It would be interesting to survey the ARM member organizations to see what they want from their organization. A better route might be to look at the mission of other successful national non-profit organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Association of Museums. RDGrailfan had some good ideas above, but I feel a number of them were not sufficiently specific to railway preservation. Overall, a national organization should be dedicated to keeping the railway preservation movement viable and relevant through encouraging better service to the public, and helping our organizations adopt the highest and best practices of the non-profit world.

Here is my overly comprehensive wish list:

Preservation

Standards for the treatment of historic equipment -based upon Sec. of the Int. Stds.
Technical Assistance
Resources -such as preserved equip databases, suppliers, professionals, articles, etc.

Interpretation, Programs & Education

Recommended practices
Resources -articles, books, theory, professionals

Marketing & Communications

National market data -attendance figures, revenue, and economic impacts
Professional Journal -not just equipment restoration, but governance, interpretation, development, etc.
Conferences
Movement-wide promotional campaigns
Career listings

Development

Grant writing assistance -database, guidance, recommendations
Industry data -statistics
Recommended practices -professional boards?, capital campaigns, online donations, etc.

Governance

Recommended practices -governance, management, and strategic planning.
Legal

Public Policy

Political outreach
Regulatory outreach

Much of this content should be based upon the practices of other non-profit fields, but they will require some adaptation for our use.

Sigh. I wonder how many of our organizations would be ready and willing to use any of this stuff?

Also, in response to above, I do not get why the merger is really desirable except that as a culture we seem to have more heart in the equipment then in all the other stuff, and well, they operate old trains too... That said, the needs and operations of a non-profit are inherently different, and at odds with those of a private for-profit business.

Have a look at the extensive list of seminars offered last Fall at the ARM Conference, including Faithfulness to Original Fabric, FRA Compliance Procedures for Railroad Museums, a Reality Check on Your Collections, Attending to a Historic Site, Targeting
School Curriculum with Railway Heritage, Writing Effective Grant Requests, Advocacy 101, and Developing an Emergency Plan.

http://www.railwaymuseums.org/Static/documents/FINALFLYER.pdf

Wesley

No, I know, great stuff. I wish I could afford to go to these, just as I wish I was in a position to implement more of the ideas, but this stuff needs to transformed into permanent resources that can continue to communicate after the powerpoint slides are gone. Look at the resources and publications available from the NTHP --I know, a huge organization, but that should be the template.

Every one of these meetings should result in some form of publication (journal?, online?) available to the ARM membership. I understand the presenters might be somewhat protective of their work product, but the same time, many of them have some manner of consultancy, and may enjoy the additional exposure. I know I would.

The content of these great sessions are just a part of the work ARM (or whomever) needs to do. ARM needs to build the rhetoric in support of our movement and really advocate on our behalf to the world and to ourselves, as there is still a long way to go in convincing everyone of the necessity for change and growth.

Late Edit: Maybe ARM should take over this orphaned message board for that matter? rejuvenate the posting of articles, communicate with member organizations more nimbly? Just a thought.

BTW, Can anyone tell I have a lecture to write? You can tell because I am here instead.

Ask and ye shall receive--at least, yea shall receive my slides and take-home resources.

http://www.hms-consult.com/advocacy.htm

Having reported on rail preservation for the last 15 years, I can say without hesitation that it has become more professional and that continuous improvement is happening in a number of areas. Collections are being put under roof, visitor centers and libraries are being built, interpretation is more wide-spread and sophisticated, and management is managing in a ever-more businesslike manner. Museums are disposing of pieces that aren't historically significant or fit their mission statements. They are more visitor-oriented than ever.

Even though ARM runs on a tiny budget, there is no question that it has positively influenced the industry. The resources aren't there to have an impact comparable to the National Trust, AAM or AASLH. Even so, it can still have an impact and we have to start somewhere.

The Boards of ARM and TRAIN realize this, which is why in French Lick last month they unanimously agreed to join together into a single organization. Their intent is to receive membership approval at the November conference in Chattanooga. Assuming approval, the union will occur in early 2012. It will be twice as large as either predecessor, and should be more than twice as effective.

Having attended those meetings, I can tell you that the much remarked divide between museums and tourist railroads was nowhere to be found. Both boards realized that their similarities and mutual interests far outweigh their differences and acted accordingly.

In the meantime, ARM and TRAIN are jointly working to create partnerships with other organizations to influence FRA rulemaking and lobby for the survival of Transportation Enhancement grants and the IMLS. Those are tall orders and in this political climate we may be swimming upstream. But the effort is underway. We hope other rail heritage organizations join us in Chattanooga to plan the way forward.
Aaron Isaacs, Editor
Trainline/Railway Museum Quarterly
ARM/TRAIN

Looking at the various suggestions here for scope of activities of this hypothetical "National" organization, I have to question whether a "middle man" is needed or desirable for some of the types of services, particularly if the national organization ends up having to subcontract for such support. In other words, what "value added" would it provide to put yet another organization in the communication loop when they are not going to be a source or a supplier.

PC

Wouldn't the services they provide for a fee make them a supplier? I've been on both sides of this decision before, regarding a small professional organization suffering growing pains in my wife's industry. Erik laid it out as realistically as I can imagine.

dave