I wish to take advantage of the interchange section of the rypn.org website to establish an ongoing forum intended to discuss not-for-profit railway organizations in general and recent trends and problems in particular. Primary focus will be on use, abuse, stewardship, and overall care of both large and small collections. Governance should be a key element for this forum and I will draw heavily upon my experiences as a former member, life member, and board member of Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society. It has become evident from recent blogs that even after 51 years of existence MCRHS apparently does not know what it is, how it should be governed, or where it is going and my experiences support this. I will bring up each of these topics and more as the weeks go by. By doing so I will attempt to correct some of the misconceptions, gross inaccuracies, and blatant falsehoods being promulgated in the Mid-Continent blogs.

In opening this channel of communication, my intent is to abide by Railway Preservation News policies and I urge anyone replying to do likewise. I will make every effort to avoid character assassinations and petty, slanderous, or libelous statements and I expect any responder to do likewise. All facts will be stated as such with reference to publicly accessible text and all opinions will be stated as such.

But first, allow me to introduce myself and Mid-Continent.

I have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, am retired from Bristol-Myers Squibb, and have started two not-for-profit organizations in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. I currently serve as president of the Delaware Valley Fire Museum in Pennsylvania and serve as development coordinator of Lake States Railway Historical Association in Wisconsin. I live in very eastern Pennsylvania but became a member of MCRHS in 1974 while working at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. I qualified as steam locomotive fireman and donated my time as such but later became attracted to wood car restoration because of the members who volunteered in this area and their quality, character, and devotion to railroad history.

Mid-Continent started as the Railway Historical Society of Milwaukee, incorporated in Wisconsin on April 29, 1959. As stated in the Articles of Incorporation, "The purpose or purposes for which this corporation is organized are: to Maintain and operate a museum and historical organization perpetrating the memory and history of railroading, including the people, equipment and geographical locations therein involved, and to engage in, assist and endow such literary and educational activities and undertakings as will aid and abet in preserving said memory and history." Their board of directors established Mid-Continent Railway Museum later in 1959 and changed the name of the Society to Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society either just before or just after purchasing the North Western spur that left the C&NW main line in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

MCRHS is a voting member organization but bylaws changes approved by the members in 1999 limited their right to elect all twelve board members and abolished the right of the voting members to elect the board president. Now only three of the twelve board member positions are elected by the members and the other nine board members are appointed to the board by board vote and the board elects the president. These changes would allow an unscrupulous member to become president, and allow his person to appoint a substantial majority of the board who would support a personal agenda of the president. Some active members are currently seeking bylaws changes that will return some of their lost power and the president and board are opposed to this. Ballots have been mailed to voting members this week.

Over the years since its founding MCRHS has accumulated one of the largest and most focused collections of wooden and steel freight and passenger cars in North America. By focused, I wish to emphasize that the collection policy has been to obtain equipment that served on railroads in Wisconsin and surrounding states and only with a few outstanding exceptions equipment dating from 1864 to 1920. However, the primary focus was on the "Golden Age of Railroading, 1880-1916." MCRM was renowned for operating steam powered trains and generally had four steam locomotives operating at various times as their primary motive power. These were: Chicago & North Western #1385 (a Ten-Wheeler), Western Coal and Coke #1 (another Ten-Wheeler), Warren & Ouachita Valley #1 (another Ten-Wheeler), and Dardanelle & Russellville #9 (a Mogul). Of these, WC&C #1 and W&OV #1 were privately owned. Saginaw Timber #2 (Polson Lumber #2, a Mikado), another privately owned locomotive, arrived on the scene in 1983 and W&OV # 1 left Mid-Continent later in the 1990s, allegedly after someone put gravel in the tender journal boxes.

After becoming an associate member and regular or voting member then advancing to life member, I eventually became an appointed board member from 2002 through 2005. It became very obvious to me that the leaders and board had no interest in the outstanding collections assembled at North Freedom by earlier members and showed little interest in steam; they were mostly interested in transforming Mid-Continent Railway Museum into a Diesel powered tourist railroad. It is my opinion and the opinions of other members that the blogs and Society publications have been used as a propaganda machine supporting the operation of Diesels over steam power, operating as a tourist railroad rather than a railroad museum with a demonstration steam train, and the opening a satellite tourist railroad and dinner train out of Mazomanie, WI.

The idea promoted by a new board member to start a satellite operation in Mazomanie where this board member owns a restaurant and is president of a development corporation that owns a building where Mid-Continent leases space for a quasi-museum appears to me to be gross conflicts of interest. No business plan has been presented to the members about this operation and for that matter no business plan has been presented to the members about operating Diesel trains at North Freedom.

The following is presented to any reader with the intent of full disclosure. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, I asked for member contact information to conduct a survey of the members to determine if they valued a tourist railroad for our society or a dedicated museum. These requests were denied by the president and by the contract manager. It was their view that member contact information was proprietary, which it is not. In 2006, I requested explanations for several large discrepancies I found between the financial information I received as a board member during FY2005 and what was published in the Railway Gazette. This request was ignored. I sent copies of these correspondences to the board and they did nothing. I exercised the right given any voting member of a non-stock corporation in Wisconsin State Statutes to obtain a court ordered delivery of the member contact information. I was expelled without due process and without any basis by five members of the board in order to disqualify me as a member in good standing.

My contribution next week will focus on what constitutes a strong foundation for a not-for-profit corporation so that the perceived problems facing Mid-Continent should not occur for other corporations of a similar nature.

As a moderator of the forum, I look forward to this discussion.

Issues of stewardship and governance are issues we frequently ignore... Questions of how and why groups evolve are significant.

In the last year we have seen questions about a museum being "taken over" by a real estate developer, We have seen a museum collection dispersed after the group failed to move forward...

We have also seen some recent significant successes...

At least the Ohio trolley collection was well dispursed to new homes...

The Northwest Railway Museum has remade itself, including a restoration shop and a new car display building, rebuilt equipment, and hauled most of the junk out of the weeds...

Orange Empire's new car house, Bay Area's new car house...

Be careful about what may be an attack... but don't be afraid to be critical...

Sounds so very familiar to me.

Jim Lundquist

Thank you for starting this thread Byron, your professional and accurate facts are over due in my eyes. Not only the parts about MC, but for the sake of others to be careful with where their organization allows itself to be taken. WE the membership of MC have allowed things to go this way and We the membeship need to try and regain some direction and control. This is so long overdue.

At the members meeting in April there were approx. 50 voting members present. I may not be totally accurate but I think it was pretty much 48 in favor of changing the bylaws and 2 against. Give or take a few votes as counted by hand. When I read my ballot package that came this last week I see how the BOD is flatly against leveling the power with the membership. Of course I knew this from being at the meeting in April.

Just an edit here that I feel compelled to add. In this voting ballot package there was indeed almost ?{don't have it anymore}full page opinion from the proponents of these bylaw changes were needed. While my opinions are in agreement with the bylaw changes, I did not intentially leave this out. The current state of affairs speaks for itself I do not have to intentionally leave things out to bolster my opinion. I am guilty of leaving things out as I am forgetful or often write/post things after a full shift in a nursing home. Some nights you are robbed of just about everything you started out with that night

In the ballot package, including the bylaw changes is a statement from the "Managment Committiee" along with a statement from the BOD "The BOD recommends a vote AGAINST all proposals". Further states about "They mention in their cover letter to the president some 20+ members agree with the proprosals {changes}. This is a small percentage of the 315 voting members". This is pure propaganda in my eyes. The members wanting to institute balance and accountability between mangament and memberships only agenda is to seek fairness and balance with the powers that be. The dirty laundry should be aired out and accountability be made. As it stands now and has been proven many times in the past, this isn't happening the way things are now. A whole lot more people than 20+ see a need to balance the power and decision making. You might be able to hide this truth from the majority of voting members who are not involved, but anybody can read between the lines and see there is trouble with the current state of affairs and the history of the museum in the last 10 years. Your point Byron, of being a museum or a tourist railroad is well taken.

While there may indeed be an example of a member being expelled for good reason, there have been a number expelled for less than good or honest reasons. Having been involved with MC from riding the first train in 1963 as an 8 year old to being involved later on as an adult I cringe at what has happened to the place. I think all volunteer organizations are a melting pot of odd personality types and are no doubt a slippery beast to hold on too. But the checks and balances need to be there, as in our own countries Constitution. As always though, the membership has some blame in the inbalances as we voted in changes that have not worked and also allowed much to go on that shouldn't of, for way to long. Complacency will get you every time, it gets all of us everytime.

I do not see any subrafuge from the members who want to see balance restored, nor to I see covert plans to project personal agendas. Unless the point of being a railroad museum and running steam locomotives is considered "covert or agenda". I personally do not see any hope for MC RR museum without changes and modifications to the current structure and management of the museum.

I hope this doesn't constitute an attack or that my opinions are in conflict with the rules of RYPN. This is soley my opinion and no doubt there are others who do not see it my way. We don't have much freedom left these days, but I think it is still ok to disagree. But the proof is in the pudding and it is from here that I form my opinions.

Respectively yours, John Risley.

My fondest memories as a child were going to MCRM. Beg all summer long, and finally get my mother to drive me up there. The anticipation while rounding the corner on the highway while coming into North Freedom, the anxious look to see if I could see coal smoke ahead, or hear that fantastic whistle! Ripping the door handle off in a burst of fenzied energy to get close enough to see that steam engine.
I would dash into the depot and buy a ticket, then stand by that big beautiful black engine. While I waited I listened to the dynamo whine, and the occasional thump of the air pump. I am 52 now, but I can still remember hearing the scrape of the shovel across the tender deck, as the fireman started buldling up the fire. Those sights and sounds will never fade from my memory.
I remember as a proud father taking my 3 year old son to a snow train event. I still have that photo of him standing in the cab, with the fireman smiling and holding him as I snapped the picture of number 2.
I remember FINALLY seeing 1385 in action at an annual meet of the C&NW Historical Society. Being able to go to North Freedom and see that engine is what got me to join the Historical Society for the very first time.
All my life I had hoped for a job, or circumstances that would bring me closer to North Freedom, where I could join and help out in the engine shed, but alas, it was not to be. Now I live way too far for a commute to the museum, the Philippines! Jet lag alone would kill me for the weekend. Our house here is for sale, and we are hoping to come back to the USA later this year. Unfortunately , although we will be able to settle anywhere in the US, Mid Continent is far down my list. Why? As the author of this thread pointed out, steam is a distant memory at the museum. Sorry, call me cruel, narrow minded, etc, but I have no interest in seeing a strange looking faded blue former industrial diesel pulling a train down the track. Yes, I know... there are some Northwestern cars there, and a great looking drovers caboose, but .... no steam. To me, not having a steamer at North freedom, is like trying to breath without lungs. Whistle on the Wind! Turn of the century recreation, etc, where did all that go? Yes, I know steam restoration is expensive, but I would have thought that the board, or management, or whomever is in charge of decisions there would have been setting aside a portion of ticket sales, seeking donations etc, LONG before the fires were dropped on number 2. Now as I read between the lines of the directors latest blog entry, it seems there was some kind of lawsuit, forcing the museum to restore someone elses steam locomotive that was wrung out and used up. I see photos of 1385, or pieces of her sitting outside rotting away, and piles of rusting metal and stripped boilers sitting out as well. Makes me want to cry. Is this anyway to treat your heritage? I still have the old calendars I bought as a kid at MCRM, and I look at those pictures, and the few pictures I find online of the museum grounds now, and I wonder what in the world happened? The directors blog says he is dedicated to seeing steam at North Freedom again. I wonder about statements like that when I see those pictures of scrap metal outside.
I have no desire to slam anyone here, I don't know the whole story, I'm sure of that, but I am just giving my impressions, as an outsider. For the sake of middleaged kids, like me, and a whole new crop of potential steam fans shedding their diapers and sitting in front of the boob tube watching that stupid blue engine and his friends, could we please step back, examine what is best for the future and revitalize the image that so strongly represented The Mid Continent Railway for so many good years. Thanks, Dave Keiser, Dipolog City, Philippines

Institutions which have come to acquire political power, are fundamentally by nature, highly reluctant to see that power diluted or transferred away from them... said Gandalf the Grey, as he was whisked on wings of eagles from Saruman's tower prison.

However, the same principle applies to members. Members will tend to take power if given an opportunity to do so, absent some clever campaigning. PG&E recently tried to get California voters to destroy their own right to start a municipal power company (in competition with PG&E). PG&E spent over $50 million, using every trick in the political book, while the opponents spent $50k. PG&E lost because the votership will not cede political power willingly.


I know of organizations where the Bylaws require the Board to state "We recommend" or "We do not recommend" for each proposed bylaw change. That is legit.

But the rest sounds like campaigning. States vary, but most states take a seriously dim view of using organizational funds to take partisan stances. Check your state law.

Someone had alleged that private campaigning is not allowed, well it only took me a minute to find Wisconsin law 181.0720, which is the most liberal law I've seen in that area. It seems to be crafted very specifically to allow campaigning and to oblige the museum to cooperate with those who campaign, by handing over their membership list. What is really striking is the sanctions against a noncomplying museum: they call out a remedy of delaying the meeting to allow injured parties to campaign.

But here is the part where, as someone who has been in these trenches, I must poke you with a stick. Because I have seen far too many institutions break the law, while the injured piss away their legal rights, and then kvetch about it on the forums. Don't be "that guy". Prepare to either pay for a lawyer, or be your own. Pro-se litigants have a lot of power in the courtroom in this type of situation, and a lot of credibility in the media.

But you have to act NOW. Get the member list NOW. Campaign NOW. If necessary, go to court NOW to avail yourself of Wisconsin's generous campaigning rights. If you abdicate your rights through passivity and indifference, then you deserve to lose. Now GO!

Robert, I did as you suggested and sought a court order under Wisconsin State Statutes 181.1602, 181.1603, 181.1604, and 181.1605. Mid-Continent refused again to deliver and requested a court hearing to explain why they refused my request. I hired a lawyer and stated my reason was to conduct a survey of the members. The manager argued that I could do harm to the organization by contacting the members. The judge decided that my request was too vague and that I needed to submit a letter specifically stating my requests of the members, which I did to Mid-Continent and they again refused my request for member contact information. In the mean time, the board convened a special session and suspended my membership then they convened another special session and expelled me. This expulsion removed my eligibility as a member in good standing. I had already spend more than $5,000 and did not wish to spend any more.

I am always interested in another's statement of perception of a condition or situation.
I will also try to aid Mr. Long in his "...attempt to correct some of the misconceptions, gross innacuarcies,
and blatant falsehoods being promulgated...". In my early work experience as a reporter it was drilled
into me to seek and report not only the verifiable facts but ALL the verifiable facts. I will also try
to bracket all opinion with proper disclaimer in order to easily seperate the two.

The assertion that no business plan had been presented to the members about operating deisel trains is correct
but in the interest of full disclosure, at the time the back-up power took over the task of hauling the
passengers there had not been a business plan, as such, ever presented for any of the operations at North
Freedom. At the time the last steam engine went out of service the vast majority of the income came from
passenger fares so the leadership at the time was faced with either diesel or no passenger service with the
attendant loss of income if passenger trains were suspended. (BEGIN OPINION) While we are not fulfilling
the letter of the mission statement I believe we are making a good faith effort to fulfill the intent by still
providing a ride in vintage passenger coaches with properly trained and uniformed staff. Is
it not better to try to keep the lights on and doors open while trying to get a steam engine
rebuilt?(END OPINION).

With the intent of full disclosure, Mr. Long was offered the opportunity to include his survey in an official
mailing of the Society and he refused. In the attempt to obtain the mailing list under the Wi. 181 the president
and manager felt he did not properly fulfill all the requirements outlined. Mr. Long eventually retained
counsel and brought an action against the Society. The Society then had to retain counsel to defend itself.
In the end the judge agreed with the president and manager. The attempt to obtain the mailing list after
the judgement still did not properly fulfill all the requirements. (BEGIN OPINION) If you, Dear Reader, were
to suddenly and out of the blue receive a letter from someone asking questions of how you felt about RYPN,
what would your reaction be? In this day and age of identity theft, sometimes unwanted mailing list
sharing and heightened awareness of privacy, the Society thought it best to closely covet the mailing list.
As far as the costs, not only did Mr. Long pay his own lawyer, but by virtue of Society Membership,
shared some portion of the cost of defense. Who really wins, save the lawyers?(END OPINION).

Forgive me John Risley, but I would also like to augment the facts you have stated. There is, indeed, a page
in the ballot package tht carries the statement that "The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST all
proposals." Our bylaws state:"The board may recommend to the membership the adoption or rejection of the
proposed revision." What is missing from your post is the first line of the 2nd paragraph which reads:
"Management Committee opinion". (BEGIN PERSONAL OPINION) I think that fairly states that the rest of that
side of that page is opinion (END PERSONAL OPINION).

Another point I'll prod you on is the entire other side of the same page is a statement of support for the
change in bylaws. (BEGIN OPINION) It seems to this humble observer that a full page from each side of an
argument is at least an attempt to be fair (END OPINION).

(BEGIN ANOTHER OPINION) I will say I think the supporting side is well stated and I hope everyone takes the
time to read and think about each side. I'll also observe that none of the members of the 1999 Board
are involved at a Board level now, so if the restated bylaws were designed as a power grab, where
are they now? (END ANOTHER OPINION)

I will read with interest and hope my musings and information have been helpful.

mldeets

Bravo, mldeets! Couldn't have said it better myself!
-Stu

Thank you MLDeets for your pointing out of my not mentioning "the other" side of this bylaw change opinion from the proponents of Bi-law changes. This is indeed true and I did not mention it. It was not intentional, but certainly could see how it would be taken that way. The future of Mid Continent is a very hot and emotional issue for all of us who have been involved past or present. I have my perspective and often forget to include the "other side". Not much different than most peoples ability to argue typical political/religious view points effectively. Point made and I apologize for omitting it. I saw this when it was pointed out it is "legal" but didn't correct my omission of this. In fact the proponents of the bi-law change had a much larger comment on the subject. Again I am sorry for leaving it out of my post. Sorry for any misunderstanding this might of caused. Proponents were indeed allowed to voice their opinion on pros and cons of this vote in the ballot package.

I do try to look at it as open minded as possible, but like anybody else I have opinions and view points and that in itself has limitations. I do try to be flexible and if you prove to me "the errors of my thinking" I will try to adjust my opinions accordingly.
There is no doubt in my mind that the folks who disagree with my perspectives feel as strongly as I do. I have seen what I have seen and base my perspectives on that. Others see what they see and feel accordingly. Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler had good ideas and were very adamant on their viewpoints on how things should be, so was Gandhi and Dr Martin Luther King. All in the name of social justice too!

In the case of Mid Continent I think some middle ground is needed and that is to me the whole point of the bi-law changes and the feeling that it needs changing. As it stands the one who yields the biggest club gets his way and does not have any obligation to listen to any arguments contrary. As long as your in agreement with the big club yielding party there is no problem. Dictators kind of like this style of rule, guess in reality it has always been this way no matter how the picture is painted. Power is power and those who have power are not really hip about sharing it.

In the end I hope MC can overcome and survive as it was created to be. If a faction breaks away to do it's own thing I hope it's separation is successful and that may be what is needed in the end if we can not come to terms with each other, meaning membership and management. I sit corrected, thanks Pete. John

I have several points in reply to Mr. Deets.

The first is a technicality. I did not take legal action against Mid-Continent, I simply asked the Sauk County Court to order the release of list of members and their contact information in compliance with Wisconsin statutes, which the judge did. It was Mid-Continent that took action against me to block the court order. And based on the 990 form for that fiscal year, I saw no expense for legal services so someone with deep pockets may have picked up the legal fees.

The second point is that a person's name, address, and telephone number are readily available in telephone books and the internet. I have possessed that information for Mr. Deets from an old membership list for seven years.

The third point is that Mid-Continent used to freely give out the membership list to anyone who asked and the professional societies to which I belonged all either periodically published member lists and contact information and mailed them to members or posted them on their websites for member-only access.

The fourth point is that the comparison with RYPN members and their contact information is not relevant because RYPN members have no voting rights.

I find it to be very strange that Mid-Continent suddenly finds the need to prevent members from obtaining this information and/or prevent a member from conducting a survey about whether they feel Mid-Continent is a museum with a demonstration steam train or a tourist railroad and if thei support the mission statement or not.

I go into more detail about the member lists in MidContinent Blogs #4.

Do we have someone on the inside of MCRM who can comment on this? Does MC plan to run steam again? Or to be diesel-hauled? Or - and this hasn't been mentioned here - to be a static railroad museum? When I look into the barns there - that I don't think many people know even exist - I see some unbelieveable museum-quality restorations of very old, wooden equipment, which no doubt cost big $$$ and many man-hours of labor. These restorations aren't the type undertaken by an operating museum - the equipment would get too beat up in daily service. But then I see 2 or 3 steam engines in piles of parts sitting around. When I visit MCRM today I don't understand what they are trying to present: railroad museum, steam railroad, dinner train, tourist railroad? Or all the above?

Back 15-20 years ago I used to hear about many people going to MCRM from the Chicago area both to visit and to volunteer. I think their operations were very influential to Chicago-area railfans back in the steam days, and were a rallying point for railfans throughout the region. In recent years I have never heard one person say they have visited there, and that is unfortunate.

Chris.

I was one of those members involved in the restorations you saw in the Coach Shed and I want to thank you for your comments and observations. I worked on the early restoration of Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western #63, an 1888 Barney and Smith coach back in the mid-1970s. I also painted the final coats on the C&NW drovers caboose and DM&IR refrigerator car. I learned from serving on the board from 2002 until 2005 that there was nothing in the budget for museum expenses and has not been throughout the 2000s. The original purposes of the steam train were to attract visitors, to provide a demonstration of how travel was behind steam, and provide funding for restoration projects but not now. Restorations of Copper Range coach #60 and combine #25 were and are mostly paid for by those members involved in the projects. One of the next projects will be C&NW coach #613.

My next submission (MidContinent Blogs #6) will provide some information about where MCRM will be going.

In reply to the first technicality, I have not read the Form 990 so cannot dispute Mr. Long's interpretation but if nothing else, the time & effort of the manager made in defense of the museum did not come free. That cost, at the very least, was born by the museum and thereby the membership as a whole.

Perhaps I'm being dense but I do fail to see the connection to telephone books.

The operative word in 3 is "used" to give out. Times and society change.

I am glad to know that privacy issues on RYPN are irrelevant because members have no voting rights. I'm certain that statement has endeared you to many and added weight to your arguments.

mldeets

Here are relevant bits of Wisconsin law.

http://nxt.legis.state.wi.us/nxt/gatewa ... d=181.0720
http://nxt.legis.state.wi.us/nxt/gatewa ... d=181.1602
(click "next doc" for 1603-1605).

It is certainly the most liberal (insurgent-friendly) bit of legislation I have ever read. It rather explicitly protects the right to campaign. You never know - there can be some wacky exception, like your bylaws being grandfathered to a prior law. I hear nothing about that, I am hearing about "list abuse" under 181.1605. Read it, it only prohibits obvious abuses, does not prohibit campaigning and in fact specifically authorizes fundraising for campaigning.

I agree with mldeets' opinion that an organization ought to protect the privacy of its members to every reasonable extent. But that is not the same as silencing minority opinions and suppressing speech among members. That's a real sick thing - it goes against everything America is about, everything our veterans fought for. If you've got an insurgent, engage him in the free marketplace of ideas, so he loses fair and square.

I don't know what is happening here, but I happen to possess Occam's Razor, which is a strange name since it's better for scrying.