W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
WW&F Railway Museum Discussion => Museum Discussion => Topic started by: Benjamin Maggi on May 26, 2020, 10:31:44 AM
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This is a real question. I joined the forum nearly 10 years ago but rarely am on (I only have 13 posts!). I live in eastern NY and the chances of visiting here regularly are nil. But, I love what you guys are doing, and my wife and I had a blast in 2017 when we visited.
https://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/2017/06/maine-trip-pt-1-ww-f.html
As someone who is a minority shareholder of a small freight and tourist railroad with a steam engine, I know the trials and tribulations you guys face. Well, partly... our parts are bigger and easier to source than 2' gauge parts.
I am looking at membership, and even life membership, and wondered if you got anything besides the newsletter and the satisfaction of helping the railroad continue. I am not discounting the later, but the website doesn't mention anything like train tickets, museum vouchers, etc. Other railroads with memberships sometimes offer these and I wasn't sure if the WW&F did it as well. Or if it was just the newsletter.
Again, not trying to sound cynical... just wondering. Thanks!
Ben
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Someone that becomes a member gets the following:
* A newsletter every 2 months.
* Access on the forum to all WW&F newsletters ever.
* A dollar off of your train ticket.
* The satisfaction of helping the railroad continue :D
And if you become a life member, half of your life membership goes into the endowment, plus you never get bugged again for membership renewal (we'll still ask you for money, however).
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And if you become a life member, half of your life membership goes into the endowment, plus you never get bugged again for membership renewal (we'll still ask you for money, however).
I know right now we are focused on meeting the immediate needs for 2020, which is understandable. But in general, I don't think the endowment gets the attention it deserves. I chose life membership to make a statement about the importance of the endowment.
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In addition to the benefits mentioned earlier, if you can manage a trip or two to the museum each year for the annual work weekends, you will meet an incredible array of people from all over this country and beyond, and they will become your friends. They will teach you, if you are interested, any number of skills necessary to build and maintain a great piece of living history, and you will become part of that history. There is also great food.
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Well I'm sold. My birthday is in a couple of days and I didn't know what to get me. I just signed up for membership, and bought a couple of the Narrow Gauge in the Sheepscot Valley books, Volumes IV and V. Oddly, I was just talking with Chris McChesney's dad this morning about something in the books. Perhaps that pushed me over the edge.
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I just signed up for membership
Yay! Welcome aboard, Ben!
In turn, I have added membership privileges to your forum account. Now you have access to "Members Only" discussions, all back issues of the Newsletter, and can even see the notes and reports of Board of Director's meetings.
If you (yes YOU) are reading this and are NOT a member - be like Ben! Please join today.
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Thank you Ed and all.
Since my wife's favorite lobster place (Red's) is just around the corner, perhaps in the future when this pandemic gets itself sorted out we can come up for a visit. I wouldn't mind coming up for a workday weekend either.
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And if you become a life member, half of your life membership goes into the endowment, plus you never get bugged again for membership renewal (we'll still ask you for money, however).
I know right now we are focused on meeting the immediate needs for 2020, which is understandable. But in general, I don't think the endowment gets the attention it deserves. I chose life membership to make a statement about the importance of the endowment.
I should point out that it was only last year that we did this. Prior to that, until May 2019, all Life membership receipts went into the general fund to pay the bills. I agree, the Endowment does need additional attention.
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I'll let you in on a little secret, Ben. Sprague's, just across Route 1 on the Creamery dock, is just as good as Red's -- and no long lines. YMMV
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I don't eat lobster, and she loves Reds, so...
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Believe me, Life Membership is a bargain!! I made that decision several years ago, and have continued to support the museum each year in the annual fund drive.
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Ben,
Welcome aboard! To echo and amplify Wayne, not only will you find life long friends but you will become family. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without the Spring and Fall Work Weekends. Of course, family includes weird uncles and crazy cousins. Our family is one you look forward to seeing.
Thanks for joining us.
Dave
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Ben,
Welcome aboard! ... Of course, family includes weird uncles and crazy cousins. ...
Ben,
As one of the weird uncle and sometimes crazy cuzz'n, welcome aboard. We are all looking to seeing you at a work weekend, perhaps in the fall if this current unpleasantness resolves.
Bill
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I don't mind coming up for a work weekend, though being an 11-hour round trip I will need to find someplace cheap to crash for the night.
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You might be surprised to know, Ben, that work weekend volunteers come from as far away as Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, and even occasionally from overseas.
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I'm in East Tennessee, and have been to the 2019 Spring and Fall Work Weekends. While I was there, I also recall seeing another vehicle with [Nashville] TN plates.
If I am not mistaken, Harold Downey is in Texas (!) and working on making wooden parts for a new coach. I understand he has on occasion driven up to Sheepscot with a trailer load of pieces.
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Welcome Ben you just joined an outstanding family whose I've been a proud life member since 2018. I live in France and I'll never be a WW&F's volunteer but there are so many ways to support those commited and strong minded volunteers that have worked quite a lot of miracles for over 30 years. Besides the newsy newsletters it's really a thrill to follow in-real time thru fb and this forum what they achieve year long .I'll never forget the exciting Trout brook bridge adventure that just set out when I joined the WW&F in late 2017 . Come hell or high water there is always something in progress on Sheepscot campus or on the main line, the proof is that even covid-19 has failed to stop them. Everyday I log on to fb and this forum, which makes me able to follow what is going on just as if I were on the spot. You'll see, everybody is very nice and friendly in the family and always eager to answer your question or to shoot the breeze on the forum. CU
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My drive from central Virginia is 12 to 14 hours depending on traffic, and I am 4 hours closer than Graham from East Tennessee. For the last 10 to 12 years I have been coming up three times a year, until the current unpleasantness that is.
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Sounds like it should be a blast! Thanks all.
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Welcome, Ben. I've been a member for many years and now a life member. I lived in NH when I joined but now live in SE Texas. I don't get up there often but I know I have a welcome mat waiting for me when I do. Seeing the progress through reports and photos on this forum keeps me in touch.
BTW, I have all the Kohler/McChesney books and use them regularly in my effort to build a version of the WW&F Ry in O Scale. And my wife agrees with yours regarding Red's!
Pete Leach