[NWHSBoD] VMT Media Release--Public input sought to shape Museum'sfuture

[NW Mailing List]

Should I presume this means the $1M NS offered to four Roanoke railroad activites, including NWHS, is now designated for one Roanoke activity - VMT?

Alex Schust
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NWHS Board of Directors 
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 8:49 PM
  Subject: [NWHSBoD] VMT Media Release--Public input sought to shape Museum'sfuture


  For Immediate Release
  Roanoke, VA­February 2, 2010
  Contact: Fran Ferguson 540-342-5670 ext. 105 or fferguson at vmt.org


  Million dollar challenge offers a million reasons to seek opinion!

  Virginia Museum of Transportation invites public comments for charting its future
   

  Transportation­we use it every day. Rails and roads and landing strips have changed our history, our communities, and our culture. The Virginia Museum of Transportation uses its outstanding collection of rail equipment and galleries of cars, trucks, planes and other vehicles to tell the story of transportation in Virginia and the technological advances developed here. 

  Change is underway. Norfolk Southern Corporation has offered the Virginia Museum of Transportation a $1 million Challenge Match toward improved infrastructure and the development of new exhibits. Comments from the public are now being solicited as an important part of the Museum's planning process. 

  What can this Museum become? The public is invited to share comments, ideas, and suggestions at three upcoming sessions:
  ·         February 18: focus on the role of the railroads in Virginia's history and in its cultural and economic development 
  ·         February 23: focus on non-rail modes of transportation

  ·         March 2: focus on the Museum's contribution to the community, including tourism and education

  Each session will be held in the Museum's Conference Room, 7-9pm. RSVP: info at vmt.org. 
   

  In addition, a brief questionnaire is available online at the Museum's web site, www.vmt.org. Because 60% of the Museum's visitors are tourists, Virginia residents and non-residents alike are urged to complete this convenient survey.
   

  "The Virginia Museum of Transportation has a fantastic opportunity ahead of it to do a better job of sharing the wonderful stories of Virginia's transportation heritage with current and future generations," said executive director Beverly T. Fitzpatrick, Jr. "We are extremely grateful both to Norfolk Southern and to the public for the contribution of ideas and for the financial support necessary to bring the best of these ideas to fruition."
   

  The Museum's lead project consultant for this planning process is William L. Withuhn, Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. He is widely considered the nation's leading transportation exhibits producer and is familiar with the Museum, its strengths, weaknesses, audiences, and great potential.
   

  About the Virginia Museum of Transportation

  Home to two of the most powerful steam locomotives in existence today­the Norfolk & Western Class A 1218 and the Class J 611­the Virginia Museum of Transportation regularly attracts visitors of all ages from across the U.S. and 45 foreign countries. The Museum is designated as the official transportation museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but receives no state support. First opened in 1963, the Museum is located in Roanoke's historic N&W Freight Station at 303 Norfolk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24016. Open Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. 540/342.5670. 
   

  Web site: www.vmt.org

  Norfolk Southern Challenge Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/5G9VBDB

  E-mail news subscription: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1102633925803&p=oi 

  Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/VA.Museum.Transportation 

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