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Spring Workshop
Preserving Vanishing Vistas - Ely, Nevada

Update - 2/25/10

Hello everyone! We are about two months out from the great spring interpretive round-up in Ely. We have an extraordinary line up of presenters (check out the updated event schedule!). Some are coming from out of region to attend and share. These include hands on opportunities for small facilities and small budgets. What can Ely do for you? We have a big facility (for little cost I might add), and are capable of squeezing a few more presentations in that might be interested. So if you think that you might want to share something, just do it!

At this time we are also planning to fire up one of our operating steam locomotives for the Saturday dinner and auction. This will be a rare treat as both usually stay tucked into their winter torpor until May. But for your visit, we will give you a taste of what things were really like in the days when the "internet" was truly steam powered. Weather permitting (we are over 6,000 feet) we will have a Dutch Oven Cookout with Cowboy Poetry and Music featuring John Tyson a Reno TV personality and Nevada Northern Steam Locomotive Engineer.

The Great Basin Heritage Area, NPS and BLM are preparing to show you some of what makes our area the GREAT Basin as well with introductions to programs that were developed because of some of our unique and special resources. There will also be a number of other Nevada institutions represented, so come explore the great unknown.

If you are coming from California or Reno be sure to get on the bus Gus. This will be a great fuel and dollar saving adventure as well as a guided road trip. Yes in the vein of Animal House, "ROAD TRIP!" your way across the most Mountainous State in the Union. Don't believe me...? Come see for yourself. The more who play the better the experience.

Be sure to submit your registration soon as on March 15th, rates raise. What happens in Ely can leave Ely! (With a wink and a nod to the Las Vegas National). - Steve Bechtold, Spring Workshop Chair

Update - 2/6/10

  • Registration is open!! Please do not wait until the last minute - jump on the train and register now!
  • The spring workshop scholarship applications are here! We are offering two scholarships of $300 each for this year's workshop in Ely, Nevada. This scholarship will cover workshop registration, lodging and some transportation including the luxury coach tour from Sacramento-Ely.

Update - 1/24/10

This is an exciting workshop with many educational and entertaining programs. It has been years since we have traveled across state to join our colleagues in Nevada - so please put on your walking shoes, get your traveling bags, and let's go. Our friends in Ely (E-lee) have put together a very sweet package with so much to offer - while keeping the costs down. Lodging and meals are included in the cost. Costs will be posted soon. Scholarships to the Spring Workshop will be announced soon too! We will be leaving Sacramento aboard a luxury coach - touring several areas on our way to Ely. Because the bus is leaving so early on Thursday - I am looking for several Sacramento fellow members to host a few folks at your home to those traveling. I know this is unusual to ask - but to keep costs down it would be nice to offer a few beds - or couches! My family lives in Sacramento and I will be offering a place for three folks. Let me know if you can offer a room to a fellow Region 9 member at robinjoy@mcn.org. - Robin

  • See the event schedule for a taste of the excitement to come!
  • Interested in presenting at the workshop? Submit our call for presentations application by February 20th.
  • Bring in a new member and receive $25 off your workshop registration - up to four new members.

2010 Spring Workshop!! - Preserving Vanishing Vistas

Fellow NAI Region 9 members, we are delighted to announce that the 2010 Spring Workshop will be held on Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25th, in Ely, Nevada! The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is proud to announce that we will be hosting this event. Nobody thinks much about this little known corner of Region 9, but we do! There is much to see and do out our way, from Great Basin National Park to the Snake, Egan, Ruby Ranges and everything in between, from Native Peoples, Pony Express, gold, silver and copper rushes, to vast open spaces, extreme wildlife diversity and stars that you can really see! We invite you to leave the bright lights and big city behind to see some great interpretive strides along what has been billed “The Loneliest Highway.” If you look, you’ll see that there is more than meets the eye.

There are plenty of rooms to be had and we are working with local merchants to provide a full package deal at very affordable rates. As we contact members of our community we will be offering a wide variety of interpretive experiences, not to mention a tour (and yes a ride!) of the finest and most complete steam railroad facility in the United States, the National Historic Landmark Nevada Northern Railway Museum. The event will be held in the White Pine Convention Center in downtown Ely, within walking distance to most hotels and restaurants. We are also actively working towards grants that can help offset costs to our members.

This is also a call for people who would like to present programs on interpretive subject matter. In this time of financial instability, park closures, and service cutbacks, we are looking even harder at what we need to accomplish in both funding and public awareness.  We most certainly feel that it is public awareness and appreciation that can save our parks and museums. The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a success story. We would like to hear about how you manage tight budgets, find alternative funding and share the passion of interpretation. At this time we are also exploring the possibility of Internet broadcast of certain presentations, but this is still being investigated.

As a highlight, we are organizing a ROAD TRIP! For those coming from the Bay Area and Sacramento there is the opportunity for a guided bus tour of “The Loneliest Highway,” US 50. In 1982, AAA advised a Life Magazine correspondent not to go that way and a legend was born. There will be stops at places of historical and natural interest all along the route. In the meantime you will see just why Nevada is the most mountainous State in the U.S. and see the Basin and Range Country as no one else. Pricing will depend upon interest.

To become a presenter or join the committee please contact Steve Bechtold, NNRYM Interpretive Lead, (209) 352-0228, stevenbechtold@yahoo.com in California or Mark Bassett, NNRYM Director, in Ely (775) 289-2085 ext 25, director@nnry.com

Here's a sneak peak at what Ely has to offer!

Great Basin National Park

Shoe Tree in Middlegate (a fun stop on Highway 50 - don't forget your old running shoes!)

Nevada Northern Railway Museum

Nevada Northern Railway Museum Nevada Northern Railway Museum
Nevada Northern Railway Museum Nevada Northern Railway Museum