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4
EDITOR'S LOG
LETTERS, continued
Last year, our 21st, we called the Year of the Member. As the year ended, we sent a questionnaire to all members asking, essentially: " How are we doing in our work together?" To relieve any suspense, let me report right away that 90 percent of the several hundred responses said the Society was on course and meeting its goals. Of the remaining 10 percent, 2 percent expressed no opinion, and most of the rest felt we would be meeting our goals if we had stronger financing, and more public support. Let's listen to that view, which I believe the favorable majority shares! We' re thinking first of rallying individual support to the building job ahead. Some of our leading supporters are considering ways to build up our ability to perform our mission better, and to help others. These are the seamanly qualities we aspire to : to do our own job well and to be quick and effective in moving to help others. As for public support , we are proposing this year to launch a major membership effort, supported by regional meetings. More of that , and more on the members' response to the discourse we've undertaken together, in our forthcoming Annual Report and Annual Meeting set for June in Essex , Connecticut. (If you're not a member, and want to see the questionnaire or receive the Annual Report when it comes out, just ask-but why not join us? Take a flyer and become an Associate Member for $10.)
SOUTH STREET: "Something Is Very Wrong" My husband and I go to South Street Seaport frequently and have for many years. We had hoped , like so many others, that the current development there would be beneficial to the musuem . All we have seen so far are expensive shops, expensive restaurants, and a museum presence that has dwindled to near nothing. The staff (what few we have spoken with) are dispirited and frustrated. The volunteers (also, only a few we have met) are unhappy. There seems to be no feeling of trust in the upper management. Gossip is rampant. It feels explosive, but you never know, maybe they can go on like that for a long time. I know a few people who have in one way or another been connected to South Street over the years. All I ever hear is "they don't pay their bills," " they're top heavy with upper level management drawing big salaries," " they don't care about the boats,'' "they're very sloppy," "money comes in for the boats and gets diverted" etc. One would think, over the years, that we would have lieard one positive comment about South Street. One can only begin to think something is very wrong. Whatever it is, as a museum worker and fan of South Street, I hope it gets straightened out. South Street Seaport is a wonderful idea, a wonderful place, and really should not be allowed to be ruined by what appears to be plain old mismanagement and a lack ofunderstanding of museum ethics .
National Society Projects Not just in the questionnaire, but in many comments received last year, it's clear that we should report out our own Society's activities more fully. Never mind the "blowing our own trumpet" syndrome! We are supposed to be doing the important things, and those things should be of interest to all hands. A letter printed on this page sheds light on some problems in South Street Seaport Museum , where the Society had been sponsoring the restoration of the ship Uiivertree until last fall. Following this is our report on the 18th century Ronson ship-''the ship that built a city." These projects reach back a century in one case and nearly three centuries in the other. We are pleased and proud that the maritime community, led by Shannon Wall of the National Maritime Union, has asked us to play a part in "Seamen's Recognition Day," honoring a great service by seamen in our own century which changed the course of history and brought peace to an embattled world. PS
MUSEUM DIRECTOR
J.ie are glad to report the winds of change are blowing in South Street. Museum President Christopher J. Lowery resigned in late February.followed by Museum Chairman John B. Ricker. The new Chairman, Robert W McCullough, has pledged a fresh start, and rededication to the founding purposes of the Museum~ED
The Greek Contribution We are glad to join your Seamen's Recognition Committee. The Greek merchant marine and Greek seamen took an active part in the struggle to supply Allied forces by sea in World War II, and suffered considerable losses. Out of 16,000 seamen serving the Greek ships some 2,000 or 12 .5 % lost their lives. Out of 583 ships, 429 or 62 .8% were sunk or captured by the enemy. Members of the same family often served in the same ship-leading in many cases to a family losing all its men. This was the price paid by Greek seamen in Greece's war against the enemies of freedom and democracy. MICHALIS ZENZEFYLLIS
General Secretary Panhellenic Seamen's Federation SEA HISTORY, SPRING 1985