SS United States Conservancy
SS United States Conservancy

In This Issue:
  • Lady in Waiting Special Screening and Fundraiser in New York: Register Now!
  • Award-winning Photograph to be Auctioned
  • Special Conservancy Event in Philadelphia
  • Conservancy Board Member Receives Honors
  • New Media Outreach Effort Underway
February 20, 2010
The SS United States
Photo courtesy of The Mark Perry Collection and
The Conservancy Legacy Project

Dear SS United States Conservancy Members and Supporters:
 
As the fate of the SS United States continues to hang in the balance, we're gearing up to mount on all-hands-on-deck campaign to save our national flagship from the scrapyard.  Events associated with the "Save Our Ship" campaign will be rolling out nationwide... please stay tuned!  In the meantime, please make plans to join us for a very special film screening and fundraiser in New York City next month!  You won't want to miss it!

As you will read below, the Conservancy is expanding its presence in a variety of new media outlets, and we urgently need your help in spreading the world about the SS United States' promise, peril, and potential.

As always, please send us your advice and suggestions on how we can continue to build support for saving the glorious SS United States
 
With our best wishes,

The SS United States Conservancy's Board of Directors
Lady In Waiting Gala Screening in New York
 
 Screening, Fundraiser, and Reception 

The SS United States Conservancy and the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association are very proud to present a gala screening of SS United States: Lady in Waiting on Thursday evening, March 11th, at the National Academy, one of New York City's most beautiful venues. The event will be held from 7 to 10 PM. The Academy is located on Fifth Avenue and 89th Street in Manhattan.

"This will be an elegant affair," said the Conservancy's New York Working Group Chair Sue Caccavale.  "The space is gorgeous and we're so proud to be joining forces with Fort Schuyler's alumni association.  We're also reaching out to Kings Point, the Webb Institute and other alumni associations, and we know we'll have a great maritime crowd in attendance."

SS United States: Lady In Waiting is a dazzling hour-long documentary film that tells the story of our national flagship.  The SS United States shattered trans-Atlantic speed records in both directions on her maiden voyage in 1952.  A product of the Cold War, she was designed for dual use: A luxury passenger liner as well as a top-secret troop transport.  She served as the nation's ship of state: Her massive red, white and blue funnels symbolized democracy and hope to the world.  Now tarnished by decades of neglect, she has been docked on the Philadelphia waterfront since 1996 and awaits a new lease on life. 

A special presentation and reception will follow the film screening, including important updates and announcements by members of the Conservancy's Board of Directors, New York Working Group and National Advisory Council.  Copies of the award-winning documentary film will be available for sale and a framed print of the SS United States will be auctioned.  

We hope you can join us for this wonderful event!  Please invite your family, friends and colleagues!  To register, please CLICK HERE.  Tickets are $25.
Award-winning Photograph to be Auctioned
'The Big U' by Craig Billow
'The Big U' by Craig Billow

The SS United States Conservancy is honored to announce that Philadelphia photographer Craig Billow has generously donated a signed print of his award-winning photograph 'The Big U' to be auctioned at the upcoming New York screening of SS United States: Lady in Waiting on March 11 in New York City.  Measuring 16" X 20", this stunning image of the SS United States beneath a canopy of clouds recently won First Place in the Phillyist Framed photo competition.  Reached by phone at his home, Mr. Billow shared his enthusiasm for the ship that started the first time he saw her ten years ago after relocating to Philadelphia.  "It catches your eye when you're moving over the Walt Whitman bridge.  You see this massive ship that's completely out of place.  Right away, I wanted to find out more about it and why it was there.  After looking into the history, I became fascinated."

While recently working in the South Philly area, Billow spent a week commuting past the ship.  "It was something I saw so often, I couldn't ignore it anymore," he said, "I took several pictures of it over the course of a week until one day when the clouds and the light were just right."

Thirty submissions from local photographers were selected from over two hundred entries, and 'The Big U' was ultimately given the blue ribbon prize.  Billow modestly said he was taken aback when his name was called and he was asked to say a few words.  "So I ended up talking about the Conservancy," Billow said, "I ended up plugging the Conservancy's efforts to save the ship."

Billow said he dreams of strolling the decks of a restored SS United States at sea.  "Nothing upsets me more than to think that something of such historical significance - something so recognizable and awe-inspiring - could be turned into nothing if something's not done.  They shouldn't be taking this piece of history away.  It needs to be saved and preserved."

The donated silver print will be on museum quality archival photo paper, signed by Mr. Billow, and framed.  Proceeds from the auction will support the Conservancy's ongoing work to save the ship.  The Conservancy is very thankful for Mr. Billow's generosity.
Special Conservancy Event Planned at Philadelphia's
 Prestigious Union League
William Francis Gibbs
On April 20, Conservancy Board members Susan Gibbs, Daniel McSweeney, Steven Ujifusa, and others will discuss plans to save the ship at a private event at the Union League of Philadelphia.  There will also be a screening of the acclaimed documentary film, SS United States: Lady in Waiting.  The Union League of Philadelphia, founded in 1862, is one of Philadelphia's preeminent social organizations, and its membership boasts leaders in politics, business, religion, and the arts.  Among its past members was William Warren Gibbs, father of the designer of the SS United States.  The Conservancy leadership is extremely grateful to the Union League Yacht Club for hosting us at this wonderful location, and we look forward to further raising awareness in Philadelphia of the ship's historic significance, and most important, the urgent need to save her for future generations.
Show Your Support for the SS United States in Cyberspace!

In keeping up with the many ways people receive information today, the SS United States Conservancy is expanding its presence in a variety of "new media" outlets.  

The Conservancy now has 870 "fans" on Facebook and we need your help to reach our goal of 1,000 fans by the end of the month.  Those of you who are not yet Facebook members: It's very easy to sign up, and Facebook offers a great way to network with other Big U enthusiasts (as well as friends and family members)!  To become a Conservancy fan, please CLICK HERE.

The Conservancy also recently set up an SS United States Conservancy Group page on Facebook.  To join, CLICK HERE.  Over time, this page will offer opportunity for debates and discussion as well as a convenient way to RSVP for future Conservancy events.  Thank you for joining the Group and spreading the word!

The Conservancy has now established a Twitter account.  On the Twitter site, you can search SS_UnitedStates or CLICK HERE to follow our updates.

Finally, don't forget longtime SS United States supporter Rich April's Conservancy page on MySpace!  Rich also maintains a highly informative website dedicated to the Big U.  Please visit by CLICKING HERE

Please help us get the word out far and wide - and we always welcome suggestions on how we can expand our reach even further.

Conservancy Board Member Honored by Steamship Historical Society of America
Bruce Vancil and Mark Perry
SSHSA Southern California Chapter President Bruce Vancil presents "Local Commodore of the Year"
to the Conservancy's Mark Perry

Mark Perry, a founding Conservancy board member and producer of the acclaimed documentary SS United States: Lady in Waiting, was honored recently by the Southern California chapter of the Steamship Historical Society of America (SSHSA) aboard the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.  Named "Local Commodore of the Year" for his "outstanding contributions to the field of maritime history," Perry thanked the SSHSA's chapter president Bruce Vancil who presented the honor, citing both Perry's work to produce the documentary and his leadership role with the Conservancy.  In accepting the honor, Perry briefly updated the group on the ship's current status and the Conservancy's ongoing work to secure a dignified future for the vessel.  There was great interest in the Conservancy's 2010 "Artists' Visions of the SS United States" calendar, as well as the recently published book of color photographs of the ship's interiors.  "It's an honor to be recognized for something I love and believe in," Perry said.

Ordering information for the "Artists Visions of the SS United States" Calendar and the Conservancy's gorgeous book featuring full-color images of the SS United States' interiors can be found by clicking the embedded links above.


For the latest news about the SS United States, please
visit our Save Our Ship blog


Please visit our bookstore on Blurb.com.


Please support our efforts to save the SS United States by
visiting our store.

SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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