Rhinebeck Museum trouble

[Biber]

Originally Posted by AAC Cadet Leader

Perhaps Vivian, but cfgray does have a point.

Pontificating? cfgray has been the most diplomatic and about the least pontificating of the many posters here.

Indeed!! Though I must admit Mr Gray's reserved and carefully worded missives do come across as holier-than-thou compared to the emotional and empassioned ramblings of the rest of us (please, take no offence). At any rate, we ALL should remember and be grateful for the fact that they are at least communicating with him and, more importantly, he is communicating with us about the situation.

Biber

[tazbat]

Originally Posted by cfgray

Were Cole Palen to resurrect at this very moment, I fully believe he would be extremely optimistic about the way things are proceeding - seems he was that sort of person.
cfgray

Maybe he would if he knew what you know, which you are not telling. You don't have to explain the "Silence is Golden," theory. I understand it.

If he was looking on from VV's vantage point, he would not be optimistic at all. If Cole saw the deplorable condition of his working collection he... If he saw the lack luster air shows he... If he saw the way employees and volunteers are treated he... If he knew what type of people populated the museum and air show staff he...

I don't believe anyone who knew Cole would say he'd be optimistic if he saw it from the side of the fence where the public stands. Would he just stand there and fume? No! He would be doing everything that the law allows. Even though the law doesn't allow much in situations such as this, he would none the less be doing something; just like many of the membership and former volunteers.

One thing should be kept in mind about dealing with the current regime. Most of it has money and political friends. Some of them are powerful enough to intimidate former workers with actions involving misuse of the administers of the law. And indeed they have done so on several accounts. It's no wonder that people who worked for peanuts feared being incarcerated and having to be in debt the rest of their lives for standing up against them. The other affect that many feared about sueing the board was that it would monetarily break ORA. The board would use ORA funds to defend itself against any complainers.

So, to sum it up; Cole might be optimistic seeing the view from where you are and he would not be such from where VV and myself are sitting.

Adios and Salute!

[cfgray]

tazbat,
Fair enough, I can't argue with you, having met Cole Palen in person only once... still, have heart, keep the faith.
Best (and my usual Return of The Salute),
cfgray

[cfgray]

I recently sent in my membership payment to Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum. I urge everyone who wants to see positive changes at Rhinebeck Aerodrome to do the same thing - either join or renew an existing membership.

We all must look to the future and must share a common belief that things are going to change at Rhinebeck Aerodrome, for the better, and relatively soon.

Everyone who wants to be an active part of that change, who wants to participate in bringing those changes about, ought to join and be a current member in good standing of Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum.

I suggest that payment be by personal check (or money order) and that the returned cancelled check be kept separately and at close hand as evidence of payment. If a membership payment is refused or otherwise not accepted do all you can to document that fact.

Keep a simple log of when the payment was sent, what the date of cancellation of the check was, when (if ever) a membership card was received, whether any phone calls were made to follow-up on the payment, etc.

I know that this suggestion will rankle some longtime associates of the Rhinebeck Aerodrome - but all of us wanting positive change at Rhinebeck Aerodrome ought to set aside our personal misgivings and join, and join soon.

Former members of Rhinebeck Aerodrome are encouraged to send an e-mail to me at cfg@carrollgray.com and to tell me when they were members, when (if they did) they stopped being members and why they stopped.

This is not an idle purposeless suggestion - if we all do this we will be helping matters in the near future considerably.

Best,
cfgray

[GASML]

Forgive me being nieve, but I come from a long way away, and this thread makes depressing reading.

I guess like CF Gray, Tazbat and all the others who've been contributing to the debate, we'd much rather all spend our energies enjoying our shared passion vintage aeroplanes. So can someone tell me:

1. What is the current status of airshows at Rhinebeck this year, are they happening to the same schedule as previous years. What is likely to be airworthy?

2. What is being done to maintain and conserve the collections aeroplanes?

3. Will it be worth my planning my vacation from England around a visit, or should I just stay in the hangar here with my wrenches, fabric and dope??

Look forward to your comments.

Happy landings!

[cfgray]

Hello, GASML,

The 2006 airshow season at Rhinebeck Aerodrome has been announced as running from June 17 through October 15. The poster highlights the "Museum • Flying Farmer • Family Fun • Vintage Fashions • Biplane Rides"
Whether or not it will be worth attending is a matter of opinion, I suppose.

However, regardless of how the season turns out, as I've already stated people who want to be positive change happen at Rhinebeck Aerodrome ought to join or renew their existing membership and ought to encourage their family members and like-minded freinds to do so, as well.

Best,
cfgray

[tazbat]

Originally Posted by GASML

1. What is the current status of airshows at Rhinebeck this year, are they happening to the same schedule as previous years. What is likely to be airworthy?

No one outside of the Aerodrome can say, except the Camel and the Nieuport 11 won't be flying this year.

2. What is being done to maintain and conserve the collections aeroplanes?

The only way I can tell is to go and see with my own eyes. Read the horror stories from last year in this thread. Unless there has been a miracle since then, it will be about the same or worse.

3. Will it be worth my planning my vacation from England around a visit, or should I just stay in the hangar here with my wrenches, fabric and dope??

My personal opinion is to plan on visiting during the 40th Anniversary of the Radio Control Modelers during September 9 and 10. If you have never been, it is worth seeing. They usually have the full size plane Air Show around three p.m. but there is no way of saying what they will do this year.

Salute!

[cfgray]

Just a short post to thank the many folks who've written to let me (cfg@carrollgray.com) know they're renewing old memberships or joining Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum for the first time. This is as it should be and will ultimately prove to be an important thing to have done. I am also very gratified at the nearly total lack of posts attacking the idea of joining or renewing. Very positive, I think.

For anyone who joins or renews at Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum between now and 1 March 2007 on the basis of my urging and who has let me know by e-mail (above address) that they've done so (send a jpg of the cancelled check, or other proof of payment), I will personally refund their $25 if they believe, after 1 March 2007, they've done the wrong thing. Sort of a money-back guarantee. I strongly believe that they will be very pleased to have done so.

Stay tuned...
Best,
cfgray

[cfgray]

I've been told that there is a rumor circulating that the current issue (May 2006) of WW1 AERO Journal will carry "blockbuster" information with regard to Rhinebeck Aerodrome.

This is not true - people should be careful of such rumors and of those who spread them.

Best,
cfgray

I talked to a friend of mine who has noticed that there has not been much activity at ORA all winter. This was opening weekend and he said that he never saw any Aerodromes planes flying. He saw an acrobatic plane, maybe Stan Segalla’s DeCathelon, doing acrobatics for some boy scouts. The grass at the Palen house had not been mowed until recently, reaching about 12” high. The airfield was mowed, but more like how a farm field is cut and baled. The Fokker hangar only recently had its winter wooden front removed, inside were a couple cars and a forklift.

No one has heard any engines running. Only a few modern planes come by once in a great while. The gate is usually locked and only a couple cars in the parking lot. Sometimes there is someone living in the trailer on the property. He asked me is there going to be an airshow this year because in the past the Aerodrome would normally be a bustle of activity by now.