Class Discourse

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Posted 10/31/03: (From Dick Powell)

Dear Jack and Jerry:

 In the light of severe coastal surge flooding in the wake of Hurricane Isabel I checked with Jim Cheevers, the Senior Curator at the Naval Academy Museum with well over 30 years tenure, to check on our Class investment. 

Jim reports no direct damage and that the sandbagging of the lower level was not even needed.  Notwithstanding, the reason I couldn't get hold of Dr. Scott Harmon ('64), Museum Director was that budget holders were meeting with the Academic Dean, Dr. Bill Miller ('62) for academic real estate  BDA. 

Jim had told me that much of the lower classroom and lab levels of Rickover and Michelson Halls were flooded.  While our investment in Preble Hall took no step backwards I can see it possibly taking a sidestep in making the completion date of FY 2006/2007 for complete renovation and modernization of displays.  FEMA doesn't work for USNA restitution for damage; USNA reallocation and budget stretches do.  In this case, to complete infrastructure work, transient staff swing space for which much of Preble Hall has been used recently  (it still houses much of the Michelson staff) will in all probabilities be extended.  Any time there is a stretch-out the dollar cost goes up.

So Isabel will hurt us.  In the latter days of October I expect to execute a simple direct mail solicitation for contributions to our 55th committment of one million dollars which stands some $350K short at this time.  Thus, I would ask that any of you making contributions now, think of the Class of '50 Museum Endowment Trust.   Until can get a business reply envelope to you the address is:

     U.S. Naval Academy Foundation

     PO Box 62203

     Baltimore, MD  21264-2203

Checks should be made out to the USNA Foundation with a notation: "Class of '50 Museum Endowment."

Many thanks guys and anyone who lost both their boat and dock to Izzy, like Tom Rogers, consider yourselves exempt.

BEAT ARMY!

Dick

 

Posted 11/16/02: (From Dick Powell)

United States Naval Academy Class of 1950

Museum Endowment Trust

8123 Dunsinane Court, Suite B, McLean, Virginia 22102-2719

 

Fall 2002

Dear Classmate:

 

Humor me by reading this swan song which has hung over me for a number of months.

In the seven years I have been writing these letters to you on behalf of our Museum fund-raising the entire act has always been a tasteless chore. I’ve never liked asking people for things, let alone money. It was something inculcated at an early age under the heading of maternal direction in the teaching of manners. I think I’ve been "disadvantaged" ever since.

Notwithstanding, demand had to be expressed if as a Class we wanted to memorialize of our Fiftieth Graduation Anniversary. At the time (1995) the Alumni Association was wrestling with its own organization, leadership, identity and especially fund-raising abilities. Despite well meaning, sincere efforts on their parts they simply were not professional marketers. To their credit they recognized their shortcomings and have subsequently put together a productive development organization.

At the time, and because I had considerable marketing experience including direct mail and other Marsh McLuan —the media is the message—familiarity I became the Class of ’50 guy with the ball and peen hammer. I continue to violate all these rules honoring and crediting your ability to read more than a ten word sentence of one syllable words.

With your generosity this populist approach resulted in over three-quarters of a million dollars donated for our half million dollar goal on behalf of the Naval Academy Museum; a designated Center of Excellence. This included over $100K in capital gains through the late ‘90’s. This project concluded with our Fiftieth in Annapolis in April 2000 at which time our Museum Endowment Trust was announced.

Out of those initial monies, $500K was applied to the new $1.6M prototype back gallery in Preble Hall—The First 100 Years. The enclosed brochure presents a more detailed synopsis of our activities promoting the Museum.

We also spent $56K for a kiosk and video promoting the museum effort. This was significant in gaining the support of six other Classes in the Museum Syndicate. In response to multiple Classmate and USNA requests to repair and update our Thirtieth Gift—the Visitor’s Center Structure and Map—a further $68K has been spent.

Serendipitously, market losses were minimized since we had mostly blown our poke on the back gallery commissioned at our Fiftieth Reunion. We still have just under $100K left from this pot.

With actual cash contributions and intentions we count over $400K towards our Class goal of a One Million Dollar Endowment to present concurrently with the celebration of our 55th in Hawaii. Counting our first effort surplus, we have almost $500K—half-a-mil-- to go.

Let me digress briefly for the sake of definition. Many Classmates opined that the reason they were not making a "pledge" was because at our age they did not want to create an estate liability or deny a greater need. Understood, all around, by all parties. Also; "not to worry."

Interpretation of the operative ‘pledge’ word is meant to be "intent." On a death notification the Foundation automatically deletes any "pledges" (although I have seen widow’s willingly assume them). Should circumstances require prudent rescission of this intent the Foundation will honor them—no questions, no hesitation--and I monitor it.

The intention of the donor base—your intent--is needed for planning purposes.

Except for holidays and the competitive desires of 12 grandchildren it has been unusual to see the top of my pool table for seven years. There are about a half dozen of us who work the "‘Fifty Fund-raising Corp." Letters like this are one thing, data-base management another (addresses, tel.no., etc. as well as records of contributions), printed stationary, developing surveys, picking up postal baskets, postage, seeking best drop post offices, nixie follow up, insert management, and on, and on. We started out doing this ourselves because we were more efficient than the then lacking Alumni Association—which they knew and have since remedied.

Literally tens of thousands of hours have been "donated" by these DC area Classmates (and wives). It occurred to me as I cleaned off the pool table to spread out my Mother’s bills and other papers after her recent death that a lot of my time would have been more warmly spent taking care of some of these things with her while she was still alive. There never was enough time.

Now the Naval Academy Foundation has a professional team on board and functioning. Systems are up and running. Also, readily monitored. The grunt work of mailouts can be passed to them. Strategizing approaches, monitoring, media changes, etc. continues to be approved by us in DC prior to their execution.

This promotion represents a transition to the foregoing arrangement as well as one last full-fledged appeal to make our One Million Dollar Goal.

With but 20 Classmates members of The President’s Circle Ricardo’s Law of Comparative Advantage says we have plumbed only one-third of our potential. There should be 40 more of you and it may have been misunderstanding in seeking your intent that has masked what you really do intend.

Over these years through a great deal of cajoling and effort on the parts of Class officers the $2,500 per year contribution to the USNA Foundation for restricted purposes (such as our project) now qualifies the donor for PC membership. And should a donor note an "intent" to donate $10K at $2,500 per year, by our 55th they could also qualify as a nominee as an Endowment Trustee. Just a thought—there are 20 of us doing minimum $10K and more now.

It also occurs to me that many of us, who have earned qualification through military service as beneficiaries of Tricare For Life Medicare Supplement coverage, received a roughly $2,500 windfall this past year. That is what you have saved by not having to pay for your own supplemental coverage.

Now you can’t use that former $2,500 premium cost as a medical deduction on Schedule A, IRS Form 1040. Instead you can deduct $2,500 under charitable contributions on the same Schedule.

A great play; you essentially get to say where your tax money goes. You don’t need to go into Marx’s Theory of Surplus Value to figure this one out.

Jim Kinnear of course leads classmate donors with Jim and Mary’s Foundation and its truly magnificent physical sciences educational support of $4.5 mil. Similarly, John Nolan has established a half million dollar Cambridge scholarship for graduates. These are individual, personal projects which are respected for the purposes they serve as well as joy they provide the donors. Class solicitations have never sought to redirect purposeful gifts such as these. We have sought to provide an avenue to contribute to a meaningful privately supported project. In a long ago letter to Jim K. I compared his gift as analogous to the Navy (or Air Force) Cross, an individual citation for bravery and the Class’ gift as a Presidential Unit Citation, a unit award for bravery. This, perhaps, puts the two purposes in better perspective.

Our Class donors to the Museum and the Endowment consist of some very generous expressions of philanthropy from those with both civilian and military careers. What is disappointing is the minimal participation on the parts of some senior officers and some classmates who have had distinguished and remunerative civilian careers who should at least be aiming to qualify as an Endowment Trust Trustee. Maturation started getting set at Mother Bancroft. Don’t start regretting non-participation when you are clearing your pool table.

I wrote earlier in this letter that I disliked asking for contributions, especially money. In retrospect and in the light of a certain amount of urgency I’ve moderated my approach to that followed by Ensign Pulver of Mr. Roberts renown:

Ensign Pulver returned aboard after liberty hours expired. He barely made morning quarters and the benign, satisfied smile stayed on his face after he was in ranks. On securing, Doc asked him where he had been. Ensign Pulver replied that he had met a girl while ashore and seduced her. Doc asked what sort of girl she was. Ensign Pulver, with some degree of bravado described her as a 41-year-old virgin! Doc repeated: "What! A 41-year-old virgin? How were you able to do that?" Ens. P. "By the simple expedient of asking her."

OK guys. Now I’m taking the simple expedient of asking you. I hope I’ve been able to make some reflect on your philanthropic patterns without offending . But I’m asking all to respond [by filling out the enclosed INTENT card with the amount and mode in which you intend making your donations toward the Museum Endowment Trust,]* perhaps along with a check and mailing them now.

* Delete for E-Mail Promo

Sincerely,

Dick

J. Richard Powell. Jr.,

Class of ’50 Fundraiser

 

Send Intentions--Gift Amounts and Frequency intended for 4 Years to:

Class of ’50 Museum Endowment

U. S. Naval Academy Foundation

291 Wood Road

Annapolis, MD 21402

Any Questions Contact Me at:

Tel: 703-893-4584 Fax: 703-893-1802 Toll Free: 1-866-859-4362 /4363(beach)

E-Mail: [email protected]

 

Thanks Guys, Dick, aka ‘Basher

7 November 2002
 
Dear Jack:
 
In 1996 after the Class had selected support of Preble Hall exhibits as a gift commemorating our 50th we executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Academy and the Alumni Association acting as their executive agent.  This was fortunate because we had numerous occasion to refer to it.  If we hadn't had it the new back gallery would still be several years in the future. 
 
As renovation proceeded we syndicated with other Classes to provided a broader market to solicit private contributions.  We impressed upon new syndicate members the need to hold both the Alumni Association's as well as the Academy's feet to the fire funding and schedule-wise or none of us would live to see the finished product.  In fact, the Syndicate  has become a political force in support of the Museum.  We redirected the use of Preble Hall as swing space for other academic bodies during their space renovation.  We criticized (constructively) Public Works' and the Supe's staff  schedules whose solutions were too easy, did not look actuarially sound and were possible to work around.
 
At this, the Academic Dean, Admiral/Doctor William C. Miller, '62, came forward taking responsibility as the Museum's angel and oversight arbiter.  He didn't need to take such a direct load but he did at a general meeting of Supe's staff, Public Works, Museum Director, and members of the Classes representing the Syndicate.  He knowingly walked into the box of snakes and started batting.  Leadership personified.
 
Shortly prior to this meeting Dean Miller changed the reporting lines of the Museum Director, Dr. Scott Harmon, '64.  Instead of reporting through the Head of the E,H&G Department where he competed with other divisions for budget dollars he was to report directly to the Academic Dean, a significant change in visibility.  At the foregoing meeting Bill Miller also proposed a reordering of his budget which, although a compromise, was the best hand of cards on the table.  He also promised to adhere to the planned schedule if at all humanly possible and to report to the Syndicate any changes required as the determination was made and in any event semi-annually--even if just a "steaming as before" log entry.
 
At the attachments are a copy of Dean Miller's letter to me (and Roy) and two enclosures (graphics open to 100%) to the letter.   I've reinterpreted the letter above with what amounts to side-bars.  The enclosures  are interesting and pictorially present the same without the background. 
 
Graphic 1, Key Timelines shows by fiscal year what is planned for Exhibits and beneath that for Preble Hall.  The distinction here is to delineate private subscription money for exhibits and appropriated (federal) money for Preble Hall.
 
Graphic 2, Facility Renovation Priorities.   With the museum in the lowest category of funding the competition for federal dollars is readily apparent. 
 
We can live with it.  We are lucky to have Bill Miller understanding the situation.  I thought all our Classmates and supporters should be aware.
 
Beat Army,
 
Dick

 

 

 

 

Posted 6/20/01: This is Kneebasher Dick Powell's program. Articles devoted entirely to the museum and Dick's fund raising activities will attempt to enlarge the scope of giving by classmates for this entirely worthwhile alumni support of our alma mater. We invite input from each of you. Your viewpoints will be highlighted herein and on the "Bulletin Board" page as well. 

                        Here is Dick's address, for contributory pledges and questions:

                                                            J. Richard Powell, Jr
                                                            8123 Dunsinane Court
                                                            McLean, VA 22102-2719

                                                            Telephone: 703-893-4584

                                                            FAX:            703-893-1802

                                                            Toll Free:    1-866-859-4362

12 March 1996

USNA Museum Mission Statement (Proposed)

The United States Naval Academy Museum will identify, collect, preserve and display items of Service history which explain the creation and maintenance of our traditions of courage, devotion to duty and integrity in order to assist in the education and development of character in midshipmen required for their successful performance of service to our country. Secondarily, it will impart an understanding of our American Naval Heritage to its thousands of visitors and make this national treasure a standard of excellence available for display throughout the country in the name of the institution and belief it serves.

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