Hi everyone!

Planning is underway for the Tourist Railway Association Inc.'s 2008 meeting in Milwaukee, Nov. 4-9.

I'm accepting seminar topic suggestions now. What can we provide participants in the way of sessions that will give them the best take-home lessons to make their railroads/museums as successful as possible?

Please post here or email me at jwrinn@trainsmag.com.

Thanks in advance. Hope to see many of you in Milwaukee this fall. All best, Jim Wrinn

"Roof treatments for steel passenger cars"

Jim,
Two topics:

1) Developing web 2.0 skills for the heritage railroad field, what are they and how can you incorporate then in your organization.

2) RailCamp – Yes you too can host a RailCamp for both teens and adults.

I just had another conversation with an FRA official who was frustrated with their dealings with a short line Railroad. Perhaps a basic review of FRA codes and procedures and basic regulatory interaction would be a good seminar.

Robby Peartree

On the topic of antagonizing the FRA:

You wonder why some people feel the need to poke the bear, huh?

Other Topics:


1.) Effective Corporate Governance

2.) Effective Risk Management

Other possibilities are presentations on proper treatment donor and volunteer treatment. Such topics such as cashing the check, treating with respect and doing what you promise to could be ideas for thought.

Robby

Effective Fundraising: Thinking Outside the Box

Grant Proposal Writing: How to Have a Shot At Real Funds, and Where to Apply

Effective Public Relations: How to Gain Good Publicity Without the Local Editors Asking For Restraining Orders Because You Bug Them Every Day

One topic that gets mentioned here from time to time, and bears discussion at this gathering, is-how do we make our message relevant to the masses?

The vast majority of our visitors are families/non-railfans. That's who we need to understand better, serve their needs better, etc.

If there's one person who really seems to understand this concept well (I'm sure there are others), it's Mark Bassett. I archive his comments on this subject.

On the technical side, I'd love to see a wealthy publishing house or two subsidize bringing in foreign experts like Nigel Day and Martyn Bane in to bring us up to speed on ways in which we can make our locomotives work better, greener and cheaper. I can't a fford to ship either of these gentlemen in from South America or the UK, but will buy the first pints for them both if they attend.

dave

I agree: "Roof treatments for steel passenger cars"

- Doug Debs

How about something related to the operation/maintenance of diesel-electric locomotives in a preservation/museum environment ??

DPK

What an radical idea DPK! Isn't that the kind of locomotive that they use at Steamtown NHS when it is too much trouble to fire up a steam locomotive?

MX

Not quite an answer of specific topics, but a request to repeat some of the seminars during the day(s).

At these events, there is an assumption that if one is interested in "hard" topics such as restoration of passenger cars or boiler work on steam locomotives, that the same person would not have an interest in attending a seminar about effective marketing or attracting bus tour groups or other "soft" topics. Many of the groups cannot afford to send more than one or two people to the conventions (TRAIN and ARM)-- in fact, I suspect many people attend on their own dime.

Please cut down on the excessive "fan trip" stuff (which ARM is especially well-known for) and repeat some of the seminars so that we don't have to attempt to be in two places at once. That can get messy.

The biggest issues facing all of us are: making ourselves more known to the public (marketing), making ourselves more financially viable for the future (fundraising/grant writing), and attracting more (and younger) members/volunteers/participants.

When I go to a TRAIN (or ARM) convention, I'm going there to learn, and the ability to do so is what should drive the convention scheduling, in my opinion. I've voiced this opinion to some past convention committees; surely I am not the only one with this issue?


Howard P.

Plaintive Bleating, CT

+1. Second round's on me.

Perhaps Matt Janssen could give a presentation on their work in this area?

Repeating seminars:
Howard P. has a very valid point. I am in complete agreement on this.

Openable windows for heavyweight passenger cars:
Balancing the requirements of rattleproofing, passenger safety (i.e. prevent kids from falling out), glass thickness & type, robust construction, finger pinching, rustprooofing, cost, not sticking in wet weather, etc is not easy. What are the best solutions for 25mph RRs? >25mph RRs?

- Doug Debs