Changes in helper roles ahead at historic fort

On the surface, it doesn’t seem fair for the Fort Martin Scott Friends to be evicted from their office building on the grounds once the Texas Ranger Heritage Center assumes management of the historic fort on Nov. 1

After all, they all but own the building. The nonprofit organization raised the funds to relocate and refurbish the building and it has been officed there for many years. In that time its dedicated members provided countless hours of volunteer service running programs and other activities there. With the contract approved last week by the Fredericksburg City Council with the TRHC and the fort’s advisory committee, it’s almost as if the friends group were being told “Thank you very much for your tireless and dedicated service, but don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

OK, it may not be that harsh, but some of the friends volunteers may take it that way.

The simple fact is that the Texas Rangers Heritage Center will now be doing the job the Fort Martin Scott Friends were doing. Having both doing the same job could create conflict and confusion. And as was pointed out at the council meeting, most friends organizations are fundraising arms for entities, such as parks, libraries, etc. They are not involved in programming and management, which was fairly unique in the case of the fort’s friends.

Fortunately, the TRHC and the city are not heartless and are willing to work with the friends group during the transition. They are allowing the friends to keep their library and other artifacts there until they can determine what to do with them. The office computers and other office equipment, however, will need to be relocated.

More importantly, this will be a time of regrouping for the Fort Martin Scott Friends. They will have to rethink their purpose and role at the fort. It is doubtful that the Rangers or the city want to lose the knowledge base and dedicated service of the volunteers who have worked so diligently over the years to keep the fort a viable historic site and tourist destination. They deserve respect and recognition for all that they have done.

Hopefully, as the growing pains subside in this transition, a new a better purpose for the friends will emerge. Both sides, after all, want the same thing. The Rangers, being housed next door, are a larger organization and better suited to manage the fort than what the friends have been able to do. That is why this agreement makes so much sense.

Both groups need to strive for harmony and to find a way to work together for the betterment of the fort and the guest experiences there. They need to avoid getting into an “us versus them” mentality and find a unity that will help make the fort and the heritage center a dynamic and educational experience for all who come to visit. – J.S.

(This editorial appeared in the Sept. 15, 2021, edition of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post.)