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MAY 201 5
The first months of 2015 have seen a surge in momentum. The General Membership Meeting on February 20th was a great success with a crowd of approximately 150 excited attendees. Senator Trent Lott, our guest speaker was the spark that ignited the fire. Mrs. Kathy Keene was presented a table in honor of our past president, Pat
Keene. This special table was made from the wood of the "Hasty Oak" and topped
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with soapstone salvaged from tables from the old PHS Math/Science Hall. I am still hearing very favorable comments, and we are still getting new members.
Your Board and Executive Committee are working very hard to develop a world class museum, meeting every two weeks on a Wednesday at Charter Bank. The Executive committee meets every 2 weeks on the alternate
meet monthly. If you have suggestions or would like to work on a certain committee, please contact Perry Thompson at 219-1294 or me at 769-1388.
We are very fortunate to have several new outstanding committee members: Rene Shaw as Membership and Donor Recognition Chairman; and Dr. Chris Wiggins as Museum Exhibits and Museum Events Chairman. Dr. Douglas Belk handles our website, Facebook, Twitter and works with Anne Pitre, the Publicity Chair.
With great assistance from our local Mississippi legislators, we have received $250,000 from the Mississippi Bond Funds with another $250,000 recently approved by the 2015 Mississippi Legislature which should be received late this fall. In collaboration with NOAA Fisheries Pascagoula laboratories, a $12,000 grant from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has been obtained. The NOAA funds will be used to exhibit NOAA Fishery vessels built in Jackson County. In addition, we have received $250,000 from a private foundation to be awarded incrementally over five years.
On April 20th several members of the Executive Committee met with the Pascagoula Mayor, City Manager and City Attorney. The Executive Committee requested the City administration consider a budget over a three year period to support the Mississippi Maritime Museum. On April 21st our Vice President Terry Bollmao, made a MMM presentation to the Pascagoula City Council. The purpose of both of these meetings was to provide an update on the museum progress and request City of Pascagoula support for the museum vision.
Some people and businesses are wanting to donate items for the museum. If you have an artifact that you would like to donate to the Museum, please contact George Sholl at 769-3240. We do not want to lose these donations and until the Band Hall is completed we will be leasing a small climate controlled storage building to safely house donations.
If you know of anyone interested in our great maritime history and want to be a part of developing a world-class maritime museum, please call 228-235-9236.
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Let us sell everyone on the merits of a world-class Mississippi Maritime Museum with all of its educational opportunities.
weeks that the board does not meet. There are 15 committees that generate plenty of work for everyone and
"DAMN THE TORPEDOS, FULL SPEED AHEAD", Jack C Hoover, MD, President, MMM