Having been trained by, employed at, and participated in museum operations at three separate railroad organizations I found that then, and now, bigotry, racism, religion, and societal (aka politics) differences are still the largest roadblock to younger volunteers becoming involved.

You can be a wealth of knowledge, skilled machinist, operational genius, customer service superstar, detail oriented over-achiever...but if you aren't a God fearing W.A.S.P. you won't last long at/with any museum out there today.

It seems that railroad organizations like to bring people in that behave/believe just as railroad professionals did in 1930. Unfortunately, team...we are in 2013...and the mind-set of who and what is acceptable is not compatible with 1930.

Bring your organization fully into 2013...you may be amazed by what happens when you stop chastising people that aren't like you were in 1930.

I'm intrigued how this topic keeps popping up more and more on this site.

Quick introduction:
29 years old
B.A. in history with a minor in education
Finishing seventh year as a public high school teacher
One year left on a M.A. in American Studies with a concentration in "museum and communities"
Member of the Railroad Museum of New England since I was 13

There is a chasm, not a gap, between the current generation (16-22) and the Baby Boomers. The world has changed significantly over the last forty years. This is not a knock on either generation, merely an observation. I'm fortunate in that I have straddled a world between (and this is the professional term we use) digital natives (born after 1980) and digital immigrants. What does this mean for rail preservation? The up and coming generation dwells in a world where everything is instantaneous. Therefore, the idea of spending years on a single project is not an attractive one, never mind seeing it through. This notion of instant gratification manifests itself in everything from grades (which in most schools are now digitally accessible so when I correct a test, students can see their grade the moment it is entered) to money. Savings? What savings. I want it now. Drive fast, take chances.

As for Mr. Mitchell's theories about the current economic affairs, I disagree. The current generation, as "connected" as they are, tends to be generally apathetic to the world around them. In fact, narcissism is no longer considered a psychological disorder simply due to the fact so many fall under this category. Although I don't teach civics, a close colleague does and during my weekly (sometimes daily visits), I am regularly disappointed with the lack of interest. I'll say something like, "You know, there is a good chance you will not have the same standard of living your parents have enjoyed." Nothing.

I wish I had an answer. I can certainly pinpoint the problems but the solution is complicated.

Brent, thank you. The video I have linked below is especially for you.
As a fellow educator I appreciate the observation of the students. My intuition suggests that our generation may share more in common with "the greatest generation" rather than the baby boomers. I hear talk of doing more with less, living more productive, simpler lives, and leaving the world as a better place than we found it.
When I am teaching, and ethical issues pertaining to what I've mentioned above present themselves, I don't present them to my students as a choice or an alternative lifestyle. I present them as the truth, because the other "alternatives (i.e. living a more materialistic lifestyle, not recycling, and consuming beyond our means) are not alternatives at all. They will lead to our self destruction. This typically falls on deaf ears with some, but others do appreciate it.
I find that this video does a pretty good job of explaining what we are up against and why:
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=zDZFcDGp ... DZFcDGpL4U
I think it also shows how we have a real opportunity to recruit new volunteers. The school I work at has a community service requirement for graduation... Which could be met in this way. Call your local high school and speak with the guidance counselor to see if something could be arranged.

Steve

"but if you aren't a God fearing W.A.S.P. you won't last long at/with any museum out there today."


That's nonsense. I've been at the same place for almost twenty years, and while the overwhelming majority are W, it's not exclusive. As far as the A.S. portion, I'm not, nor are a significant plurality of others, if not a majority, from Anglo-Saxon backgrounds, and we have a couple of individuals of African ancestry. As for the P, we have plenty, but plenty of other faiths ranging from observant Catholics (one Priest) to what I suspect are Jeffersonian deists.

Your race, ethnicity and religion don't really matter when pulling a throttle or turning a wrench, unless you make it an issue.

IC382 sed:

"You can be a wealth of knowledge, skilled machinist, operational genius, customer service superstar, detail oriented over-achiever...but if you aren't a God fearing W.A.S.P. you won't last long at/with any museum out there today."

Um, try our little place in New England. Rather diverse we are (much moreso than your above description), with the usual combination of tolerance, respect for craftsmanship, and traditional acceptance of differences that hold forth in New England. (And don't belive all those "Bert & I" Mainer jokes, ei-thah.)

It's tough holding a young guy's interest when the power tools and moving trains are off-limits until age 18. It's tough when people show up who never had their parents (Dad, traditionally) show them how to hold a tool, how to hold a paintbrush, how to hold a conversation, how to get along with people not exactly like themselves.

At our place, we don't care if you're 18 or 28 or 68. If you can "do", if you can follow instructions, if you don't start off telling us how much more you know about what we're doing, then you may very well find yourself running a department, a project, becoming a vital part of the orgainization, more quickly than you'd think. There are posters on this board who know exactly what I'm talking about....

I've heard of places that are a bunch of grumpy old men, all over 65, who run off anyone under 50. My first thought about that is "how nuts ARE they?" Then it's "are they taking bets on who's the last one to be standing?"

No simple answers here; my philosophy has always been to treat others as I'd like to be treated (or how I'd LIKE to have been treated at some places years ago), and to always remember what it was like to be a newbie, and to remember how there were a few people who were nice when I was a kid getting started in this game.

Parting thoughts to the young bloods: don't get discouraged easily, be willing to find another place if the first (or second or third) place isn't welcoming, keep your eyes and ears open--- take notice of the accomplishments of some of us boomers, and be willing to learn. Lots of us want to teach you. Have a sense of humour and don't take yourself too too seriously, have a good sense of confidence, be safe, and enjoy what you're doing. Know that everyone has had to "shovel s--t" at times (and still do; yesterday, I spent an hour cleaning out the inspection pit in our shop), it's part of the job description!

Go forth and do good things!

Howard P.
honorary Yankee (at least I think so)

Superheater, I believe both you and IC382 are both right...some organizations I have been with welcomed me with open arms...others were blatant racists and made no secret of it when I stepped onto the property. Some of them are quite well known.

Not to hijack the thread, but take a look at the crews on steam anywhere and how many young/minority/ female enginemen will you find? How many on a big name steam program?

Something else to look at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

(Thanks to Stephen Piwowarski for letting us know about these shorts.)

The NRHS is a subset of the preservation movement, and a whole different can of worms. I know very few folks that are members, and for the most part, the ones that are tend to be older folks.

Young people typically don't enjoy that sort of social club. Paying dues, holding elections, going to meetings where you follow "Robert's Rules of Order", and paying big bucks for a mediocre potluck in some hotel banquet room don't tend to be priorities for the younger generation.

It's not just the NRHS, but any group of that kind. How many people do you know that are in the Elks Club or the Eagles, or Moose Lodge, etc? Any of them under retirement age?

Brent, I wonder if it's technological or simply youth? I can buy the idea that technology allows the average 5 year old's attention span problems to endure longer.......but after a few years of schooling, doesn't that change as students are taught the process of critical thought and reasoning?

Don't know what to tell 382 other than to not allow his perception of his experience at a subset of museums to set a standard of stupidity for all museums and all people...for all we know, it's a personal thing and not an ethnic thing. He may simply be obnoxious....or has studied a very small and unfortunate set of subjects if he's open, personable and competent.

We do need to become more inclusive, but in my experience it's less about ethnic cleansing than about assimilated group cultural norms that aren't necessarily even articulated much less an open awareness. Combined with magical thought and the natural aversion to looking at things that challenge beliefs you don't even know you have......and sets of fresh eyes promoting different agendas aren't welcome no matter how positive they may be.

Do we want to get into the issue of true communication/

dave

Removed for not being germane to the argument du jour. I thought the discussion was about how to attract younger people.

"Don't let guys with tattoos get passed by because of that."

Some people might infer a lack of self regard and foresight (can't see it's going to look like hell when you are 75), respect for the equipment, a lack of regard for safety (you have an incrementally higher risk of Hep C with each "tat" acquired), a certain indiscretion with money (you paid for that "art" but drive a what?) and impulse to attention-seeking behavior (look up "signalling and not the wayside kind)"

Of course, I'm hoping you don't have a "tramp stamp".

*Friendly Ribbing Jeff*

No tats,no piercings,no victims.......non negoitable.

Ross Rowland

I disagree, at least with the museums/operations I have personally known of.
Of all the die-hard types there are where I live in WA state, one of the top ten faces you'll see at any event is a young African-American man. He volunteers anywhere that'll have him and has run trains at every operation I know of in the area. He's run steam, too (I read recently he fired for a young woman at Chehalis, WA, talk about a PC crew!). I know of several non-WASP types at operations of various type (not even RR-oriented) in the area, as well as other places I've seen.
I wouldn't say that gender or skin color drives acceptance. I think it's the "I have no other life and I'll live here if I have to" mindset is what will get you into the fold. That said, I know of hardly anyone under the age of 50 or more that can do this. Young folks gotta work unless they're already wealthy. And this keeps them mostly from being in the 'inner circle that gets to get within 100 feet of the trains' group at any museum or operation...

I'd be out. Pierced ears (but only once in each ear. :) )

Seriously, if I can't see it, it won't bother me. I do admit to being vaguely disturbed by facial piercing, extensive visible tattoos and other faddish body adornment. It approaches being clothing at that point, and showing up appropriately dressed for the event at hand is part of most jobs. It also makes a difference to me whether someone is visible to the public.

I caught heck from my former boss at a bank because he saw me at a lumberyard on the weekend and I wasn't in a dress and heels. To me, that was as foolish as if I'd shown up to work in my house-building jeans and shirt. To a very large degree, we have lost the concept of showing respect to one another and to the work we're undertaking.

I should clarify...depending on where your organization exists...you may find that the W.A.S.P. comment isn't warranted...however..in some locations...the P. part in particular...is a big wall for some youth to climb over.

Since I am progressive in my social views, don't attend church, and in general don't agree with ANYTHING conservative...my tenure in preservation lasted a too short 3 years.

The funny part is...I was so eager to work with "railroad men"...what a let down. In order to join the club I had to act, behave, and believe the same as the rest of the herd. Believing in unicorns, pots-of-gold, and judgement from the clouds doesn't work for me. As a young man, I chose to walk my own path, and be my own man.

Give up my personal viewpoint? No thank you...I will suffice to watch trains run from my nonjudgmental pickup.