Subject: News Release - National rail group VP to speak in Grinnell

IOWA ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
3349 Southgate CT SW #108
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424
www.simpson.edu/~iarp or
Pat Hendricks 515-282-9289 or
Eliot Keller 319-363-2061 Eliot@kzia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/04/05


National rail organization vice president to speak in Iowa

         Grinnell, Iowa - The Vice President of 
 the National Association of Railroad Passengers 
 will give a status report to the Iowa 
 Association of Railroad Passengers when it 
 meets Saturday, November 12, 2005, in Grinnell. 
 W. David Randall of Alton, Illinois, is 
 regional vice president of the national group 
 which is based in Washington, D.C.
         Randall was recently at the national 
 groupâs board meeting in Minneapolis, 
 Minnesota, and is monitoring national 
 legislative progress on passenger rail issues. 
 He and his organization are active in promoting 
 rail passenger service throughout the United States.
         Randall is an author and publisher who 
 has published a number of books about rail passenger equipment.
         Randall will be substituting for 
 National Association of Railroad Passengers 
 Assistant Director David R. Johnson, who was 
 originally expected to speak. Johnson was 
 forced to cancel his presentation in Iowa so he 
 could represent the group at an international 
 rail travelers conference in Toronto, where 
 representatives from the United States, Canada 
 and the United Kingdom will be meeting to promote rail passenger service.
         Grinnell is on the designated route of 
 the Midwest Regional Rail System which is a 
 nine-state enhanced passenger rail proposal 
 currently being planned by Iowa and eight other Midwestern states.
         Other speakers at the meeting include 
 Pat Hendricks, President of the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers.
         Sarah Henderson, a member of the Cedar 
 Rapids Light Rail Initiative Committee, has 
 been invited to address the group and discuss 
 the three-county Cedar-Iowa River Rail Corridor 
 Project and what the committee is doing to make 
 this project happen. The project would link 
 Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Amana with an 
 excursion trolley and possibly eventual commuter service.
         A member Congressman Leonard Boswell's 
 staff has also been invited to speak to the 
 group about the Congressman's pro-passenger-rail activities.
         Hendricks says the public is invited, 
 welcomed and encouraged to attend the program and meeting.
         Following the meeting, attendees will 
 be able to view the Grinnell Railway Express 
 Model Railroad Club across the street. The club 
 is planning to give tours starting at 3:00 p.m.
         Hendricks says the Iowa Association of 
 Railroad Passengers is a state-wide non-profit 
 group that supports rail service, both 
 passenger and freight. Hendricks also says the 
 group meets at various locations throughout the 
 state. Previous recent meeting sites have 
 included Little Amana, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
         The meeting will be held at the Depot 
 Crossing Restaurant, 1014 3rd Avenue, Grinnell, Iowa (641-236-6886).
         Attendees may enjoy an optional lunch 
 from the menu at 11:30 a.m. The program and 
 business meeting will start at 1:00 p.m. Meals 
 will be paid for by each individual participating in the lunch.
         Hendricks says that, although not 
 directly affiliated with the national group, 
 the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers is 
 supportive of the goals of the national group.
         Membership information is available by 
 writing to the Iowa Association of Railroad 
 Passengers, 3349 Southgate Court, SW, Suite 
 #108, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424 or by 
 calling (319) 362-6824 or going to the 
 association's Website at  www.simpson.edu/~iarp.
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