Planning Tasks
http://www.savethelight.org/
Develop and Finalize Gift Record System
Develop and Finalize Gift Level Recognition
Develop list of 50 Major Donors  ($1,000 + )
Decide if Gift acknowledgement list should be in the Newspaper, Website, annual report, end of project report.
Develop "Making the Case" statement
Finalize Campaign Committee  (ask everyone, outline roles and agenda)
Decide what kind of event used to Launch formal Campaign
Finalize Campaign Brochures, Print
            Need Rendering of Depot Building
Finalize Campaign Mailing list to include major Donors, BHPA list, Historic Homes list, 
Develop "Gift's in Honor/Memorial"
Outline Talking Points & Public Program Points

Nebraska State Historical Markers [Link - pdf]   http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/legal.htm

Depot Just Misses Funding  12/21/07
Depot worth saving, but should cost less than estimate  9/21/07
Generous gift buoys depot project  12/7/2007
'Holy mackerel!'   9/14/2007
Federal funds possible for Blair depot  9/11/2007
 

Check out this link to the CNWHS website. They show all the old depots that CNW had. Browse all the pages and you will see a lot depots and many that are the same type of Blair.

http://www.cnwhs.org/memberphotos/thumbnails.php?album=8&page=8

depot/COMBO1_REFERENCES_LD.pdf  |  depot/DEPOT_1_R2.pdf  | Midwest Design Services

Trail System
http://www.blairbikeclub.com/blair_trails_new.htm

Campaign Committee
      Hold Committee meeting to organize silent campaign

Silent campaign (Advanced Gifting) 
     Campaign Committee members approach major donors and secure pledge in excess or $20,000  (1/3 of total for local goal)
      Hold Event for Major Donors

Announce Campaign and Secured Pledges in Newspaper

Mail Campaign Brochures 

Launch Formal Campaign
      What event?????
      Need news releases??
      What action will take place at the Formal Launch???

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chamber Fundraiser  Sunday Sept 23
Hospital Rummage Sale Sept 13-16

Outline Fundraiser Events for the next Year
      1 major event  (community dinner or campaign rally -- $10,000 event goal)
         Suggest Oktoberfest, Saturday September 15th.
      2 minor events
         Suggest Demo Guilt event  Nov 19, 2007  (20 year anniversary of the demo of the 1910 Depot)
                                    Sugar Plum Festival   Hospital Holiday Dazzle Nov 17

Outline Public Relations Events
      Keep Project in Public Eye every other month
      History of the Railroad -- Lou Schmitz

System for Acknowledgement 
      - Sample Letter
      - Gift Record System
      - Gift Level Recognition 

Other Tasks

• Bird House Contest  (Fundraiser for Depot)
• Depot Fundraising
  Board Decision Needed:
        Local Fundraising Goal  $50,000
        Date for Campaign Launch  ________________  (Suggest September.)
        What kind of event for Campaign Launch?
• Oktoberfest  (Fundraiser for Depot, possible Champaign Launch event)
• Historical Marker

• Glossary of Restoration terms
• Mailing List (Database)
         --Develop list of 50 Major Donors    ($1,000 + )
• Fundraiser Events
• Apply for National Registry    http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nrhp/nrhp_how.htm
• GRANTS  Who is on the Grant committee in Lincoln??
• Business Fund Drive -- certificate
• Possible Style for posters or T-Shirts
• Keep Track of Volunteer Hours
• Fundraising Goal Meter 
• Cost Brainstorm
• Need Artist rendering of Depot  O  Ø
• National Registry
  Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad Depot [BU06-014] Listed 1979/10/11

  The Dwight Depot is a typical example of a small town railroad station, of the architectural style used by the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad, a former Chicago and Northwestern subsidiary. Using a standard set of blueprints, the railroad constructed nearly identical depots in each town, making only minor structural changes from one to another. Construction of these simple frame buildings was a cost-saving factor for the railroad. The Dwight Depot was built in 1887 and served the town until 1962.

   

• At launch time, print announcement cards and place at banks, cafes, etc.
• Pledge and Check Recording System
               keeping track of donors & amounts  (current database or new)
               getting checks & cash to the treasure

BHPA is excited to embark on a $_____ rehabilitation project that will ______________ community betterment & historic _________.  We hope you will consider supporting the "Depot in the Park" project with a donation to the Capital Campaign.

All gifts are tax deductible in accordance with Federal and Nebraska state laws.  Gifts can be made payable over a three-year period, and person submitting gifts of $1,000 and more will be publicly recognized. 


Marketing Materials
When putting our message out to the public, it needs to be a Unified Message that we all speak to.  It needs to be the Correct Information and it needs to have Public Appeal.

Content is the critical thing to develop FIRST.
                 What is our message in a nut shell?  We need to raise $xxxxxx by  xxxx Date.
                  What are the details of the message. Present the mission of the project, the vision, history, goals, etc.

Materials can be produced is a number of media to communicate the message.
                  Video  (retool for current fundraising needs.), Brochure, Website, Display boards, PSA,
                  Speakers Bureau, Donation Request Letters, Posters, News Media

Marketing Standards
            use only one motto  (I'm pulling for the Depot!)
            use only project title (Depot in the Park)
            other images:  Tripp Picture for a secondary Logo   |  

Volunteer Help
Donor Coordinators (Individual, Organizations & Business -- develop ongoing lists of potential local donors; develop ongoing lists of potential donors in the outlining areas, develop ongoing lists of organizations that potential might donate, develop strategies to pursue donors and accurate donations. Develop donor recognition.  (May keep donation records.)

Grant coordinator -- develop an ongoing  list of potential grants available; select, apply for and pursuer these grants; obtain the grant money; coordinator and/or communicate any obligations of the grant.

Special Events Coordinator -- manage and/or produce special event to help raise project awareness, venue for fundraising and recognition for donors and volunteers.

Volunteer Coordinator -- recruit volunteers, conducts all communicates with volunteers, maintains a volunteer roster, works with special evens coordinator is provide appropriate appreciate for their efforts.

News Media Contact --

Copy writer -- write content; edit & proofread materials

Project Photographer -- document the project progress; acquire photographs for donor issues & fundraising.

Construction Labor -- Carpenter, Painting, masonry, architectural design, construction, fencing, landscaping, roofing,

Fundraising Materials (NEED FIRST)       (need to develop)
            Pledge Card  Pledge Card  |    Pledge Card Notes   |   Tom's Pledge Card
            Giving Levels
            Pledge Requests
            Acknowledgement Letter
            Brochure
            Website

Message Ideas
            100% of the funds raised go into the depot fund.  (No paid fundraisers.)
            The Depot is last railroad relic of Blair

Event Ideas:
           This year, Friday, October 19, 2007   ---
                it will be 20 years since the old 1910 depot was demolished.
         Poster Contest!!!!
           Public Open house
           Create a Model (dollhouse model) of both 1880 and 1910 depots
           Donor Dinner
           Blair Alumni Brunch
           Beam Signing Event
           Pulling the Depot (rope pull event or Gateway Parade)
           Schedule a Special Train from the UP to arrive in Blair for the Dedication of the Depot.

Grants and/or Organizational Gifts
           Transportation Enhancement Program - Nebraska Deportment of Roads  [Link]

• June 15, 2007: Deadline for Applicants to submit Intent-to-Apply Forms.

• July 27, 2007: Deadline for Applicants to submit Draft Application & Preliminary Budget.

• September 24, 2007: Deadline for Applicants to submit Final Application.

• December 6, 2007: Select Committee Meeting.

           Nebraska Byways - Grant   [Link]
           Nebraska Arboretum -- Landscape grants
           Horticultural Society -- design, fund and construction landscaping.
           Washington County Recycling Association
           Lions Club
           Pamida Foundation -- Grant
           Blair Community Foundation -- Grant-- DRAFT started
           Blair Chamber Tourism -- Grant
           No-Frills Foundation -- Grant
           NP Dodge -- Grant  (Travis Svendgard )

Other Marketing Ideas:
           Use a train tickets design for donation acknowledgement or event tickets.
           Calendar Sales, normally $6.00, if you buy one for $10.00 -- all $10.00 will go to the depot fund.

Media Contacts
        Jim Brazda (426-2121) April Story in Enterprise
        Doug Barber (426-2121)  Story after CC approval
        Radio Station Contact?????
        Diana Stier, School Administration Office (426-2610)   Blair Alumni Newsletter
        http://www.nationaltrust.org/Magazine/archives/arc_news/index.htm

• Add to Website

  • Picture (examples) of other Train Depot restorations (and locations)

  • Video  (Janet Wallace)

• Get Photo, J.C. Seacrest Collection.

• Keep Track of all donations and volunteers  (in-kind, grants, pledges, etc.)

• Make Banner for events

• Model train on display with sponsors names on the rail cars (for the 'big-money' donors)

• Authentic reproduced freight or passenger manifests on display with other sponsors (the lower tier donors) listed

• Get speakers out into the community organizations.

•  

• Gift-in-kind
  Depot Building, Termite treatment, Beams, Cement Blocks, Foundation Excavating, Construction Contractor, Architectural Engineering.

Fundraising Goals

Fundraising Ideas
Oktoberfest
Bird House Contest

Website Links
Other Links (need to organize)

• http://www.lincolnhighwaynebraskabyway.com/

• http://www.byways.org/

• http://www.dor.state.ne.us/info/ne-byways.htm

• Guide to Highway Signs
  http://www.dor.state.ne.us/info/docs/hwysign.pdf

• Chicago & North Western Historical Society

Long Term ideas

• Add a railroad car to the park???

• Suggest not to list on National Registry, but DO suggest a state historical marker  (RE:  Railroad frontier  or Carter Valley)

Depot Vision Plan   Adobe Reader File

Nebraska cities that have restored their Depots.

• Fairbury, NE Restored 1990 Transportation Museum

• Grand Island, NE Restored 2002 Police Station

• Nebraska City, NE Restored 2002 Tourist Information/Train Mus.

• Wahoo, NE Unknown Year Historic Building

• Ogallala ,NE Restored 1999 Public Meeting Building

• Hershey, NE Unknown Year Tourist Info/ Train Mus.

Other Depots

Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Pierce, Nebraska The main feature of the Pierce museum complex is the old depot of the Chicago & North Western Railway Company. Built in 1880, the building first served the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad which had built a line from Norfolk to Niobrara in 1879. In 1903 the line was sold to the Chicago and North Western Railroad and the line was extended on north to Winner, S. D. During the ensuing years the railroad received wide usage and there was at least one freight and two passenger trains daily. Following World War II the line began to deteriorate and the service along with it. In 1951 passenger service was discontinued; in 1968 the Pierce depot facilities closed and in 1969 the agent was removed from Pierce. The last train came through Pierce in June, 1978 and immediately wrecking crews started removing the rails and salvaging what few good ties remained. In August of 1968 the two-story depot was moved the six blocks from its location of 88 years and located at the museum site in Gilman Park. Renovation work was slowed by lack of funds and damage caused by vandals, but eventually work began in earnest and the complex was officially dedicated on July 4, 1976 as part of Pierce's Bicentennial observance. Over 2,000 people visited the complex during its first summer of operation. The depot passenger area has display of pictures including scenes from Pierce's past. Also an extensive display of dishware. The upstairs living area features rooms depicting home styles of bygone years. Numerous displays are contained within the baggage area of the depot.
	Link

Depots

• Surviving Railroad Depots of America
• http://www.frograil.com/stanly/richfieldDepot.htm
• http://www.nblt.org/index.php?id=Noxen
• http://www.oldfort.org/Depot%20Renovation.htm
• http://www.alaskarails.org/modeling/nenana-depot/nenana-depot-history/index.html
• http://www.rootsweb.com/~txrober2/HEARNEDEPOT.htm
• http://www.geocities.com/morrisonvilledepot/Morrisonville_Depot_Progress.html
•  

Blair Depot -- News Release 
 This 'n' That - By Kenneth Rhoades  |   Letter to Editor  |  Ideas make things happen

Chicago & North Western Historical Society 

The Ord Area Chamber of Commerce has a Downtown Revitalization Committee. The committee has worked with the City Council to develop a plan for renovation of downtown Ord. The project will include streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and historic lighting. Construction will begin in 2007. The project will be paid for by assessments to property owners and a 1/2 cent city sales tax. For more information, contact Bethanne Kunz at (308) 728-7875.
http://www.ordneusa.com/Grant%20Award%20Release.pdf

Received $500,000 in 2006

Wahoo Depot: The Wahoo Burlington Depot located in Wahoo, Nebraska (pop.: 3,912) was originally built in 1886, one year before the railroad’s tracks were completed. The Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Enhancement funding was used for stabilization of the building, repairing and repainting damaged siding, re-roofing, repairing exterior windows, and upgrading the electrical system to address life safety issues. The Depot now stands among other historic buildings at the Saunders County Museum.

Specific elements that remain in the project but are part of the unfunded balance include:

• Accessibility features including new building entry ramps, courtyard ramps and handrails
• Perimeter landscaping
• Courtyard landscaping including California live oaks, palm trees, shrubs, groundcover, pots, plants and cast stone planter urns;
• New courtyard furniture including cast stone benches and curved wood benches
• Restoration of existing historic building elements including the courtyard fountain
and light poles, and the city council chamber

Of the $10.5 million in grants secured to date for the project, $4 million was awarded following City Council approval of the project in January 2005.

Those who donate $999 or less receive commemorative Pasadena City Hall gifts; donors who contribute $1,000 or more will be recognized on a distinctive plaque in the grand entrance of City Hall.