I also do genealogy and deal alot with genealogical and historical societies. They to are having serious problems with declining memberships and trying to attract new and younger members. It's not just railroad-related groups. It seems to a real lack of interest in preserving history in some, and others a lack of funds or time in those that are interested. Most of the people I've come in contact with in these historical societies are usually 60+. There is a stigma attached to preservation and historical societies that such things are for "old people" and those "with no life". Where I don't put this opinion all by any means, my experience with most people about history is always negative, citing wars, racial hatred, pollution, and such horrors that all the past has been and not worth remembering or preserving. Life is about the future, not the past.
I'm only 35, but I disagree. How do know where your going, if you don't know where you've been. The world as we know it today didn't just fall out of the sky this morning.
Unfortunalty. I belong to the second group, as I'm sure many people also do. I'm doing my best to preserve my family history with limited funds. I do belong to one historical society, and in time i'd like to join two others (one is railroad related), but time conflictions make any real contributions negligable.
These, IMO, are the two big hurdles historical/preservation societies face. Those who truly don't care, and those who do care, but are unable to make the time or financial contributions needed.
The sad part this is happening all across the country. I have seen local service clubs (Lions, Jaycee's,etc) suffering from the same issues as railroads. It seems our young people have the attitude of "what's in it for me". Even in our churches we have the same attitudes. I belong to a local Tourist shortline and we try very hard to recruit younger volunteers. What I found that works is to make sure you acknowledge them. What I mean by that is "talk" to them instead of down to them. Hopefully others will get on here and express some good ideas. I agree we need to get more "young blood" involved.
If this topic has been discussed before on this forum, I apologize. I have not visited this site in quite some time.
My question is aimed toward those who volunteer at a museum(s) and/or those who serve on a board of directors. Does the membership of your museum suffer from a lack of young people? I've had several discussions about this with my friends and just recently with some volunteers from a RR museum at an area train show. They acknowledged the fact that bringing in younger folk is difficult. I know of another RR museum located in my home state that has addressed this issue...the older members are getting older and there is a (dire) need for infusing younger blood into the membership rolls. As a result the museum's future faces uncertainty.
And this is not limited to museums. I've attended at least three RR historical society conventions where it was clear that folks over 40 outnumbered those under 30, even those under 20, by a large margin. It is my hope that the officers of those organizations have taken notice and will make a concerted effort to reach out to the under-30 crowd to get them involved. After all, today's teenagers are the leaders of tomorrow's RR historical preservation movement.
Is there anyone out there who can relate to this? What is the ratio of younger people to older ones, say over 40, within your museum and/or organization? I'd like to hear your comments/suggestions/recommendations, regardless of your age.
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