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Commodore John Anderson featured in a United States Lines publicity shot aboard the Big U
Executive Director's Update
Dear SS United States Conservancy Supporters:
Sixty years ago today, the SS United States returned to port after her builders' trials off the Virginia coast. Under a bright blue sky and amidst gale-force winds, America's future flagship's top-secret power plant was put through the paces. As the press and the public awaited word on her performance, one question hung in the air: Would the SS United States soon break the Queen Mary's speed record and seize the Blue Riband? To those on board the ship on May 16th, 1952, there seemed to be no doubt.
Nor is there doubt that, as we approach the 60th anniversary of the SS United States' maiden voyage, our global effort to save America's flagship is picking up steam. As you will read below, the SS United States Conservancy has many exciting anniversary plans. We began by unveiling a 70-foot-long banner at Manhattan's Staten Island Ferry Terminal earlier this month. Soon we will begin airing color footage of the Big U along with a powerful call to action in New York City's times Square. Starting this Saturday, the Conservancy's fabulous new SS United States exhibition will be open for viewing at the Forbes Galleries in Manhattan.
Looking ahead, the Conservancy is offering a special presentation about the SS United States at the Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church in Newport News, Virginia on Wednesday, May 30. (Please email scarley@ssusc.org if you would like more information about this event.) On Friday, June 15, we are planning a grand 60th anniversary event at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. We have many surprises in store that night, and registration information will be available in the coming days. Another special event will follow in New York City on Wednesday, July 18th.
Lastly, please stay tuned for the launch of our Save the United States Campaign. By participating in this ground-breaking project, you will not only help Save Our Ship, but you will help revolutionize the way we preserve our irreplaceable national heritage.
Thank you - as always - for your support!
Susan L. Gibbs
Executive Director
To become a member of the SS United States Conservancy or to make a tax-deductible donation in support of our efforts, please click here
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 Save The Dates! Conservancy's 60th Anniversary Gatherings in Philadelphia and New York City
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We are delighted to announce summer events in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the SS United States' maiden voyage.
On Friday, June 15 in Philadelphia we will host a gala gathering at the Independence Seaport Museum. We'll be pre-screening our new movie, the SS United States: Made in America, and are thrilled to announce we'll be joined by some special guests. The event is from 6:30 to 9:00 pm and will include refreshments and a presentation by Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs and SS United States Redevelopment Project Managing Director Dan McSweeney. The event will be followed by a lighting of the SS United States' majestic funnels at 9:30 pm.
Stay tuned for details of the New York City celebration: We're working to put on an event worthy of the SS United States and the 60th anniversary of her record-breaking run. We plan an exciting reception in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 18, as well as other events in coordination with the SS United States Conservancy's New York chapter.
We hope that you will join us in celebrating the SS United States' 60th Anniversary year!
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Conservancy Opening New SS United States Exhibit
at the Forbes Galleries, New York
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The SS United States Conservancy is very proud to announce the grand opening of an exhibition dedicated to the history of the SS United States in New York's Forbes Galleries. Entitled "The Ocean Liner United States: Celebrating the Past and Future of America's Flagship," the exhibition will open on May 18 and run through September 8, 2012.
Items in the exhibition lent by collectors from across the country will transport visitors back to an era of travel in grand style, where world leaders and celebrities roamed America's "ship of state" as she sped across the Atlantic. China, furniture, artwork and documents from the ship's top-secret design are among more than 120 artifacts assembled. Prominently featured is famed enamellist Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren's original plaques of American birds that once hung in a first class suite and one of the stunning cocktail tables she designed for the ship's Observation Lounge. Private papers from the vessel's designer, William Francis Gibbs, as well as from Commodore John Anderson, the ship's longest-serving captain, will also be featured.
The exhibition will be free and open to the public from 10am - 4pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The Forbes Galleries, New York are located at 60 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.The Conservancy extends its profound gratitude to board member Bob Forbes for his extraordinary support for the exhibition, to Michael Harrison for his expert curating of the show, and to Conservancy communications associate Greg Shutters for his fabulous graphics design work.
To read more about the new exhibition, please click on the following link:
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SS United States Redevelopment Project
Extends Deadline For "Request for Qualifications" and
Appoints Blue Riband Panel
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This past April, the SS United States Redevelopment Project (SSUSRP) announced the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the first step in an aggressive campaign to identify a developer to repurpose the SS United States as a 21st century waterfront destination. The word has spread among commercial developers and interest in the ship is on the rise. The Redevelopment Project is pleased to announce that the deadline for RFQ submissions has been extended in order to accommodate the upswing of interest and to provide ample opportunity to additional prospective development partners. The new deadline is June 1, 2012. Additional tours of the vessel for RFQ respondents will also be held throughout the month.
To read Maritime Executive's coverage of this news, please go here.
To read the original release of the RFQ, please go here.
To request a copy of the RFQ packet, please visit www.SSUSC.org/redevelopment
In other important SSUSRP news, the Project has formed a high-profile Blue Riband Panel that will review redevelopment proposals submitted in response to the RFQ. Members of the Panel have been drawn primarily from the Conservancy's current Board of Directors and Advisory Council. They will serve on the Panel during the process of identifying a development partner and negotiation of a redevelopment contract, at which point the Panel will be dissolved. Members of the Panel will review the submissions and offer assessments on their quality and suitability in terms of the Conservancy's redevelopment and preservation principles. The Conservancy's Board of Directors will ultimately decide on which proposal to accept.
For more information about the Blue Riband Panel, please go here.
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Footage of April 23rd Philadelphia Press Conference
Available on Vimeo!
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Footage of April 23rd's press conference, held at Pier 86 to draw attention to the SS United States being showcased in a new thriller, Dead Man Down, (featuring Colin Farrell, Terrence Howard, among others) is now available on Vimeo. The press conference featured Conservancy Executive Director, Susan Gibbs, Managing Director of the SS United States Redevelopment Project, Dan McSweeney, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Dead Man Down Co-Executive Producer Joseph Zolfo, and Sharon Pinkerson, the Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.
Talented videographer Bill Magee of ATC Associates graciously shot the footage and made it available to the public - many thanks to him, and to all who made the press conference possible. Please click here to go to Vimeo to see footage of the press conference. |
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SS United States Featured At Manhattan's Staten Island Ferry Terminal
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 | | The Conservancy's installation at Manhattan's Staten Island Ferry Terminal. |
| On the eve of the 60th anniversary of her maiden voyage, the SS United States is making her presence known in her home port of New York City. The Conservancy, in conjunction with Chandelier Creative, created and installed a 70-foot-long banner in the Manhattan terminal for the Staten Island Ferry. Tens of thousands of tourists, travelers and commuters pass through the terminal every day - we're thrilled to have this opportunity to build awareness for the SS United States!
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Graduate Student Makes SS United States Subject Of Innovative Plan For Development
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Christine Ferri, Christine Ferri, an interior design student at Philadelphia's Moore College of Art and Design, has recently completed an incredible project for her studies at Moore. Intrigued with the possibilities for the future of the SS United States, Christine completed a plan to renovate the ship and repurpose her as a veteran's retirement community. Making innovative changes to use of interior spaces without significantly altering the historic profile of the ship, Christine created a design that was both eminently practical and sensitive to the ship's storied history.
Many thanks to Christine, and our heartiest congratulations for such a successful project!
 | | Christine Ferri poses with her presentation. |
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Christopher Newport Students Raise Money For The SS United States
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Christopher Newport University sophomore Andrew Jelonek has proved that there is no time like the present for raising awareness for the SS United States. Attending university a stone's throw from the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, VA, Andrew has launched a campaign to help save the ship whose bell hangs in the university's Trible Library. Andrew and cohorts hosted a bake sale, the profits of which he donated to the Conservancy, and hosted a screening of SS United States: Lady In Waiting on campus - on top of end-of-term exams!
Many thanks to Andrew for his inspirational devotion to the SS United States, and his steadfast efforts to spread the word!
 | Andrew poses with SS United States memorabilia - and doughnuts!
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All Hands On Deck - Help Us Celebrate the Big U! | |
A Call for Volunteers! Please help us celebrate the Big U's 60th Anniversary
This year is a big one for the Big U. July will mark the 60th Anniversary of her maiden Atlantic voyage. We plan to celebrate by making a huge splash nationwide and we need YOUR help organizing local events. Casual happy hours, informative lectures and film screenings, themed evening events... every event garners interest and support for our mission to SAVE the SS United States! You can help by joining the Conservancy and volunteering your time to organize an event or start a membership chapter in your area.
We are now planning our special 60th Anniversary events calendar and would like to include an array of festivities across the nation. Let us know if you can organize an event in your local community!
We will welcome volunteers from across the nation. At this time, we are particularly interested in founding membership chapters in the Miami area of Florida, Hampton Roads area of Virginia, and on the West Coast. Volunteers will work closely with the Conservancy to recruit members, fundraise, and raise local awareness of the SS United States. Interested? Send an email to Sarah Carley, the Conservancy's outreach associate, at scarley@ssusc.org
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Follow the Conservancy with Facebook and Twitter!
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Over the past few months, the Conservancy has completely redeveloped its social media presence, giving us new ways to connect with Conservancy members, fans and potential supporters of the SS United States. Be sure to join us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest developments from the Conservancy as well as discussions, photos from the ship, photos of Conservancy events, and fun ship-related trivia!
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