Running Bear's September 2025 Coffee Shop
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I wouldn't bet on it. She does not like to ask me to do anything. Which is why I made the brownies while she was sleeping.
I do know enough to never mix politics and business.
Your upside down pictures give us a different perspective on the world.
i'm waiting for a picture of pineapple upside down cake!
I guess we will see if that happens and maybe some of the past members will come back?
Some sounded like they will take a wait and see approach.
But the fastest way to drive the 30-something and younger crowd away is to have a stodgy old clique of rivet counters muttering "in my day we used to..."
Not only are we dealing with new incarnations of the digital age (AI for instance) we have to find ways to merge the demographics and encourage them to play nice together.
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Bruette
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
I wouldn't bet on it. She does not like to ask me to do anything. Which is why I made the brownies while she was sleeping.
Jaz avalley
Station cat
Ok now I have to go hit the freezer….wait it’s too early….mmmmmm
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Now I'm looking for something I can do to be active. Work is my usual activity, but that won't happen. My wife likes to keep an eye on me so working alone is off the table. Could it be Karl's idea of me running amok has entered her mind... No, I'm going with her worrying too much.
Although the idea of running amok is tempting. "Tall insane man wobbling all over southeast Baltimore, film at eleven"
Although the idea of running amok is tempting. "Tall insane man wobbling all over southeast Baltimore, film at eleven"
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
Well, I need to vent. It involves the two verboten! topics, so I'll try to be cautious in my wording.
I'm a (retired) communications professional. Journalism, Media Manager, Editor with two degrees. This is all about the Communications (Comms) business.
You might recall that the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has a Social Media Manager, Lucy Dormond. She came into wide notice when Lionel Strang on the Modeller's Life podcast made a couple of not-politic remarks about the position on one of his podcasts.
So I looked her up. She's got a "professional" Facebook Profile.
She posted a lot about trains, and used the page to back up what the NMRA pages promoted. That's decent comms-work.
Usually, this is one's professionally facing public profile, to keep the business side separated from her friends and family facebook profile. It's true, she has both the friends and family, as well as her NMRA facing page. They are easy to find with a search of her name. That's standard Comms stuff. One page for your own personal stuff, and one that reflects your "professional" side.
Did you know on Facebook, you can get a custom URL for your page? Her professional one is branded: https://www.facebook.com/lucynmra (emphasis mine)
Yep. That's the trademark of the org as part of the custom URL she set up with Facebook. She also prominently identifies herself as the Social Media Manager for the NMRA in that page's bio. That's standard comms engagement for having a professional page reflecting your role in an organization.
After the death of Mr. Kirk last week, she was grieving and took to posting a lot of stuff about his funeral, and his political stuff... Funeral, I get. Give people time to grieve. She was keyed into his work. No problems.
But then she started posting his political opinions, and promoting his political organization on the "professional page"
I and some others added comments on those posts asking if she was going political with her NMRA branded page? And did the NMRA board know about it?
Communications 101: if you are repping an org, don't mix contentious issues on any platform that connects you to that organization. I do my politics on my friends and family page, not on my author page. Keep them seperate.
She grumped back, and blocked me.
And then tripled down on politics, religious politics, and anti-vax posts on her "professional facing page". Her attitude on the page became: if you don't like it, leave! She was posting rage-bait stuff, probably to flush out anyone who disagreed with her political/religious stance.
That isn't good Comms Professional tactics or practice.
Ok, time to notify the board. I sent off an email, copied the board members and officers of the NMRA pointing out that this wasn't professional conduct for a communications professional. I asked that they step in an require that Lucy remove the tie-ins on that page that indicated her professional affiliation to the NMRA. This falls under trademark protection for the organization.
I got one response back from the board. I'll paraphrase: PISS OFF!
They said it nicer, but the tone was there. This came from a board member, not the officers. In essence, the reply was that board doesn't have any control over independent contractors once the contract is signed. The president of the organization oversees the contractors.
The standard response should have been: Thank you for your concern. We've passed the information on the the President and he'll make the final decisions about the matter.
I responded that Trademark protection should be within the purview of the board. Got a much shorter response with the same tone as before.
HOWEVER, it appears that cooler heads at the NMRA had a bit of talk with her. A post last evening said she was done "posting rage bait"... She didn't remove any of her previous rage bait posts. But she did say she's stopping posting any new one.
Allow me to put on my Communications 101 professor hat (Bachelor and Masters degrees in Journalism here - this is very very basic 101 level stuff)
-When you are in the public eye as part of an organization (branding your social media with their trademarked names) you do one of two things:
1. Don't post stuff that is going to antagonize part of your organization's demographic. Simples.
2. OR, if you are going to, remove the org's branding, and add disclaimer like "all opinions expressed are my own, and not reflective of my employer" - You'll find almost every journalist or media personality of note with that disclaimer on the twitter or other social media where readers/viewers can contact them.
I wish the Social Media Manager for the NMRA understood that basic comms lesson.
And I wish the board took their responsibility more seriously.
This should not have escalated to the point where Lucy finally admitted to posting Rage Bait posts on her NMRA branded page. (I suspect she got a polite chat with Uncle Gordy)
OK, rant over. The world of toy trains is returning to normal. Glad it's over.
I'm a (retired) communications professional. Journalism, Media Manager, Editor with two degrees. This is all about the Communications (Comms) business.
You might recall that the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) has a Social Media Manager, Lucy Dormond. She came into wide notice when Lionel Strang on the Modeller's Life podcast made a couple of not-politic remarks about the position on one of his podcasts.
So I looked her up. She's got a "professional" Facebook Profile.
She posted a lot about trains, and used the page to back up what the NMRA pages promoted. That's decent comms-work.
Usually, this is one's professionally facing public profile, to keep the business side separated from her friends and family facebook profile. It's true, she has both the friends and family, as well as her NMRA facing page. They are easy to find with a search of her name. That's standard Comms stuff. One page for your own personal stuff, and one that reflects your "professional" side.
Did you know on Facebook, you can get a custom URL for your page? Her professional one is branded: https://www.facebook.com/lucynmra (emphasis mine)
Yep. That's the trademark of the org as part of the custom URL she set up with Facebook. She also prominently identifies herself as the Social Media Manager for the NMRA in that page's bio. That's standard comms engagement for having a professional page reflecting your role in an organization.
After the death of Mr. Kirk last week, she was grieving and took to posting a lot of stuff about his funeral, and his political stuff... Funeral, I get. Give people time to grieve. She was keyed into his work. No problems.
But then she started posting his political opinions, and promoting his political organization on the "professional page"
I and some others added comments on those posts asking if she was going political with her NMRA branded page? And did the NMRA board know about it?
Communications 101: if you are repping an org, don't mix contentious issues on any platform that connects you to that organization. I do my politics on my friends and family page, not on my author page. Keep them seperate.
She grumped back, and blocked me.
And then tripled down on politics, religious politics, and anti-vax posts on her "professional facing page". Her attitude on the page became: if you don't like it, leave! She was posting rage-bait stuff, probably to flush out anyone who disagreed with her political/religious stance.
That isn't good Comms Professional tactics or practice.
Ok, time to notify the board. I sent off an email, copied the board members and officers of the NMRA pointing out that this wasn't professional conduct for a communications professional. I asked that they step in an require that Lucy remove the tie-ins on that page that indicated her professional affiliation to the NMRA. This falls under trademark protection for the organization.
I got one response back from the board. I'll paraphrase: PISS OFF!
They said it nicer, but the tone was there. This came from a board member, not the officers. In essence, the reply was that board doesn't have any control over independent contractors once the contract is signed. The president of the organization oversees the contractors.
The standard response should have been: Thank you for your concern. We've passed the information on the the President and he'll make the final decisions about the matter.
I responded that Trademark protection should be within the purview of the board. Got a much shorter response with the same tone as before.
HOWEVER, it appears that cooler heads at the NMRA had a bit of talk with her. A post last evening said she was done "posting rage bait"... She didn't remove any of her previous rage bait posts. But she did say she's stopping posting any new one.
Allow me to put on my Communications 101 professor hat (Bachelor and Masters degrees in Journalism here - this is very very basic 101 level stuff)
-When you are in the public eye as part of an organization (branding your social media with their trademarked names) you do one of two things:
1. Don't post stuff that is going to antagonize part of your organization's demographic. Simples.
2. OR, if you are going to, remove the org's branding, and add disclaimer like "all opinions expressed are my own, and not reflective of my employer" - You'll find almost every journalist or media personality of note with that disclaimer on the twitter or other social media where readers/viewers can contact them.
I wish the Social Media Manager for the NMRA understood that basic comms lesson.
And I wish the board took their responsibility more seriously.
This should not have escalated to the point where Lucy finally admitted to posting Rage Bait posts on her NMRA branded page. (I suspect she got a polite chat with Uncle Gordy)
OK, rant over. The world of toy trains is returning to normal. Glad it's over.
Last edited:
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Troy, I have two semesters of community college under my belt. I had little formal training in the world of sales other than some classes from tire and retread manufactures. In other words, I don't know
I do know enough to never mix politics and business.
PNKFLOYD
Mikey
Jaz-
Your upside down pictures give us a different perspective on the world.
i'm waiting for a picture of pineapple upside down cake!
PNKFLOYD
Mikey
I have just completed another little modeling project during this mornings modeling session. Following the advice of TOMO and other forum members, I have lightly weathered a freight car that did not turn out too bad. I'll post a picture after the last grunge wash dries.
Yesterday morning, the weather guessers talked about the drought conditions in central Alabama. Normal rainfall for September is 4.00 inches and we had only .50 inches. Yep, we got rain over night and this mornings total is 1.82 inches so far. only a 40% chance of rain today,
I believe I have posted on the forum more in the past 30 days than all the previous months of this year. Time for me to shut up for awhile.
Yesterday morning, the weather guessers talked about the drought conditions in central Alabama. Normal rainfall for September is 4.00 inches and we had only .50 inches. Yep, we got rain over night and this mornings total is 1.82 inches so far. only a 40% chance of rain today,
I believe I have posted on the forum more in the past 30 days than all the previous months of this year. Time for me to shut up for awhile.
kbkchooch
Verified Human
One of the reasons why I am a former NMRA member. Too many "holier then thou" attitudes. I once was on a path to earn my MMR, but once I came to realize that it was more of a clique than a truly helpful organization, I gave up on it. The NMRA has outlived its usefulness.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
There was a big thread recently over at MRH where they have some newly elected members who are trying to change some of the past stigmas that you mentioned.
I guess we will see if that happens and maybe some of the past members will come back?
kbkchooch
Verified Human
Good morning gang!
69° with light rain, with a high of 77° today, late day thunderstorms expected. Yech!
69° with light rain, with a high of 77° today, late day thunderstorms expected. Yech!
They may draw back some past members, but not this one. Once bitten, twice shy ya know.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
That was the general consensus of a lot past members that responded.
Some sounded like they will take a wait and see approach.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
I like the idea of having a social media manager to bring in younger members to the NMRA.
But the fastest way to drive the 30-something and younger crowd away is to have a stodgy old clique of rivet counters muttering "in my day we used to..."
Not only are we dealing with new incarnations of the digital age (AI for instance) we have to find ways to merge the demographics and encourage them to play nice together.
Patrick
What, me worry?
Morning all,
Came into the office with the fire alarm panel squealing. That's what happens when it loses communication and keeps ringing until reset, even after it has communication back on.
Almost got the cops called on me at the McDonald's by the office yesterday. My middle granddaughter was on a school trip for Student council. Her school is about 60 miles away from my office, and she had said she was going to be in town, so I surprised her at lunch and met her at the restaurant. I got a nice hug and talked with her a couple minutes, and when I went to take a picture of her for her mom and grandmother, a lady popped up beside me and told me they didn't allow photos of the kids and would I please leave? I explained i was her grandpa and worked a couple blocks away. Once I used her mother's name, things got a bit calmer. she walked back to where she was observing and left me to finish our little visit. I did stop back and talk with the teacher before I left and I think everything was fine. I did text the daughter with what happened in case anything was said afterward. I could see it: "Old geezer arrested for taking pictures of school kids at local restaurant"
Came into the office with the fire alarm panel squealing. That's what happens when it loses communication and keeps ringing until reset, even after it has communication back on.
Almost got the cops called on me at the McDonald's by the office yesterday. My middle granddaughter was on a school trip for Student council. Her school is about 60 miles away from my office, and she had said she was going to be in town, so I surprised her at lunch and met her at the restaurant. I got a nice hug and talked with her a couple minutes, and when I went to take a picture of her for her mom and grandmother, a lady popped up beside me and told me they didn't allow photos of the kids and would I please leave? I explained i was her grandpa and worked a couple blocks away. Once I used her mother's name, things got a bit calmer. she walked back to where she was observing and left me to finish our little visit. I did stop back and talk with the teacher before I left and I think everything was fine. I did text the daughter with what happened in case anything was said afterward. I could see it: "Old geezer arrested for taking pictures of school kids at local restaurant"
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
Moin! 62°F/61°F this early morning. Heading for the mid to upper 70s. The weekend and most of next week wil be full of low to mid 80s which is up to 8°F above normal for here at this time of year. I was looking forward to Oktober weather, but Mother Nature is not going to comply for at least a week.
The sun is supposed to show its face today so I may get outside and enjoy this last day in the 70s for awhile if the mosquitos don't attempt an airlift operation with my blood.
The sun is supposed to show its face today so I may get outside and enjoy this last day in the 70s for awhile if the mosquitos don't attempt an airlift operation with my blood.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Karl you are a master modeler. You don't need some stuffed shirt to give you the title, you already earned it.
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