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SS United States Conservancy Update
In this Issue:
Conservancy Appoints Executive Director and Expands Board
Lady in Waiting Encore Airings in New York & Philly
SS United States Inspires Connecticut Volunteer
SS United States Stars in Minnesota Salon
Conservancy Launches Youth Art Project
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 Vintage postcard view of the SS United States
SS United States Conservancy Bolsters Efforts to Save Big U
The front-page article on the Conservancy's efforts in the Wall Street
Journal on September 29 generated many online comments, e-mails, and phone calls, and we
are now in discussions with a variety of fundraising, design, and public relations firms who support our vision and have
offered to help.
Along those lines, the Conservancy's Board of Directors has made the decision to
"professionalize" the organization by assigning leadership positions,
developing a more streamlined structure, and expanding the board.
Dan McSweeney, who has served on the Conservancy's board since its inception, has been named executive
director and will take charge of coordinating day-to-day planning
and operations. He will follow the guidance of Susan Gibbs, who will continue to serve as President of the Board.
Existing Conservancy board members will continue to offer guidance and assistance, mainly through two working groups focused on New
York and Philadelphia, which the Conservancy feels are the two most
likely sites for a re-purposed SS United States. A variety of
working committees will cover other key areas, including media & outreach, legislative, business
development, and historic preservation.
The Conservancy will soon launch a major campaign to raise funds for
pre-development activities, including feasibility studies, legal
research, and site-based planning as part of its effort to lay the
ground work for a public-private partnership in support of the ship's
purchase and restoration.
"We have established a rock solid foundation over the past
five years," said Conservancy President Susan Gibbs. "Especially
after a very busy summer of events and media appearances, we've decided to restructure our organization so that we can take full advantage of our new momentum."
Dan McSweeney agrees. "It's been an honor to work for the past
five years in this really incredible community of volunteers. We have
achieved big results with very little infrastructure. Imagine what we'll
be able to do now. This is a marathon and I
feel we're hitting our stride. We are in great shape to achieve
our fundamental goal of saving the SS United States for future
generations of Americans."
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TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS JOIN CONSERVANCY EFFORT
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A HEARTY WELCOME TO ROBERT JONES AND MARY VILLALBA
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We are delighted to welcome Robert Jones and Mary Villalba to the Conservancy's Board of Directors!
Robert Jones has nearly 40 years of
experience in aerospace issues, spanning both the government and industry sectors. He served in the United States
Air Force in Air Force Systems Command as a Research & Development
Officer for strategic nuclear systems. In 2007 he retired from TRW-Northrop Grumman, a major aerospace and defense
corporation. He holds both a Bachelor and a Master of Aerospace
Engineering degree from Auburn University. He has "developed a keen appreciation of an "art form" skill not easily taught,
namely, how to get like-minded people with vastly differing backgrounds
and objectives to effectively communicate, coordinate and collaborate
to achieve a common but difficult goal." He now lives in Huntsville, Alabama, with his wife and
family.
Mary Villalba's interest in the SS United States
stems from her father's participation in measuring the ship's top speed during the speed trials in 1952. Mary currently owns AZTEC
Communications, LLC, which works with mid-sized companies to provide
long-term strategic planning and marketing advice. Other
leadership positions include: Distinguished Governor and first female
Governor, Rocky Mountain District Kiwanis International; President,
Greenwood Village Chamber of Commerce; President, Denver Ear Institute;
and President and Co-Founder, World Hearing Network. Mary has been active
in the University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business, 50 for
Colorado Leadership program, where she received the "Above and Beyond
the Call of Duty Award." She resides outside of Denver, Colorado.
Thank you, Bob and Mary, for your support and commitment!
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| LADY IN WAITING FILM TO RE-AIR IN NEW YORK, PHILLY
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PLEASE GATHER YOUR FRIENDS AND TUNE IN!
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| The Big Ship Films is pleased to announce upcoming encore presentations of SS United States: Lady in Waiting
as part of an ongoing push to raise public awareness about the plight
of our nation's flagship. If you're in the New York, Philly, or Fort
Myers area, be sure to tune in. Below is a listing of American Public
Television affiliates who will be airing the film again.
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SS United States Documentary Film Inspires Volunteer
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| Photos courtesy of Margaret Dexter and the SSUS Archive Project
The Conservancy was recently contacted by author
and former 'Big U' passenger Margaret Dexter, who was so inspired after seeing
the documentary SS United States: Lady in Waiting on her local APT affiliate that she enthusiastically
volunteered to take up the cause of raising public awareness. Here's what Dexter had to say:
 "As
a former passenger who sailed to England aboard the SS United States in 1963 with my husband and
four children, the elegant experience was not only unforgettable, it was
recorded too in my recently published memoir, Malta Remembered, available on Amazon and
Barnes & Noble websites. After
viewing the marvelous documentary, SS United States: Lady in Waiting, on Boston's WGBH in early
August, I learned the entire story of that magnificent ship, from the
drawing board to the present. Now
seen tied to a pier in Philadelphia and looking forlorn and seemingly derelict...
she remains without peer as an icon of American technological achievement,
making 400 crossings in a flawless career from 1952 to 1969. Unless she is rescued and
refurbished (if not as the finest new cruise ship,) I agree that she
must gleam once again, as a showpiece attraction befitting her significance
in American history. My enthusiasm
is tireless to be a part of the Conservancy's team to screen Lady in
Waiting at
libraries and schools... to spread the word, sell additional DVD's, to raise
public awareness, to save her from an ignominious plight."
Dexter
began contacting local libraries and schools, talking up the ship and arranging
public screenings of the film. So
far, she has confirmed showings at the East Lyme and New London public
libraries, on October 24 and 27 respectively. It is Dexter's sincere hope that she might inspire other SS United
States supporters
to take up the cause on a grassroots level, and help spread the word about the
plight of our national flagship. The
Conservancy is grateful for Dexter's commitment and enthusiasm.
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| SS United States Stars in Kjeseth's "High Tea" |
Parlor Transformed for the Occasion
 The SS United States inspired a recent "High Tea" in Saint Paul, Minnesota thrown by Jane Kjeseth and friends. As illustrated in these photographs, her home was completely transformed - she even painted the funnels of a decorative wooden ship bright red for the occasion. The silver teapot, creamer and sugar bowl used were all from the SS United States and the documentary film, "SS United States: Lady in Waiting" was playing on the television set in an adjacent room.
Thank you Jane, for sharing your photographs and for commemorating the SS United States in Saint Paul! It looks like you had a fabulous time!
We encourage others to screen the documentary film, SS United States: Lady in Waiting in their homes and communities as a way of raising awareness of the ship's plight and promise. These events will help spread the word throughout the country. |
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SS United States Inspires Young Artists
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The SS United States Conservancy's 2010 calendar features images of the SS United States from a roster of prominent artists. However, we are also collecting renderings of the ship from artists just beginning their careers. We have decided to share some of these fantastic works of art in our e-updates because we are so delighted that the ship continues to speak to a new generation of Americans. Please stay tuned for further information about our young artists initiative!
Above is a close-up view of the ship created by nine-year-old artist Alex Chmelowitz from Mayslanding, New Jersey. He presented two beautiful drawings of the ship to the Conservancy at one of our summer events in Philadelphia. Thank you, Alex!
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For the latest news about the SS United States, please
visit our Save Our Ship blog.
Get your full color 2010 wall calendar,
"Artists' Visions of the SS United States,"
exclusively by visiting our store.
SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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