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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of the JFK CV-67 Memorial Foundation?
The Foundation seeks to transform the recently decommissioned vessel into the "John F. Kennedy Maritime Museum," a world-class facility honoring the ship, 500,000-plus dedicated sailors and aviators who served on her, and of course her namesake, President John F. Kennedy. It hopes to place her, in perpetuity, in a suitable site where her legacy can be maintained and where she can continue to serve as a vital symbol of America, an educational site, an inspiring museum and a living memorial to the patriotic Americans who served aboard her.
What is your vision for the museum?
In addition to being a permanent memorial to the ship, its sailors and its namesake, we see the museum as a magnet for education in history, mathematics and science, including hands-on instruction and overnight experiences. The ship will house historical exhibits and interactive displays, providing an “insider’s view” to daily life on the ship. She will also be a vital adjunct to convention planning, providing a site for events and dinners. For more information, please see our Museum page.
Who are the people behind the Foundation?
The Foundation was formed by south Florida businessman Paul Troxel, and is supported by an impressive and dedicated board of directors and professional staff. For a full background of those involved please see The Team.
How long has the Foundation been in existence?
It was founded in late January 2007 after Paul Troxel learned of the plan to decommission the ship in March and decided he wanted to take action to save her.
When do you expect to open the museum to the public?
This will be a multi-year process, starting with getting local governments to sign on to the project, preparing the business plan and then obtaining Navy approval to donate the ship. Provided the ship is donated, we need to build the dry-dock and retrofit the ship into a museum. We are hoping to open in three to five years.
Does the Kennedy family know about your plans?
Yes, they have been advised.
Why do you want to berth the ship in south Florida?
In order to meet or surpass the stringent Naval requirements for ship donation, a primary hurdle must be cleared. Of all the criteria against which ship donation must be evaluated, none carry more weight than the business plan itself. The Foundation's requirement is to ensure that the ship-museum will sustain itself in perpetuity - primarily by virtue of its location and proximity to in-place tourism. Both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, with their deep-port access, active tourist economies and temperate weather became obvious alternative choices. Furthermore, both sites have strong historical ties to the Navy. For more on the choice of locations, please see our Locations page.
Did you consider Boston as an option?
Boston was the first city that we considered because of its ties to the ship’s namesake, President Kennedy. However, we identified some insurmountable problems in attempting to identify a suitable location. In addition, we were concerned that the seasonally inclement weather would negatively affect visitor attendance. For a further explanation, please see our page on The Boston Option.
How has the south Florida community reacted to this project?
We have met with many community leaders including the Chambers of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureaus - the primary representatives of the south Florida hospitality Industry. They have been extremely enthusiastic and supportive. People instantly understand the significance of the opportunity that the John F. Kennedy Maritime Museum represents within the entire hospitality and educational mosaic, from the business, community, tourist and convention perspectives.
What is this going to cost?
We project the total cost through opening at fifty million dollars. This includes the construction of a one-of-a-kind dry-dock to which the ship will be welded, protecting it from hurricane surge damage. We also include in this estimate the professional fees related to fundraising, marketing, public relations and the development of the several-thousand-page proposal that comprises the full business plan to be submitted to the Navy.
The retrofitting of the ship into a world-class museum is no small task in itself. This includes the need to hire the professional expertise in design, construction, curatorial, interactive exhibit design, aircraft restoration, education, hospitality, sponsorship marketing and activation, engineering and maintenance, management and other disciplines required to retrofit a ship designed for sailors and aviators - to make it accessible and safe for the general public.
Why do you plan to construct this unusual dry-dock?
Big ideas demand big thinking. Anticipation of Big Problems on the front end leads to development of Big Solutions - on the front end.
The main stumbling block that logically comes to mind when contemplating the berthing of a vessel of this size in south Florida is the development of a hurricane plan. This single issue of how to secure a massive vessel in the event of a Category 5 storm is what led us to conclude that welding the vessel to the ground, effectively converting a ship into a building, was the approach most likely to pass muster with the Secretary of the Navy, the Coast Guard and other stakeholders.
The “dry-dock solution” actually led to a multitude of ancillary benefits. We want to avoid the problems that other ship-museums must confront: the need periodically to close operations and move the ship to dry dock for maintenance and repair at a significant cash cost, not to mention the opportunity cost of closing the museum and losing both visitor receipts and goodwill. When the ship needs repairs - which will be less frequent without corrosive salt water - we will just drain the water, and museum will stay open. The front-end costs planned by the Foundation will virtually eliminate larger costs in the future and enhance the long-term project viability, an essential consideration for the Navy's ship donation program.
How does the Foundation plan to finance its efforts?
The bulk of the Foundation’s funds will come from personal and corporate donations, grants and endowments.
How much is this going to cost south Florida’s taxpayers?
We don’t foresee any significant taxpayer cost, although local governments will probably incur administrative costs and engage in feasibility studies. The overwhelming majority of the funds for this project will come from private sources. Furthermore, the benefits to south Florida’s economy in increased tourist spending and tax revenues will quickly exceed any amounts expended by local governments.
How can I make a financial donation to the Foundation?
We appreciate your support! Please see our Fundraising page to review your options and to make a donation. Several levels of giving provide you with gifting alternatives and ranges of recognition.
Is my on-line credit card payment secure?
Yes. All on-line donations are handled through PayPal.com, a secure payment website. Please go to the PayPal website for further information regarding their secure SSL encryption. The Foundation, itself, will not receive your credit card information.
How can I contribute if I don’t want to pay on-line?
We are happy to receive your donations by mail, and have a donation form for you to submit with your check.
I see that the maximum donation through the website is $1000; what if I want to donate more?
Obviously, we welcome your support! We are limited in the amount which we can process on-line, but welcome greater contributions. In fact, there are many levels of participation that come with additional benefits including sponsorship opportunities. Please see our Fundraising page, or contact us.
Instead of money, may I donate uniforms or other memorabilia related to the ship or south Florida naval history?
Absolutely, we welcome all artifacts as we build our collection. Please understand, however, that if we receive multiples of certain items, we may wish to auction some to raise funds. Please contact us for further information.
Are my donations to the JFK CV-67 Memorial Foundation, Inc. tax-deductible?
Yes. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation (Reg. # 20-8274779). Please check with your personal financial advisor if you have questions about the impact of your financial or other donation on your tax returns.
How can I participate in the Save the JFK community?
Please see our Message Boards to see what others our saying.
Sign up on the Shipmates Roll Call for former USS JFK sailors and for the Reunion Register.
Create your personal profile to share information about yourself with other community members.
Start your own Blog.
Submit photos to our Photo Gallery.
Sign up for our Mailing List.
Purchase memorabilia at our Save the JFK Store.
Do I have to register with the website to use the Message Boards?
You don’t need to register if you just want to review the postings. You only need to register if you want to join in the conversation and post to the boards.
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