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- Did You Know...
- From Rail & Wire Issue 162, November 1996
- by Peter Schmidt
...that the Illinois Railway Museum depends on its members and friends to finance virtually all its capital projects and
new equipment acquisitions through donations? Revenues generated from our fifty-four thousand paid visitors are
sufficient only to cover maintenance, insurance, mortgage payments and daily operations. But improvements to our
site and collection are critical to make IRM a first class railway museum operated by volunteers. In recent years we
have seen governments fund a series of lesser quality collections at great cost. IRM doesn't receive this type of
government grant. But when it receives donations, it gets far more bang for the buck than a bureaucratic institution
gets. This it because it also gets the frugal personal involvement of the more than 150 active volunteer workers. At
this time of the year, we know that you receive similar pleas from all sorts of charities. This year think especially of
railroad preservation efforts, particularly the Illinois Railway Museum. The list on the enclosed page will give some
idea of our current needs.
The General Fund is always in need, as it is from here that monies can be directed to various projects as the
specific need arises. A fund of particular importance is the Land Fund. IRM has had to buy a substantial amount of
land in recent years to buffer us from the potential onslaught of suburbia, and the sooner this is paid off the sooner
we can redivert those monthly mortgage payments to other projects. And then there are several other current needs
for specific Equipment Acquisitions. Of course, feel free to donate to any other active cause. IRM has a fund for
nearly every one. We thank you for your continued support of the Illinois Railway Museum. And we hope that you will
give us that extra donation as you renew your membership.
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