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Re: Supervisinng Tommy J. No way... Grants, and finding some money, maybe...?
Author: BOB2
Date: 07-22-2019 - 15:37
Folks occasionally still come to me for advice on how to get money for their projects, and which politician they might have to (fill in the blank)...., in order to get it.
My tracklaying days for Bill and Stan were a long time ago, and they never promoted me beyond laborer, hauling the track jacks, and pinch bars, and dragging the wire ropes, to pull rail behind Bill's pick up truck. I'm too damned old, and that was the 2nd hardest work I ever did in my life. And, no depending on Tommy J is not the answer, either. That's why these organizations need to become more business like in their strategic planning and more sophisticated in their long term fundraising approaches.
I actually do think that OERM seems to be in quite good shape, with good leadership, certainly when compared to some we've recently been discussing. But, all of these organizations have an aging leadership, volunteer, donor, and fan base, and need to think about how they intend to sustain themselves and continue to maintain and operate these collections, into the future. And no, they can't depend just upon a diminishing community of aging retired rails for much of the expertise that's needed to maintain these collections, as they have tended to, "historically" (no pun intended), nor on passionate railfans, that are often "enthusiastic" (as per your example), but lacking in the qualifications and training needed.
Railfans are not going to install the mainline ML connection, if there is ever to be one restored. This will have to be done and signed off for, in the "real" liability conscious and litigious world, ML operates in, by qualified professionals. It is costly to install a new mainline switch on a PTC passenger main. And, the folks who are hired by ML or RCTC to do this, will likely want to be paid. So, if they want grants written, and advice on which politicians they might want to... in order to get their attention and maybe even support for things like that...I would probably be willing to lend a hand.
I already have a much better Board candidate and supporter than myself in mind... Draft CQP?
My tracklaying days for Bill and Stan were a long time ago, and they never promoted me beyond laborer, hauling the track jacks, and pinch bars, and dragging the wire ropes, to pull rail behind Bill's pick up truck. I'm too damned old, and that was the 2nd hardest work I ever did in my life. And, no depending on Tommy J is not the answer, either. That's why these organizations need to become more business like in their strategic planning and more sophisticated in their long term fundraising approaches.
I actually do think that OERM seems to be in quite good shape, with good leadership, certainly when compared to some we've recently been discussing. But, all of these organizations have an aging leadership, volunteer, donor, and fan base, and need to think about how they intend to sustain themselves and continue to maintain and operate these collections, into the future. And no, they can't depend just upon a diminishing community of aging retired rails for much of the expertise that's needed to maintain these collections, as they have tended to, "historically" (no pun intended), nor on passionate railfans, that are often "enthusiastic" (as per your example), but lacking in the qualifications and training needed.
Railfans are not going to install the mainline ML connection, if there is ever to be one restored. This will have to be done and signed off for, in the "real" liability conscious and litigious world, ML operates in, by qualified professionals. It is costly to install a new mainline switch on a PTC passenger main. And, the folks who are hired by ML or RCTC to do this, will likely want to be paid. So, if they want grants written, and advice on which politicians they might want to... in order to get their attention and maybe even support for things like that...I would probably be willing to lend a hand.
I already have a much better Board candidate and supporter than myself in mind... Draft CQP?
