DECK LOG
LETTERS
Members: Who You Are and How You See Our Mission The response to our members survey, sent out in April, was an encouraging 10.6%. It was by intention almost a duplicate of our survey of 1997, so that we could measure changes in interest or views on the National Maritime Historical Society's mission. The first of the four sections asked how often members read the regular features in Sea H istory. Five years ago Deck Log (64%), Ship Notes (61 %) and NMHS News (60%) were the most highly read items. This year the three leaders were Ship Notes (61 %), Marine Art (57%) and Deck Log (55%). The second section, intended to draw out members' areas of interest, asked what kind of articles you most enjoyed. Five years ago the three leading categories were adventures at sea (68%), closely followed by general maritime history (67%) with World War II in third place (64%) in the "always read" rating. This year the three leaders were World War II (67%), with great sea battles and adventures at sea tied for second place (64%), and general maritime history following closely (63%). While comments on Sea History were overwhelmingly complimentary, concerns about our mission were often cautionary, with comments such as: "Ambitious missions, but financial considerations must be heeded"; "This is a full load of projects- trust you won't be spread too thinly"; "Membership is the key to any organization-how do we interest people with no sea experience?"; "Quality is important whatever you do. Don't overextend-one ratline at a time and hold fast"; "Ship saving should be done locally. Don't get into ship restoration other than carry news about it!"; and "Help others save ships. The Society should not own one." Reaching young people was emphasized. Still, of the mission items marked "essential," the three leaders this year were the same as those in 1997 with very similar percentages: "publishing Sea History" was in first place (79% in 1997, 80% in 2002); "building a national constituency" was second (51 % in 1997, 55% in 2002), and "saving historic ships" was third (47% in 1997, 53% in 2002) with no close runner-up for fourth place in either year. And last, but very important, we got to know a bit more about you, discovering that 45% of respondents visit museums three times or more a year; that 59% are collectors of maritime items, from books to binnacles to art; that 86% have an interest in marine art; and that we read a lot, with 54% of us purchasing six or more books a year. We also learned that most members found out about Sea History from a friend, relative or acquaintance (72%) , with complimentary copies of Sea History accounting for 38% and just seeing the magazine somewhere in third place at 15%.
Members Speak Out I have in front of me the 1OOth issue of Sea History, a magazine that I have enjoyed for over twenty years. During that time I have drawn inspiration from the articles about the rich and varied maritime world, abo ut the ships saved, the adventures shared, and your efforts to maintain an awareness of the history and traditions of seafaring throughout the world. Sea History has consistently been the only publication that combined an appreciation for "the art, literature, adventure, lore and learn ing of the sea." For me, though, it is about more than historic ships and sea captains, more than books and paintingsit has been a place to read abour the fleet of traditional vessels with their missions of education and personal challenge. "Sail training" and "education at sea" are concepts that are kept alive not just in articles written about them , but in the sponsorship by NMHS of the Maritime Education Initiative and the support of those concepts on board today's vessels, historic as well as repli cas . Sea History is much more than a collection of articles for maritime aficionados. It is an endorsement of a philosophy oflife, a belief in using the lessons and challenges of seafaring for the benefit of each new generation. We cannot afford to lose the image of a young boy or girl aloft. Wrestling a topsail into submi ssion and "leaning forward into life," as IrvingJohnson so aptly put it, is the way of life that Sea History encourages. ALIX T. THORNE, President Ocean Classroom Foundation, Inc. Cornwall, New York
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Members should note that the best way to reach more people with the Sea History message is person-to-person. The best way to help us meet the challenges set before us is to sign up a member like yourselfl NORMA STANFORD
Vice President You can request a copy ofthefive-page report ftom NMHS (send a ] selfaddressed, stamped envelope) or see it on-line on the ''Members Only "page at www.seahistory.org. 2
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In your "All Hands" Report, you invited members' comments on the National Maritime Historical Sociery's efforts to promote our maritime h eritage. We at the Ventura County Maritime Museum in California are also dedicated to a greater understanding and enjoyment of our maritime heritage. The ends of greater awareness of the importance of our maritime pas t are far more important than the means by which this heritage is passed on, so a variety of ways offered by similarly inclined organizations is appropriate. Still, you ask about the value of some of the means described in "All H ands," so here are some thoughts. More than $3,000,000, including
SEA HISTORY l 02, AUTUMN 2002