From Adams Class Veterans Assn., Feb 23:
They want attendees at meeting in Jacksonville, FL., Feb 25!!!
See Ken Keeler's earlier post here...
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NOW HEAR THIS
WE ARE GETTING SO CLOSE,
I CAN ALMOST FEEL THE MOORING LINES IN MY HANDS.
This week, Adams and ACVA passed another hurdle by being endorsed by both the Finance Committee and the Recreation / Community Development Committee of Jacksonville City Government.
Our next hurdle will be a vote of the full City Council on Tuesday evening February 26. Our Team in Jacksonville believes we have sufficient City Council support for our proposal to pass and be sent to the Mayor for his signature, which has been assured by a Mayoral representative.
Writing of the Application for Donation that we must submit to NAVSEA is progressing nicely and our Application Team must be commended for their efforts.
Former Adams CO and ACVA VP, Bob Branco, led a second Survey Team back to Philly on February 19-20 to secure additional details on the condition
of Adams for inclusion in the Application for Donation.
Former Sellers CO, Bob Rumney, has been working on a Yard Availability Report just as he would have done while on Active Duty. This too will be part of our Application for Donation so NAVSEA knows what repairs we intend to make while Adams is in Dry Dock. This was a primary reason for the Survey Visit I mentioned above.
Bob Rumney has also put together an outline for our Volunteer Program, so those of you who may be pacing the deck waiting to get your hands dirty on Adams, will know what to expect. I will talk more about this in future emails / newsletters.
Now that I have gotten you excited with all the good news, I need to bring us
all back to reality. None of this activity is without cost. None of the volunteers on our ACVA Board or our ACVA Survey Teams are getting paid. Lots of money has been spent to find the Old Girl a home and more will be spent in
the near future. We have been very frugal thus far and have gotten a lot for our money. These funds have been spent to hire professionals to do Marketing Surveys, research pier locations and designs and acquire Permits.
So far we have survived on Donation from our ACVA Members and Friends but available funds are running low. We are asking once again for everyone
to dig as deep as you can and keep us moving forward. If you know of former shipmate who do not yet know about Adams and ACVA, please give them a call, drop them a line or shoot them an email and tell them what we are doing
to Save Adams. Don't forget to encourage them to donate as well.
Remember to check our ACVA web site often for updates.
adamsclassddgvets.org/
Tom Crosser
President, Adams Class Veterans Association, Inc.
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INVITATION
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The City Council of Jacksonville is scheduled to vote on the resolution to support the USS ADAMS as a naval ship museum. It will be helpful to
have as many supporters there as possible. Anyone who can be there is encouraged to attend and show support for the Adams as a museum.
City Hall is located to 117 West Duval Street in downtown Jacksonville (
www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype...le&state=fl&zipcode=)
If you can attend it would be of great help. I realize that most recipients
are likely to be a little farther away than a 15 minute drive, but you MAY
know someone in the region that might be available to attend. For anyone
who anticipates attending, please arrive in downtown early. Finding parking promises to be a little bit of a challenge. There are pay-lots all around, but
few street parking spaces. The new council meetings start time is 5:00 p.m.
The appropriate council committees have reviewed and voted on the
resolution (number 2008-46). The Finance Committee voted the resolution
out of committee on a 5-to-1 vote, and the RCD (Recreation and Community Development) Committee voted the resolution out of committee on a 6-to-0 vote (and that included the councilman who voted against it in the previous committee meeting the day before).
Should the full council pass the resolution, then it goes to the Mayor for signature or veto. I have been assured by mayoral staff that the mayor
will sign the resolution.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to send me a note or contact me.
Best regards,
Bert Watson
904.363.1738