Hi T.J. and everyone
If you have seen the posts here You will know that out group TWVRPS has gotten started with our efforts to save some steam and diesel locomotives. one thing I have found out is that getting enough people to work toward the one goal is the first major obstical that has to be overcome.We have a lot of work ahead of us and it isn't going to be easy. I fully understand that it takes money to get a job done. It takes people who are willing to do what is necessary.
Your Idea will work if:
1. You get enough people willing to help with Paperwork, and Legwork.This first group can be small. We have started out with under 100 people
This core group will be the ones that will keep the Ball rolling.
2. Start Small. A mistake many make is trying to do something that would be virtually Impossible for an established group. helping museums or helping to clean up a statically dilplayed Locomotive in a park somewhere will produce more goodwill and future funds than you would think
3 Set Realistic Goals, Work at raising 1 million dollars first. A million dollars is a lot of money but for 1000 people who are working at fundraising and asking for donations Raising 1000 dollars would be fairly easy.
Remember with enough interested people who are willing you can get the Project to work.
Andrew Martin

amartin@wlu.edu

> What about combining a lot of what is being
> said here, get together those that would be
> interested, and hash this out? To start
> with, maybe a session at the next ARM or
> TRAIN convention is in order to debate this,
> or at least talk with those who have done
> successful endowment projects. By the way,
> excuse the ignorance, but where are the ARM
> and TRAIN conventions next year? The more I
> think about it, the insurance endowment
> suggestion could have the greatest impact in
> the short term. Regionally, I'd be willing
> to host a discussion here at our facility,
> much like Marty Knox hosted an informal
> "future of steam session" over an
> 8 foot sub last year at Huckleberry.

> TJ
The 2004 TRAIN meeting will be held in the Kansas City area during the first weekend in November.

clacey@hebervalleyrr.org