* "In kind" refers to payment for goods or services with a medium other than legal tender - in this case the value of donated work on the application. Visit the NEWS FLASH to find out why there are now two thermometers.

NEWS UPDATE - 5/14/08

NEW BOARD MEMBERS
In last week’s Board Meeting, Jim Aldrich, the Director of the City Search Team was elected to fill the vacant Vice President’s position. Jim’s hard work in the ACVA in Tampa and now in Jacksonville to work to establish a home for the CHARLES F. ADAMS as a ship museum is well known to all ACVA members. Congratulations, Jim. At the same meeting the Board approved to change its By Laws. Previously the ACVA had a City Search Team in its organization. Since Jacksonville has approved the location of the CHARLES F. ADAMS and a Donation Application has been received by the Navy and is being evaluated, the City Search Team in the By Laws has been replaced by the Donation Application/Restoration Planning Team. This team will respond to the Navy’s questions about the Donation Application and also develop the plans for the restoration of the ship and its equipment as part of the ship museum development. Former Seller’s CO Bob Rumney and John Skiffington a former ETR2 on Sellers and long time Air Force and Defense Contract Management Agency Civil Service manager were elected as Directors to serve on that new team on the Board. Bob’s contributions to the Donation Application effort and in the survey of the ship in Philadelphia were a great help to the cause.

DONATION APPLICATION SUMMARY
We have now placed a summary of our Donation Application on the web site to explain to ACVA members the depth of information that was included in the application. Over 2100 hours of effort were completed by the core application team in the effort. The Marketing Survey and the Mooring design were completed by industry professionals, but the remaining portions of the application were developed by the ACVA members listed in the summary. The work was completed on Friday March 28th in time for delivery to NAVSEA on Monday March 31, 2008. The application summary highlights the effort to make the preservation of CHARLES F. ADAMS as a memorial to all 23 ships of the class. The DONAPP SUMMARY link on the left column of the Home page will open up the Summary.

BOARD CHANGES
Tom Crosser, who has been President of ACVA since the passing of our original President Frank Manis in 2004, stepped down in an April 16 ACVA Board meeting after the Donation Application was completed. Tom will continue serving on the Board as Director of the Volunteer Program that he helped to develop for the Donation Application. We are indebted to Tom for his efforts over these past years as President to make USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) as a ship museum. Later, the Board voted and approved Bob Branco, the current ACVA Vice President, to succeed Crosser as President. In addition, Craig Bernat, the ACVA’s Director of Public Relations and Fundraising was elected to relieve Pete Mansel as the ACVA Treasurer. Pete’s efforts to organize the Donation Application and prepare the Business Plan for the Application were invaluable to that huge 828 page effort.

MAJOR CONTRIBUTION
Recently the ACVA received a major contribution of $2.500 from DRS Technologies, a defense contractor with headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey. Not only did the company make the generous donation, but they also offered to assist ACVA with the restoration of the MK 68 gun fire control system onboard ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2).

Introduction

The Adams Class Veterans Association is an IRS registered 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization.

Our Mission

• Work with all Adams class groups and organizations to Save, Restore and Preserve the USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2;


• Educate the public on the rich naval heritage of the Adams class DDG ships;


• Document the roles of Adams class DDG ships in United States history;


• Show the importance of preserving historic naval vessels and memorabilia for future generations to appreciate.

What is a ship, really?

Most people look at a ship as nothing more than a bunch of iron and steel. A sailor sees it as a living being concieved in a shipyard; the hopes, dreams and pride of those who built her - from the grandmother who helped assemble her electronics to the welders and pipe fitters who turn her into something recognizable. Eventually the day comes when she is commissioned and her crew breathes life into her hull. Her radar and lookouts are her eyes, sonar her ears, radios her voice and engines her heart. She reflects her crews attitude, their hopes and dreams. In her life time she will see about 10-15 complete crews man her, until that sad day when Uncle Sam says 'Thank you for your service" and she is retired.

The ships of this class were, in the tradition of the Navy, named for famous men; from Revolutionary War heroes and Civil War admirals to former statesmen. It is our dream and goal to save the last of this proud class of ships.