I read the two articles The Chronicle recently published on the conflicts at the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum and the commentary by The Chronicle’s Julie McDonald and I kept waiting for someone to speak up in defense of Bill and Wanda Thompson, president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the CCR&M.
My husband, Bill, and I have known Bill and Wanda over 10 years. As a logger, my husband has used Bill Thompson’s skills as the best hydraulics specialist in town. I have listened to Wanda, sitting in their business office filled with steam train memorabilia, talking about the challenges of regulatory requirements and coordinating volunteer responsibilities. Both individuals are the most modest, down-to-earth and dedicated people anyone could hope to meet.
When McDonald talked about dedicated volunteers in her commentary, she hit the most important part of the issue. After I retired from the military, I was also a volunteer in different positions for several years. Volunteers are wonderfully valuable, but not everybody can commit to hours of service. Bill and Wanda poured their own money, Bill’s equipment and tools, and over 20 years of their time to support the steam train.
When Wanda suffered a debilitating stroke early in 2018 and was recovering at Sharon Care Center, I visited her often. After she finished her therapy strapped to her walker, relearning to walk, she sat on her bed with her laptop open to steam train business, calling various volunteers trying to finish the preparations for the Mother’s Day train ride.
I heard her repeated frustration when volunteers couldn’t fulfill commitments. While the Port of Chehalis CEO criticized a lack of backup for Wanda in The Chronicle article, it’s not so easy forcing unpaid volunteers to do work when they’re not inclined.
Further, if some of the CCR&M Board members were aware that Wanda was falling behind, which it appears they were, a supportive group would have offered to help. Some of the board members have cited extensive professional backgrounds and computer expertise. In that case one of them should have offered to help Wanda after the vice president’s comment that she uses a computer “to some extent.”
In this time of politics at the expense of humanity, it seems when faced with criticism from the Port of Chehalis, the board’s shifting of the blame for every shortcoming onto the two people who kept the CCR&M successful for so many years is especially inexcusable.
Bill is talking about taking a year-long hiatus from the steam train, his business and all the pain that these accusations have caused. He says he will be happy to take Wanda away from this situation so she can heal properly from the stroke and the feelings she has from being told she failed in her responsibilities.
I believe the CCR&M board needs to reconsider its position and offer an apology to
Bill and Wanda for representing them to the community as deficient in their duties. Every one of those board members bore the responsibility for the train’s operation. If there were errors, every member is equally responsible. Find a solution instead of accusing guilt.
Linda Clark
Onalaska
