Rhinebeck Museum trouble

[SteveS]

Yes, I've been a museum member for years now. I've been going at least once a year for 31 years now. I contribute to the spring appeal when I can. I also have contributed to the wishlist.

Over the last couple years I have seen some changes at ORA, but I attributed it to changing times and the economy. I realized this year that the website hasn't had an update since the summer. It did made me wonder what was up.

Cole Palen was my childhood hero as I was growing up and still is. A real life hero that you could reach out and touch and have a chat with no matter what your age. *The same can be said for all the volunteers that have had or are working to keep Coles dream alive. Obligations to a family business was the only thing that kept me from volunteering myself.

Yes, put me down for doing anything we can to make ORA it a better place. I'm not much more than a face in the crowd, but I consider ORA "mine" and will fight to keep it.

Please, anyone who can keep us posted on any findings on the forum or through private email.

Salute,
Steve

[Bob_D]

I was wondering when this was going to come up on the forum. Although I'm not privy to all the political goings on at Rhinebeck, I've spent more volunteer hours up there for the past few seasons than most of the non-paid personnel. I truly love the place and have been a visitor since the days of Cole, Dick King, Dave Fox, etc. I am truly, truly disheartened by the turn of events there. I know that this will step on a few of the board members feet by saying this, but the arrogance and short sightedness of certain people in charge are in my opinion, tearing the very heart out of Cole Palen's dream. If any of you know Tom Polapink, the once long standing director at ORA, then you are aware of the tireless and selfless effort that he put forth in his tenure there. He was an integral cog in the daily goings on and a sincerely friendly and appreciative liaison with the volunteer force. Since his "resignation" at the hands of "the board", many of the very important and necessary PR functions have fallen by the way side (the failure to update the website is a prime example). Enter Steve Cunningham. Brought in from the outside as an effort to dictate the edicts of the powers that be, Steve faced a difficult situation stepping in as a stranger to the family at OR. In time it was apparent that he did have some very innovative and forward thinking ideas to initiate. Although Tom was missed, I think the crew embraced Steve and the projects that he had planned. Then after two weeks on the job, for whatever reason, the ax falls AGAIN! It seems that there is no room for reason or compromise when your ideas or opinions conflict with the despot. Needless to say, this very unexpected turn of events pretty much threw the place in a state of confusion and disbelief. Additionally there are both major and minor (but no less important) individuals who have been part of the Rhinebeck family for years that are no longer involved. I can go on and on about the contributions made by people like Tom, Steve, Scott McKensie(Sp), Ken Cassens, Kurt Muller, Richard King, Carl Kopeckney(Sp)etc. They have all been stung and disrespected by a governing board with what seems their own private agenda. Again, I am saddened by the turn of events and would hope that those who love and respect Cole's dream to band together and help save ORA from the few individuals "in charge" who can't seem to see the forest for the trees. I'll say again that these are my personal observations and I am not privileged to the goings on of the inner circle, but it doesn't take a genius to see that indeed, "something is rotten in Denmark".

[visaliaaviation]

Ken Cassons, long time head of the OR NYP project called our shop yesterday to report that he too, has been fired. We find this particulry strange as we know he was funding day to day progress of that project out of his own pocket, for last several months. What happened to the large sums of money earmarked for the project from the Smithsonian? I'll bet there's a lot of CYA going on right about now! Follow the MONEY!!

[DJ]

Also, Ken Cassens has been fired! Who is going to take his place?? Who has his knowledge of their planes both mechanically and flying?? I understand Jim Hare is on the ropes as well. I trully hope all is not lost. The way that TP was ousted, I can't believe these changes are for the best.

[ONEALM]

All right Gentlemen -

Anyone interested in getting involved with a signature or more, contact me off the forum at
NJAVIATORS@AOL.COM.

I'm going to make some inquiries about what can be done and what should be done, but we all, as a mass, will have to do what we can to ensure we get heard with effect.

-Mike

[Lyle]

Gentlemen,
Charlie is totally right when he said "follow the money". Nothing but greed is deciding the actions of a board that knows and cares nothing about Cole's dream. Sure, I'm bitter about all of this, and knew foul things were going on when Tom Polapink was forced out. I'll support any sort of initiative we can offer, signatures, letters, etc. to show that we CARE!!

I have been going to the Aerodrome since in the womb, as have my brothers. The people that worked there are like my extended family. Cole was even my brother's godfather. When I was little, it was a dream of mine to be able to work there. When I reached the appropriate age, I became Trudy Truelove, just as my mother had many years before. It was glorious. We had fun doing the shows, the rides, and just hanging out. Then things started to change. People that I had never seen or heard of before started to appear and alter things under a guise of a Board to "change things for the better." And the fun started to be sucked out of going to play at the Drome. I ended up working there for 5 years and chose not to return this past summer. "Family members" were being "resigned," even though they had put in countless, selfless hours on projects to better the place. I choose "being" because had they a choice I feel they never would have left. It's frustrating to me to see Cole Palen's dream, such a wonderful, magical, awe-inspiring place, be ruined. And with all the current changes in staff, I am not exactly sure how or if the place will even be able to open next season. This deeply saddens me, for I have lost my family and my home.

I too have hanging around the Aerodrome since the womb, my father worked there for many years and as soon as I turned 16 Jim called me and asked me to come work and to play Trudy Truelove. Immediatly I got my working papers and signed up. Going to the Aerodrome wasn't work for me, I loved beign there!! My dad came and hung out with the guys and we even got to do a show together. For me, the greatest moment was when the kids would come up to me and ask about planes and the melodrama, they all seemed to think I really fell from the plane. I actually saw a kid in my sister's class with a picture of me and Dave in our costumes, he had gone to the Aerdrome with his parents for vacation. It made me feel so good that someone had appreciated what we were doing.
Giving people a chance to ride in a biplane was so great because this was something I had grown up doing. I take for granted the fact that I can be at Holy Cow and look up and see a biplane, you can't do that anywhere else!! It seems everywhere my dad and I go, we either run into someone who has been to the Aerodrome or we land up inviting them to come to a show. I love the Aerodrome and like the person before me said, it feels like home.

[mattyb]

ive been going to rhinebeck for 32 years ever since i was a kid my father and i used to go with a group of guys every year. every spring for the last several i have showed up for opening day with more and more people, this year i once again will hopefully be doing the same.if anybody finds out any more information please let me no i would do anything to keep cole palens dream alive.

[ONEALM]

Keep the replies coming folks - we are getting support from all quarters - politcal, media, ex-employees, fans, you name it.

I am working with a few well placed folks right now to get a "form" letter to the State Attny General together that will be emailed to all who are interested. To be put on the list, please email me directly at NJAVIATORS@AOL.COM. It will be a sample and I encourage everyone to add their personal experiences to it for effect. The posts here from the 2-Trudys are really why we are doing this.......

If you want to preempt the "form" letter - feel free to write your own. The more the better....

Here's the contact info.

Todd Holt, Legal Assistant
Charities Bureau, Office of the
Attorney General of the State of NY
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

Telephone: 212-416-8410
Fax: 212-416-8393

Keep at it !
Mike