Erik, thanks for the links. (I couldn't get to the main lottery website for some reason, but the good causes site worked fine).

I understand how their lottery works, and as was pointed out we have no national lottery here, but in the "Save America's Treasures" program, isn't a percentage of federal money being used for the same types of things?


SJHussar@aol.com

> Erik, thanks for the links. (I couldn't get
> to the main lottery website for some reason,
> but the good causes site worked fine).

Try this one.

HLF About Us page
eledbetter@rypn.org

I have had enough stat to know about the long long odds of winning a lottery.

However. Every month, while en route from Alabama to Chattanooga (TVRM), I stop in Georgia and buy "one number, five draws, cash option" on the two biggest games.

I am buying hope, not the realization that my odds of winning a large jackpot are 1:48000000, or something like that. Two numbers, I know, knock my odds down to 1:24000000. I offset the long odds with a dose of quasi rationality, knowing I am contributing to a college fund that last year cranked out 20000 or 30000 scholarships.

Neat topic, gentlemen. I'd still like to figure out what we preserve (a national vision), this in addition to figuring out how to fund it.

Another thought. The other leg of this stool is figuring out how to get this, or any other favorable policy, enacted and made policy. We know the basics. If in doubt, try Eric Redmon's "The Dance of Legislation." It is a great read and most instructive. And every issue of the RTC magazine is filled with success stories that include sketches about how it was done politically.

But, can we form a real coalition?

> If something as dramatic in scale as the
> great Kinzua vidauct can disappear and only
> find its way into the NTHP's magazine and a
> couple of other fairly obscure publications
> (i.e. Invention & Technology, and of
> course local TV and press), than I think
> you've got your answer as to where rail
> preservation ranks in the national
> consciousness.

Exactly my point. I'm not a naysayer, but we must come down to earth a little and get a grip on the fact that some things that are extrememly important to us, whether for actual historical reasons or for romance or nostaglia or whatever, are next to meaningless to those who "count," we're never going to get beyond the stage of beating ourselves to death and coveting what other countries do.

> The preservation community in general must
> work to open the eyes and unlock the minds
> of the "oblivious majority."

I'm in full agreement with that statement, but, IMO, a lot of what we consider important actually isn't, and we spread ourselves too thin and erode our credibility when we try to do it all.

As another poster said, (paraphrasing) "What exactly are we preserving, anyway?"

> However. Every month, while en route from
> Alabama to Chattanooga (TVRM)

Art Miller would you contact me off list? thanks



mont3682@bellsouth.net

> What impact would a million doller grant
> investment have on .. Georgetown Loop .. ??

We should remember that the Boettcher Foundation funded the Loop restoration with a $2 million grant. The Silver Plume enginehouse and other improvements were a result of monies contributed by Burlington Northern Foundation, et al.

hi_plain@yahoo.com

There is little in life more political than wresting a couple of "really large" (X,000,000) out of a major charitable foundation.

Further, they usually require a complete strategic plan including a research-based marketing and promotions; an historical collections assessment; restoration programs; a working or developing educational program; complete financial statements; a unified multi year development "vision," and many many other items. The foundation managers want to see how their donation fits in to 5- and 10-year development plans.

Truly big foundations have a professional management team that is charged with making sure a major donation does not go down the tubes. They will visit, inspect, re-visit. They will make all sorts of inquiries about management and the Boards of Directors; examine membership trends, benefits, and talk with members; talk with surrounding museums and philanthropic agencies; etc; etc.

Creating a UDAG or CDBG grant app would be easier.

I would suspect that many small railroad preservation operations do not have these documents. And without them, you're toast in the foundation world.

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com