Rhinebeck Museum trouble

[EricGoedkoop]

Originally posted by AAC Cadet Leader@Sep 3 2004, 02:24 PM
[b] It is rather suspicious that shortly after he presented the letter, that he was falsely accused by ORA board member/s and falsely arrested.

Or not, as we know that the Great Divide goes back farther than 2003; we know that the Board members, out of malice, ego, fear or pettiness, don't fight fair; Chris remarks in his letter about the animosity at ORA between the two (or more) factions; and we know that the Board is, for whatever reasons, very secretive and very defensive. From their perspective, this letter probably sounded like an attack and an indictment. We're assuming they retalitated, and it certainly looks like they did, and if that's the truth of it then the whole thing stinks bad. Whether it was a plan they cooked up to try and get rid of an enemy, or an accusation made by someone that got carried way too far, there's one thing about it that I just don't get: why didn't anyone on the accusing side do their homework? If they had done just a LITTLE work on this, they should have discovered that the parachute was NOT stolen, that they would NOT win in court, and that they would end up looking foolish or worse.

If this was a plan, it sure was a stupid one.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

EricGoedkoop Posted: Sep 3 2004, 12:22 PM

If this was a plan, it sure was a stupid one.

True. Just look where it's gotten them.

[tazbat]

Originally posted by EricGoedkoop@Sep 3 2004, 04:22 PM
If they had done just a LITTLE work on this, they should have discovered that the parachute was NOT stolen, that they would NOT win in court, and that they would end up looking foolish or worse.

[b]If this was a plan, it sure was a stupid one.

Yup! So far, all of the Board of Untrustee's plans have been stupid. Which means they are likely going to keep making stupid plans. If the State will just take note of how stupid these guys are, maybe Cole's ORA can get back to taking care of business. I am still not convinced that these people aren't just plain ignorant, witless, dumb, stupid, self-centered, ego trippers, obnoxious, untrustworthy, unqualified, so on and so on ... If a sordid scheme is in the works, it may not revovle around the board so much as around some the board has hired.

I am still awaiting a reply to my first letter to Mr. Palmquist. Even so, I sent another to him today. Next will be a letter to Hillary, although she may be tied up at the hospital for awhile (Bill's bypass). And then, a letter will go to the Governor. As soon as any responses come in I will disclose the important stuff.

There has been a wealth of information the last two days. Three cheers for the good efforts.

Salute!


This is what I want to see!!!

[tazbat]

Hear is a scenario no one has come out with and I can't keep it quiet any longer.

What better place than an aviation museum to hide stolen vintage planes! They could disguise them and hide them until the heat subsides and then fence them. All under the laws nose and using the name of Cole Palen as a front. And if the gang gets caught, they already have a fall guy with prior experience. One guy goes down and the rest go scott free. They hire a bunch of dummies to run the museum and the air shows who would be clueless. That part is pretty well complete. It would mean finding some valid reasons to get rid of Dan Taylor and Bill King. They would be wise to them in a heart beat.


Salute!

Here is what I want to see!!!

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Sorry tazbat, but your last scenario is just plain far-fetched and ridiculous. What would be the point of stealing vintage airplanes and "hiding" them in a public museum? They may not have many smarts, but c'mon...

[tazbat]

Originally posted by AAC Cadet Leader@Sep 3 2004, 06:45 PM
[b]Sorry tazbat, but your last scenario is just plain far-fetched and ridiculous. What would be the point of stealing vintage airplanes and "hiding" them in a public museum? They may not have many smarts, but c'mon...

What makes you think that this could be any less possible than some of the other criminal intents discussed and embraced on this thread?

Why, they have a man clever enough to be involved in buying a stolen plane, who hid it in a hangar at Cole's ORA. Before that was discovered, it would have seemed highly unlikely. But, it was true. Motive? Sometimes rich people get so greedy that they will go to great lengths to acquire more money. If it is by illegal means it makes the gettin' that much more exciting. Lots of people commit crimes for the adrenalin rush. The board is full of rich people who apparently enjoy playing games. Look how they have treated ORA.

Currently, the majority of the staff and volunteers are so green, they wouldn't have any idea if a new vintage specimen added to the collection was legitimate or not. Thus, a make over to change the appearance of the plan would be passed off as a restoration project. Let me see... What kind of real life example can I use to make my point valid? How about the thousands of cars stolen, altered and resold in this country and throughout the world, every year. Some of those cars are worth over $750,000. What better front for selling stolen vintage aircraft than a museum?

Personally, I don't really swallow this either. Nor do I casually discount it. Highly improbable I will admit, but stranger things have happened. At the very least, maybe it will drive the board's blood pressure up a notch or two.


Salute!


This is what I want to see!!!

[tazbat]

To the Board of Trustees

In case you are curious about the photos I have been posting lately on this thread... They are a reminder of what a great job you are not doing, making all the not so right decisions. I have missed seeing these planes in the air shows. I have many more to come so pay attention.

No Salute for you!


This is what I want to see!!!

[SteveS]

Originally posted by tazbat+Sep 3 2004, 07:24 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (tazbat @ Sep 3 2004, 07:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin-AAC Cadet Leader@Sep 3 2004, 06:45 PM
[b] Sorry tazbat, but your last scenario is just plain far-fetched and ridiculous. What would be the point of stealing vintage airplanes and "hiding" them in a public museum? They may not have many smarts, but c'mon...

What makes you think that this could be any less possible than some of the other criminal intents discussed and embraced on this thread?

Why, they have a man clever enough to be involved in buying a stolen plane, who hid it in a hangar at Cole's ORA. Before that was discovered, it would have seemed highly unlikely.....
....What kind of real life example can I use to make my point valid? How about the thousands of cars stolen, altered and resold in this country and throughout the world, every year.

[/quote]
And I get chastised for complaining about the wrong cowl on the Caudron?
Actually you never know! My friend got her stolen 67 Mustang convertible back after being sold to a out of state buyer through a car museum. It was parked behind the museum waiting for the transporter. A cop with nothing to do ran the numbers of this pretty car as a goof. She got it back after it was detailed and reupholstered. Turned out that the museums owners were a bit on the shady side. Goes to show you never can tell!!

With this thread well in hand, think I can ask the Boss here for the weekend off?

Salute,
Steve

[EricGoedkoop]

Originally posted by SteveS@Sep 3 2004, 08:30 PM
[b] And I get chastised for complaining about the wrong cowl on the Caudron?

But Steve, we just expect so much more from you. . .

You're not still sore over that, are you?

[EricGoedkoop]

Anyway . . . .

Pat, thanks for your last post reprinting Chris Rogine's February 2003 letter to the ORA board, with important questions that went unanswered and still remain unanswered.

Rogine's letter, despite never being answered by the Board, does help us understand what's been going on. It indicates that at the beginning of 2003 and for some time before, the Board's primary concern was financial. They were focused on making money and were investing in things they thought would directly bring in revenue (the second New Standard) rather than things that wouldn't (the hangars). This shouldn't surprise any of us, as we know that 2002 was a very expensive year for the Airshows and that by the time the letter was written, the Airshows had net assets of only about $42,000, having lost nearly $100,000.

So the Board is taking steps to cut expenses and increase revenue. They're trying to stretch the dollars (maybe this explains what has been referred to as "shoddy" work on the New Standard - you get what you pay for) and not putting any money to maintenance or repair of the grounds and buildings. I understand the logic, although I completely disagree with it - the shop I work in has two hundred machines in various states of disrepair and one long-suffering maintenance man who spends ten hours a day hauling his toolbox from one breakdown to the next. Everything would run a lot smoother if the Plant Manager would hire another maintenance guy, but maintenance guys don't bring any money through the door. It's an easy trap to fall into for the shortsighted.

I'm going to stick with my devil's advocacy and force you all to consider that the Board's goal is - or maybe always was - to fix what they see as a financial crisis. And what would they see as the biggest mis-management of funds and resources, which coincidentally and unfortunately is also the thing nearest and dearest to many a heart?

Give me an "S" . . . . give me a "P" . . . .