Here's a summary report of SACMARC efforts to get an amateur radio
exhibition at the new SAC Museum at Ashland, Nebraska. This project
will also be discussed at future SACMARC business meetings for
discussion and feedback.
I wrote Mr. Poyner, the Museum Registrar, again, including copies of our
coordination package and Dr. Keene's QST article, and we talked shortly
afterwards by telephone. He was impressed with our initial proposal,
and wants to have the Museum work with us to make it happen.
He's tentatively offered us 4000 (!!!) square feet of visiting
exhibition gallery space commencing in October of 1998, and continuing
probably until the end of the year (giving us at least a few months of
exhibit time).
This is still quite a ways off, but considering the challenge that's
been presented to us, both in terms of filling that space (4000 square
feet is the typical size of a "Street of Dreams" home) and getting some
grant money to fund museum staff time and support to put the exhibit
together (visiting exhibits are expected to be self-funding and
self-organizing), we should start gradually making plans and working
towards collecting items for the exhibit right away.
Mr. Poyner suggested either a artifact exhibit, or historical
documentation exhibit (i.e., tell a story), or both. I think that both
will be ideal. Not only should SAC communications in the 1950's/1960's
Collins era be well-covered, with amateur contributions to HF
communications and electronic warfare, but also I think we should have
exhibits for General LeMay and Major General Griswold, MARS, K0AIR, and
perhaps some displays at the end of the exhibit featuring modern amateur
radio (possibly including a working station) with information and local
club contacts.
I have two strong leads on grant money (we'll need about $1,500 just for
setup expenses). One is with the ARRL Foundation (I spoke with their
Secretary, Mary Carcia, N7IAL, who is looking forward to receiving our
grant proposal). The other is through a charitable organization of Iowa
casinos. John Sheffield, N4OWG, mentioned that not only is there a lot
of potential money to be applied for from such an organization (gambling
proceeds are apparently substantial, and the casinos want to give
something back to the community), but Belinda Vacanti (Executive
Director of the Midlands Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis
Society) had offered to help the Bellevue Amateur Radio Club write a
grant proposal for a suitable project to obtain some of that money.
Ms. Vacanti was motivated to do us this favor in recognition of the
tremendous support that us amateurs have given to the MS bike rides over
the years. Since this offer has been on the table for over a year now
without BARC following up with a specific grant proposal, and arguably
the SACMARC's members are also part of the Bellevue amateur radio
community, I would like to see if Ms. Vacanti would be willing to help
the SACMARC write a proposal for this Museum exhibit.
As many of you know, Leo Meyerson, W0GFQ, has put together an
outstanding amateur radio exhibit at the Western Heritage Museum at the
old Union Pacific station in downtown Omaha. Leo may have some ideas,
or even referrals, for putting together our exhibit.
I'll be following up with Leo Meyerson and Belinda Vacanti in the
near future and will have further information as it comes in.
I've also written to Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, at Rockwell Collins Avionics
and Communications Division, asking him for any suggestions about
recognizing the contributions of Collins Radio to amateur radio and SAC
communications over the years. He promised to look into digging up some
historical documentation. He also suggested that some of us attend the
meeting of the Collins Collectors Association in Cedar Rapids, IA, on
Saturday, August 2nd, as there is the potential to meet quite a few
former military communicators, many of whom may have Collins equipment
to loan the Museum for this exhibit. I'll likely be traveling down
there for the event. Anyone who wishes to come along should contact me
right away.
Steve Hunt, KB0MYH, has been actively pursuing Air Force contacts, both
within historical offices, and with the Air Force Communications
Agency's alumni association (apparently they have a significant subgroup
of radio amateurs), and has already dug up some interesting historical
documentation.
Along with the grant seed money, issues that we need to resolve for the
exhibit include:
- floor plan
- list of artifacts (radios, etc.)
- list of documentary information (photos and documents)
- display cases and such (many of these can be provided by the museum)
Mr. Poyner also indicated that the Museum already has a significant
collection of SAC-related communications gear. Sometime in the near
future, I, and possibly other club members, should arrange with
Mr. Poyner to go down to the Museum and survey what they have on display
and in storage. It would be quite a streak of good luck to find a cache
of near-mint S-lines or KWM-2's, or other Collins gear. Obviously, we
should also do a site-survey sometime after the new Museum opens in
November.
If we pitch to have a station at the Museum, the club should probably
have ARRL liability insurance. Premiums for such insurance may have to
come down to "passing the hat around," though I'll get the ball rolling
by offering to match every dollar in the kitty one-for-one (so the club
only has to come up with 50% of the premium).
At this time, I'd like to specifically solicit contributions (either
loans, or donations to the Museum) in the following categories:
- not necessarily operational, but at least complete and cosmetically
clean, Collins radio gear from the 1950's and 1960's
- historical documentation, photos, and letters
- skilled labor (carpenters, electricians, graphic artists, as well
as anyone with museum experience)
- unskilled labor (movers, gophers, etc.)
- (if we get approval to do this) equipment to set up an operational
amateur radio station (historic gear preferred, but modern gear
welcome also). We're probably going to be very fussy about quality of
donations for this. Realistically, I don't think we're going to have
the time, money, or labor to resurrect anyone's basement or garage
junk. No offense, but if it wasn't worth repairing for your own use,
quite frankly, it's not likely to be worth it for us.
I'd like to have, as soon as possible, a concrete list of things to fill
the display with (should be reasonably related to SAC communications),
and a pool of volunteers to help set it up. I believe that with a
little planning, coordination, starting to work on this early and
continuously, and some degree of positive contributions from everyone,
we can make it happen without any "superhuman" effort or burnout.
This project is something that has been talked about in the Bellevue
amateur radio community for many years as a "we should really do this"
item. It's an opportunity not only to tell a good historical story
related to SAC, but also remind the public of the tremendous
contributions that we as amateurs have done over the years, and are
continuing to do (and publicizing ourselves to non-amateurs would seem
to be fulfilling a definite need).
I look forward to additional suggestions, as well as concrete
contributions and volunteers.
73, Paul, K3FU
"The President may make you a General, but only communications can make
you a Commander."
- General Curtis E. Lemay (K0GRL)
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