Rhinebeck Museum trouble

[The PIPE]

Dear Fellow ORA Lovers:

The PIPE Here once again...amd thanks to my recent post at RCU...

...specifically at their forum page located at Old Rhienbeck Aerodrome: Sad News , in post number 12 at that forum...

...the RC fliers have been notified of the petition as well!!!

The "wheels that are turning", as referred to by one of our most dedicated members in this long-running thread are, very likely, the ones that the petition might well be rolling along with...many of us ARE hoping that those wheels will ROLL that "management" team currently running ORA into the ground...right OUT of there...

...and that The Old Guard can get back on the property they know so well, and start returning Old Rhinebeck to the sort of place Cole and Rita intended it to be.

Still intending to be there for the RC Jamboree later this year (as well as the Cole Palen Memorial FF event at Red Hook HS in June)....

Yours Sincerely,

The PIPE!

[Gwen]

Der Grüne Flieger writes:

Given the history you show of the Revenues versus Expenses they are on a definite down trend. The only thing that is exceptional is the spike in Revenues around 2002, this looks to be directly attributable to an increase in contributions, looks like and injection of cash to me.

Thank you very much Phil for looking at the charts at Save Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum Petition and summarizing what you saw.

SL DIII writes

Starting around 2000 the museum made efforts toward fund-raising that hadn’t been tried before and met with fair success. These efforts included the HOF museum improvement grant ($75K), and fund-raising for the Spirit of St. Louis project (Approx $100K). As I understand it, fund-raising efforts basically came to a halt in 2003…

In my opinion, the upward climb of the 990 Revenue curve in 2002 was a direct result of increased fund-raising, increased museum promotions and attention to the membership, all of which was ramped up starting in 2000 (actually late 1999) under the direction of Tom P. and Jim H.

The numbers show that with good, dynamic people working hard, that the Museum can be a success, despite forces trying to suppress those efforts!

In 2003 there was a change of museum directors after Tom was asked to resign in January. Tom was replaced by Steve C, a director with considerable air show and non-profit experience. Steve wound up leaving after a brief time because of the conditions at the management level. By season’s end other key employees were “terminated” or “laid off”, which ultimately resulted in the loss of many more highly skilled volunteers.

crankcase writes:

Last night I read through the petition and it is a damning indictment of the current trustees.

Let me know when they are replaced so that I can contribute to the renewal of ORA.

Phil, what is needed to keep the Museum alive is its membership. Without members, there is no museum and the organization can be dissolved based on those grounds. As I have urged people before, don’t wait for trustee replacements to renew your membership. We are petitioning for the members to have election of trustees by the membership. Please go to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome - Membership and sign up. Keep a record of when you sign up and when your check clears.

Another way everyone can contribute to the renewal of ORA is by making a contribution to the Petition Fund. With many getting income tax returns, please consider using your refund to show your support and make a donation: http://www.mikespandau.org/petition/contactinfo1.htm.

To The Pipe, thank you and all of the RC modelers for your support and helping to spread the word! Looking forward to the upcoming Cole Palen Memorial FF event. To everyone reading this thread, please post your opinion on what you think of the petition web site.

[Fallschirmjager]

Gwen, I couldn't agree with you more. One can rattle the political bars all one wants, but what truly gets results in America is money. I'm sure many folk have concerns that the dispersal of their contribution would not be in the best interests of O.R.A. Though this is a legitimate concern (it would be so with ANY organization one is contributing to), I can tell you this much: just prior to the beginning of the year, I personally spoke at length with one of the officers of the board, indicating that I am willing to contribute a substantial amount of money to O.R.A., but that I feel, because of the amount I'm talking about, that I would like some degree of input as to the dispersal of these funds. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED MORE GRACIOUSLY. This officer and I spoke in detail of the needs of the museum,
airfield, guest facilities, etc, and the priorities thereof. Unfortunately, my grown son has since suffered some health and legal issues, and I have had to tend to him as my own priority, so my intentions with O.R.A. have had to sit on the back burner. That aside, I have complete confidence that if one
a) has the funds to contribute, b) is willing to actually SPEAK WITH the controlling parties and share give-and-take, c) is willing to do a little homework on their own re: fulfilling the needs thereof (i.e. visiting O.R.A.,
seeing first-hand the needs, researching prices for materials and services so
as to make the most of the funds), and d) follow-up with the initiation and progress of the improvements, THIS CAN WORK TO THE SATISFACTION OF ALL, OR NEARLY ALL. One might also think, "You're talking about a large amount. Of course they will be willing to work with you." This doesn't mean
that a smaller contribution shouldn't be researched and put in motion the exact same way, and with the same results. (This is how people like, say,
your humble servant, have made money on seemingly small investments...)
If you can put aside the rhetoric and head-hunting and focus on the goal,i.e.
returning O.R.A. to the beloved form of the past, you can actually FORCE those in charge to focus on the goal, too. Now that things are starting to
straighten out with my boy, I'm able to return to many of these things I've been forced to put off. O.R.A. is high on that list.

Fallschirmjager

[ONEALM]

Fallschirmjager -

I'm glad your experience with the Museum Board was a pleasant one. However your assessment of their willingness and ability to soundly govern the organization and assets they have been trusted with is, unfortunately, completely mistaken.

I will not restate was is clearly stated in the petition. It seems black and white to me as one of the petitionors and I assure you it is as clearly obvious to many who have taken the time to read the individual points or the petition, the Museum Board's responses to those points and our rebuttals.

It is, and I aplogize, if this sounds like a personal attack, extraordinarily naive to assume that your experience is the norm or even that it occurs with frequency.

The current board does not deserve the trust you have placed in them. They do not deserve to continue in the position of authority over the assets and legacy of ORA as they are now. What they do deserve is the common courtesy of those in opposition to their tenure to state clearly the reasons for the opposition and to bring the forces of truth and public law to the table and allow the current legal mechanisms take thier course. I believe we have clearly and effectively done so.

None of us who are in opposition have any personal animus towards the current board. I do vehemently opposes their conituation in positions they have neither earned through responsible stewardship of the collection or intelligent action in maintaining and preserving the collection - as is their written responsibility.

Clearly they have failed in their fiduciary duties and we as a group would be sorely remiss if we did not take action to remove them through legal means.

In spite of your singular support and in spite of their singular response to your generous offer, they must not remain.

Relatedly, I would be extraordinarily interested in who you spoke to, when that was and what precisely you spoke about. Your missive was somewhat vague on those points. Truely, if you were interested in ORA's continuation - and it appears the continuation of the board as it is now constituted - you would provide any details to the legal powers now engaged in making a determination as to the Boards competency and right to remain that might enhance their chances of staying on.

Support in writing - particularly here on this thread is one thing. If you are really trying to show that the board is competent and should remain on, please, by all means, put those sentiments to paper, send them to either of the attorneys (or better still both) now involved in the discussions and add you opinion to the effort.

And please remember to include your name, the name of the Trustee you spoke to, the date and the particulars of your offer. I am quite certain both sides will find it interesting reading.

If it's unclear from my psuedonym on the Aerodrome,
I am,
in complete opposition to the current Board,
Yours Sincerely,
Michael O'Neal

[crankcase]

... at this juncture, it is actions that count, not words, and the charges in the petition have to be answered to. it seems a bit late if some of the current trustees may have changed their atittude (possibly in response to the same petition).
marc

[Fallschirmjager]

Michael,
If I gave the impression that I have complete, unquestioning confidence in a group of people I have yet to meet in person, let me state here otherwise.
I have never in my life given blind support to anyone nor any cause. Were that the case, I would simply have fired off a six-figure check and said, "Here you go, folks ! Enjoy !" The fact that there has been controversy within and without the organization made me delve further into researching whether this was a reasonable endeavor on my part. It may very well be as you say... perhaps the situation has deteriorated to the point that, indeed, the organization should be temporarily shut down, pending investigations into
practices thereabouts and the resolution/correction of them. I can not personally speak to any of this. My point was simply this: it will take more than simply replacing a current administration to fix what's broke. It will take money... and plenty of it, coupled with people of ideas and drive.

Falschirmjager

[ONEALM]

Falschirmjager -

My apologies if I misinterpreted you.

I agree it will take more than simply wiping away the old board to correct the current situation, but my primary contention is no progress can be made without that happening.

Having spent quite a bit of time working on this effort - and I should point out not nearly as much as some of the others involved who has put forward really remarkable efforts - I know we have the right people standing by waiting for the change. I've stated before there are volunteers of all levels of experience from airplane pushers to corporate professionals to those well connected in the political arena standing by reaady and willing to lend their expertise and energy to the effort.

It will take more than a simple change, but that one event will certainly trigger the landslide that will restore ORA.

In the meanwhile, keep after 'em,
Mike

[tazbat]

As one of the petitioners I will add this to Mike Oneal's comment.
Neither I nor any of the other petitioners have found the production of the petition gratifying or pleasant. None of us have any personal vendettas to satisfy. It is a simple matter of not wanting to see ORA become extinct. Although only nine people are named on the petition, there are many others who've sacrificed time and monies to discover and accumulate the information required for the petition, and are still engaged in this work. Events which remain undiscovered could still come to light. There are many eyes in the Red Hook/Rhinebeck areas and around the country which remain observant. Just because the petition has been submitted doesn't mean that data collection has ceased and those involved are sitting around drinking coffee and eating Pop-Tarts.

For myself, there are many other things I personally could be involved in, but have chosen to invest time and money into preserving ORA and the legacy of the ones who invested their lives in it. It is a win or lose situation. There will be no ties. And there are no guarantees as to who will win, the petitioners or the trustees. This much is for sure, it takes money to fight a battle or war. I am the first to admit that I am real squeamish about putting my money on something that the outcome isn't guaranteed.

A guarantee I can issue is that if there aren't sufficient funds to propell the petition through the legal channels, there won't be an ORA. How do I know? Look at the numbers on the past 990 forms at Save Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum Petition. The numbers paint the picture of ORA's future. And if you don't trust what is posted there, then go to GuideStar nonprofit reports and Forms 990 for donors, grantmakers and businesses and check it out directly. If you have questions or doubts, email Mike@mikespandau.org for more information. Everything possible has been done to present the data with transparency.


We the petitioners are soliciting those who knew ORA before its decline and those who would like to visit it in the future for assistance in funding the petition. We have already donated the up front funding to get the petiton served. Yep... it is that bad word "Money," which is necessary to oil the wheels of the legal system. And, that is all that any donated funds will be used for. The many who have worked tirelessly for four years will continue to work and fund their individual efforts entirely from their own pockets. No one will consider this battle finished until the Regents have ruled.

As much as it may sound heroic or endeared to the cause by promising donations once ORA has been liberated, it does nothing to help the cause. It is the same as doing nothing because nothing has been done, now. "Now," is the petition and that is what is on the table. Our cause is to have legally accepted, the evidences of fiduciary malfeasance as outlined in the petition. Battles are not won by the people standing on the hill waving and cheering. They are won by those who join in the struggle.

The threatened future of ORA is not a joke.

Salute!
Sandy

[Fallschirmjager]

Gentlemen,
I applaud your efforts and the motivation behind them. I would gladly help as best I can. Please do not believe my statements to be one of hearts-and-flowers re:my discussions with the aforementioned officer (whom I feel,
with private and public investigations pending, should remain unnamed, as is
the practice in our legal system). There is obviously much to be done, and there are obviously people, such as yourselves, who know far more about it than I. I will say that I must do some more research on my own, prior to endorsing or condemning your petition and its stance (just as I sought to know more about the situation from the other side of the fence prior to the commitment of funds). I thank you for the references you have given me to study... they should no doubt be eye-opening. In the meantime, keep the wind at your back and the castor oil out of your eyes.

Fallschirmjager

[tazbat]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

In the meantime, keep the wind at your back and the castor oil out of your eyes.

Fallschirmjager

Highest regards and best wishes on your quest.

Salute!

Sandy