the graying of RR historical organizations and how to change

Sun Jun 3 21:42:38 EDT 2018

Jim, Thank you for being such an active participant in the NWHS for so many years. It was good to see you in the Spencer convention group photo. Unfortunately I had to miss this year due to a schedule conflict.   John Garner  Newport VA

From: NW Mailing List [mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org] 
Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2018 4:54 PM
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: Re: the graying of RR historical organizations and how to change

Does "Dr. Bob" have a last name? I realize that I am old fashioned (almost 84), but I like to know who the people are who are posting.

Jim Nichols

On Sunday, June 3, 2018 2:42 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> > wrote:

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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