A Good Way to Get Museum Volunteers!
***

Many of us have noted the dwindling number of hobby participants along with the lack of new blood and the more we read about that issue, the tougher the problem it appears to be. In our previous issue, we gave a textbook example of how NOT to get new blood in the hobby. Fortunately, there are examples of effective ways to attract new hobby participants.

Recently, the Orange Empire Railway Museum started a new program to pursue new volunteers. It does not have a snappy name, acronym or a project designator. It started with plain old common sense. If you really want new volunteers, act like it! The first step was the renaming of the building formerly called the Gift Shop to the Reception Center. The sign is not there yet but the new attitude definitely is! The goal of renaming the facility was to emphasize the main purpose of the Reception Center, that is to welcome the visitors and to let them know that they are most welcome to visit and that if they are so inclined to come out and help them in their quest to demonstrate a form of transportation almost forgotten in some circles. One of the main participants in this Reception Center is Polly Griffith.

Polly, shown above, became co-manager of the Reception Center in November and immediately began spreading her warmth and enthusiasm to all who came in contact with her. It was not long before this would reap dividends. On December 28th, Polly took a call from a seventeen year old Heritage high School student from Romoland, CA. This student needed to replace some credits lost during a school transfer and community service was a good way to do this. She initially wanted to work in an animal shelter but they do not allow anyone under 18 to participate so she called the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Polly was so warm and inviting that this student, Anai Giron, was out at the museum on the next day at 11:00 AM and was out at the museum eleven of the next thirteen days while on Christmas break.

By the time that the Trolleyville times arrived at the museum on January 10th, Anai had already become a part of the museum and was calling it her "home away from home". She was already giving conductor talks about the equipment and telling visitors about the place and the rolling stock. She even started to learn certain tasks involving the equipment. Her enthusiasm was now contagious. Her relationship with Polly was genuine and tended to brighten up the entire place.

In our last issue, Jonathan Werner made the following observation: "...If you are a supplier in this hobby, or more importantly, if you would like anybody to care in 20 years about the great things we have done with traction modeling and to continue that progress, then you must also notice what the new face of the hobby looks like. East Penn was a gathering with a decidedly older, suburban culture; which is exactly the opposite of what tomorrow’s modelers will be..." Anai certainly fits into that group. While she was born in the United States, her father is from Guatemala and her mother from Mexico. She used the watch the trains speed by next to the interstate and always wondered about them. When Trolleyville talked to Anai, she told us that she became hooked on the museum when she was so warmly welcomed and found the people to be "full of joy". They had imparted to her why trains were "amazing" and in doing that they "planted a seed" in her to become part of it. Anai was also impressed by people putting their "soul into their work". She has started learning about the streetcars and in shown below familiarizing herself with the controls of a car that ceased service almost forty years before she was born.

Anai told us she intended to come to the museum every weekend. even if she came out only one weekend a month, her enthusiasm would be contagious and would continue to motivate others. On the same day, we noted a few other younger visitors at the museum all illuminated with similar enthusiasm. If these lights can be kept on, there is a distinct future for this hobby! It all started with that very first contact!
__________________________________________

[Redlands, from Column 1]

Meanwhile, the line features the San Francisco F-line PCC cars as they all are equipped with the Train Control System (TCS) M4T decoders. Eventually automatic car stops will be featured on the line as soon as the software is developed. Of course, the club would have preferred to acquire a third PCC-II car, even just a shell, as the city streetcar line was designed with eastern urban scenery and Philadelphia streetcars in mind.

There are strong indications that Bowser intends to replace their current PCC car with an injection modeled body and perhaps one of the paint schemes will be the SEPTA "Gulf Oil" orange-blue-white scheme. This paint scheme, although from the late 1970 - early 1980 era is remembered fondly by locals. These cars would also could be candidates for the club city streetcar line.

The club always tries to run cars that ran in the local areas of the shows in which it participates. But since the city streetcar line is DCC operated, there are limitations. The club does have 50 vehicles equipped with decoders and this number continues to grow. The club occasionally brings out models of some of the older Philadelphia trolleys as shown below:

Meanwhile, another view with San Francisco equipment being operated on the city streetcar line:

This show is very much enjoyed by the public as over 2500 attend during the Train Days weekend. But the show is even more appreciated by the exhibitors. Nancy Kirkwood and her fellow staff members ensure that the exhibitors are treated with respect. She makes sure that help is on hand to help the exhibitors move in and move out. The Museum also provides refreshments of all types for the exhibitors and these refreshments are available almost until quitting time, every day. The Museum is also staffed by a most dedicated and professional staff of volunteers. Mary is shown below right with Jasmine, one of many volunteers at the Museum. Jasmine has been a volunteer in excess of five years. She stated to us that volunteering is "part of her very make-up".

The trains do not detract from the main displays at the museum. There are the usual mammal, reptile and bird displays but there are also snakes and some of the largest live insects ever seen. One of the club members held a live boa constrictor for a brief period. This is quite an experience. Club member George Huckaby was interviewed about his museum experiences by radio station KCAA, AM 1050, during a live feed from museum during the weekend. Note the Southern Pacific 2-8-0 steam locomotive in the background.

The bottom line is that the SCTC has acquired two very relatively younger active members in the last six months. Both have made great contributions to the club. One of them produced the excellent video now shown on U-tube, which has been seen by many modelers.

With all the problems, the overall experience is very pleasant and rewarding. Along with Mary Barstow's show at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, this is one of the club's favorite display venues. The club looks forward to the 2011 Train Days.