August 8, 2013
SOS: Act Now to Save America's Flagship

 
Over the course of the year, many of you have joined our Campaign to save the SS United States. When we launched our SOS appeal in late March, the ship's fate hung in the balance. With your help - and support from thousands of others from across the country and around the world - our SOS Campaign raised more than $125,000. While this total fell short of our initial funding goal, these resources bought the ship some crucial time. Thanks to national and international media exposure generated by the Campaign, we are pursuing some promising new redevelopment opportunities - including a new potential permanent location for the vessel. Although we are bound by non-disclosure agreements as to the exact nature of our negotiations, we are moving forward in a positive direction and have extended our SOS Campaign We will share the specifics about these developments as soon as we are able to do so. 

 

Your crucial support during these past few months has also allowed us to advance plans for our future SS United States Center for Design and Discovery as well as expand our educational outreach, most notably in partnership with renowned author and illustrator David Macaulay. Our commitment to the ship and her legacy remains steadfast, and we are doing all that we can during this challenging time to keep her afloat and attract the partners needed to convert her into a mixed-use development and museum complex.  

 

With your help, we have been granted some additional time, but the clock is ticking more loudly than ever. While the Conservancy is running on a bare-bones operating budget, our vessel insurance costs and docking fees are, unfortunately, not negotiable. If current negotiations do not result in a redevelopment deal, barring a major new infusion of support, the end of our efforts to "Save Our Ship" will be upon us. If you have already given to the SOS Campaign, we cannot thank you enough. If you haven't yet supported the effort, please consider making a contribution today. We also ask you to reach out to your friends and contacts on social media and encourage them to support the effort. A gift of $10, $25 or $50 will grant us crucial time to achieve a long-term solution for America's Flagship. As you know, saving the SS

United States can create jobs, help revitalize a metropolitan waterfront, and preserve a unique American icon.

 

If you have any questions regarding the Conservancy's redevelopment and fundraising efforts, please refer to our FAQ page. 

 

 

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Support our efforts now to 

help rescue and restore the SS United States 

 



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Also in this Issue:
 
 

 


macaulayNew Content on David Macaulay's Blog

Maucaulay Boiler Room Sketch

As we announced last month, world-renowned author and illustrator David Macaulay has embarked on a major project centered on the SS United States, and he will be sharing his insights and creative processes in partnership with the Conservancy. David has recently uploaded a new installment to his blog on the Conservancy's website, and he will be uploading more posts and illustrations in the coming weeks. We're so grateful to David for sharing his sketches and thoughts with us, and we are eagerly anticipating his future book which will introduce America's Flagship to new generations. You can see David's blog here.

Macaulay emigrated to the US as a child on the SS United States in 1957.


JMGJohn Maxtone-Graham finishing
new book on SS United States   

Mira Van Doren and John Maxtone-Graham
On the topic of new books on the SS United States, renowned maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham (The Only Way to Cross) is currently putting finishing touches on an important  new work about America's Flagship.

Maxtone-Graham recently addressed a small group of Conservancy supporters in New York regarding his new book, and he is pictured at left alongside enamelist and filmmaker Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren, the final living member of the team of artists commissioned to decorate the SS United States during her fitting out in 1951-52.  Mira is graciously serving as an Advisor to the SS United States Conservancy's future Center for Design and Discovery.  The Conservancy expresses its profound thanks to Mira and John for their generous support.


voaInternational News: "Voice of America"  

 

VOA Website
   

 

The Conservancy's efforts on behalf of the SS United States were recently profiled in a 9-minute Chinese-language "Voice of America" (VOA) video broadcast. VOA is US-based and provides content for external markets. This great piece will be translated into English in the coming weeks - we will post the English version as soon as it's completed.


facebookHelp us reach more people in our quest
to save America's Flagship.

Graphic courtesy of Paul Stipkovich, Conservancy New York & Northern New Jersey Chapter Chair 

Thanks to your support, we are now at over 9,100 followers on our Facebook page!  Let's keep our momentum going and hit 10,000!  Please like our page, follow us on Twitter, and encourage your friends, colleagues and family members to do the same!   

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SS United States Conservancy

P.O. Box 32115

Washington, DC 20007

(888)-488-7787