[PRCo] Re: FYI ONLY --- Not PRCo --- Government Shutdown

[Dwight Long]

Herb

Was that trip supposed to operate from Cleveland  or from the usual depot used by the CVSR in suburbia?

Dwight

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Herb Brannon 
  To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org 
  Sent: Friday, 08 April, 2011 13:22
  Subject: [PRCo] FYI ONLY --- Not PRCo --- Government Shutdown


  This is an interesting email received from the National Park Service just a
  few minutes ago. I am a Conductor on the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad (volunteer
  worker) and am scheduled on a really interesting "Total Track Tour" charter
  tomorrow. This is all the way from Cleveland, through Akron and on to
  Canton. This is all 60 miles of CVRR track. Being a partner with the
  National Park Service and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, my volunteer worker
  status gives me federal volunteer hours with the NPS as well as the CVRR.
  Having never participated in a shutdown of a major world government I find
  the email interesting, maybe you will also. I also find it interesting that
  the railroad website will be up so ticket sales can be made. However, no
  trains are running so ticket purchases would not be very helpful to anyone
   Begin email:

  IN CASE OF A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
  We still believe that there is the opportunity for Congress to avoid a
  federal government shutdown, but are working to prepare for all possible
  scenarios. If a new budget is not passed today, a federal government
  shutdown will begin tomorrow, April 9th.
  In case of a federal government shutdown, the following will occur in
  Cuyahoga Valley National Park:
  Volunteers cannot come to the park and volunteer during a federal government
  shutdown. No volunteers are permitted to volunteer even at offsite events.
  This includes volunteers who have a National Park Service Volunteer-In-Parks
  Agreement and volunteer with the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National
  Park, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and Cuyahoga Valley Countryside
  Conservancy. The Volunteer Services Agreement will not cover volunteers
  under worker's compensation and tort claims during a federal government
  shutdown.
  All National Park Service employees are furloughed, except for  essential
  staff including law enforcement park rangers and dispatchers.
  All public programs are cancelled. Shelter reservations are cancelled. All
  parking lots and areas are closed including the Towpath Trail and all
  visitor centers. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's train excursions will not
  operate.
  Office staff from the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park,
  Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy
  are permitted to work in their office buildings.
  Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's administrative offices at Tilden House and
  the Fitzwater Yard are closed. The website
  www.cvsr.com will be operating so ticket sales can occur during a federal
  goverment shutdown.
  The Volunteer Office and Volunteer Center buildings are closed. Bridget
  Ambrisco, Lisa Meranti, Shelby Lewis, and Jamie Walters will work out of the
  Conservancy's administrative office located at 1403 W. Hines Hill Road in
  Peninsula.
  The National Park Service (NPS) website for Cuyahoga Valley National Park,
  www.nps.gov/cuva, is not operating. All national parks are closed and NPS
  webpages are not operating. For more information, go to www.doi.gov.

  Notifications on a federal government shutdown:
  If you are scheduled to volunteer on Saturday morning, please call the CVNP
  Park Operating Level Hotline number at 440-546-5961 to determine if the
  federal government has been shutdown. You are also encouraged to watch media
  outlets to stay informed of a potential federal government shutdown. If the
  shutdown occurs, we will notify you on Saturday via email.

  Just another interesting tidbit of life in the twenty-first century
  -- 
  Herb Brannon
  In Cuyahoga Valley National Park