Back

What is a Gopher State
Railway Museum Volunteer?

Original museum volunteer

Spent time writing up non-profit corporation documents, created
by-laws to govern the museum, created a business plan for the
organization, met at monthly meetings working on the GSRM
project, planned the museum park layout while county officials
kept changing the requested requirements, replaced ties and rail
each summer at a sugar factory in lieu of track rent, purchased
hundreds of ties for future use, then had to pull all the spikes
from those ties, and purchased or acquired rolling stock for
future display.

 

Today's museum volunteer

Deals with the drastic reduction of funding since the 9/11 attacks.
This reduction caused loss of income because foundations transferred
their funding to New York. Volunteers spend time doing local festivals
looking for new members and funding, educates the public
through the displays at these same festivals, they had a determined
look on their faces as they built a mainline switch to bring railcars
onto the museum land, spent weeks restoring an old railroad
building to be used for displays, restores a Milwaukee Road caboose
to be used as a future display, builds relationships with railroad personnel
to show GSRM's worth to their company, still replaces ties and rail each
summer at a sugar factory in lieu of track rent, participates in 20
parades to collect appearance fees and raise awareness of GSRM,
has a gleam in their eyes as they show a little child the railroad
handshake, deals with looting and break-ins concerning the
museum's rolling stock, participates in the upkeep of the museum
property, performs a children's safety entertainment show 15 times
a year, and makes plans for a one building museum.

Dreams of a day when the museum is open.

He could be your neighbor or he could be YOU!
Your decision, your effort!