Dear SS United States Conservancy supporter,

This week we are launching an urgent “Save Our Ship” campaign to raise funds to extend support for the 1,000-foot-long vessel’s carrying costs while we continue to advance our museum and redevelopment plans.  Click here to view our press release and click here to read today’s Associated Press story.  While we have made great strides over the course of the year, our efforts have now reached a critical threshold.

We are so proud of what we’ve accomplished to date.  We purchased the SS United States in 2011 and saved the historic vessel from certain scrapping.  We have built a national organization now numbering thousands of members hailing from all 50 states and 22 countries.  We have developed exciting plans for the SS United States Center for Design and Discovery, expanded our collections of archives and artifacts, produced compelling educational and communications materials, and created the SS United States Redevelopment Project to harness the ship’s considerable economic potential.  We also created an innovative crowdfunding preservation campaign at SavetheUnitedStates.org, and more than 50,000 virtual pieces of the ship have been purchased and personalized to date.  Our innovative strategies to raise funds and awareness have garnered international media attention from among others, the Associated Press, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS and NBC News, National Public Radio, and a wide range of other print and broadcast outlets.

Over the course of the year, the SS United States Redevelopment Project has advanced plans to repurpose the ship as a stationary mixed-used development.  As Dan McSweeney, the Project’s Managing Director details below, we have reached out to hundreds of potential partners and entered into detailed redevelopment discussions for possible permanent placement of the ship in New York and Pennsylvania. However, the slow economy, capital constraints, competing interests, regulatory hurdles, and the project’s scale and complexity have thus far hindered a final deal.  While some intriguing new scenarios and potential partnerships have recently emerged, this exciting window of opportunity will close without additional time and funding.

We are launching an urgent appeal with the goal of raising $500,000 from new donors, corporate sponsors, and other supporters to insure that the SS United States‘ legacy is honored and celebrated – and not destroyed.  We have reached an all-hands-on-deck moment. We hope you will join us in urging your friends, family and colleagues to become Conservancy members and “shipowners” at SavetheUnitedStates.org.  We seek your help in reaching out to political leaders, the press, and potential corporate sponsors and investors.  We welcome your suggestions on how we can insure that our campaign succeeds.

With all the attention being given to plans for the Titanic II – a replica of an ocean liner that met a tragic end – we still have the chance to  save the most famous ship that didn’t sink.  If this singular American achievement is destroyed, we will lose an unparalleled opportunity to create jobs, honor our history, and celebrate the nation’s enduring capacity for innovation.  The SS United States conveys a simple and timeless message: Anything is possible.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Susan Gibbs
Executive Director
SS United States Conservancy

Dear Friend of the SS United States:

I wrote to you last fall about the need to extend the timeline of our Request for Proposals for redevelopment of the SS United States.  At that time, I held much hope that one of the potential real estate partners with whom we were negotiating would enter an agreement with the SS United States Conservancy to re-purpose the ship as a permanently moored mixed-use development.

Unfortunately, this has not yet come to pass.  For various reasons, the potential partners we discussed our concept with have proved unable to advance in the project.  The reasons are not difficult to understand, given that we are still in a recovering economy.  They include capital shortfalls, competing interests, and regulatory hurdles.  Put simply, the scale and uniqueness of our concept have hindered our ability to enter a development contract.

Our efforts over the past year have been guided and advanced by many very talented and committed people.  However, the fact remains that we do not yet have a signed deal and are entering a precarious situation.  While we have not given up hope and continue in the active search for a scenario that will save our great national flagship, we are rapidly running out of resources and cannot afford to keep the SS United States at her current berth indefinitely.

The very positive side of the story is the fact that we have been building a large and diverse network in support of the ship and have amassed significant intelligence on how and where this project can occur.  Multiple feasibility and other studies have been conducted and word of our vision has reached high levels in the public and private sectors.  For these reasons, we must remain steadfast in pursuit of a deal.

We have seen very dark days during the past nine years, including almost losing the ship to scrappers in 2010 before the miraculous intervention of Gerry Lenfest.  There is hope that similar support can emerge now but, as the old saying goes, “Hope is not a strategy.”  We must continue to engage with supporters of the SS United States from across America and the world, with potential private sector partners, and with government officials who may be in a position to help.

We have never felt more strongly that our great ship offers unparalleled opportunities, in the form of business and tax revenue generation, economic and community development options, much-needed hospitality, curatorial, and educational amenities, and even significant heat and electrical power creation.  It is now our task to deliver this message, loudly and clearly, to the people who can help make the SS United States a crown jewel in a metropolitan waterfront district.

Please continue with us in the effort to save our ship.  We are at a major crossroads, having identified potential sites and financing arrangements, while painfully aware of our limited resources and dwindling time.  Let’s keep faith that the right scenario can and must emerge.

As always, THANK YOU for your ongoing faith, support, and patriotism.  Let’s save our ship.

Respectfully,

Dan McSweeney
Managing Director
SS United States Redevelopment Project

AMERICA’S FLAGSHIP MAY SOON BE LOST DUE TO HIGH COSTS

Though Progress Has Been Made, Historic SS United States Could Face Destruction Without Political Will, Public Support and Private Investment

PHILADELPHIA, PA…March 25, 2013—Her faded red, white and blue funnels are the last of their kind in the world, but they may soon disappear forever unless emergency funding for her upkeep can be raised in the coming weeks.

The SS United States received a temporary stay of execution two years ago when she was purchased by a historic preservation group committed to restoring the vessel as a stationary waterfront attraction.  The nation’s largest and most famous ocean liner is now once again in grave danger.  The only ship to bear the name United States is running out of time due to the high costs of maintaining the nearly 1000-foot-long vessel and slow progress on inking a deal to convert the ship into a mixed-use destination and museum complex.

If the SS United States Conservancy can’t secure $500,000 from new donors, corporate sponsors, and other supporters, America’s Flagship could be sold to scrappers within the next two months.  The Conservancy urgently needs the funds to keep the ship in the water while promising redevelopment and museum discussions and plans continue to advance. The ship’s monthly maintenance, security costs and operational expenses are upwards of $80,000.

“This is a four-alarm historic preservation crisis,” said Susan Gibbs, the Conservancy’s executive director.  “If this great American achievement is destroyed, we will lose an unparalleled opportunity to create jobs, honor our heritage, and celebrate technological innovation. With all the attention being given to plans for the Titanic II – a replica of an ocean liner famous for tragedy – we hope the American people and their political leaders will join us in saving the United States.   Rather than build a reproduction of the Titanic in China, let’s repurpose the most famous ship that didn’t sink here at home before it’s too late.”

The Conservancy, a grassroots preservation group, has succeeded in raising $6.8 million to purchase and maintain the ship and advance its vision of repurposing the world’s fastest ocean liner. To date, the Conservancy has relied exclusively on tax-deductible contributions from private citizens from across the country and around the world. There has been no government intervention to save the historic ship – the crowning American maritime achievement of the 20^th Century.

In just the last eighteen months, the Conservancy has succeeded in advancing plans for the SS United States Center for Design and Discovery, building a collection of artifacts from the vessel, and creating a thriving global community of supporters.  Thousands of donors are purchasing virtual pieces of the vessel through an innovative and massive crowdfunding campaign at SavetheUnitedStates.org.  More than 50,000 virtual pieces of the ship have already been purchased and personalized. That campaign and the group’s other creative activities to raise funds and awareness have garnered international media attention from among others, the Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CBS and NBC News, and a wide range of other print and broadcast outlets.

To advance the ship’s economic development potential, the Conservancy established the SS United States Redevelopment project to aggressively pursue development partners and investors. The vessel’s repurposing would create an estimated 1,000 permanent jobs and thousands of other direct and indirect jobs in New York, Philadelphia or another East Coast city.  The ship’s more than 500,000 square feet of usable interior space offers a blank slate for establishing hotel, event, conference, retail, and restaurant spaces in a completely unique setting.  Parts of the vessel’s massive machinery spaces can be retrofitted to generate significant heat and electrical power for the ship’s host community.

During the past year, hundreds of potential developers and financial backers were contacted and more than a dozen firms expressed interest. Serious negotiations with four firms were pursued in New York and Pennsylvania.  Unfortunately, given the still sluggish economy, competing priorities on the part of developers, and regulatory hurdles, more time is needed to solidify a redevelopment deal.  While the Conservancy has identified new intriguing development opportunities, bridge funding is needed to keep this window of opportunity from closing.

The SS United States sailed from 1952-1969 from New York to Europe and other destinations.  On her legendary maiden voyage, the ship shattered both east-bound and west-bound transatlantic speed records before beginning a flawless service career.  Four U.S. presidents, countless world leaders, captains of industry, celebrities, and diplomatic, religious, and cultural leaders sailed on the ship, as did hundreds of thousands of everyday Americans and immigrants.  The iconic ship became recognizable the world over as a symbol of American innovation.  After retirement, the ship was stripped of interior fittings and sold repeatedly before being bought by the Conservancy in 2011.

“The prospects for success and projected profit margins are significant,” states Dan McSweeney, managing director of the SS United States Redevelopment Project. “We know that this model can work and we need someone who can join the effort and take it to the next level. Our efforts have identified credible financing options that could cover the repurposing of the vessel. We have been in talks with officials in New York and Pennsylvania that lead us to conclude we can make the ship a centerpiece of ongoing waterfront and economic development efforts.  There is no downside to our concept.”

“We have made major headway toward our goal of saving this national icon and giving her a sustainable future,” said Gibbs. “The American people have responded generously to our call but without added support from the public – and their political leaders – our nation’s flagship will be lost.”

Supporters are encouraged to contribute online at SavetheUnitedStates.org and become Conservancy members at SSUSC.org.  The Conservancy is also encouraging its supporters to contact their elected officials in New York and Pennsylvania and convey the ship’s historic importance and economic development potential.

Mary B. Anderson
November 2, 1912 – February 6, 2013

The Conservancy deeply regrets to announce that Mary B. Anderson, wife of Commodore John W. Anderson and mother of Charles B. Anderson, Chairman of the Conservancy Board, passed away on February 6^th at the age of 100.

Mary Anderson was born on November 2, 1912 in Clifton, Tennessee.  Her father, Captain Charles R. Beard, was a highly respected Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi River steamboat captain.  She was one of the first women in her state to volunteer for service in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II and served with the Army Air Corps in England as a liaison officer with the RAF until 1945.  Her first transatlantic trip was aboard the Queen Elizabeth with thousands of GIs “packed like sardines.”   Returning to the US aboard the troopship John Ericsson (the former Swedish-America liner Kungsholm) she met her future husband, who commanded the ship in both the Pacific and Atlantic theatres throughout the war.  John Anderson went on to command the America until his appointment as master of the United States shortly after her recordbreaking maiden voyage in 1952 .

Throughout her long life she remained an avid fan and supporter of the “Big U.”  She will be greatly missed by all of us.

Mark Strassmann of CBS News takes you on board the SS United States in this CBS Sunday Morning exclusive, which aired nationally on February 20, 2013. An archived version of the story can be viewed HERE

“MADE IN AMERICA” PREMIERES, SHOWCASES THE HISTORY, PLIGHT OF THE SS UNITED STATES – AMERICA’S FLAGSHIP

Film Launched to Bolster SavetheUnitedStates.org Campaign

New York, NY…February 11, 2013— Forty years ago, New York’s famed Grand Central Terminal faced destruction until historic preservationists and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis stepped up to save it.  This year, Grand Central celebrates its 100^th Birthday, as yet another American engineering and architectural icon finds itself in a race against time.  As part of a national campaign to save America’s Flagship, the SS United States, renowned director Robert Radler has completed a new documentary, SS United States: Made in America.  The film is the sequel to Radler’s acclaimed PBS documentary SS United States: Lady in Waiting, produced by Emmy Award winning writer Mark B. Perry in 2008.  The new film includes rare archival footage and updates on the plight of the “Big U” and the SS United States Conservancy’s efforts to save the fastest ship ever built.

The new 55-minute film is being released through the SS United States Conservancy’s social media and other online platforms in five installments over the coming weeks.  Chapter One can be viewed by clicking HERE.  Each chapter concludes with a call to action encouraging viewers to support the innovative SavetheUnitedStates.org campaign where visitors can save and personalize pieces of the vessel online for as little as $1 and upload photos and messages that link to their own social media profiles.

“Until the advent of the internet, I often felt like I was the only one who remembered this great ship,” says Radler who is best known for directing HBO’s “the Substitute” Movies, the Best of the Best martial arts dramas, plus a host of television shows including Hercules and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  “Through the power of new technology and social media, we have found that there a community of people all around the world who care about this great vessel and her place in history.  That’s why it is fitting that this film be premiered and promoted online to help ensure the SavetheUnitedStates.org campaign is a great success.”

Like so many who saw her during her service career, Radler who grew up in New York, was mesmerized by the SS United States as she steamed in and out of New York Harbor along with the other great 20^th century liners.  “There was something about this ship that set her apart from all the others.  With that streamlined bow and those huge red, white and blue funnels, she looked like she was going 50 miles an hour standing still,” he recalls.  His interest in the ship has been a life-long journey.  As a young film student he was one of only a few ever permitted to film the ship while she was mothballed in Newport News following her lay-up in the 1970’s.

The SS United States’ transatlantic speed record — set 60 years ago on her maiden voyage — will likely never be broken.  One of the nation’s greatest engineering achievements, the vessel epitomized the nation’s post-war industrial and technological might and “can-do” spirit.  Once a Top Secret Cold War weapon and the ship of choice for celebrities and presidents, today she sits in Philadelphia harbor rusting, awaiting restoration and repurposing.

“The SS United States epitomizes the term “Made in America” and Bob Radler has again captured the ship’s power, technological innovation and national symbolism with his thoughtful and moving film,” states Susan Gibbs, Executive Director of the SS United States Conservancy, which purchased the ship last year.  The Conservancy has only a limited time to raise more than $1 million to keep the vessel in the water for another year while redevelopment and museum plans are finalized.  “This film is a part of our Save the United States Campaign.  Everyone who participates in savetheunitedstates.org will become part of our permanent interactive museum exhibition and help ensure that this ship endures and inspires for generations to come.”

“She is as significant an American icon as the Empire State Building or Grand Central Terminal.  In America, we can’t make a ship like this anymore,” says Radler.  “Lady in Waiting” reached US households through PBS stations and brought the plight of America’s Flagship to millions of people around the world.  Now that the Conservancy owns this ship and is racing to raise the funds to save her, I hope this film will motivate people to take action in support of an irreplaceable piece of American history.”

MEDIA CONTACT
Thomas J. Basile
TBasile@EmpireStrategy.com
917-579-2216

As those of you who follow us on Facebook and Twitter already know,  CBS Sunday Morning  will feature the SS United States on Sunday, February 17 (Originally scheduled for January 20).

We must save the SS United States, an enduring symbol of strength and beauty, technological innovation, and America’s “Can Do” spirit. CBS Sunday Morning, a nationally broadcast program, hosted by Charles Osgood, will explore the extraordinary history of the “Big U” as well as the Conservancy’s urgent effort underway to preserve the ship’s legacy and fulfill her economic potential.

The show will air at 9:00 AM eastern standard time on CBS. Be sure to tune in Sunday, February 17 — or set your DVR — and set sail aboard “America’s Flagship!”

We’ve partnered with director Bob Radler to bring you a new five-part documentary, SS United States: Made in America, which will make an exclusive online premiere beginning in this month. This spectacular new release, a follow-up to SS United States: Lady in Waiting (2008), includes incredible footage of the ship, both in her heyday and in her current state, as well as interviews with former passengers, crew, maritime experts, and Conservancy leadership.

The film will be released in five parts, with Chapter One AVAILABLE NOW on our website. Click here to view Chapter One of the series.

Hopes U.S. Officials Will Support Similar Vision for America’s Flagship

New York, NY…January 8, 2013—The SS United States Conservancy, owners of America’s Flagship, the historic SS United States, released the following statement praising key officials in the City of London for backing a redevelopment and museum plan for the QE2, which was recently rumored to have been sold for scrap by its owners in Dubai. The Conservancy is currently pursuing similar redevelopment options for the famed American ship in hopes of saving the fastest ocean liner ever built from demolition:

“The return of the QE2 to London would be a great victory for all those who support the preservation and re-use of historic, endangered vessels like the QE2 and the SS United States. Here at home, however, our nation’s great flagship – the fastest ocean liner ever built and the largest made in America – is still in danger of being lost forever. While our efforts have garnered support from people across the nation and around the world and we continue to have productive conversations with developers and government officials, time is running out for us to save the United States.

“We hope that officials in New York or another east coast city will be as supportive to the SS United States as officials in London are to the proposed QE2 redevelopment project. Saving the SS United States and transforming her into a enduring waterfront showpiece and innovative museum space will protect this extraordinary piece of our history for future generations, create thousands of jobs, contribute to the economic revitalization of an urban waterfront setting, and celebrate one of the nation’s greatest technological achievements.

“Longer than the QE2 and faster than the Queen Mary, the United States remains an enduring symbol of 20th century American innovation and optimism. She provides enormous opportunity as a waterfront development, including hotel, dining, event spaces, and world-class museum with more than 500,000 square feet of usable space. Nothing this significant that bears the name of our great nation should be left to rust or be destroyed.

“Kudos to London for your efforts. Let’s hope America will follow suit.”

To learn more about the SS United States and support the cause to save America’s Flagship visit SavetheUnitedStates.org or SSUSC.org. Real estate development opportunities are described at the SS United States Redevelopment Project site: www.SSUSRedevelopment.com.

ABOUT THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
A national nonprofit organization and owner of the greatest American ocean liner ever built, the SS United States Conservancy leads the global effort to save and re-purpose the SS United States. The Conservancy raises public awareness and financial resources for the maintenance, restoration and ultimate adaptive re-use of this iconic vessel and works to ensure that the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic remains an inspiration for generations to come. For more information about the SS United States visit SSUSC.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Thomas J. Basile – Tbasile@EmpireStrategy.com – 917-579-2216

Thank you to all who were able to attend the SS United States Conservancy’s annual holiday parties in New York and Philadelphia this year! Both events were great successes and we owe a debt of gratitude to the many people who helped make them possible.

Thank you to all those who helped sponsor our event in New York City:

• Paul Stipkovich, Carl Weber & the New York Chapter
• Heineken USA
• Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club
• El Rio Grande
• Dr. Marie Prewett
• Brett Greeley
• Mario Alvarez-Garcillán
• Glenn Lappin
• Andrew Coggins, Jr.
• Brian Roeder & Barrel Oak Winery

And thank you to the efforts and donations that made our Philadelphia event possible:

• Andy Herdan, Steve Perry & the Philadelphia Chapter
• Deborah & Kurt Pelkey
• Lynnwood Ouzts
• Tastebuds Market
• Champps Restaurant
• MageeMedia Productions
• Rusty Smith
• Bill Lawton & Surflight Theatre

For photos of these events, visit our Facebook page.

We’d like to extend our heartfelt wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season and thank you for your continued support. Word continues to spread about our campaign to “Save Our Ship” and develop the SS United States Center for Design and Discovery, and your continued backing is what makes these successes possible.

As you may have heard, the venerable Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 has reportedly been sold to Chinese interests for scrap. Along with the SS United States, the QE2 is one of the world’s last remaining classic liners. We must not allow “America’s Flagship” to meet this same fate. Please help us ensure that the SS United States survives and thrives for generations to come by joining the Conservancy, helping us recruit new members, and becoming a virtual “ship owner” at SaveTheUnitedStates.org.

If you have a moment, please view our holiday message on YouTube. We are forever grateful for your continued support.

The nation’s greatest ocean liner — a timeless marvel that perfectly embodies the country’s postwar power, optimism and unshakable “can-do” spirit — is rusting away at her pier. We’re calling on you to help “America’s Flagship” survive and thrive.

Dear Friend of the SS United States:

Sixty years ago, the American Dream was powerfully rendered in red, white and blue steel and aluminum. My grandfather — the ship’s designer — maintained that the SS United States embodied “the strength of a free society and individual initiative.” His words still ring true today.

Still afloat, the SS United States languishes at her pier in Philadelphia: faded, rusting, nearly forgotten — but still a spectacular sight to behold. At almost 1,000 feet from bow to stern, she’s longer than the Titanic. Her virtually indestructible hull is surprisingly sound, and her magnificent stacks still soar proudly above the waterfront. She remains a visible testament to the nation’s design, engineering and industrial might. But sadly, her time is running out.

We need your support now more than ever to ensure that this enduring symbol of American pride and innovation endures and inspires future generations.

Last year, the SS United States Conservancy’s purchase of the SS United States saved the vessel from certain scrapping. This year, the Conservancy celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ship’s historic maiden voyage, when she shattered trans-Atlantic speed records in both directions — records that stand to this day and will never be broken. However, our work is not yet done.

While the Conservancy has been making progress every day toward securing a sustainable future for the SS United States, the vessel’s maintenance costs are formidable. We have moved closer to securing a deal for the ship’s redevelopment, but terms are still being negotiated and success is not guaranteed. Without a major infusion of funds in the coming months, the vessel’s future is in dire jeopardy. To lose the SS United States while she’s still capable of being saved would be an unspeakable tragedy. Can we count on you to help at this critical time? Your tax-deductible donation of $1,000, $500, $100, $25 — or whatever amount you can spare — will make a huge difference.

Raising the necessary funds to save and restore the SS United States is our number one priority. And we’re also laying the groundwork for our SS United States Center for Design & Discovery — a museum exhibition celebrating the SS United States and her namesake nation — that will educate and inspire for decades to come.

We’ve made great strides over the course of the year. We introduced hundreds of thousands of people from across the nation and around the world to the SS United States’ plight and potential. We developed and launched a dynamic online platform and future interactive museum display, SavetheUnitedStates.org. We mounted a major exhibition at The Forbes Galleries in New York, produced a second documentary film, initiated museum planning with experts from around the nation, expanded our permanent collection of SS United States art and artifacts, launched a series of public programs, and earned extensive worldwide press coverage.

Meanwhile, the SS United States Redevelopment Project launched a formal year-long process to recruit prospective development partners and investors. The ultimate goal: to harness the SS United States’ considerable economic potential and transform the vessel into a permanently moored, mixed-use attraction in an urban waterfront setting. Although we had anticipated concluding this process at the end of November, circumstances related to potential sites in both Pennsylvania and New York have required us to extend the selection timeline. The good news is that we are making steady progress in both cities and we will be able to offer a more detailed update in the very near future.

Above all else, thanks to your generous support, we succeeded in keeping America’s Flagship safe and sound during her 60th anniversary year. We’re proud to say that the SS United States’ return to glory is now closer than ever. However, the vessel’s full restoration represents a massive undertaking, and we still have many hurdles to overcome. We simply won’t be able to save the United States without your help. Your donation today is crucial to continuing the progress we’ve achieved this year.

Our immediate priorities include:

• Preserve and protect the SS United States. We must grow our community of supporters committed to honoring America’s Flagship’s heritage and saving it from the wrecking ball. Our ongoing public education, media outreach and educational programs are now poised for major expansion.
• Redevelop the ship as a mixed-use attraction. While the SS United States Redevelopment Project continues to work with prospective development partners, your donations will help us secure and sustain ongoing support from local and state governments, community stakeholders, investors and other key constituencies.
• Establish the SS United States Center for Design & Discovery. The Conservancy’s groundbreaking museum will explore 20th century industrial innovation, the trans-Atlantic liner era, mid-century modern art and design, and American postwar history and culture. Your support will allow us to plan the facility, build our collections and develop an exciting interactive “traveling roadshow” to pave the way for our permanent exhibition. In January, we will share further details of our curatorial plans. These projects will move forward whether or not they find a home on the United States.

We urgently need your help as we work to rescue and restore the most famous ship that didn’t sink. We’re optimistic about the future, but your continued support is critical. You can play a pivotal role in saving the SS United States for future generations to enjoy and admire by making a tax-deductible contribution to our annual appeal and taking advantage of our enhanced membership benefits and donor tiers.

The United States bears the name of our great nation. To lose this treasure would, in the words of the Conservancy’s former Honorary Chair Walter Cronkite, commit a “crime against history.” As we look ahead to 2013, I know that if we all pull together, we will succeed in saving that shining symbol of America at its best — the SS United States.

Sincerely,

Susan L. Gibbs
Executive Director, SS United States Conservancy

P.S. Please make sure you visit SaveTheUnitedStates.org and purchase your own symbolic piece of the ship for yourself or as a special gift for a friend, colleague or family member. Your personalized sections of the ship will become part of our permanent museum exhibition. Thank you so much for your support!

Are you searching for last-minute gift ideas? Need something for the person who seems to have everything? Give the gift of the SS United States!  Purchase and personalize a section of our virtual ship at SaveTheUnitedStates.org and then fill out a special SS United States ”shipowner” gift certificate.  Instructions can be downloaded here.

Looking for something to accompany your “gift of inches”? Check out our new line of SS United States apparel from Printfection! You can also find other great gift ideas, including SS United Statesbooks, DVDs, wristbands, wine, and much more from our many partners on our website.

Many have inquired about our 2013 SS United States calendars.  Due to unanticipated production delays, the new calendar will not be available until after the New Year. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Last year, the SS United States Conservancy’s purchase of the SS United States saved the vessel from certain scrapping. This year, the Conservancy celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ship’s historic maiden voyage. However, our work is not yet done.

While we’ve been making progress every day toward securing a sustainable future for the SS United States and laying the groundwork for the SS United States Center for Design and Discovery, the vessel’s maintenance costs are formidable. We have moved much closer to securing the ship’s redevelopment, but terms are still being negotiated and success is not guaranteed. Without a major infusion of funds in the near future, the vessel’s future is in dire jeopardy. To lose the SSUnited States while she’s still capable of being saved would be an unspeakable tragedy.

We know that you are inundated with requests from worthy causes at this time of year, but we hope you will give the Conservancy your serious consideration.  If you itemize deductions, there may be a tax benefit to making charitable donations before year’s end in light of uncertainties around “fiscal cliff” negotiations.

Your fully tax-deductible donation of $1,000, $500, $100, $25 — or whatever amount you can spare — will make a huge difference in our efforts.  Read the full end-of-year letter from Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs HERE.

The SS United States Conservancy is happy to announce two festive holiday parties, hosted by our New York and Philadelphia chapters, and a chapter-wide meeting of our Washington, DC chapter in the coming weeks.

Our New York Chapter will be hosting a holiday party at the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmens’ Club on 37th St. & Lexington Ave. in New York City. The event will be Friday, December 14, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Wine bar, hors d’oeuvres and more are provided for the price of your tax-deductible admission. Click HERE for details and tickets.

Our Philadelphia chapter is also hosting a festive gathering, at Chammp’s Restaurant in South Philadelphia, across the street from the SS United States (2100 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard). The event will be over the lunch hour, Saturday, December 22, 2012 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Click HERE for details and tickets.

Our Washington, DC chapter will be hosting its first full-chapter meeting on Thursday, December 13 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the offices of K&L Gates, 1601 K Street, NW #1, Washington DC 20006. Please let us know if you plan to attend. RSVP to washington@ssusc.org or call Sarah Carley at (215) 680-3983.

Thank you for your support as we work to save and restore “America’s Flagship” and develop our new SS United States‘ Center of Design and Discovery. We will share more important updates in the weeks to come, but on this special day, we simply want to say thank you. We know how many compelling causes compete for your time and attention. However, in the words of the Conservancy’s former Honorary Chair Walter Cronkite, to lose the “Big U” would commit a “crime against history.” Thank you for all of your help during this truly momentous year!

Liner memorabilia reseller Grand Liner Lounge has announced a special promotion. With any purchase from their collection of vintage United States Lines memorabilia, 10% is donated to the Conservancy’s efforts to save the SS United States! Check it out their many items for sale at http://grandlinerlounge.com/products-page/united-states-lines/

Renowned maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham visited us at our Philadelphia Chapter meeting on November 10. Maxtone-Graham is the author of several books on ocean liners, including “The Only Way to Cross”, considered one of the best accounts of shipboard life during the golden age of transatlantic travel. He is currently working on a new book about the SS United States, and endorsed the Conservancy’s efforts, saying “I hope this ship will be restored as expeditiously and as perfectly as Susan [Gibbs] and the Conservancy are now planning.”

For a video of Maxtone-Graham’s visit, see our YouTube Channel.

The SS United States Conservancy and Redevelopment Project are carefully tracking Hurricane Sandy and are taking appropriate measures to ensure the SS United States remains safely and securely at her slip during the storm.

The ship’s managers, Atlantic Logistics, have reinforced ship maintenance and safety staff during this critical time. Around-the-clock shifts are watching the vessel and are in contact with a tugboat on standby to support the the ship, if need be. Additional staff are also on hand to provide support.

This will be the SS United States‘ third hurricane while at her Philadelphia pier, and she prevailed against many fierce storms in the North Atlantic during her service career.

We will continue to do everything possible to keep America’s Flagship safe and will keep you updated on developments as they occur.

Our global fundraising campaign, SavetheUnitedStates.org offers a Corporate Sponsorship Program that enables businesses and other organizations to help save America’s Flagship. On her record-breaking maiden voyage 60 years ago, the SS United States showed the world the very best of American innovation. Large or small organizations can demonstrate their commitment to saving the ship by participating in our innovative online fundraiser to ensure that our nation’s flagship is preserved for generations to come.

We need your help to spread the word about our Corporate Sponsorship Program. SavetheUnitedStates.org offers an array of unique sponsorship opportunities and benefits including prominent brand recognition, national media attention, naming opportunities, customized tours, and appreciation events. Click HERE to view our Corporate Sponsorship brochure.

Please consider becoming a Corporate Sponsor of SavetheUnitedStates.org and be a champion of this great cause and growing community of supporters. Let your employer know about the SS United States and encourage them to participate in the program or help us by reaching out to local business associations within your community. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to show the world that you and your organization are helping us fight to save this important piece of history. Corporate Sponsors of SavetheUnitedStates.org will receive benefits that provide exposure to millions of people across a wide range of audiences.

If you have any questions about our Corporate Sponsorship Program or would like us to mail additional copies of our Corporate Sponsorship brochure, please contact Cassandra Alvarez at calvarez@ssusc.org or call (888) 488-7787.

Have you driven by the SS United States lately? As we continue to raise funds and prepare the ship for restoration, we’ve mounted a banner across the length of the ship’s flybridge — letting the many passers-by know how to help us with our mission. If you take any new photos of the ship, be sure to share them with your friends — and direct them to our campaign site at SaveTheUnitedStates.org!

NEW ONLINE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES TO SAVE THE UNITED STATES

Groundbreaking Online Experience Leverages Social Networking, Power of Internet to Save and Restore America’s Flagship

New York, NY…July 11, 2012— In time for the 60^th anniversary of her historic maiden voyage, the SS United States is steaming onto computer screens across America.  The Save the United States campaign (www.SavetheUnitedStates.org) blends social networking with historic preservation to raise awareness and resources for the cause of saving America’s flagship.  The new interactive experience is intended to create an online community around protecting this global symbol of America’s power, pride and innovation. For as little as $1, supporters can help save a big piece of our history.

Before the Space Shuttle and the 747, the SS United States was one of America’s crowing technological achievements.  Larger than the Titanic, she shattered the transatlantic speed record 60 years ago this month – a record that has never been broken.  The safest, fastest and most advanced ship of her time, SS United Statesepitomizes “Made in America” and remains the largest passenger ship constructed entirely in the U.S.  The historic vessel was part of a top secret Cold War program to build the fastest ship afloat that could be quickly transitioned from the luxury liner of choice for Hollywood celebrities to massive troop carrier.

Today, the United States sits idle and in a state of disrepair in Philadelphia awaiting restoration and repurposing as a museum and stationary waterfront destination.

“She bears the name of this great nation and deserves to be part of our future,” states Susan Gibbs, executive director of the SS United States Conservancy, which purchased the vessel last year.  “This new campaign leverages the power of social networking and the internet like never before to ensure this ship is protected and restored for future generations. “We can’t bring the ship to everyone, so this interactive website will give visitors a chance to explore a virtual United States, learn about her people and history, and donate to create their own profiles within this historic vessel.”

The dynamic web platform, designed by Social Control of Los Angeles, enables visitors to scroll across the exterior of the ship and zoom in for historical information about the ship’s people from the Presidents who sailed aboard her to immigrants and crew members.

For $1 per square inch, supporters can zoom in to select sections of the ship to save and build their own online profile tied to their sections.  Supporters can upload photos, stories, anecdotes, and tributes which can be linked to their Facebook pages and other social networks.  Individuals and corporations have a variety of customization options including highlighting their sections with badges, colors and other graphics.

“We’re creating a new online community of people who not only care about this great ship but in celebrating our common history,” states Gibbs.  All donor profiles will be included in a new high-tech Wall of Honor in the permanent shipboard exhibition.

Funds raised by the campaign will be used to fully restore the exterior of the nearly 1000 foot-long ship to her former glory.  They will also be used toward developing a 20,000 square foot museum and educational facilities on board the vessel to showcase the history, culture and technology of the 20^th century post-war period.

Those interested in supporting the campaign can log onto www.SavetheUnitedStates.org or can connect with the effort on FB at facebook.com/SSUSC or on Twitter @SavetheSSUS.

Media Contact:
Thomas J. Basile, SS United States Conservancy
TBasile@EmpireStrategy.com – 917-579-2216

ABOUT THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
A national nonprofit organization and owner of the greatest American ocean liner ever built, the SS United StatesConservancy leads the global effort to save and repurpose the SS United States.  The Conservancy raises public awareness and financial resources for the maintenance, restoration and ultimate reuse of this iconic vessel and works to ensure that the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic remains an inspiration for generations to come.  For more information about the SS United States visit www.ssusc.org.

“The Ocean Liner United States: Celebrating the Past and Future of America’s Flagship” opened on May 18 at the Forbes Galleries, New York. The exhibition is free and open to the public from 10am – 4pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.  The Galleries are located at 60 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

The wonderful exhibition features an exquisite collection of over 120 artifacts, including china, furniture, artwork and documents from the ship’s top-secret design.  The treasures include Mira Jedwabnik Van Doren’s original plaques of American birds that once hung in a first class suite; private papers from the vessel’s designer, William Francis Gibbs, as well as from Commodore John Anderson, the ship’s longest-serving captain, and photos and recollections from various passengers and crewmembers.  The exhibition also draws attention to the SS United States Conservancy’s efforts to rescue and restore the SS United States and develop a major shipboard museum.

Peachy Deegan’s society column covered the festivities, and included a video of some of the evening’s remarks. To read, please go here!

Linda Coffman of CruiseDiva also provided sterling coverage of the event. To read her column, please go here!

Highlights of the show and the kick-off opening reception will be shared in the coming days, but we encourage you to head straight to the Forbes Galleries and view the show!

This past April, the SS United States Redevelopment Project (SSUSRP) announced the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the first step in an aggressive campaign to identify a developer to repurpose the SS United States as a 21^st century waterfront destination. The word has spread amongst commercial developers, and interest in the ship is on the rise. The Redevelopment Project is pleased to announce that, to accommodate the upswing of interest, and to provide ample opportunity to new prospective commercial partners, the extension for the RFQ. The new deadline is June 1, 2012. Additional tours of the vessel for RFQ respondents will also be held during the month of May.

To read Maritime Executive’s coverage of this news, please go here.

To read the original release of the RFQ, please go here.

To request a copy of the RFQ packet, please visit: www.SSUSC.org/redevelopment

Over the course of her illustrious 17-year service career, SS United States carried more than her share of luminaries. With names like Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, Gary Cooper, Charlton Heston, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, John Wayne and Walt Disney, her passenger lists read like a Who’s Who of midcentury Tinseltown. Now, in 2012, the SS United States is once again playing host to the stars, providing a backdrop for Dead Man Down, a new thriller.

On last Monday, April 23^rd, Conservancy and Redevelopment Project leadership, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and James Zolfo, Co-Executive Producer of the film, held a press briefing at Philadelphia’s Pier 82. Joined by Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Mayor Nutter and Zolfo spoke about the Dead Man Down and Philadelphia’s burgeoning role in the film industry, while Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs and Redevelopment Project Managing Director Dan McSweeney spoke about upcoming events for the 60^th anniversary of SS United States’s maiden voyage.

To read more about the conference and the film, please click here to read more coverage of the event:

Many thanks to all our friends and supporters who turned out!