We are excited that the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) voted unanimously to approve entering into an agreement with the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHSNA) to berth the USS Orleck DD-886 at Pier 1 in the old Jacksonville Shipyards. We will be the project that kick starts the development of the long vacant shipyards. Up until now, the project has been privately funded through very generous donors and investors. The time has come to ask for public support for the project. With your donation you will help us celebrate Northeast Florida’s military, maritime and naval heritage, provide a hands-on, interactive, STEM based vocational experience for students and youth, establish a world class visitor destination in Downtown Jacksonville, and contribute to further stimulate the economic development of Downtown Jacksonville.
The first part of establishing the USS Orleck DD-886 as part of the Jacksonville Naval Museum in Jacksonville, Fl is getting her ready for sea and towing her from Lake Charles, La to the yards in Port Arthur, Tx. This will involve having our staff from Jacksonville traveling to Lake Charles to assist the Orleck Museum's staff packing up all displays, documents, other valuable items and removing the Dash 2 Drone and transporting all items to Jacksonville. The the Coast Guard will require the ship to be water tight for sea. We will need to replace gaskets on water tight doors and hatches. Then the tow begins down river to the yards in Port Arthur, TX. We must cover the cost for river pilots and the tug boats on both phases of the tow. Then it is into dry dock for a good cleaning, some hull repairs, other minor repairs, and a fresh shiny coat of haze gray paint! Funds raised will be applied to the cost of both tows. By helping us with the tow package, it frees up funds for additional work in the yards. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you once the ship is open for tours in Jacksonville!
The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association is a IRS Approved 501.c.3 Non-Profit. Please check with your accountant before using your claiming your donation on your taxes.
We have had questions about what happens to your donated funds if the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association is unable to get the USS Orleck to Jacksonville. The JHNSA Board of Directors has voted to adopt this plan for all donated funds that accounts for every situation at various stages of the USS Orelck Project:
RESOLUTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF
JACKSONVILLE HISTORIC NAVAL SHIP ASSOCIATION
WHEREAS, The Executive Committee of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association agreed to create a GoFundMe Fundraiser for the towing of the USS Orleck DD-886 from Lake Charles, LA to Port Arthur, TX.
WHEREAS, the goal of the GoFundMe Fundraiser was set at $60,000.
WHEREAS, any amount of donations raised in excess of the $60,000 original goal, would be applied to the second phase of the towing of the USS Orleck DD-886 from Port Arthur, TX to Pier 1 in Jacksonville, FL.
WHEREAS, if for any reason, the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association does not take possession of the USS Orleck DD-886, all donations raised from the GoFundMe for the tow, will be used to save historical items such as documents, equipment, and displays from the ship for use by other museum ships.
WHEREAS, if the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association does take possession of the USS Orleck DD-886, and while in dry dock it is determined that the repairs to the hull of the ship far exceed the amount available for repairs and the ship is dismantled, any remaining funds from the tow to the yards will be used to save historical items such as documents, equipment, and displays from the ship for use by other museum ships.
WHEREAS, if the funds must be used to donate historical items such as documents, equipment, and displays to other museum ships, they will be donated to the other museum ships in the following order: 1. USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr DD-850 the sister ship to the USS Orleck. 2. USS Laffey DD-724 which is technically the same ship except for the additional hull at midship that USS Orleck has. 3. All other museum ships.
WHEREAS, if the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association does not take possession of the USS Orleck DD-886, a donor may request a full refund of their donation minus any fees that were charged by the GoFundMe Platform. Refunds will be given according to GoFundMe policies.
WHEREAS, if the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association does take possession of the USS Orleck DD-886, tows the ship to the yards, and the cost for hull repairs far exceeds the repair budget, and there are remaining funds from the tow, no refund will be given to any individual with all remaining funds to be spent on saving the historical items.
WHEREAS, if the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association does take possession of the USS Orleck DD-886, tows the ship to the yards, and the cost for hull repairs far exceeds the repair budget, and there are no remaining funds from the tow, no refund will be given to any individual and no funds from other Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association accounts will be spent on saving the historical items.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on January 22, 2020 the Board of Directors of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association hereby approve the above Resolution and adopt it in full.
