WhiteRiverProductions
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EXPLORING THE COMPLEX WORLD OF HISTORIC RAILWAY PRESERVATION How to Recruit and Retain New Volunteers
After driving by many times over the years, Chad Timothy fi nally stopped in to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum one day because he saw us moving trains. He decided to offer us his experience as a heavy machinery operator and in return we taught him a thing or two about trains, including how to service the brakes on Lehigh Valley RS3m No. 211. OTTO VONDRAK PHOTO
ANNUAL
BEFORE ANYONE GETS TOO EXCITED, let me just say right up front that I am still seeking that magic spell that will make new volunteers beat a path to our front door. If you have discovered the secret formula, please share with the rest of us! Like every volunteer organization across the country, recruiting and retaining fresh faces is a challenge. What we do with trains is serious work, but it’s also supposed to be fun. While we may dedicate a few hours a week (okay, who are we kidding) to our favorite cause or pet project, the truth is, sometimes it can be a hard sell to convince someone to give up part of their weekend for any reason. Our time is precious. But many hands make light work, meaning our time can be used better. So how do we bring on extra help, and encourage them to return?
The best railroading magazines are now together under one roof! Whether you’re looking to stay current with the latest new products, build detailed scale models, head trackside to get close to the action, or relive the glory days of railroading, White River Productions has something for you. Get on board today!
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WhiteRiverProductions.com 60 SEPTEMBER 2015 •
RAILFAN.COM Community Outreach
“Wow, I never knew you guys were here!” is the most frequently heard comment at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum where I volunteer. We spend a lot of time and money trying to attract people to visit our museum. Sometimes, it helps to go “off-campus” and engage the community. Event Booth: Are there events in the
towns surrounding your museum that you could have a presence at? Firemen’s carnivals and street fairs are great opportunities during the warmer months. When tempera- tures begin to drop, indoor events like train shows and chamber of commerce networking meetings are good ideas. Some events offer free or discounted space for non-profits to display. We set up a table at some area train shows that includes a nice tablecloth, a display panel describing our museum, and a monitor displaying a looping video showing some of
our recent activities. We also have plenty of membership applications and museum event schedules ready to hand out. Be ready to talk to people who may not understand what your organization is all about. Speak in broad, generic terms about what kind of help you need, like painting, woodworking, lawn cutting, and so on. Partnerships: The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey is working to stabilize and restore portions of their collec- tion of rolling stock. For the last 20 years, the Volunteer Railroaders Association has helped organize and operate passenger excursions in and around New Jersey. Looking for a tangible project to apply their resources to, the VRA “adopted” URHS’s Susquehanna 40-foot boxcar No. 402, providing assistance with fundraising and restoration. Is there another museum in your area that
could benefit from some extra help? A number of years ago I read where a group of railroaders helped out a museum of antique farm machin- ery to clean and prepare a three-foot gauge steam locomotive for operation. Another week, the farmers came out to the train museum to assist with roof repairs on a piece of rolling stock. The synergy between the two groups grew and both organizations gained new members as a result. Educational Opportunities: If your museum is an eligible non-profit, you may be able to partner with local schools and vocational training centers for occasional volunteer help. Can you think of small jobs around your property that would be great Community Service projects? Prepare a list of items that you could use help with, and then determine how many people you would need. For
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