Rhinebeck Museum trouble - Page 7

Mark_Miller · 27 November 2003, 01:17 PM

I was also at the aerodrome on Aviation Artist weekend and I took a ride in the helicopter.
Sorry, maybe it doesn't exactly fit the period, but it was cool B)
Besides, I've been in the standard about 10 times by now, so I thought I would try something different.

As for whether or not it is desirable to have this at the aerodrome.
well... I suppose it is a little out of character.
But, complaining about noise at the aerodrome seems a little bit of a stretch, it's definitly a noisy place to begin with.
And compared to some of the other allegations I've seen in this thread - this helio thing seems to be a relatively minor issue.
as always - just my opinion

mark

BTW - The pilot told me he flew helicopters for the police department.

mattyb · 27 November 2003, 01:28 PM

Helicopters and nascar im sure thats what cole palen had in mind.I think id rather see Ken Cassens fly the spirit not listen to a helicopter theres other airshows for that Rhinebeck is a special place of old time aviation lets try & keep it that way.

OvS · 27 November 2003, 06:22 PM

Gents,

On this most terrible topic of Rhinebeck, I'd like to get involved in whatever I can do to help. I, like all of us it seems, first went to OR when I was a kid. I was 12 at the time and distinctly remember Cole goosestepping around in the plinth helmet and all. It was a blast! I remember the Monoplane that he flew, and how loud it was when it ran-up.

20 years later.... I still get a charge out of that place.

It drove me deep into WWI art, history, avaiton, and of course... Red Baron 3D. I amthe curator of and presently finishing up the Red Baron 3D patch titled 'Hell's Angels'. To say the least, I have relied on several sources to get it as historic and realistic as possible. So much so that I used my own sound from a video recording of the Camel run-up and flight at OR. The Dr.1 and Camel sounds in Hell's Angels are actual rips from OR.

I am a member of SWWISA (Society of World War I Sim Artisans) and as Mark Miller has already pointed out, we are vaigly aware of the situation. However... that should not be the case.

The Red Baron community is backed by literally hundereds of members from all around the world.... even, believe it or not, notable WWI artist James Deitz. Our community is huge and many of them 'pilgrimage' to Rhinebeck every year, for either the Red Baron weekend, or just for their own enjoyment. In the past 2 years, I persoanally have been there 4 times.

How do we get involved? What do you need from us? What can we do? Rhinebeck is mentioned to me in emails from people all over the world. I can't see letting it fall apart and go down the tubes without giving some kind of effort to stop it. Help me get the word out to SWWISA and the Red Baron Community to boost the rank and files to hep prevent the loss of OR.

Please let me know by email at ovs@jamrom.com what I can do, or post on our forums to get everyone involved. We are at www.swwisa.net, come by and get out the word to us.

Thanks for your ear, and LET'S STOP THIS DISASTER!!!

Brdgs!

James
'Otto von Stachel'
www.jamrom.com/hellsangels

Some pics of skins in HA and my dedication to Cole...

The Black Baron lives in Red Baron!

Spad 13 vs Hannover

J26 and Bruno!

My plug... sorry... come by the HA site... it's free.

rc-notyme · 28 November 2003, 09:48 AM

Sorry folks, I guess I was further out of the loop than I thought - did not know about this site until today.....Anyway I am glad to find out so many got their complaint forms off to the Attorney Gen. I have yet to recieve a response from them.
Just for info- FACT: I was removed from the Board illegally, this according to the Chief,Office of External Services (New York State Museums). Unfortunately Mr. Palmquist did not persue this any further. My attempts at follow-up were fruitless. This was frustrating but not surprising since there was no follow-up on my origional letter (3 pages sighting my concerns about the operation) to the Deputy Commissioner For Legal Affairs at N.Y.S. Education Dept. -copied to David Palmqist of the New York State Museums Office of External Affairs (who claims to have never recieived it). The fact that I was in contact had the ruling members quite upset. Iwas accused of "being a mole fore someone". Hell, I was right up front about my activity and routinely challenged the ruling party - I mean "members."
When I was removed they didn't have balls to tell me why ! They said it was my business and they had no obligation to inform me!!!!! I was required to wait outside while they voted......
I am believe these people are monitoring this sight so everyone should be sure of their facts and make sure that it is clear that anything else that is said is "apparent" or an "opinion." Lets turn the wick up!

rc-notyme · 28 November 2003, 09:56 AM

Sorry folks, I guess I was further out of the loop than I thought - did not know about this site until today.....Anyway I am glad to find out so many got their complaint forms off to the Attorney Gen. I have yet to recieve a response from them.
Just for info- FACT: I was removed from the Board illegally, this according to the Chief,Office of External Services (New York State Museums). Unfortunately Mr. Palmquist did not persue this any further. My attempts at follow-up were fruitless. This was frustrating but not surprising since there was no follow-up on my origional letter (3 pages sighting my concerns about the operation) to the Deputy Commissioner For Legal Affairs at N.Y.S. Education Dept. -copied to David Palmqist of the New York State Museums Office of External Affairs (who claims to have never recieived it). The fact that I was in contact had the ruling members quite upset. Iwas accused of "being a mole fore someone". Hell, I was right up front about my activity and routinely challenged the ruling party - I mean "members."
When I was removed they didn't have balls to tell me why ! They said it was my business and they had no obligation to inform me!!!!! I was required to wait outside while they voted......
I am believe these people are monitoring this sight so everyone should be sure of their facts and make sure that it is clear that anything else that is said is "apparent" or an "opinion." Lets turn the wick up!

rc-notyme · 30 November 2003, 09:36 AM

I have been recieving considerable E-mail since my posting. There are a lot of angry aviation types out there.
There is a great editorial letter in the Poughkeepsie Journal today from Kurt Muller regarding Ken Cassens. It is right on the money.
It reminded me of the human toll be taken by the actions of the current board. We have been talking so much about the "Aerodrome ", but it is the people like Ken & Joan, the Mackenzies and even Jim Hare (glad you woke up Jim !) - these are the most recent victims, I know there are many more - that are the core of this Museum.
What makes me REALLY sick is the chin deep BS that the board's puppet has offered to justifiy the actions taken.
I know that things can never be the same w/out Cole but I believe that this group is deliberately purging the Aerodrome of people like those mentioned above. Yet they all continue to try and capitalize on the Aerodrome aura.
I am ashamed to say that I just walked away feeling frustrated and sorry for myself after getting tossed off of the board. Fortunately I have friends that insisted I not get away with this..... I got really pissed again - I mean " highly motivated" hence the NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LAW, CHARITIES BUREAU COMPLAINT/ INQUIRY FORM. If any one just happens to want one, go to http:// www.oag.state.ny.us/charities.html
they want facts, but an overview cover letter may be helpfull. Be sure to mail it cert. reciept.

The PIPE · 30 November 2003, 10:41 AM

Dear Fellow WW I Av-Fans:

The PIPE Here...a personal friend of the Webmaster of http://www.biplanes.de/ . Jens Klank himself!

The troubling concerns I've been hearing in this thread here about the ONLY place I could have ever considered to be "my second home" have got ME concerned as well...after Cole's passing, it just never seemed that the Aerodrome-a place I LOVE to visit each and every year, at LEAST once (during the RC event each year, the weekend after Labor Day)-had a real "defined" leadership outside of the people who HAVE been working there SO hard to keep Cole's dream alive...just TOO many to mention!

And now to hear that the "nebulous ones" that HAVE been on their board of directors since Cole's passing are letting the heart and soul of Old Rhinebeck out of it to satisfy their own equally "nebulous" plans for the future of what has been SUCH a wondrous place...I am VERY conerned about all this!

I vividly remember an interview with Kermit Weeks, founder and owner of the well known Fantasy of Flight museum complex ( http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ ) in Florida, on the Discovery Wings cable TV channel not very long ago...and he stated proudly that HE was inspired by Cole Palen's little place in the Hudson River Valley, when he himself was quite young, to get interested in antique aircraft and their preservation!

To let ORA become "something else" besides what it HAS been in the past, especially during Cole's time with all of us, is just about UNTHINKABLE to my mind...sure, museums of all sorts DO have to evolve with changing times, to varying degrees, but what SEEMS to have been planned for the Aerodrome by those "nebulous ones" just seems to be WAY outside of that sort of thing would ever allow!

Losing the Aerodrome would be almost as bad, to even worse (in some very particular ways, for a few of us), than losing a loved one...and I sure HOPE that something IS done, starting over this Winter, to get the Aerodrome BACK to what it HAS been...just a great place to enjoy the exhibition and FLYING of antique aircraft, in all the ways Cole Palen himself always did it, with as many of the people that have BEEN working so hard to keep it that way for a good decade now, THERE and continuing the proud traditions that Rhinebeck IS so famous for.

I'm just hoping that I WILL see some familiar faces at the WRAMS Show booth in February 2004 that Rhinebeck should have there...and if I don't even SEE a Rhinebeck booth there (couldn't go in 2003 due to personal bill problems) at the 2004 event...I am going to be VERY worried...that a piece of a lot of people's worlds may have disappeared for keeps.

Yours Sincerely,

The PIPE....

...and hoping for a good outcome to all this...if it can happen at all...

Paul Revere · 30 November 2003, 02:22 PM

To the Pipe,
Do not include Gene DeMarco with Ken Cassens and the others, he is most certainly on the other side, deeply involved with and supported by the "board". Same with Dan Taylor.

Paul Revere · 30 November 2003, 07:29 PM

To explain the previous post, the Pipe had a list of people in his post, now edited out, of those he thought were working hard to keep Cole's dream alive, including Gene, Ken and a number of others. Had to straighten that out. Gene and Dan do not belong on that list.

Whosaidrats · 30 November 2003, 07:49 PM

The letter in today's (11-30-03) Poughkeepsie Journal:

Fired Aerodrome pilot was dedicated

This letter is written in defense of Ken Cassens, the pilot/mechanic who was suspiciously fired by the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. The recent article in the Journal would lead your readers to believe Ken was escorted out of the museum by the police for some possible wrong-doing.

Anyone who knows Ken knows he is a person of utmost honesty and integrity. He is the one the torch was passed to when Cole Palen passed away. And he upheld Cole's values right to the end of his term.

Ken is a world-class pilot and aircraft restorer -- a true asset to any air museum. A museum makes money with someone like Ken on their staff.

To keep the ''Spirit of St. Louis'' project alive, he put a lot of his own savings into the project as well as his superb workmanship. Yet, by letting him go, the aerodrome feels it is part of a solution.

The problem is, active volunteers like myself are quitting the aerodrome. For to continue to work there would mean that we support how they have maligned a great pilot, artist and friend.

Kurt Muller, Hopewell Junction