Brief Update Header
August 11, 2015 | ssusc.org
Breaking News
Limited Edition Summer Apparel Drive!
 
Support America's Flagship with the purchase of a new, limited-edition tee featuring original artwork from Paul Stipkovich, a talented artist/designer and the Conservancy's New York Chapter Chair.

100% of the proceeds will benefit the Conservancy, and this exclusive design will only be available for purchase between now and Labor Day.

These limited edition tees are part of our urgent fundraising push.  We must reach our goal of selling 150 shirts, so please help us spread the word!   

For more information and to order your shirt today, visit Booster.com. 
 
Save the Date!

 

We invite you to join us for a very special evening on October 29 at the historic Union League in Philadelphia. (Note that this event was originally scheduled for September 17.)  We are planning to recreate an evening aboard the SS United States, complete with a premier performance of original music in honor of the ship, special food and drink offerings, dancing, and more. Details to follow, but for now, please pencil in the date!  
 
Greater Atlanta Area Chapter Kick-Off
 

The first meeting of the Greater Atlanta Area Chapter was held on July 23, with a presentation to approximately 50 members of the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron. Chapter Chair Ryan Troncalli gave an hour-long presentation reviewing the ship's history, plans for development, and highlights from his tour of the vessel. After Ryan's presentation, G. Michael Smith shared memories of his transatlantic crossing in 1962, when he was 12 years old and the SS United States encountered  Hurricane Daisy in the middle of the North Atlantic!  

For more information about joining the Greater Atlanta Area Chapter, please email Ryan at [email protected].
 
Special Guests Aboard the Big U


The Conservancy was pleased to welcome Rear Admiral Stephen Metruck, Commander of the 5th Coast Guard District, along with retiring Captain of the Port Kathy Moore and colleagues on board the SS United States earlier this summer.

Help spread awareness of America's Flagship.

Thanks to your support, we have over 13,400 "likes" on our Facebook page! Remember to follow us on all of our social media platforms and encourage your friends, colleagues, and family members to join you!

Google+ Instagram YouTube link 
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
Renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay leads a brainstorming and planning session on the Conservancy's future digital exhibition at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. (Photo Courtesy of Kyle Ober)
Executive Director's Update

Dear Conservancy Supporters:
 
Earlier this summer the Conservancy provided an update on the progress of our redevelopment efforts, including sharing exciting new architectural renderings.  We also announced that while redevelopment planning was advancing, our exclusive option agreement had expired, and our partners were no longer required to pay the ship's carrying costs.

That means that to keep the ship safely afloat while pre-development due diligence is completed, we must meet our campaign goal of $180,000 to support the vessel's short-term  insurance, pier rental and maintenance costs.  Without these additional funds, we can't afford to cover the bills - totaling approximately $60,000 per month - needed to keep the ship in the water.

This is not the first time the SS United States has faced grave danger. She is afloat today only because people from across the country and around the world have pulled together to help.  

We've made great strides in recent months toward finding suitable permanent locations for the ship and identifying how best to activate the ship's commercial potential.  We have also advanced a range of potential public uses for the vessel, including a museum/educational center, performing arts space, public park amenities, energy generation, a maritime school, and a center for veteran support.  However, until a new agreement is finalized, the fate of the SS United States is in our hands.

We have asked for your help before, but we are asking again at this absolutely crucial time because we believe that America's Flagship deserves to be given every opportunity to survive.      
 
There are many ways to contribute and participate, from donating, giving a gift membership, posting on social media, and supporting our fall events.  Our kick-off campaign tee shirt is available HERE, and other special campaign features will be announced in the coming weeks. 

In the words of Advisory Council member David Macaulay, the ship "remains a powerful reminder of American ingenuity, vision, and skill, while at the same time sparking imagination and inspiring dreams yet to be realized." 
 
Our "dream yet to be realized" is that the revitalized SS United States will endure as an extraordinary physical space and a soaring symbol of what's possible.  Thank you for joining us as we work to make this dream come true.  We haven't come this far to let go of the ship's safety line that, together, we have worked so hard to create.
 
In gratitude,
           Susan Gibbs signature
                  Susan Gibbs, Executive Director

Help us save the SS United States today!

 

 

If the above "Donate" button does not display properly, please view it online on our website.

Urgent Flagship Fundraising Campaign

The Conservancy's Flagship Campaign must raise $180,000 by September 17.  We are deeply grateful for the initial support we've received this summer: Donations and pledges from all sources currently total $64,512.  That means we must raise an additional $115,488 in five weeks. 

The Flagship Campaign will include several exciting new donor premiums, including the fantastic limited edition tees shirt by talented artist and graphic designer Paul Stipkovich (described elsewhere in this e-update), amazing original music inspired by the ship, and a very special opportunity to have a personalized flag mounted aboard the foredeck on SS United States.  Stay tuned for more details!

Conservancy board members and others are redoubling their commitments to the cause and personally making a new round of contributions to our effort.  Please join us by donating $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can spare.

We can't thank you enough for your continued support during this final stretch!
 
July 30 Digital Design Session Highlights

(Photo courtesy of Kyle Ober)
On July 30, the Conservancy convened a brainstorming and planning session focused on our future SS United States "digital exhibition."  Renowned author-illustrator David Macaulay led participants through a discussion about how the legendary ship could potentially be explored and encountered digitally. 
 
Drawing upon never-before-seen sketches of the SS United States that will be featured in his forthcoming book about the ship, Macaulay guided attendees in a rich exchange about the SS United States's scale, significance, and complexity.  He urged the Conservancy to think of its digital exhibition in terms of an enormous jigsaw puzzle, a "cabinet of curiosities," and "the biggest advent calendar you've ever seen."  He emphasized how the ship embodies ingenuity, problem-solving, and "what the nation is capable of when we concentrate."  Meeting participants began to brainstorm about possible digital interfaces and how various target audiences could be reached and engaged.

David Macaulay and Conservancy board member Joe Rota discuss the digital exhibition. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Ober)
The digital exhibition represents a major fundraising priority for the Conservancy, as long-term planning for the future SS United States Center for Design and Discovery continues to advance.  The Center will become a dynamic component of the ship's future redevelopment and will feature unique and exciting exhibitions on maritime history, 20th century industrial innovation, American cultural identity, and mid-century modern art and design.
 
Great Lakes Chapter Inaugural Event

The Chicago / Great Lakes chapter convened an inaugural event on July 18. Members braved heavy downpours and met at the historic Twin Anchors bar in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. Items up for discussion were the ship's current state and the Conservancy's fundraising efforts, ideas for future events in Chicago and surrounding areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and recruitment of new Midwest members.  Chapter members each contributed a $10 donation to the Conservancy. 
 
Informal meetings will tentatively be held every month or two, and plans are underway for a visit to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, which houses an extensive ship model collection, as well as a captured World War II German submarine. 
 
To join the Chicago / Great Lakes chapter and to find out about more Chicago area Conservancy events, email co-chairs Kevin Krause and Greg Shutters at [email protected]. You can also "like" the chapter's Facebook page at facebook.com/ssusc.greatlakes.

We're saving the SS United States and working to ensure 
her legacy endures and inspires.
Please join us! 

 

 

If the above "Donate" button does not display properly, please view it online on our website.

SS United States Conservancy

P.O. Box 32115

Washington, DC 20007

(888) 488-7787