The Red-Headed Step-Children of Roanoke

Ordinarily, I'd post things about VMT over at that blog, but some of this is a touch too vitriolic for that quasi-professional blog. All that said, there's something I don't quite get.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation has taken a continual bombardment in the editorials, critiquing alternately our decision to try to sell 763 and/or the mere presence of our Executive Director.

That's not what I don't understand. People have beef with us over those things, and they're well within their rights to criticize whatever they like in the newspapers. I don't mind it at all, though I do wish they'd keep their opinions objective and at least try to make it seem like they're not launching personal attacks through the editorial columns.

The thing I don't get is why none of the members of our Board of Directors have written anything in our defense. I freely admit that some of our Board members are more active than others, and I sincerely think that some are more committed than others. But I know three Board members who could write powerful, credible letters on VMT's behalf, but who have strangely been silent. If I see one more letter to the editor slamming us for this or for that, I'll write one myself. I know I shouldn't, and I know that my take could never be objective, but this is getting old.

Also, I'd like to point out that if the same quantity of venom were printed about Center in the Square or Mill Mountain Zoo, this town would go nuts. Maybe people around here don't care about us. Actually, there are some facts to back that up.

Since we began tracking demographic data of our patrons (just hometowns and ages, no personal data), a whopping 70% of our patrons are from out of town. FYI, City of Roanoke: That means tourism is happening! These people from out of town stay at our hotels, shop in our stores, and eat at our restaurants. What's better? A portion of those we've asked (informally) say they traveled just to see our museum. City of Roanoke, that's free money for you. They pay no taxes here, but their money still finds its way here. If that's only worth $52,000 a year to you, then fine. But with a multi-million dollar art museum unfurling like a giant glass Scott McFarlane sketch just a few blocks away, I hope we aren't getting the shaft just because you got distracted in the most expensive "Ooh, Shiny!" thing in Roanoke's history.