The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post

3 December 2003, 10:25 AM

Right on boys!
Kurt Muller and John Stover Did great jobs on the Liberty V12, the Hall-Scott, and I think they were about to work on another engine when this whole thing came about. Not to mention that Tom Polapink had gotten some folks that were all set to start a committee dedicated to the rolling stock of the ORA. They would raise money within the prestigious antique automobile community, which would go to restoring the ORA's car and motorcycle collection, and build new buildings to store them. From what I understand the people that were to head the project were involved in the Greenwich car show.
As for focusing too much on one aircraft. That's not so. The fund raising committee was all set to start raising money for buildings and hangars, but there was no long range plan. One of the fundamental purposes of the ORA is to restore and create replicas of important historic aircraft. As much work probably would have gone into restoring one of the retired aircraft. Besides, from the great economic support of the members, it is evident that the spirit was wanted.
To date, the board does not have a good record for fund raising. The best results that I have seen have come from Tom Polapink. Tom had always told me that if the board had found a person that was more qualified to be the Museum director, he would step down and work as his assistant, because he only wanted the ORA to be successful.
Tom also had an education committee, made up of local teachers that were putting together an educational program, which is, I believe, essential for the charter.
As far as engines sitting in the mud, I don't know of any that are. Tom had us all putting those things on stands. And to come to think of it, I think Paul Savastano (Sp?) was cleaning them up and welding up engine stands for them. So you see work was underway to take care of these things. But no longer. There is no reason the board couldn't have put trust in us and we could have worked together to make the ORA prosper. Trust was the reason that volunteers could no longer keep their aircraft there. The board was too afraid that if something happened, the volunteers would sue the Aerodrome. No volunteer would ever sue the Aerodrome. It would negate everything they ever did for the place. No Trust! No understanding! That is why we are in the situation we are in today.

3 December 2003, 10:25 AM	#98 (permalink)
DavisD1W Guest Posts: n/a	Right on boys! Kurt Muller and John Stover Did great jobs on the Liberty V12, the Hall-Scott, and I think they were about to work on another engine when this whole thing came about. Not to mention that Tom Polapink had gotten some folks that were all set to start a committee dedicated to the rolling stock of the ORA. They would raise money within the prestigious antique automobile community, which would go to restoring the ORA's car and motorcycle collection, and build new buildings to store them. From what I understand the people that were to head the project were involved in the Greenwich car show. As for focusing too much on one aircraft. That's not so. The fund raising committee was all set to start raising money for buildings and hangars, but there was no long range plan. One of the fundamental purposes of the ORA is to restore and create replicas of important historic aircraft. As much work probably would have gone into restoring one of the retired aircraft. Besides, from the great economic support of the members, it is evident that the spirit was wanted. To date, the board does not have a good record for fund raising. The best results that I have seen have come from Tom Polapink. Tom had always told me that if the board had found a person that was more qualified to be the Museum director, he would step down and work as his assistant, because he only wanted the ORA to be successful. Tom also had an education committee, made up of local teachers that were putting together an educational program, which is, I believe, essential for the charter. As far as engines sitting in the mud, I don't know of any that are. Tom had us all putting those things on stands. And to come to think of it, I think Paul Savastano (Sp?) was cleaning them up and welding up engine stands for them. So you see work was underway to take care of these things. But no longer. There is no reason the board couldn't have put trust in us and we could have worked together to make the ORA prosper. Trust was the reason that volunteers could no longer keep their aircraft there. The board was too afraid that if something happened, the volunteers would sue the Aerodrome. No volunteer would ever sue the Aerodrome. It would negate everything they ever did for the place. No Trust! No understanding! That is why we are in the situation we are in today.