CNWHS News

Members Please Note

C&NWHS Membership Dues Increase – Effective September 1, 2023

Pursuant with C&NWHS Bylaw: Article X, Section 1, Annual Dues; the Board of Directors has unanimously voted at the May 18, 2023 director’s meeting to increase the membership dues to the following levels – effective with dues paid online or postmarked on or after September 1, 2023.

 $48 –   Regular and Regular Family Membership for U.S., Canada and Mexico

 $96 –   Contributing and Contributing Family Membership for U.S., Canada and Mexico (includes free calendar)

 $100 – International and International Family Membership (other than North America)

 $400 – “400 Club” and “400 Club” Family Membership                                                     (includes free calendar and “400 Club” item)

 $14 –   New increased cover price per issue for North Western Lines

After review of our current production costs and distribution costs for NWL, it was deemed that our current membership fee structure does not cover our costs for the printing and release of the magazine to our members. Significant increases in printing costs (ink and paper) as well as continued increases in postage costs (with another postage increase going into effect next month) resulted in the need to increase the membership fees. The higher increase in International memberships are attributed mainly to postage expenses in both the U.S. and the appropriate foreign countries.

It is the position of the board that the Regular membership fees be sufficient to cover the NWL costs. All other additional fees collected from Contributing and “400 Club” members above the $48 level are allocated to manage the day-to-day operations of the society and archives, and should not be used to offset magazine expenses.

See the event PDF for details on a afternoon and evening in Elmhurst on November 19, 2022.

Concrete grows from the ground!

Like many long lead items today, the good weather we ordered took a bit longer than planned to arrive. The last week and upcoming week in northern IL has been warmer than normal with minimal rain or snow. Footings were poured December 14. This marks the commencement of construction with the first permanent part of our structure and future home of the CNWHS.

To see all the updates on the project and a timeline of events, or to make a donation to the project, visit the Archives Building Project page.

The CNWHS Archives and Company Store have been located in Berwyn IL, a place we have called home for over 30 years.  We were very recently informed that the Berwyn building has been sold and we have to move the Archives by the end of December 2021.  The CNWHS Archives Building at the Illinois Railway Museum is about to start construction, and of course is nowhere near ready for us to move in.  We have found an interim home in Gilberts IL. 

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP US MOVE!  During the first two weekends in December, 4/5 and 11/12, we will need assistance to move boxes, ledgers and shelving.  Contact archives@cnwhs.org to sign up to help move.  File cabinets are set to be moved professionally the week of December 13.  If you are able to assist monetarily with the move, we would appreciate any donation you could provide.  https://cnwhs.org/wp1/product/donation-move/

We would like to thank the archives team for quickly coming up with a plan and immediately starting move preparation.  Due to the move, fulfillment of archive information requests will likely be delayed.  Company store orders placed after December 10 may experience shipping delays.

Tim Coyle, CNWHS President

Jeff Eggert, CNWHS Vice President

Our society’s twice Covid-19 postponed convention is now on track for arrival May 19-22, 2022. Mankato, at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers, was once served by four railroads. It has been the commerce and transportation hub for much of southwest Minnesota for almost 170 years. Our hotel and convention sites are across the street from the former Omaha Road/C&NW depot and mainline now used by UP & CP.