National Park Service takes over Pearson Air Museum

[Pilawt]

Very bad news for the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver WA.

The National Park Service, which owns the Pearson Air Museum buildings and land on which they sit, has ended the agreement with the City of Vancouver, under which the City and the nonprofit Fort Vancouver National Trust have been operating the Museum since 1995.

One problem ...

It will be an empty building "because there's nothing in there the park service owns," [National Trust president Elson] Strahan said.

"The community built the museum and sustained the museum. The trust owns about half the planes (on display) and the other half are on loan to the trust," Strahan said.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/f...son-air-museu/

The exhibits will be moved to a City-owned hangar on the airport.

Over the years the Museum has built up good will between the airport and the community by hosting popular events, which also raise funds for museum operations. But recently the National Park Service has rejected applications for events (such as a youth soccer festival and a countywide church picnic) which NPS deemed "inconsistent" with the 1829 trading post replica which NPS operates next to the airport.

[Hal Bryan]

That's very disappointing news - I love that museum.

[WLIU]

Pilawt, this is the classic situation where your members of Congress can make a difference. I will suggest that the Representative who's district that museum is in, and the two Senators might take an interest. The rep, and likely one of the Senators will be up for re-election in a couple of years and they want happy constituents. If all of the "friends" of the museum contact them, they might take notice.

You may have noted that there is a big budget fight brewing in Washington and that includes the Park Service funding. Unhappy Congress persons are not generous with $$. Make the "system" work for you.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

[Pilawt]

Thanks, Wes. All the local elected representatives (state legislators, senators and congressfolk from Washington State and neighboring Oregon, as well as city and county officials) came to bat for the airport last fall to stop FAA from imposing goofy airspace restrictions around KVUO. Now, I'm told, necessary communications on this issue are already in progress.

Keep your fingers crossed; we have good people on it.

[Pilawt]

It gets worse, and quickly:


http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/f...d-to-nearby-h/

[Pilawt]

The following press release was issued today by Elson Strahan, President and CEO of the Fort Vancouver National Trust:

Pearson Air Museum Closed to the Public Wednesday, February 6, 2013

(VANCOUVER, WA) - The Fort Vancouver National Trust regretfully announces today, the closure of Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, Wash. Operated on contract with the city of Vancouver by the Trust for the past eight (8) years, the museum at 1115 E. Fifth St. offered the public a glimpse into the Golden Age of Aviation history from the early 20th Century. Open Wednesday through Saturday, the museum featured fifteen (15) historic planes, a gift shop and Flight Simulator Lab. The museum facility hosted over 100 community events during the year and was supported by over fifty (50) volunteers investing over 6,000 hours at the museum.

The closure is the result of an unresolved dispute with the National Parks Service regarding park use policy. Trust administrators were asked on Monday to turn over keys to the museum to the park service, today. "Because air museum aircraft exhibits are either owned by the Trust or on loan to the Trust, it was not feasible for us to turn this property over to the National Park Service," said Elson Strahan, Trust President and CEO.

On Tuesday, Trust staff and volunteers removed planes, gift shop items and other exhibits from the Pearson Air Museum hangar. These items have been stored, Strahan said.

In the coming days, Trust staff will be contacting organizations and individuals with events scheduled at the museum to assist in finding alternative venues. The Trust will be contacting volunteers and contributors to determine how best to move the air museum program forward.

The termination of the museum management agreement is regrettable. The Trust sees this as a loss for the Fort Vancouver National Site and for the community. The Trust will continue to negotiate a suitable way to restore Pearson Air Museum operations.

Going forward the Trust will be:
- Rescheduling events
- Contacting donors
- Contacting volunteers and contributors

The Fort Vancouver National Trust appreciates its supporters, donors and volunteers who have made Pearson Air Museum such a success and important place in our community. The Trust’s mission as a nonprofit organization is based on its commitment to support the entire Fort Vancouver National Site including Pearson Air Museum. As the official nonprofit partner of the Fort Vancouver National Site, the Fort Vancouver National Trust has been engaged in good faith negotiations with the National Park Service for two years regarding the management of Pearson Air Museum. The Trust is deeply disappointed with the sudden termination of the cooperative agreement and the orders to immediately and permanently cease all operations of Pearson Air Museum.

To contact the Superintendent of the Fort Vancouver National Site, Tracy Fortmann: 360-816-6205

To contact your local legislative delegation: Senator Patty Murray: 360-696-7797
Senator Maria Cantwell: 360-696-7838
Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler: 360-695-6292

[Bill Greenwood]

Is this a money thing? Is it that the museum, like so many, did not make a profit, or that there is another bidder for the area like a developer?

Or is this a personality struggle between two opposite sides and strong personalities who both want to come out on top and be the boss?

I have been to that airport and really liked the historic old hangars. If I recall correctly there is a case that this is the oldest operating airport in the U S, if you count ballon operations. If only airplane flights are counted, then the oldest is College Park Maryland, just outside Washington, D. C. , I think.

[Pilawt]

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/f...arson-support/

(Yours truly at the far right of the lead photo ... )

[Frank Giger]

Gotta love when aviation people protest - the signs are neatly done with correct spelling and grammar!

[Pilawt]

Is this a money thing? Is it that the museum, like so many, did not make a profit, or that there is another bidder for the area like a developer?

Or is this a personality struggle between two opposite sides and strong personalities who both want to come out on top and be the boss?

Best explanation is this press release from the CEO of the Fort Vancouver National Trust:

The Future of Pearson Air Museum

Background

Since Congress incorporated the 366 acre Fort Vancouver National Site in 1996, including the M.J. Murdock Aviation Center/Pearson Aviation Museum Complex (Museum Complex), the partnership between the City of Vancouver (City), the Fort Vancouver National Trust (Trust), and the National Park Service (NPS) has been successful due to the collaborative working relationship and focus on growing the entire historic site to become a vital community, regional and national asset.

Since 1995, the Museum Complex has grown to become a major tourist destination, educational center for area youth and an important historical aviation center for researchers and enthusiasts alike. It resides within the grounds of the Fort Vancouver National Site and sits on NPS land, which was acquired in 1972 from the City as part of a 72- acre purchase, including the seven acres on which the Museum Complex was developed.

More than $4.2 million was raised from community members, the City, businesses and others to build the Museum and renovate adjoining buildings, with the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust contributing nearly $3 million in grant funding. Since 2005, the Museum Complex has been sustainably operated by the Trust on behalf of the City of Vancouver with an annual budget of over $300,000. Of this amount, the Trust provides more than $30,000 in direct operational and education programming support , with the remainder primarily derived from event rentals, as well as admissions, memberships and general donations. From 1995 until 2005, the Museum Complex was operated by the Pearson Field Historical Society, which provided similar financial support, and both the Society and the Trust invested in the acquisition of historic aircraft, as well as other exhibits. In total, there has been a community investment in the Museum Complex through the City and our nonprofit organizations of at least $8 million, while the NPS has made no material contributions, other than allowing the development of the Museum Complex on their land.

Current Issue

Since May 2011 the Trust has been in discussions with the NPS concerning the Trust’s operation of the Museum Complex. There is a Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) in place for Museum operations between the NPS and the City executed in December 1995. That Agreement was to remain in effect until 2025, with extensions thereafter. The Trust has served as the City’s designated agent to operate the Museum since the Trust and the City entered into a sub-agreement in February 2005.

However, on February 1, 2013 the NPS terminated that Agreement after seeking to have the Trust sign a new Agreement. Among other changes, the proposed new Agreement would have required:
• NPS approval of all education and interpretive programming developed by the Trust up to a year in advance. NPS would also prohibit the Trust from entering into sub-agreements with education partners and would require that current relationships and agreements with education partners be transferred to NPS management.
• NPS approval of all events inside and outside the Museum Complex through individual special use permits with very restrictive criteria for approvals.
• NPS approval of all Trust income and expenditures associated with the Museum Complex, although the NPS would bear no financial responsibility for operational or capital support for the Museum Complex.
• Reduction in the land and building footprint of the Museum Complex, hindering the programs and operations of the Museum.
• Transfer of ownership and management of the Trust’s collections and exhibits to the NPS.

These are just a few of the demands contained in the proposed new agreement from the NPS which the Trust cannot accept.

The NPS justified this imposition of control simply because the community built the Museum Complex on seven (7) acres of NPS property. Since the Trust would not comply with these new terms the NPS terminated the current agreement that was to remain in effect until 2025.

As noted above, the NPS has not provided financial support for operations and they did not materially contribute to the development and rehabilitation of the Museum Complex buildings. All of the exhibits and collections, including aircraft, are either owned by the Trust or are on loan to the Trust by private donors, for which the Trust has a stewardship responsibility. This is why the Trust moved those assets to its hangars at Pearson Field.

Among the many impacts of this forced move are two very significant outcomes. The Trust needs to move established STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) based educational programs such as the summer-long aviation camps and Exploring Careers in Aviation Program – in partnership with the Clark County Skills Center - to the Trust’s hangars on Pearson Field. In addition, the more than 100 community events held annually at the Museum Complex will have to find new venues, which will be a hardship on the many charitable organizations the Trust particularly enjoys supporting with special nonprofit rates.

The only way these programs, activities and events can be preserved is to remove jurisdictional authority of the M.J. Murdock Aviation Center/Pearson Aviation Museum Complex from the NPS and place it under the authority of the City of Vancouver. The City would then continue to partner with the Trust in its stewardship of the Museum Complex on behalf of and for the benefit of the community and the region.

After all, our community members paid for the development of the Museum Complex and have sustained this wonderful asset. The Trust believes it belongs to our citizens, and if you agree the Trust encourages you to support the City Council and our Congressional Delegation to advance legislation to change oversight of the Museum Complex from the NPS to the City. Their contact information is below.

Congressional Delegation:

Katie Whittier
Southwest Washington Director
U.S. Senator Patty Murray
The Marshall House
1323 Officer’s Row
Vancouver, Washington 98661
Phone: (360) 696-7797
Fax: (360) 696-7798
katie_whittier@murray.senate.gov

Kimberly Blake Pincheira
Southwest Washington Director
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
The Marshall House
1313 Officers Row
Vancouver, WA 98661
360-696-7838
360-696-7844 – FAX
kimberly_pincheira@cantwell.senate.gov

Ryan L. Hart
District Director
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler
O.O. Howard House
750 Anderson St., Suite B
Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 695-6292
Fax: (360) 695-6197
Ryan.L.Hart@mail.house.gov