By H Martin Swan
Published in the December 1998 Northstar News
From time to time the question "What does the NRHS do for me?'" comes up. The basic answer is the NRHS offers many opportunities. To a large degree you get out of the NRHS what you put into the NRHS. What the NRHS provides is opportunities to participate in railroad related activities with like-mined people.
Conventions: Members are invited to attend the National Convention sponsored by Chapters and overseen by the NRHS. Members get a reduced registration price (if they act in a timely fashon) and first choice for the various activities. Chapters can bid and host the Conventions. The rewards of hosting a national convention can be great, from personal satisfaction to financial. There are risks; remember the problems that the convention in the Garden State had a few years ago? Because of that, the NRHS more closely overviews the Convention to make sure things like that don't happen again.
Spring & Fall BOD's: Chapters can also host the Spring or Fall Board of Directors meetings. Northstar Chapter did just that in the spring of 1996. It was very successful both from personal satisfaction and financial points of view. At a recent BOD meeting, I proposed an amendment to the by-laws (that was approved) that would allow the Fall BOD to be held anytime in October or November. The previous requirement was that it must be held only on the second Sunday in November. With this freedom to choose our dates, if we desire, we could bid on hosting the BOD in the future, either Spring or Fall.
Discounts: Membership in the NRHS entitles you to discounts at the various museums and tourist lines. A list of what is available was presented in the Bulletin.
Grants: Each year the NRHS provides matching money to Chapters for some significant project. The funds are limited so the NRHS must pick and choose. Northstar did try to obtain grant money to install a sign in front of the James J Hill House. We were not successful, but the Hill management was extremely grateful that we tried. There might be other projects that Northstar Chapter can be involved in that might be worthy of matching money. Those projects must be brought forth and the proper application made to the NRHS.
Historic Plaques: The NRHS will present to a significant historic site a plaque honoring that site. If you visit Union Station in Chicago you will find a NRHS Historical Plaque. Another spot that has received the plaque is the UP at Cheyenne WY. We suggested to the Hill House that we might seek a plaque for them, but at the time they were more interested in their sign and wasn't interested in a plaque. Are there other Historical spots in our area that would be deserving of an NRHS plaque, perhaps the St. Paul Union Station or the CMSTP&P station in Minneapolis or perhaps the MTM's fine trolley or steam operations. Such a spot must be identified and the proper application filed to the NRHS.
Operation Lifesaver: A wonderful opportunity for an individual to get involved in a nationwide safety campaign.
Rail Camp: This is a brand new program that NRHS has started. The premise of the plan is to take young people and teach them how to correctly restore historic equipment in a fun setting (at Steamtown). They meet in Steamtown and spend a week in the camp. The cost last year was $495 plus transportation to/from Steamtown. A chapter could sponsor a youngster if it wished. Don't you have a child or grandchild that might find this camp most interesting and fun?
Reference Library: The NRHS maintains a large reference library for members use.
Web Site - NRHS maintains a web site that has not been too active in the past. However, a new Director has been appointed to operate and maintain the site and it should be more useful to those with ability to enter the web.
Lending Library: The NRHS maintains a large lending library filed with films and tapes for the members to use (for a service fee). The latest list of Items in the library was given to the Program Director last Spring.
Emblem Sales: NRHS members may buy unique merchandise featuring the NRHS logo, the letters "NRHS" or both. New items in the future will include sport shirts and other items.
The Bulletin: There is one item that you do get with your NRHS membership dues and that is the every other month Bulletin. Under the editorship of Frank Tatnell, the Bulletin is an enjoyable, readable magazine that does adhere to the "Historic" mission of the NRHS. I hear complaints that most of the articles deal with eastern railroading. Frank Tatnell is not the writer for the Bulletin. He is the Editor. He prints articles that are submitted to him by members. Many of our Chapter members have specific knowledge on subjects that would make fantastic reading. Share your information. Write an article and send it in to Frank. Specific information as to how to write the article can be found on the NRHS web page or ask me and I will provide the information.
Some benefits cannot be measured. Such intangible benefits would be the feeling of knowing that you are a member of an international group of people who like trains. You know that you can visit other chapters and be welcome. Sometimes you will meet somebody and start a conversation and discover that you are both NRHS members. Then conversation usually turns to railroading. Of course membership in our Northstar Chapter is a benefit of being a member of NRHS. Over the years Northstar Chapter activities have ranged from the once a month meeting and program, Holiday Banquet, trips - both bus and rail, restoration projects, hosting the BOD, bidding on the National convention, visits to railroad sites such as the Burlington Northern Northtown yard and the Minnesota Commercial etc etc.
To see what other Chapters are doing simply read Bulletin issue #3. There you will read about Chapters that offer trips, own equipment, run museums, restore equipment etc. Northstar's name is included in a few of those activities. Reading what other chapters do can sometimes give us ideas as to what we can do. The NRHS is a unique confederation that is controlled by its member chapters through their representee on the Board of Directors. The current management of the NRHS is dedicated to serving their members by providing them many opportunities to get involved. I hope that you, as members of the Northstar Chapter, will choose to take advantage of these opportunities.
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