the graying of RR historical organizations and how to change

[NW Mailing List]

It is far easier to sit back and pontificate from a computer and see and
recognize the problems than actually putting something successful into
place. Yes, it only belabors the obvious, but you can throw all the money
you can find at it that you desire and still end up back at square one with
little or nothing. PERIOD.

Today's crowd of interest has little overall interest in historic steam
perhaps just like the nostalgic stage coach or horse and buggy of the
history books.

They are digital oriented and into the NOW and immediate gratification,
something that the internet provides them with with. Covered wagon diesel
of first generation diesel interest maybe, but show them an SD-70 this that
or the other that is operating somewhere RIGHT NOW and away they go and
they send out their tweet--o-grams to all those, and more within their
circle and then they send gratitudinal thank-yous all around for telling
them about this that or the other train of the moment.

Recognize that the organization from the inside out needs to change its
mindset to better understand where this crowd is thinking and going and
who, and then somehow (I don't know how to do this either), fill the seats
on the BOD's and officer's posts with people of this age and group and
mind-set. Make the average ago of the BOD's not 60 or 70 but 35; yes,
thirty-five years old and then you'll have a start, but as already stated,
it's far easier said than done. Today's train chasers like to look, watch,
see and tell their friends what they saw and missed but don't want the
full-time involvement in organizations such as the N&WHS. And as stated at
the outset it is far easier to identify the problem than fix it, for it
permeates our society at all levels, not just the N&WHS, but likely just
about every other RR historical society in this country.

Maybe what is needed is to see how they do it and successfully in England
or other places which have made the transition from what was and what was
thought was the proper way to go, and what the realities of society's
dictates today is.

I can psychoanalyze this from now until doomsday, but the talk has to be
translated to something else, and until that journey starts, it's going
nowhere. Remember, journey of thousand miles begins with single step.

Me. ? I see very little in chasing today's trains roaming the rails except
for the occasional odd consist of some sort, but show me something
historical, ba-ta-bing, you have my attention in an instant. Tourist train
museums are little more than glorified petting zoos for trains, much like a
zoo with all its animals in cages.

How many RR's still care to let the animal still roam wild as it was
originally designed and meant to do, roam the rails free and unhindered?
UP, a few times a year, D&RGW NG out of Chama and Durango are fine
examples, NS occasionally with the 611, 4449 once in a while and a few
others here and there. Some RR's have an absolutely NO policy towards
steamers, even dead in train on their own wheels to set foot on their
rails. A few museums are fortunate to have large land-holdings and can
operate longer distances, like Illinois RR Museum, but those are few and
far between.

The historic aircraft which operates those few still operable WW II B-17 or
B-25 around the country - look at how much they charge for that thrill of a
lifetime that their parents and grandparents and the so-called greatest
generation experienced first-hand so we could even be writing and
exchanging messages such as these today's seen. Some countries don't even
permit THAT, think about it for a moment ........... well, maybe not.

The mindset needs to change and be changed or we and our kind will be
relegated to the dodo bird and a lot sooner than than you think.


Dr. Bob, age 71 and not getting any younger




To all,

  The perception of the photograph is an accurate reality of our society
and many other similar organizations.  I would venture to say that, at age
47, I am one of the youngest members so it is hard for me to disagree. This
matter has been recognized by the Board of Directors and Officers.  During
the past year and a half, we have taken new actions to be more attractive
to people of an age that actually remember the N&W and, most importantly,
the 18 to 30 year old crowd.

  The aforementioned actions include a greater presence at model train
shows, advertising the society and commissary in Model Railroad Hobbyist,
embracing Norfolk Southern and including model railroading under the
society umbrella. The latter of these actions are in their infancy and we
deduce that in order to attract the 18 to 30 year old demographic we must
?dangle a carrot? and the carrot is model railroading and Norfolk
Southern.  It shall be stated that despite rumors, our society will not
switch its sole focus to model railroading and Norfolk Southern nor has
such an idea been entertained.

  Remaining relevant to our sole mission of preserving the history of the
N&W and we ?senior? members is equally critical. The Board of Directors
decided to produce The Arrow in house with Ken Miller at the helm. One
goal with doing such is to have more engagement from the members in the
form of articles, articles of someone?s recollection on the mainline,
equipment, structures, etc., anything that pertains to the history of the
N&W.

  These actions will require work on behalf of all of the Board of
Directors and Officers.  Each director and officer has their strengths and
each have been tasked with particular areas of focus based on such so we
can move forward.  Will it happen overnight? No.  We are all volunteers and
have regular jobs and families that take priority. However, each individual
has the desire to accomplish the goals that lie before us.

  To conclude, the society has begun a capital campaign drive.  Funding is
needed for the aging archives building that is need of repairs and is also
becoming quite small for our needs.  It is our hope for a new archives
building in the future. This campaign has begun with the simple step of
selling ?Clear Block to the Future? shirts which will be a modest start.

  Please do not hesitate to contact the officers and directors with any
suggestions.  We welcome all ideas.



Regards,



Todd Arnett, President
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