect that many members have different interpretations of what
> is published and we always appreciate members suggestions.
>
> Alex Schust
>
>
>
>
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