HRASA – INAUGURAL MONTHLY REPORT – OCTOBER 2009

[John Ashworth]

Attached - it is a comprehensive document and has graphics so do download it and view it properly. The introduction only is copied below.

HRASA – INAUGURAL MONTHLY REPORT – OCTOBER 2009
Distribution: Members and Public
Period: July – September 2009

INTRODUCTION

These are challenging times for the rail heritage preservation industry and the rail tourism industry as a
whole. Budgets are stretched. Demand on HRASA, in particular, to deliver, is growing by the day.

Effectiveness and efficiency management are placing big demands on budgets, and HRASA, as is
the case with each of its members, are faced with the same challenge...how to increase the quality
of service offerings to members, improve preservation planning and implementation, evaluation,
member satisfaction and loyalty.

Recent feedback regarding HRASA and its activities, show that powerful and targeted
communications are two of the MOST influential factors for rail preservation awareness. By sharpening
external communications, HRASA aims to assure its members and the public at large that HRASA can
deliver on its mandate, and so doing greatly influence member satisfaction and deliver enviable
performance results.

HRASA, like any other institution is similarly a collection of many internal and external activities and
processes, each with its own recipients or clients and mandates. Each process or activity is perfect for
one member, and wrong for another. Members or clients will accordingly behave differently and will
have a different need that need to be satisfied. Therefore, in pursuit of better service delivery to its
members, HRASA will henceforth report on critical primary progress, activities, events and compliance
issues on a monthly basis.

The information released will be a condensation of the monthly reports submitted by each board
member.

We trust that this will meet with member expectations, and contain the right communication elements
to assure our members of the following revised HRASA Vision, as approved at the 2009 AGM held at
Esselen Park, i.e.:

“To be the recognised representative organisation to oversee rail heritage; rail heritage preservation;
the heritage rail tourism industry: represent and support its members who are involved with the rail
preservation and railway tourism industry in Southern Africa”

To facilitate structure, the monthly reports will report on the activities of the new HRASA portfolio based
structure as approved at the BOD Meeting held on 22 August at PE, i.e.:

Corporate Liaison – Chris Janisch
Operations – Ian Pretorius
Tourism – Dudley Smith
Marketing – Nerina Skuy
Corporate Governance – Ed van den Heever
Financial – Mark Robinson
Member Liaison – Elize Lubbe

On behalf of the HRASA Board of Directors, I wish to call on our members to embrace this
communication initiative, and together aim to improve the integrity and quality of rail heritage
communications. I would particularly encourage all members to share their knowledge to the fullest,
by circulating newsletters to the widest audience possible, by bringing important information to the
attention of myself and the relevant board member, and by putting aside petty differences for the
greater good. Please feel free to contact a board member on any relevant issues, copied to myself,
so that we can assist wherever possible in providing solutions.

I feel strongly that HRASA is now functioning as a proper responsible and effective organisation. We
have been most successful in making our presence felt within Transnet and other related bodies, and
have also begun to make forays into governmental entities which are vital to our future. As you will
see later, we have had notable successes within Transnet Freight Rail and Foundation, and we are
starting to be taken seriously.

Ours is not an easy job. We are in need of your fullest support in order to increase our effectiveness.
Please become pro-active and get involved in the running of HRASA. It is after all YOUR organisation!

Chris Janisch: HRASA Chairman

CONTACT DETAILS FOR HRASA BOARD MEMBERS
CHRIS JANISCH (CHAIRMAN) janisch24@gmail.com
IAN PRETORIUS (VICE-CHAIRMAN) ian@atlanticrail.co.za
NERINA SKUY (SECRETARY) hrasa@skuys.co.za / skuys@worldonline.co.za
DUDLEY SMITH dlsmith@futurenet.co.za
MARK ROBINSON crea@telkomsa.net
ELIZE LUBBE elize@reefsteamers.co.za
COEN PRETORIUS (RSR REP) coenpre@mtnloaded.co.za
BRUCE BRINKMAN (CO-OPTED: TREASURER) bnmpe@bnm.co.za
MIKE DU PLOOY (CO-OPTED) mikeduplooyconsultants@gmail.com
CHARLES PHILLIPS (CO-OPTED) airtrans@yahoo.com
KEVIN WILSON-SMITH Kevin.Wilson-Smith@ricoh.co.za