Timeline January 21-February 6th.

  BLUF: All the Moving Parts for Formalizing the Business Plan, Expand our Fundraising Effort. Streamline and Align Social Media messaging, and advance the Transfer of Ownership are now running at flank speed. 

 But first some added context around this Blog, and the news/information it will be providing.

Premise:  Volunteers are entitled to news and information not accessible by the Public.

During times such as these, when business is conducted, other deals, compromises, discussions, involving sharing of information,   there is a necessity for confidentiality..  Information  needed for the progress of negotiations may be shared among participants of the organization.  That same information, leaked to the general public, without appropriate context, may be counter-productive.  Information suitable for public consumption may be found on the ship's website or Instagram.

In our case, Volunteers by their demonstrated stake in the Schooner, are part of the organization, with a vested interest in it's success, and therefore entitled to share and be trusted with confidential information.

That's why, in late January, this Blog became a "private", by-invitation-only vehicle. 

While a little over one hundred members on our contact list, were "invited" to continue subscribing to this log, only 18 so far have subscribed. Others are expected.  New volunteers will be offered and encouraged to subscribe to the blog, particularly for the access it offers to all the knowledge resources.

And Now, THE NEWS!  (As it happened up to first week of February) 

As of 22 September, the situation regarding transfer of ownership, and the subsequent releasing of funds was in slow progress. The process is necessarily complex, much like buying and selling a house, with insurance involvement, state government, but also Maritime Law; therefore beyond the scope of this blog entry. 

Additional pressure threatening  the success of this endeavor was the legal state of the Schooner;  She had been seized by Federal Marshal, under supervision of a Federal Judge, with likely possibility of being auctioned off, to cover the amount owed to the Shipyard-ive-plus months of rental fees or close to $145K.

 A parallel and essential project was being advanced-the creation of a financial repository for receiving and conversion of approx $400k in stocks, to be gifted to the schooner on the successful transfer of ownership from the existing Owner. 

All of these intertwined-sometimes conflicting processes were being steadily advanced by a talented group:

Hank Hofford, former member of the old Board of Directors- accepted the role of President of the just recently created Board of Directors, and is driving the strategic direction and pace of the action. 

Teddy Turner IV, and Pierre Manigault, Board Members, have been working the major donor angles, rebuilding relationships that are paying off in locating skilled crafts, such as shipwrights..

Adam Reed, having just finished producing in record time, a comprehensive and viable Business Plan, was named Executive Director.  He is already executing on relationship-building, fundraising, strategic communication, and directing the rest of us.

Carin Bloom volunteer, educator, and historian, has taken on the lead of Communications, Social Media, and Grant Writing.

Sam Gervais, Director of Low Country Maritime School, is taking the lead of Shipyard Project Manager.

By end of January, all members-volunteers all, were virtually full-time, fully engaged on all cylinders, finding money, finding skilled crafts people, finding grant possibilities, and rethinking expanded volunteer roles.