Topic: A reply from Wendel (NCM's Executive Director)
in Forum: National Corvette Museum
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Hey Gang,
Through the ambassador's grapevine a rumor has been floating around about the NCM's decision to remove club and/or organization informational materials from general display , most notably the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC), National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS), and the Western States Corvette Clubs (WSCC). Whether or not you have heard anything about this I wanted you to see this response sent out today by Wendel.
Jim
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NCM Ambassadors,
Stephanie is out of the Museum taking a couple of days vacation. So I think it appropriate that I respond on behalf of the NCM.
No exhibit material from the NCCC or NCRS (or any other organization) has been removed from the Museum. You can look at our webcams and see for yourself. WSCC does not have a dedicated area for them to exhibit information on their organization; nor does any other organization registry, club, etc.
From the very first time we ever talked about the building addition of 47,000 and the renovation of an existing 17,000 - anyone looking at the plans would know immediately that the area where we currently do deliveries and where the NCCC/NCRS displays are would undergo extensive remodeling. NCCC and NCRS each have representation on the NCM Board of Directors and our Board has seen the plans several times from the initial concept to the finished blueprint documents. In addition, that major of a project has been talked about at every board meeting and many times in between.
While we thought there was no way they could not know their areas would be impacted by the renovation, I did write a letter to each organization and mailed them to their board representatives about three weeks ago. I did this as we wanted
(1) to be sure that there was a clear understanding of the renovation of that area;
(2) that their exhibit/display would need to come out;
(3) that anything in the exhibit/display that was privately owned that they contact the owner concerning picking up those items;
(4) that anything not picked up when renovation time began, that they would be taken down and placed in the library archives; and
(5) we welcomed the owner donating those items to the NCM.
We did not specify a date that this must happen by. Our board (and thus the NCCC/NCRS Representatives) knew the approximate timeline for the building addition/remodeling project. FYI, the timeline is:
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We open bids on Monday the February 18th
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Award bids by March 1st
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Construction begins as soon thereafter as weather permits
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Project completed in 14 months or approximately May 2009.
The renovation of existing space will be the last phase and thus it will probably be 4th quarter 2008 before that begins.
We also wanted both NCCC and NCRS to be aware that our plans for future exhibits/displays did not provide for an area for their specific organizations to have a permanent exhibit/display inside the NCM and thus we informed them of this in our letter also.
We also informed both the NCCC and NCRS that we will have a section in the remodeled area that will feature one or two different organizations and that we wanted to change them out every six to twelve months. There are several other organizations that have had a significant role in the history of Corvette. The many organizations, registries, clubs, chapters, forums, etc. are all a valuable part of the Corvette story, lifestyle and hobby. We want to tell their stories as part of telling the story of Corvette. We also want to change out those exhibits/displays so they are not the same stale and static displays that we get lots of feedback from Corvette enthusiasts saying............."why should I go to the Museum, the exhibits/displays are the same as when I was there two years ago".
Let me also add that there are many other Corvette organizations that provide significant support to the NCM in various forms, including financial support. Several of those have asked for their own dedicated area so the story of their organization can be told to folks visiting the NCM. Most of the time we struggle having an acceptable answer, especially when they point out their level of financial support is greater than NCCC or NCRS or both of them combined.
The correspondence between the NCM and NCCC/NCRS we thought would and should remain confidential. The NCM certainly did not leak the contents of the letters. Apparently someone did and we have responded to our Ambassadors so they can have the "rest of the story".
We realize we are just a steward for you all and for all Corvette enthusiasts that are members/supporters of the NCM. Sometimes it can be quite challenging to stroke all of the ego's of the many different groups within the family and to do so in such a manner that keeps that organization excited about the Museum, but not in such a manner that other family members do not feel welcomed, wanted and loved.
We hope you understand. If you have any questions/comments, we welcome them.
Wendell Strode
www.corvettemuseum.com
The Gateway To All Things Corvette
NCM weekly eNewsletter ncm-enews-subscribe-request@listserv.corvettemuseum.com
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Jim Olson 
"The Toys"...!!! Save the Wave! 
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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Hmmmm....if it weren't for the NCRS, there wouldn't even BE a museum(in BG). The museum had been open for at least 4 years before NCRS put up the display there. I remember Bob Cook designing the thing, taking it up there from Dallas in the back of his Suburban, and installing it, with help from Howard Loomis. 
I hate to see any NCRS display completely omitted, but, Wendel is correct in that there are many other organizations that are worthy of recognition, and should be credited. The BoD will do what is best for the museum, I'm sure. IF a few folks get upset, so be it. I wish they would allow for a permanent display for the NCRS, but, a rotating/changing display that recognizes the other contributors is good, too.
No matter what they do, someone is not gonna like it. There's one in every crowd...
Thanks for the info, Jim!
I hate to see any NCRS display completely omitted, but, Wendel is correct in that there are many other organizations that are worthy of recognition, and should be credited. The BoD will do what is best for the museum, I'm sure. IF a few folks get upset, so be it. I wish they would allow for a permanent display for the NCRS, but, a rotating/changing display that recognizes the other contributors is good, too.
No matter what they do, someone is not gonna like it. There's one in every crowd...
Thanks for the info, Jim!
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Space is always a premium and I am sure they want to keep it fresh and interesting.
When you go on an annual basis and see the same displays every year, you begin to think they aren't trying to keep it interesting.
I think rotating displays on an annual basis would be good.
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