NARP Chairman Stewart’s Comments to the Council in Los Angeles

This has been an exciting year for me. I have met thousands of rail supporters. I have seen the great credibility, reputation and status that NARP has all over the country. Our expertise is recognized and valued. People are aware of our long standing commitments to rail passenger service.

Some of you have been with NARP for a long time pushing for better train service. Would those of you who have been members for 25 years or more please stand.

There is one overwhelming thought across America: people want passenger trains. This is not question but an answer—they want trains. And I realized every time I came home from a trip how important our mission is and how much we are needed and appreciated.

I am convinced Americans want more passenger trains.

A few weeks ago I was riding my bike near my home and came upon a parked Fort Myers police car. It had three words on the side that I had not noticed before:

Unity, pride, commitment.

Unity, pride and commitment; what do these mean to us? How do these values relate to us?

Those are our values and here’s why:

Unity:

We don’t see much unity today.

Today we see the fighting in congress, the fighting between various forms of transportation, and in local government.

Some in today’s society says do your own thing or what’s in it for me—not what’s good for the country.

Yet there are times when we need to be united. There is strength in numbers and a common cause. And we are that cause! We have a cause. More trains, and better trains. And we must be united!

One of the strengths of our organization is our national organization and our grass roots efforts.

And though we may have small differences we need to come together for our common cause. We need to focus on the things that bind us together.

A year ago a committee was established and everyone in this room was invited to participate in developing our long range goals.

That committee has worked long and hard. Will the members of that committee please stand and give them a round of applause.

Already, you the Council, have approved the advocacy goals for the next five years that were proposed by the committee and they are:

1. Improve and expand conventional intercity passenger train service

2. Support construction and startup operation of at least one true high speed rail line

3. Increase connectivity among all forms of transportation.

As you know there is much to be done. We need your help in the break out sessions. These goals will not be accomplished without the assistance of every Council Member bringing together our particular talents.

So lets all work together for these common goals.

You will have the opportunity on Saturday morning to review and comment on 5 sections of institutional development of NARP so that NARP is poised to realize those three advocacy goals. We need your help.

Pride:

The second value on the police car is pride. I served in the Marine Corps and there is real pride in that organization that still exist today.
The Marine Corps taught us to stand strong and tall.

You can stand strong and tall knowing that NARP has been working for better passenger trains for over 40 years and many folks before you gave their time, talent, and money for our cause.

Our cause does not discriminate against anyone.
Our cause crosses over party lines.
Our clause helps people of all ages and walks of life
Our cause helps rural and urban Americans
Our cause helps everyone achieve greater mobility
Our cause helps develop a better quality of life.
Our cause is noble and just.
Our cause is good for the country

Projects

One of my goals was to increase our membership and awareness of what we are doing. Here are some of the projects we are doing:

Kiosk—

We started a pilot project and the process is on its way.

We have established our first kiosk in union station in Washington, DC. Thousands of people go through that station every day and they can see what NARP is all about. We want to eventually do this in other stations.

Amtrak’s 40th Anniversary Train—

NARP received a special honor in recognition of its status in rail passenger community. NARP is the only outside organization with an exhibit on the train.

NARP had a part in the development of Amtrak 40 years ago and our relationship is better than it ever has been. It is my goal to have the best relationship we can with Amtrak so we can get our goals accomplished.

What a train trip it has been! Through October 32 cites have been visited and over 700 people have given us their names and email address. As it moves around the country we have had volunteers at each location.

I did it in Strasburg, PA and what a great experience. What a great opportunity to talk to people. I want to thank those of you who have helped at other locations.

The train will be in Seattle, Portland, and California the rest of the year. We will need your help in these states.

AARP Booth—

NARP had its first ever booth at an AARP convention right here in la a few weeks ago. Again we had folks give us their email address in support of trains and possible membership. We are considering doing it again next year in New Orleans and if we do we are going to need your help

Thanks to, Pat Montague, Carl Schiermeyer, Mary Beth McCall, Larry Scott for working the booth! Will those folks please stand. Mary is back in DC.

Our membership is down and we need your help in getting more members—make sure you have membership applications when you travel.

Transportation for America—

Supported by foundations, 26 employees and 500 partners (we are one). One of our goals is to get partners so we can say on this issue we represent _x,0000__of people

Commitment:

The third value on the police car was commitment.

You know how long you have served and how much it has cost you to come to Council meetings—that is real commitment. Action is the other commitment we need.

We all have choices to make on where we spend our time. We all have to establish priorities in our allocation of time.

NARP needs a level of commitment that is stronger than you have ever made for us to be successful.

Many of you have told me that we need to be an organization that is making even more things happening for our rail passengers.

You said we need more trains and that only happens when we are stronger and we have a high level commitment from all of you.

How much time are you willing to spend for our cause?

It is really true that we will make time for the things that are important to us.

Again the fact that you are here today shows a commitment to our cause and applaud you for that commitment in time and money. Let’s get others to join the fight and make the same kind of commitment you have made.

We need you to take action and the next two days you will be giving input to our action plan and institutional development plan and the tasks that need to be accomplished.

We need everyone to helps us achieve our goals. You input is very important! We hope that what will result is a new committee structure that is aligned to the goals we want to accomplish.

This a difficult economic time for our nation. A difficult time for our fellow Americans. There has been so much strife along party lines that we as Americans have suffered and train passenger service has the potential of major suffering. It is sometimes difficult to understand why decisions are made which would cause more suffering.

There are disabled that need trains, there seniors that need trains, the military that need trains. People who have no there way of transporting themselves. People who cannot afford a tank of gas!

The question I ask is: why should these people suffer?

NARP must not let this happen!

We must be an institution that focuses on the positive and be extremely aware of the reality of the situation.

We see three governors turning back money from the federal government and 33 other governors wanting the money. We must focus on the 33 and not the three. We need to help those states achieve what their citizens want and need.

And let us be very clear passenger trains are not just an alternative. They are not something we just want—they are something we need!

There are articles being written that distort the truth or promote a lie for reasons that are not always clear. We must be ready at all times to respond in truth in a professional manner. You will be hearing about our expanding editorial response program from Jim Loomis on Saturday.

Elections—

The council elections are coming up soon. Everyone needs to get his application in by December 1st. I hope everyone is planning to run for election in their state. We need you!

There will also be opportunities next year to run for director and officer positions—consider running for one of these positions.

Please contact other NARP members who you think would be good council members. Let’s get some new younger blood in our organization!

Staff—

We have a staff in Washington that works very hard for our organization. Please be patient with them when requesting information or help.

With 24,000 members it is tough to handle all the requests while getting their regular work done.

I see the office as a tool to make it happen but you are the ones to carry it through and make happen.

I want to recognize the staff: Malcolm, Sean, and Ross. Mary Beth is back in DC minding the store.

Conclusion

The next two days I want you to walk proud and tall.

Knowing who you are and what you are doing for our country.

Recognize the needs and solutions. And above all understand the commitment that you and NARP have made to getting a better passenger rail system for the American people.

My wife and I have enjoyed traveling overseas and have visited over 60 countries.

Every time I come back from a trip overseas I am thankful for where I live. There is no country in the world like the United States of America

God bless you all, and God bless the USA!