Saturday, August 21, 2010 (posted late due to vacation)

Plankowner on USS CHARLES F. ADAMS Visits ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center

One of the crewmen on ADAMS when she was commissioned (a Plankowner!) visited the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center at The Jacksonville Landing today. Machinist Mate 2nd Class Ed Frazier, and his wife, who had gone from their home in Illinois to North Carolina for a family reunion, made a special trip to Jacksonville just to see the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center.

Ed and his wife met with Wayne Misenar, our JHNSA Board Member who was there that day. Ed presented JHNSA with his cruise book; the very first cruise book of the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS! In addition, he presented JHNSA with his original Plankowner Certificate, in mint condition! But it did not stop there; Ed presented JHNSA with a $500 check to support the effort to establish the ADAMS Class Museum in downtown Jax! Thank you, Ed !!!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Public Hearing to receive Comments from the Public Held at Jax City Council Meeting on ADAMS Berth Site

At tonight's Jacksonville City Council Meeting, a Public Hearing was held to receive Comments from the Public on the proposed legislation which will give the City of Jacksonville's formal support for berthing the ADAMS Class Museum, utilizing the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS, alongside the Acosta Bridge in downtown Jacksonville on the south bank of the St Johns River. This is one of the key legislative steps in satisfying the US Navy requirement to demonstrate the availability of a permanent berth for ADAMS for at least 10 years.

Approximately 35 supporters of the ADAMS Class Museum were present. The following individuals spoke before the City Council in support of the ADAMS Class Museum: Bert Watson (President, JHNSA), Dan Bean (CAPT, JAG, USNR of Holland & Knight, who is assisting JHNSA), CAPT Bill Moredock, USN RET (former DESRON 14 Commander), Dan McCarthy (Chief Assistant State Attorney, CAPT, JAG, USNR, and former Military Affairs Liaison for Jacksonville Mayor), Brenda Campbell (Jax OMNI Hotel), Janice Dailey (Crowne Plaza Hotel), Dick Aquino (Veterans Volunteer and representative of several local Jacksonville Veterans' groups), and Jack Sears (Boy Scouts of America representative). These speakers spoke of the economic and civic benefits to downtown Jacksonville in having the ADAMS Class Museum located at the proposed berth site.

The legislation now goes to various City Council Committees for review, after which it will return to the City Council for a vote.

Currently, seven (7) out of the 18 City Council Members are either Sponsors or Co-Sponsors of the legislation.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION POSTS VIDEO CLIP FROM THE ADAMS CLASS MUSEUM VISITORS CENTER

The Florda Times-Union newspaper (Jacksonville) has posted a video clip about the Adams Class Museum Visitors Center on their website. You can view the video via this link:

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-08-13/story/plans-attract-retired-destroyer-take-step-forward

This is a replacement for the link which we posted yesterday - the sound has been fixed and the article includes detailed text.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

JHNSA and ACVA make Progress in Obtaining Necessary Legislation for ADAMS Class Museum Berth Site and Pier

JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL REVIEW OF ORDINANCE 2010-675

Jacksonville City Council Member Bill Bishop has been working with Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) leaders Bert Watson and John O’Neil to develop Ordinance 2010-675 over the past two months. When approved by the City Council, Ordinance 2010-675 would “provide the City of Jacksonville’s formal support for and help to the efforts of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) to coordinate local, state and federal authorities to bring the retired naval vessel USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) to Downtown Jacksonville as a floating museum.” Over the next several weeks’ Council committees will discuss and review Ordinance 2010-675 before voting on it. The law firm of Holland and Knight provided the JHNSA with legal counsel for the Ordinance, and Halcrow Group assisted with engineering support with the Florida Department of Transportation coordination. The approval of this ordinance would be a major step forward for the Adams Class Museum effort.

Friday, July 23, 2010

JHNSA has obtained the legal services of Daniel K. Bean and Christopher Commander, both partners in the Jacksonville office of nation-wide law firm Holland & Knight. Several of our strong supporters recommended we contact Dan (the President of the Jacksonville Bar Association, 2009 -2010) regarding legal assistance that we need, especially in working out a Use Agreement with the City of Jacksonville regarding our proposed berth site for the ADAMS Class Museum. We are delighted that Dan and Christopher have said that they are glad to take up our City "Use Agreement and berth site legislation effort" pro bono! Dan was a 3rd class midshipman out of the NROTC Unit at Vanderbilt University in 1984 when he sailed on ADAMS down in the Caribbean - Wayne Misenar was on the ship then, as well! Dan later served on two frigates, the USS Voge out of Mayport and the USS Fanning on the West Coast. He was assigned shore duty at Surface Warfare Officer School in Coronado and then went to law school. Dan is a Captain in the Naval Reserves.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

At the latest JHNSA Board Meeting, the Board was proud to approve the addition of our newest Board Member, Vice Admiral James F. Amerault, USN (Retired). Vice Admiral Amerault is currently CEO of Oto Melara North America, Inc.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Copy of latest JHNSA and ACVA Newsletter

ADAMS CLASS MUSEUM EVENT OCTOBER 2010

          For all Adams Class Veterans and all supporters of the ADAMS Class Museum: There will be the second annual event from October 21-23, 2010 to support the effort to “Bring Home the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS” as a ship museum honoring all of the ships of the class in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) and the Adams Class Veterans Association (ACVA) will be hosting the event at the four-star Omni Hotel in Downtown Jacksonville, a block from The Jacksonville Landing where the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center is located.

          The Welcome Reception will be Thursday, October 21 at 1730 at the Visitor Center, followed by a music event at “Maverick’s” a local nightclub at the Jacksonville Landing. A Friday night banquet will be held at the Omni at 1830. Rear Admiral Leroy Collins, USNR (Ret.) the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and a strong supporter of the Adams Class Museum has been invited as our guest speaker. Fees for the entire events are: $125 per person – Thursday only is $55 pp and Friday only is $70 pp. This is a fund raising event for the development of the Adams Class Museum.

          For room reservations please call 1-800-843-6664 and ask for the Omni Hotel, Jacksonville, FL and ask for the “Adams Class Museum” rate ($79 plus tax – the rate is good till 1 October). Parking is available, but if you are flying in, taking the shuttle from the airport is easier.

Please mail your $125 event fee no later than 1 October to:

Event Coordinator
Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association
2 Independent Drive, Suite 144
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

PH 904-647-5177 www.adamsclassmuseum.org The ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center is open Monday - Saturday 1000 -1730

USS KING DLG-10/DDG-41 ASSOCIATION $5,000 DONATION

The USS King DLG-10 / DDG-41 Association held their annual reunion in Orlando, Florida the weekend of June 19/20, 2010. During their meeting they voted to officially support the efforts of JHNSA and ACVA and donate $5000 to the effort to have the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 be made into the Adams Class Museum in Jacksonville, Florida. The ACVA and JHNSA offer their sincerest thanks and regards to this group and we will use the donation wisely.

RESTORATION OF USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2

In October of 2008 the ACVA requested that the Navy donate the two radar antennas that were removed from the USS CHARLES F. ADAMS when it was decommissioned in 1990. The antennas shown above were obtained from the USS Austin currently being dismantled in Brownsville, Texas. ACVA veteran, Jim Donaldson, who had served on board the CHARLES F. ADAMS as a CWO3 Warrant Machinist, picked up the antennas in mid-June and delivered them to the Armed Forces Military Museum in Largo, Florida where they will be displayed until such time as they can be installed on the ADAMS.

HULL PLATES

Recently the USS Joseph Strauss DDG-16 Association donated $2,500 for a hull plate to help restore the CHARLES F. ADAMS during its dry docking after the ship is donated by NAVSEA as a ship museum. So far 11 groups, associations and individuals, have purchased or sponsored 11 hull plates at $2500 & 1 group sponsored 1 hull plate at $2000. If you or your group are interested in participating go to the ACVA web page http://www.adamsclassddgvets.org and click on the link to “Restoration Fund Donation Programs”. If you have questions about this effort you can contact our ACVA Treasurer Craig Bernat at http://www.adamsclassddgvets.org.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Donors for the Future Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Museum Dine in the Omni Hotel's Chef's Kitchen to Raise Funds.

Downtown Jacksonville's Omni Hotel hosted a fundraiser dinner for the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association's (JHNSA) effort to establish the ex-USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) as a dynamic naval ship museum. Area business and community advocates enjoyed the ambience of the Omni's unique and very intimate (ten seat) Chef's Kitchen and the culinary skills of it's Executive Chef, Greg Wright. Chef Wright presented a three course dinner plus dessert, each course paired with wine to the donors who each pledged $10,000 toward the warship's renovation and relocation effort. During courses, the guests received an update from City Councilman Bill Bishop regarding the supported legislation authorizing the mooring commitment for the historic warship and an overview of the project from JHNSA President, Bert Watson. A representative of Eagle Crest, Inc., one of the very first corporate supporters of the museum effort, and the interim President and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, Mya Surrency, were also in attendance. The diners viewed a large scale model of the ex-USS Adams as well as artist renditions of the future museum's location on the south bank of the St John's River adjacent to the Acosta Bridge in Downtown Jacksonville.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Naval Ship Museum endorsed by Jake Godbold and Martha Barrett.

Former Mayor and architect of Jacksonville's Riverfront Renaissance, Jake Godbold and Duval County School Board Member, Martha Barrett, both endorsed the efforts of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) to establish the Adams Class Naval Ship Museum in Downtown Jacksonville. Mayor Godbold, a visionary man who served as Mayor from 1979 - 1987, was the leader of many of the successful revitalization projects in Downtown Jacksonville, including The Jacksonville Landing. Martha Barrett, Mayor Godbold's former press aide and now Senior VP at Bank of America and a Duval County School Board District member (former chairperson), also serves or leads a dozen other civic and non-profit organizations. Both offered their full endorsement and continued support toward the JHNSA meeting their fundraising goals.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - The USS King DLG-10/DDG-41 Association Donation

The USS King DLG-10 / DDG-41 Association held their annual reunion in Orlando, Florida the weekend of June 19/20, 2010. During the business portion of their meeting they voted to officially support the efforts of the ACVA and donate $5000. Our sincerest thanks and regards to this group and we will use the donation wisely.

Robert J. Branco
ACVA President

Monday, June 14, 2010

The JHNSA, along with our sister organization ACVA, put on public display 2 very large antennas that were donated to us by the US Navy for use in restoring the ADAMS to how she looked when she was in active service. The 2 antennas are for two of the major radar systems that were aboard the ADAMS Class ship; the SPS-10 surface search radar and the SPS-40 long range air search radar.

The Armed Forces Military Museum in Largo, Florida has graciously agreed to display these 2 antennas until we are ready to reinstall them on the ship as a part of establishing the ADAMS Class Museum in downtown Jacksonville on the South Bank of the St Johns River near the Acosta Bridge. The 2 antennas are mounted on a small flatbed trailer so that they can be taken to various events and increase public awareness of our efforts to establish the ADAMS Class Museum. Go to the PHOTOS page to see pictures of these antennas.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Welcome Aboard to Wes Birden!! Wes has volunteered to work each week in JHNSA's ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center located in The Jacksonville Landing.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

JHNSA participated in the ADAMEC Bike Night event at The Jacksonville Landing. A good amount of ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center merchandise was sold, and JHNSA also received a nice 'donation' because we were the featured non-profit organization for the 50/50 drawing that was held. A number of Petitions supporting the ADAMS Class Museum were also signed by local residents.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

JHNSA President Bert Watson attended the Dolphin Cove Military Appreciation Day (North Ponte Vedra), and was able to raise awareness of the ADAMS Class Museum project amongst over 150 attendees. ADAMS Class Museum tri-fold information sheets were handed out. An ADAMS Class Museum color brochure was on display. Fifty-five Opinion Forms were completed by local residents and returned to JHNSA, stating their support for the ADAMS Class Museum proposal. Several "prospective" Board Members were identified, as well as a number of people who will likely volunteer to help JHNSA. Local American Legion Post representatives were also present at this event, and very interested in the ADAMS Class Museum proposal, laying the ground-work for future meetings with the American Legion.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 3-4 PM

The Board of Directors met with nine (9) interested individuals at the Omni Hotel in downtown Jacksonville. A short briefing was conducted, explaining the objectives of JHNSA in proposing that the ADAMS Class Museum be established in downtown Jacksonville on the St Johns River. A robust and "idea-filled" question and answer session followed the briefing. Some of the interested individuals are considering becoming members of the JHNSA Board of Directors.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 12-3 PM

The Board of Directors met at the Omni Hotel and conducted a Strategic Planning session, where they defined the action plans of JHNSA for the next six months.

Sunday, 18 April 2010

JHNSA Participates at Annual Boat Show

The JHNSA was invited to participate in the Annual International Boat Show 15-18 April and was given a covered tent at the very entrance into the exhibit area. Set up was by John Outlaw, Wayne Misenar and Royal Australian Navy Chief Petty Oofficer Richard Marek (Ret.) on 15 April. Booth manning for the three days of the Show was conducted by John Outlaw, Ramona Keays, Wayne Misenar, J. C. Campbell and John O'Neil. Pat Stroud held down the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center on Saturday. Wayne Misenar and John O'Neil disassembled the display and took all of the materials back to the Visitor Center at The Jacksonville Landing Sunday evening. TEAM ADAMS collected 146 petitions of support to "Bring the USS ADAMS Home to Jacksonville", sold over $300 of JHNSA merchandise, collected over $100 in donations, and distributed over 400 ADAMS Class Museum tri-fold information sheets.

Monday, 12 April 2010

JHNSA Board Members Brenda Campbell, John O'Neil, and Adams Class Museum Visitor Center Operator John Outlaw met with EU Jacksonville Publisher Will Henley and his Food Editor Erin Thursby at the City Hall Pub across from the Jacksonville Baseball Grounds to discuss the "Bring the USS Adams Home" project. Mr. Henley has agreed to place a story in his May Edition of the monthly magazine with potential follow up pieces too.

Later, on Wednesday April 14th, Board Member Brenda Campbell met with Ms. Erin Thursby, one of the food editors from EU Newspaper. Over lunch they discussed the positive impact that the Adams Class Museum would have on the city. Realizing that the museum will employ at least 28 people and will be a boon to the city’s economy, she has an interest in seeing the project succeed.

Ms. Thursby has already called on Jacksonville’s Downtown Vision to gather feedback on the effort. She gave favorable comments on association and has offered to promote JHNSA as often as possible. With her support and the support from our media friends we continue to move toward higher visibility and recognition within the City of Jacksonville.

Friday, April 9, 2010

JHNSA Board Members Meet with Mayor Peyton

On Friday afternoon, for almost an hour, JHNSA President Bert Watson and Board Member John O'Neil met with Jacksonville's Mayor, John Peyton. Also in attendance was the Mayor's Military Affairs rep, Bob Buehn. Issues discussed covered a wide range of topics concerning the proposal to establish the ADAMS Class Museum on the south bank of the St Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. This meeting is part of the process of gaining City commitment regarding the proposed berth site.

Friday, 9 April 2010

On Friday morning, JHNSA Board Members Brenda Campbell and John O'Neil met with Jim Bailey, the owner of a well known Publishing Company in Jacksonville. Jim recently announced his candidacy for Mayor of Jacksonville. Jim has a long history of working for the betterment of his home town, including serving for 17 years on the Waterways Commission! As he walked in his conference room, he greeted the two Board members and placed a bottle of USS Saratoga wine on the table! He was a supporter of that much larger ship museum project. He listened very carefully to what the ADAMS Class Museum project was all about and read our materials and asked many questions. He ended up stating this is a project that will bring people to the city and to downtown, and that the Acosta Bridge site is the right place. He said, "You have my support."

Thursday, 8 April 2010

JHNSA Board Member John O'Neil and President Bert Watson, along with docent-in-training Ramona Keays, met with Will Henley, the owner and publisher of EU Jacksonville, a long time events publication. Will had seen the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center and welcomed the chance to see what the JHNSA was all about and accepted our offer to come by and talk. He liked what he heard and invited several of the Board to meet with him to discuss his upcoming May edition which will specialize in Downtown events and the venues there. We hope to build a strong relationship with this monthly Entertaining You (EU) newspaper and the much larger web site.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Support of ADAMS Class Museum from "Down Under"

Richard Marek, who was a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Australian Navy and an ADAMS Class sailor, is currently in Jacksonville for a month. He is a "one man scouting party" seeking information he can share with his Australian ADAMS Class shipmates who served in the 3 ADAMS Class ships of the RAN. (See the ADAMS Class Ships page on this web site to learn more about these RAN ships.) Richard has been attending various meetings, and gathering information, particularly as it pertains to the fact that over 170 former RAN ADAMS Class sailors have signed up to come to Jacksonville for a reunion in the future.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

"BIKE NIGHT"

The JHNSA Board and the Adams Class Museum participated in the monthly "Bike Night" (held from April to October) at The Jacksonville Landing on Thursday, 1 April. The JHNSA set up a display table about "Bringing Home the USS Adams to Jacksonville", and had POW memorabilia available to offer to the passing public.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

ST AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE MARITIME FESTIVAL

JHNSA Board Members Brenda Campbell, Pat Stroud and Wayne Misenar, with assistance from the Jacksonville Maritime Museum, represented JHNSA from 9 AM - 6 PM at this event. They manned a table display of pictures and handouts regarding JHNSA and our efforts to establish a Naval Ship Museum. "Special Thanks" goes out to Eagle Crest for printing the Petition forms which were used to obtain support for the ADAMS Class Museum. Approximately 100 people signed Petitions at the event. We were not allowed to sell at this event, but in all it seemed to be a good day to help get the word out about what we are doing.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

POW/MIA ROLLING THUNDER (R) REMEMBERANCE BIKE RIDE

A great crew of Carol & John O'Neil with the logistical support of ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center Manager, John Outlaw, arrived at 08:30 AM and remained until 5:00 PM. In addition to raising "awareness" regarding our efforts to establish the ADAMS Class Museum, they sold almost $500 worth of POW/MIA and other military-related memorabilia from the ADAMS Class Museum Visitor Center!

This impressive Ride was sponsored by Rolling Thunder,(R), Inc., Florida Chapter #4 and ADAMEC, Harley Davidson cycle, Co., Inc. of Jacksonville.