Susan Steen Back As Wcra's Vp Squamish Roundhouse Shapes Up
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WCRA NEWS APRIL 2008 SUSAN STEEN BACK AS WCRA’S V.P. SQUAMISH ROUNDHOUSE SHAPES UP WCRA News, Page 2 GENERAL MEETING NOTICE The General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 1930 hours at the Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby. Entertainment will be vintage slides form the camera of the late Bob Gaevert, a long time member of WCRA until his untimely passing. Expect a great show of early diesels, Milwaukee Road electrics and more. ON THE COVER Things are active at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, as the Roundhouse footings take shape. It is now possible to see exactly where the building will be as the base corners are all in place, this photo shows the west side of the building. Concrete pour is set for March 13th, 2008. Photo by Don Evans, March 5, 2008. APRIL CALENDAR • West Coast Railway Heritage Park open daily 1000 through 1700k • Wednesday, April 9—Newsletter deadline for items to be included in the May 2008 WCRA News • Tuesday, April 15—Tours Committee Meeting, call Bernie at 604-325-0923 • Saturday, April 19—Sunday, April 20—Heritage Park Clean-Up weekend, come and give us a hand at a volunteer work to improve our guest experience and sort and better store artifacts. Lunch will be provided, 0900—1600 each day. • Tuesday, April 29 —WCRA General Meeting, 1930 hours, Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby, BC The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia railway history. Membership is open to all people with an interest in railways past and present. We are a non-profit British Columbia society, registered as a Canadian charity. Individual membership in the WCRA is $50.00 per year, family membership is $60.00. E Members (electronic newsletter, $15 savings) are $35 individual and $45 family. (Outside Canada, please remit US $) Other categories are: - Junior Member (age 18 and under ) $ 25 - Sustaining Member $100 (tax receipt) plus membership type regular fee - Life Member (one time fee) $700 individual life / $1,200 family life All memberships include the monthly newsletter, Heritage Park admission, mini rail rides and discounts on food and merchandise. The Association holds a monthly meeting on the last Tuesday of the month at 1930 hours in Burnaby at Rainbow Creek Station in Confederation Park. Apply through www.wcra.org or mail to WCRA, PO Box 2790 Stn. Term., Vancouver, B.C., V6B 3X2. WCRA News, Page 3 EDITORIAL WELCOME BACK SUSAN It is with great pleasure that we welcome Susan Steen back to the WCRA this month in her new role as Vice President—Squamish. Susan will add new skills to our team, as she brings a combination of her past WCRA experience along with her museum and non profit fundraising and leadership skills. The WCRA has grown quickly in Squamish, and now has a staff of 12 to oversee in our active work at Wets Coast Railway Heritage Park, the MP shops, and our other activities. This is slated to continue to grow as we bring the new Roundhouse & Conference Centre on line over the next year, and the further resources will be needed to keep up with that growth. Susan brings a wealth of experience to this new senior role in Squamish, with her past experience as a fundraiser, museum and non profit leader over many years in many sectors. She was WCRA’s first employee, as our first Executive Director from 1991 to 2001. She went east for family reasons then, and worked back to become the President & CEO of United Way in the Okanagan most recently. Susan has now moved to Squamish and will set up in that community, as WCRA’s new senior staff person in the Squamish community. I know that you all will join me in welcoming Susan back to WCRA, she can be reached at the Heritage Park at 604-898-9336 or by e mail at <[email protected]> . Don ASSOCIATION NEWS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting of the West Coast Railway Association was held at 1930 hours on February 26, 2008 with Colin Smith chairing the meeting and 53 in attendance: • Jeremy Davy was appointed secretary for the meeting in the absence of board secretary Keith Anderson • A quorum was declared with 48 members present • The minutes of last year’s AGM were approved as circulated • Colin Smith provided a report from the Chair of the Board • Don Evans reviewed the WCRA’s Strategic Plan and objectives for 2008 (see page 4) • The 2008 Board of Directors members were put forward and was approved by the membership • Jim Brown presented the 2007 year end financial statements and they were approved by the membership • Jim Brown presented the 2008 budget which was also approved WCRA News, Page 4 • Don Evans provided the President’s report • Colin Dathan provided the Association Operations report, noting meetings held and membership activities for the past year • Bob Hunter updated the membership on the status of the archives and noted that considerable assistance could add to the good work being done by the volunteers • Ron Anstey provided a collections report • Colin Smith provided an update on the roundhouse construction and the needed turntable repairs before it can be installed • Bill Johnston provided a Tours report • The meeting was adjourned at 2053k Please note that any member wishing a full set of the minutes from this meeting may request them and we will e mail or mail a copy to you. Leave a message at <[email protected]> or call the office at 604-681-4403. STRATEGIC PLAN 2008 As requested at the Annual General Meeting, the core goals of the WCRA’s Strategic Plan for 2008—2012 are presented here. Each area of the plan also has specific objectives for the 2008 operating year to which staff are assigned for completion and delivery of results. Any questions re the Strategic Plan can be directed to Don Evans at <[email protected] > WCRA’s VISION The West Coast Railway Association is a world-acclaimed leader in the preservation, exhibition and operation of heritage railway equipment and artifacts. WCRA will host 100,000 guests by 2010 at our various venues including the Heritage Park, 374 Pavilion, Western Rails, off-site mini rail events and Tours. (2006 = 57,615; 2007 = 64,587) CORE STRATEGIES • To succeed as a self-funded and self-sustaining non-profit model to ensure long term heritage preservation • To always have well trained, customer focused staff • To be highly visible and recognized throughout the entire Lower Mainland • To maintain high standards of preservation and presentation • To add something new every year • To create a world centre for education and research • To be a major contributor to the Squamish community • To create a true living heritage experience WCRA News, Page 5 FINANCIAL / FUNDRAISING GOALS • Establish a new financial and administration role for WCRA • Change bookkeeping operation • Bring financial reporting and management process to professional standards • Resolve the negative working capital position for the future and implement changes • Eliminate bank debt by 2010 • Build Endowment to $1.4 million by end 2008 and develop future growth plan for long term sustainability • Successfully fundraise to raise $6 to $8 million by 2012: • Roundhouse / Turntable $+4 million 2008 • Double current operating revenue through new sources and growth in activities by 2010 STAFFING GOALS • Establish new Vice President position for Squamish 2008 • Establish new Marketing and Event staffing for the Roundhouse & Conference Centre 2008 / 2009 • Establish new VP Finance & Administration position in Vancouver 2008 • Replace President & CEO in 2010 • Establish volunteer administration / coordination role • Develop all staff operations with a strong emphasis on customer service and teamwork ADMINISTRATION GOALS • Review the location of WCRA’s Hastings office in 2009 before lease expiry and consider as a future home for WCR Tours • Implement the new Corporate Membership program. • Grow membership by 25% by 2010 • Develop stronger working relationships with the community and the railways • Grow and increase the impact of the 374 Pavilion and Portable mini rail as visibility for WCRA throughout the Vancouver community • Western Rails growth to 4,000 guests by 2010 (Currently 1,200) BC 150 / 2010 OLYMPICS GOALS • Work to get a role / event with the BC150 Celebrations • Create a WCRA role and involvement with the 2010 Winter Olympics, focusing on our two major proposals, the Roundhouse Conference Centre use at the Heritage Park and possible train operations WCRA News, Page 6 HERITAGE PARK GOALS • Conclude an agreement for front entrance property with the District of Squamish • Create and implement a comprehensive Business and Marketing Plan for the Heritage Park • Upgrade exhibit standards throughout the Heritage Park to have first class quality tour and interpretation by 2009 and greatly improved site appearance • Develop Annual Steam Days into a “World Class” annual steam event • Bring Thomas back in 2009 with a successful event • Hold a successful ARM 2009 Conference EXHIBIT COLLECTION GOALS • Maintain / improve collection pieces on exhibit • Implement exhibits (train sets) per Collection Plan • Northern Summit - prepare for exhibit status • Bring #16 back from Kamloops and develop restoration plan • Develop a “Changing Scenes” strategy for changing mainline trains at the station OPERATING COLLECTION GOALS • Complete Business Car #8 Alberta • Field a Royal Hudson operating trainset of a least 375 seats in 2008 • Receive and make serviceable the CN Super-Continental locomotives and coaches • Budd Car (s) - upgrade operationally and paint • Investigate possible private cars for acquisition and then charter operations RAILWAY OPERATIONS GOALS • Complete a 105 Rules agreement with CN that allows trackage rights between the Heritage Park and Downtown Squamish for occasional community event operations • Implement the Heritage Park – downtown Squamish train • Develop use of Squamish shops towards break even from operations and work towards permanent acquisition TOURS GOALS • Implement a succession plan for the WCRA Tours operation • Develop and grow the partnership with Rocky Mountaineer Vacations.