the graying of RR historical organizations and how to change

Sun Jun 3 21:59:12 EDT 2018

Jim,

I'm of the same generation as you, and I second your call for the full 
name of people who post on the Mailing List.

Gordon Hamilton

On 6/3/2018 4:53 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:
> 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> 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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