SSUSC LOGO WITH GIBBS FONT
February 7, 2011
A New Ray of Hope for the SS United States
Photoshopped image of the SS United States.

SS United States Conservancy Update   
  • Conservancy's Purchase of SS United States Attracts Extensive Media Coverage
  • Message from the Conservancy's Executive Director  
  • New York City Event Scheduled for February 25
  • Buy Chocolate and 'Save Our Ship'  
  • Gorgeous SS United States Replica Key Chains for Sale
  • Conservancy's 2011 SS United States Calendar still Available!    
CONSERVANCY'S PURCHASE OF SS UNITED STATES ATTRACTS EXTENSIVE MEDIA COVERAGE  

The SS United States on February 1, 2011 courtesy of Kyle Ober 

The SS United States on February 1, 2011. Photo courtesy of Kyle Ober.    


News of the Conservancy's purchase of the SS United States last week has spread rapidly to news outlets across the country, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press. This long-anticipated milestone in the effort to save and redevelop the SS United States marks the first time that a group concerned primarily with the vessel's historical significance and preservation has owned her. With your continued support, the SS United States can be saved permanently as a world-class historical destination.

 

On the day of the ship's purchase, The Conservancy convened a press conference at IKEA South Philadelphia, across the street from the SS

United States.  Speakers included Conservancy executive director Dan McSweeney, board president Susan Gibbs, and Judge Thomas Watkins, who gave a rousing speech about the SS United States' importance.  To read excerpts from his speech, click here.  To read what the news media had to say about the Conservancy's landmark purchase, please click on any of the links below.


 


 


 


 


 

 

The news can also be found on MSNBC (and also their photo blog), Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, Forbes, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Marine Log, and Cruise Industry News,

Philadelphia's ABC6 news, and Marine Log.  Hundreds of local news outlets across the country also picked up the story including The Reporter, the Palm Beach Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Camden Courier-Post, and Youngstown, Ohio's WFMJ News.

 

 
MESSAGE FROM CONSERVANCY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR    

SSUSC Executive Director Dan McSweeney
SS United States Conservancy Executive Director Dan McSweeney at the press conference held
February 1, 2011 at IKEA South Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Kyle Ober.
 

 

Dear Friends of the SS United States:

 

This week marked a major milestone in the SS United States Conservancy's efforts to "Save Our Ship."  The SOS Campaign was launched 11 months ago, as bids from scrappers were being accepted by the ship's owners.  The Conservancy's objectives for the campaign were to raise public awareness and funds to prevent the destruction of the ship.  In the intervening year, we have covered much ground and received tremendous support from people of incredibly diverse backgrounds, unified in their belief that we simply cannot lose this great national icon.  

 

I'm glad to report that we have prevailed -- at least for the time being.  We are very grateful for the assistance and encouragement we have received, especially in the lead-up to Tuesday's announcement that our organization now owns the ship.  Finally, a preservation group can effectively expend its time, energy, and resources in acting as a careful and diligent steward of the vessel.

 

As we've said many times before, though, the ship is not yet saved.  We need to be very clear about this. Gerry Lenfest's generous gift has simply bought us time in which to develop a public-private partnership leading to a self-sustaining stationary attraction that honors the ship's history and legacy.  If that doesn't occur in the next 20 months we may, once again, find ourselves on the edge of a cliff.  In that light, the Conservancy pledges to act as effectively as possible in establishing a dignified and successful second career for the Big Ship.

 

Our community has endured a great deal of uncertainty over the past several years and we can now enjoy a moment of relief.  But soon the effort must and will continue in earnest.  We must be ready to contribute what we can, and then some, to ensure we accomplish the real mission at hand.  All we did this week was cross the line of departure.  Now it's time to fine tune and execute our plan and I'd like to ask all supporters of the Big U -- all believers in this great symbol -- to get involved and help out. 

 

How?  By writing to your local, state, and federal officials.  By giving a talk on the Big U or screening the film Lady in Waiting in your community.  By penning an op-ed or letter to the editor in your local newspaper or blog.  There are many ways to get involved and we're open to your suggestions. 

 

The most urgent need right now is to support our recently announced $1 million capital campaign.  Please stand by for an in-depth description of this effort and our emerging Blue Riband Council.  With Mr. Lenfest's grant as seed money, we can continue to raise the necessary funds to complete a remediation of the vessel, conduct necessary structural assessments, develop more detailed plans for a world-class museum aboard the ship, identify appropriate redevelopment partners, and prepare the ship for a refit.  These are critical next steps.  They support the non-profit portion of the effort, so I am asking you to make a tax-deductible contribution.  By getting the word out and helping others understand the nature and importance of our work, we will succeed.  Please donate here.

 

In the days just before title transfer, I was struck by how impressive our community is.  The spirit of volunteerism and support that the SS United States elicits is utterly inspiring.  Whereas I used to characterize the effort as a national movement, I now see clearly that it is, in fact, international in scale.  We have received messages of support from across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, South America, and other distant shores. 

 

This past Tuesday, as I walked with a group of reporters through your ship, a European journalist leveled some basic, but pointed, questions at me: "Why are you working on this project?  Is this a patriotic effort?  Why is the ship so important?"  As I considered my responses, I was reinforced in my view that, yes, this is "an American thing," to be sure, but it goes well beyond that.  The ship is both about America and about the ideals our country embodies -- aspiration and inspiration; commitment to individual pursuits and shared visions; greatness and goodness.  And in the eyes of those salty reporters as they looked at the Big Ship, I saw a sense of wonder that confirmed for me that there is still tremendous meaning in what we are doing.  We are duty-bound to restore the ship, honor her origins, and learn from her as America sails into the 21st century.

 

What an incredible opportunity we have been offered.  Let's make absolutely sure we reach our highest potential in redeveloping the SS United States.  As Gerry Lenfest said last July 1st in Philadelphia, "Let's do it!"

 

As always, thank you for your time, attention, and support.  It's an honor to be working with so many great people on the effort to Save Our Ship.

-Dan McSweeney, Executive Director

NEW YORK EVENT ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25   

 

The SS United States Conservancy's New York Chapter will be kicking off 2011 in the Big U's original home port on February 25th by hosting an evening to celebrate the title transfer of our beloved ship. All are welcome to attend this fundraising event.  An evening of celebrating the history of America's greatest ocean liner is an evening of investing in her homeland's future.


The evening will include appetizers, wine and soft drinks, the NYC premier of a new video depicting the unique and powerful potential
of SS United States to not only create thousands of jobs but also a wonderful sense civic pride for decades and centuries to come.  Former crew members who worked aboard the SS United States will share with us their personal stories of life aboard the Big U.

 

Raffles for a vast array of gifts - all valued at $50 or higher - are guaranteed to elate any winner.  

 

Suggested Donations:
Contributors of $50 will receive 2 free raffle tickets
Contributors of $75 will receive 4 free raffle tickets 
Contributors of $100 will receive 5 free raffle tickets

 

Place:
Vedder Price
1633 Broadway 47th Floor (corner of 50th Street)
New York, NY 10019

Date and Time:
Friday evening, 6 - 9 pm, February 25, 2011

To RSVP or request more information,
click here.  


BUY CHOCOLATE AND 'SAVE OUR SHIP'

 CCC Logo
CCC Big U Bar 
Just in time for Valentine's Day! The SS United States has now been further immortalized in delicious chocolate. Produced exclusively by the Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Company, this fabulous one-pound chocolate bar features a profile of the Big U. A portion of each sale will help us realize the goal of securing the future of our "ship of state." Many thanks to Arlene Harrison Ingram for helping to make this happen. Order yours now by clicking here

GORGEOUS SS UNITED STATES REPLICA KEY CHAINS FOR SALE  

SSUS Key Tag 
These 3.25 x 1.125 x 0.125" anodized aluminum key tags are made in the USA and are exact reproductions of the key tags used on stateroom keys aboard the SS

United States. Included in each package is a reproduction key tag with both the SS United States Conservancy logo and a stateroom number on the back, and an informational card about your stateroom. Higher level packages include more goodies as well. All proceeds from these sales go to the SS United States Conservancy. Special thanks to Mario Alvarez-Garcill�n for conceptualizing these gorgeous keepsakes and for overseeing their production.

 

Tourist Class Package - $15.00

The Tourist Class Package includes a key tag to Tourist Class stateroom D38, as well as an information card about your stateroom and Tourist Class amenities.

 

Cabin Class Package - $18.00

The Cabin Class Package includes a key tag to Cabin Class stateroom M136, an information card about your stateroom and Cabin Class amenities, and a collectible 5x7" SS United States postcard.

 

First Class Package - $21.00

The First Class Package includes a key tag to Cabin Class stateroom M91, an information card about your stateroom and First Class amenities, and two collectible 5x7" SS United States postcards.

 

"Duck Suite" Package - $24.00

The First Class "Duck Suite" Package includes a key tag to First Class suite U89, more commonly known as the "Duck Suite" for the paint and gold leaf murals of water birds adorning its walls. These were the accommodations of choice for many of the ship's most famous passengers, most notably the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The package also includes an information card about the suite and First Class amenities, an attractive black cardboard padded jewelry box and bow for the key tag, and two collectible 5x7" SS United States postcards.

 

Available exclusively through Gregory Shutters "Don't Give Up the Shirt" website.

2011 SS UNITED STATES CALENDAR STILL AVAILABLE!
CONSERVANCY 2011 CALENDAR  
Order now while supplies last! The SS United States Conservancy's 2011 calendars are 14 x 10.875", printed in full, brilliant color on high quality glossy paper, and are twin-loop bound to ensure that they will lie flat when hung on a wall.  Designed by the talented Gregory Shutters, whose ongoing "Don't Give Up the Shirt" website sells gorgeous tee shirts, posters, stickers and more, the new calendar's theme is "Ship of the Stars" and features gorgeous color images of the ship then and now while highlighting the many celebrities, politicians, and other notables who sailed aboard her.  Important dates throughout her career are also highlighted.  All calendar proceeds will support the SS United States Conservancy's efforts to save America's flagship.   
NUMBER OF PLANK OWNERS CONTINUES TO GROW
SSUS Plank Owner Logo  
The Conservancy's national campaign titled "Save Our Ship" (SOS) offers a customized "Plank Owner" certificate for tax-deductible donations of at least $25 via its DONOR WEBSITE.

  

Please click on the link above and give as generously as you can.  If every American contributes even a modest amount, the SS United States

could be saved, but we are in urgent need of your help!  Your continued support is what fuels our determination to save the SS United States!



For the latest news about the SS United States,
please
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SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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