Board of Directors listens to a new Plan for Spirit of South Carolina

In a previous episode back in May, you learned of a Business Plan presentation made to Mr. Tommy Baker by representatives of the Aquarium, and Spirit of South Carolina (Danielle Feerst). An outcome of that presentation was a direction by Tommy Baker to assemble the entire Board of Directors to hear the plan, and achieve a consensus to support it. Well, it happened. 

Just this last Wednesday,the 10th, Tommy Baker assembled Mikey Bennett(its how he prefers to be called), Teddy Turner Jr., Pierre Manigault, Hank Hofford and Paul Steadman in the Conference Room of the Baker Porsche Dealership. Capt Heath Hackett was also in attendance. They heard the Aquarium briefing on their plans to convert the Maritime Center into a learning platform of classrooms and retail space, with programs that would also steer students and public towards the Schooner, just down the dock. 

Next they heard Danni Feerst(Ashley Hall Cruise alumnus). Danni laid out a plan intended to get the schooner back onto a revenue generating path, keeping to her mission statement but concentrating on low-hanging fruit; primarily dockside educational programs, tours, and event, for the first year. The idea being, an initial concentration in that area would minimize payroll costs of full-time crew for first several months. Topics covered included a status on our new website,in development,plans for fundraising, including year-end Gala or such event, and needs for Marketing expertise as as well as hiring an Executive Director to organize and manage everything. My part in this meeting was primarily a voice of conscience, reminding of the manpower needs to maintain the ship, her systems as well as topsides and rigging, even while docked, and being appropriately crewed with COI to take up( opportunities for revenue generating harbor cruises or more. 

I'm not confident my points landed home, but the primary goal of creating commitment by the Board to move forward was successful. As us presenter's left the meeting, the Board remained behind to reach some decisions, which I expect to be made known to us soon. 

The next day, Tall Ships America Executive, Erin Short, invited Spirit of South Carolina to participate in a Tall Ships Challenge that would offer sail-aways (45min-2-hour harbor sails) at ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Coast next April-May timeframe. So, that has ramifications to decisions to be made soon. She has reasons to live! 

Meanwhile, Spirit of South Carolina rides at her dock in Thunderbolt Shipyard waiting for the contractors to change out batteries, reinstall Inverter, re-install the master circuitry board of the GENSET and test, and check/test out the diesels again. Capt Heath says 10 days.. the Shipyard Project Manager forecasts another few weeks. Still, there's progress. Which I'll keep y'all informed of as I learn things. 

One last thing; The Board would like to make a big public deal of her return to Charleston, when that happens.. with media presence, some boats out to meet her, maybe even raise a sail or two. As that takes shape and I can advocate for volunteer participation.. I"ll keep you posted. We'll need dockline handlers; possibly a few to embark in Thunderbolt for the delivery home.

 Stand by to stand by.