Al Tomante Wrote:
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> So after all this "discussion", why should anyone
> contribute or volunteer for this museum until all
> of this controversy is resolved? Should we just
> pass and put our efforts to a less dysfunctional
> organization?

Speaking only for myself, as a member of a number
of different organizations, some national, some
local, not all railroad related, mostly volunteer,
some with a mix, all I can say is that from POV,
FRRS is not as bad as some, and better than most.

The main issue I see now (as a part of NOBODY'S
support group and as a member and volunteer since
1991) is that there is a handful of disgruntled
members. I have yet to even see or even hear of
ANY organization that doesn't have that very same
issue.

In some, the complaints are at least partially true.
In others they are either not true at all or are
blown completely out of proportion by opportunists
who want to stir up discontent and hopefully get
to run the place themselves.

Again, I know of some very successful groups that
had a few members who did not understand why the
place was successful but were absolutely sure they
could do better than the 'old guard.' In an isolated
instance or two, that was the case.

More often than not, however, the new brooms managed
to bring about the downfall of the whole thing.

Look at any railfan publications from 20 or 30
years ago and see how many group banes were very
active then but either do very little or even don't
exist at all today. There are more than you might
imagine.

Railroad museums nationwide, with only a few notable
exceptions, are barely surviving as it is. It takes
very little infighting to bring the whole thing down.

FRRS or WPRM has had it's share of economic hard times,
but has managed to survive this far. Not always easy,
I'll bet. It is on a much sounder footing that it was
a year ago, two years ago, and especially 3 years ago.
No thanks to any of the johnny-come-latelys who sat on
their hands during the hard times and now that the
thing is stable want to rush in and change everything.

I especially am wary of people who have never even been
to the place who now apparently think they should be in
charge. Almost as wary as I am of people who think their
family name entitles them to special access or treatment
or priviledges.

As I said at the outset of this rant, this is my opinion
only. I don't expect to change anyone's mind and don't
really give a rat's butt whether anyone agrees with what
I say.

I've seen this movie before at other groups and there seldom
is a happy-ever-after ending.