2010 marks the start of the fourth full year of the endeavor to establish the Massachusetts Air & Space Museum. After careful review we believe several significant milestones have been reached, and advancement toward the goal is measurable and steadfast.
Complex projects such as this are by nature multiyear in duration. we have established several boards and committees comprised of a premier dedicated volunteer group of leading experts in aviation, aviation history, and organizational management. While the recent economic downturn had an impact on our timetable, the 2009 completion of a firm foundation plan for the project enables us to move ahead with full confidence of achieving the goal that has been established.
We were advised in 2008 that MassPort was receptive to the concept of our proposed museum on property of theirs at Hanscom and we were invited to submit a proposal for acquisition of the site.
Search for a consulting firm started in 2007. . In March, 2008 an agreement was signed with Arts Consulting Group [ACG] which specializes in non profit and museum start ups. The engagement commissioned them to do research and provide the requisite feasibility and planning studies, such work to be accomplished in three phases.
Phase I was completed in late Summer, 2008 and encompassed such factors as population census, anticipated patronage, location consideration and access, and feedback from various community and education groups. The Phase I summary validated our assumptions of the rationale, feasibility, and support for the Museum and the benefits it will afford the local area, the state, and New England. For Phase II, the consultants retained as additional advisors a prominent architectural firm, William Rawn Associates of Boston, for preliminary size and design work on the concept of our air museum facility. Phase II of the three part study was completed and the results are impressive. Phase III of the study is now underway.
The time consuming volume of research and work done by the consulting costs money, and even with much “pro bono” work we needed to raise additional funds. A goal of $125,000.00 to $150,000.00 was seen as the minimum that would be required to cover sufficient “seed” money for consultant fees and other start up expenses as we proceeded through the initial stages of the project. To date we have raised more than half of the required amount.
Approximately half of these funds have come from donations by individual members of the Steering Committee. A nearly equal amount emanated from contributions by Pathfinders and several private individuals. The balance resulted from donations by: the Massachusetts Air Guard Historical Association; Massachusetts Aviation Historical Society; and a grant from the Wolf Aviation Fund. Grants for development funding were awarded by the Massachusetts Cultural Commission, and the General Electric Aviation Group made an award of $30,000.
With only a minimum of exceptions, all expenses for travel, printing, supplies, and other administrative costs have been borne by individual members of the Steering Committee without remuneration. Additionally, significant savings in legal expenses have been realized through “pro bono” services provided by Forbes Sargent, Esquire of Sherin and Logden, LLP, and John Bradley, Esquire of MacLean, Holloway, Doherty, Ardiff & Morse, PC.
The core mission of the Museum is education focused on science and technology and our aerospace heritage. We are fortunate in having Ms. Shelia Bauer, recently retired as Manager, FAA National Aviation and Space Education Program leading the Steering Committee in coordinating the development of the MASM educational programs. The process of acquiring the site for the Museum, formulation of plans for the educational role, and setting up a grant writing committee are essential elements in the preparation of our capital fund campaign which is scheduled to start later this year.
