And They Call This Progress

[Captain Tenneal]

:censored: WTF?

I have just been informed that the Historic Warships at Birkenhead the largest collection of its kind in Europe is to close for the last time on 6th of February and if the warships , Falklands veteren HMS Plymouth along with HMS Onyx , Bronnington and the Type 1V U-boat cann't be found a new home then they will be broken up for scrap. Grim news indeed for all warship enthusiasts.

http://www.widdo.net/laurence/DSCF0003%20(Large).JPG

[crashaz]

ACK! Not good news at all.:isadizzy: Kinda surprised the Brits don't keep more museum ships. We keep a ton here.

[Captain Tenneal]

yes we have a few, but it looks like the USS Hornet museum maybe in trouble




http://www.its.caltech.edu/~drmiles/hornet.html


A View From the Hornet (A Call for Help)
May 2005
The USS Hornet Museum needs your help!


The Hornet Museum like most other Ship museums has always operated on the financial razor's edge. The challenges we have experienced from the outset are as a direct result of delays in redeveloping the former Alameda Naval Air Station where the ship is berthed. It's truly unfortunate that development efforts have been stalled for 7 years and are no where near starting. The lease we signed in good faith was based on the redevelopment bringing tourists to the area, and having bus routes and ferry service to enhance the vehicle and pedestrian traffic. None of this has happened, and has in turn created a very difficult financial position for the Museum.

Regardless of this and in an effort to overcome these hurdles, we have recently made major changes to our staff, including a new CEO who in turn has hired several professionals in the events business. Their pro-active approach has sparked new interest in the ship and has increased our exposure throughout Northern California. We now have a full slate of activities and events scheduled for the summer months beginning with an event for Blue Star Moms, Gold Star Moms and Veterans this next Monday. But we have an immediate hurdle to overcome.

Mayor Johnson of Alameda and the folks at the city owned Alameda Power have been very supportive over the years. The City has allowed the museum to operate without paying the $8,500/month rent for the pier called for in our lease. And the City owned Power Company has always extended us a $10,000 line of credit; on Thursday May 4, they called the line of credit and gave us 48 hours to pay. Since we were also presented with the current monthly bill of nearly $9,000, our total due within the 48 hours was $19,000. On Monday May 9, we made a partial payment to the power company, resulting in a one-week extension to the deadline. To complicate matters, the City has also decided to begin collection on the lease debt. With the slow winter months just behind us, the timing of all this is most difficult,.

We are uncertain why this sudden and drastic change of attitude has occurred within the city leadership, and why with such short notice. It seems to us that as host city, it would behoove them to assist us wherever possible to assure our success. After all, our success would obviously allow us to service our debt to them. However, even with all the efforts on our behalf going on this week, the fact remains that we must make every effort to satisfy the demands of the City of Alameda as quickly as possible.

We trust the Mayor and the Power Company officials will do the right thing. They have it within their power to give us a bit more time, to allow supporters who wish to help, to mail in their donations so we can continue our mission of bringing Hornet history to life for our Veterans, Bay area youth, and their families.

It will also give us the time we need to pursue our ultimate goal of replicating San Diego and Midway's success by moving the Hornet to San Francisco. In just 6 months of operation, 600,000 visitors have paid admission (80% from out of town), generating $7M in revenues, and $4M in profit. They are also expected to generate $50M annually to San Diego's tourism industry. We can replicate this success story - and improve upon it - in San Francisco. It is with that in mind that we make this first ever plea for financial assistance to the museum. If you can assist the museum get past this hump, or if you know anyone who may be willing to help the Hornet, NOW IS THE TIME. If you have contacts who may help, consider them as well. If you would like to contact our new CEO, Scott Armaneni, or would like to send a donation, he can be reached at the Ship; 510-521-8448 ext. 222. His address on the ship is Scott Armanini CEO, Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum, Pier 3 Alameda Point, P.O. Box 460, Alameda CA 94501. His E-mail is scott.armanini@uss-hornet.org

Donation checks should be made out to the USS Hornet Museum Inc., and mailed to the ship attention Scott Armanini.

Wishing us all Smooth Sailing

Rolf Sabye
Hornet Club Liaison
USS Hornet Museum

[Captain Tenneal]

Here is the story so far.

The buildings adjacent to the ships where baught by a developer to turn inot luxury apartments last summer, because of this, the ships had to be relocated in February this year.

The timing of this is too much of a coincidence, the developer, PEEL Holdings, the name and shame here, Birkenhead council and the Mersy docks and harbour company have not been able to agree on who is to pay what for the ships relocation within the dock system.

They see them as an eye sore or something that gets in the way to be honest. Not worth keeping, kinda thing. Sad the historical importance of all the vessels.

On top of this, the Trust's founder, Sir Philip is retiring at the same time.

So you see, this really stinks.

a volnteer group was all ready to man the ships to be moved to their temporary new location and then a new permanent one when the word was given, they even got some deisel to run the Plymouth's generators if need be, this has all been overlooked. During this "moving" time the ships as museums would have had to be closed to the public at their most profitable time of year for the training of sea cadets and other young groups of people who spend weekends down there and longer sometimes.

The whole thing just STINKS. http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/images/smiles/ANGER_Mad_1.gif http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/images/smiles/ANGER_Censored_1.gif http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/images/smiles/ANGER_Mad_1.gif http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/images/smiles/ANGER_Censored_1.gif http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/images/smiles/ANGER_Mad_1.gif