Question --- I'm looking at the past and next few year's worth of ARM conferences, and I noticed something. The same sites keep coming up; and to my own disturbance, NEVER in the State of Michigan. Anybody know why, and how the sites get chosen? Also, why is it that ARM and TRAIN don't partner up more often? Spencer was (and no, I'm not kidding) a life changing experience.

And no Phil, were not members yet --- I'm trying, I'm trying .... tough sell in a primarally "marine" setting, and until 2002 we didn't have a piece of equipment, although I guess that's now changed?

T.J. Gaffney
Port Huron Museums

Brian Norden and some of our other readers may be able to chime in with a closer perspective, but the distinct impression I get is that people are not banging ARM's door down to host the meeting. The host is responsible for the entire program as well as the logistics and very few groups want to put in the work involved. In short, ARM goes where people are willing, or can be cajoled, into having it.

Port Huron would be great--with field trips to Huckleberry and the Henry Ford and other cool stuff. Get your director signed up, T.J., drop Paul Hammond a line, and a future convention is yours for the asking!

As Erik said, it takes an effort to put on an annual conference and so much of this is done by the hosting organization. Very few museums are beating down ARM’s door wanting to host a conference because of the time and effort required to be a local host. Some of our hosts organizations have sought out the conference because they desire to share new facilities, and other achievements.

ARM is working to be more involved with the session topics (to bring in best-in-field presenters); but, the local host should also be suggesting local presenters from both their organization and the local preservation community. In addition to this the host needs to work with the innkeeper, caterers, field trip venues, charter bus companies, etc. To help the ARM has prepared a how-to manual, and assigns a board member to work with the host organization.

The ARM board is vetting conference sites for several years in advance. Some sites have come to ARM and others the ARM has sought out in an attempt to move the conference around the US and Canada. At this time the ARM board is interested in sites for 2008 and 2010 and later.

In a couple of weeks (April 9) the Association of Railway Museums is holding a one-day spring conference at the Illinois Railway Museum. The day prior the ARM Board is holding its mid-year meeting at Union and will be at the spring conference. See the ARM website under conferences for more information.

This Fall’s conference and annual meeting of the Association will be at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg.

A tentative schedule of future conferences is as follows:
2006.........Sacramento, CA........ CSRM host (joint conference with TRAIN)
2007.........Pittsburgh, PA............Pennsylvania Trolley Museum host
2008.........(open)
2009.........Vancouver, BC...........West Coast Rail Association host

Association of Railway Museums