SUBMARINEMUSEUMS.ORG Forum
Individual Submarine Boards => USS Torsk (SS-423) => Topic started by: Mark Sarsfield on March 06, 2008, 02:28:26 PM
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Guys,
What requirements did the Torsk meet to being designated as a 501(c)(3) as opposed to being 501(c)? You're in a position to receive grants and other donations that are difficult or impossible for the Batfish to procure.
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We are in a bit of a different situation then most. The Torsk, Constellation, USS Taney and Lighthouse Chesapeake are overseen by The Baltimore Maritime Museum. All known as living classrooms. I do not know what tax position they take. From what I understand, the BMM secure funds and allocate these funds to the vessels. Normally the funds come from the city. For example, Mayor Dixon awarded the Torsk funds for the new decking. Other things we get from the BMM. We need to show a cause for funds and the BMM secures these funds.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Maritime_Museum
http://www.baltimore.to/MaritimeMuseum/index.html
As you can see, these vessels are a large attraction and we enjoy being in the harbor next to the aquarium and very close to the stadiums.
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I've visited the museum several times and I really enjoyed the various attractions. Great location being next to all of those restaurants and probably one of the best aquariums in the country.
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Mark,
Send an email to our treasurer, Dave Thames, at dthames@usstorsk.org (tell him I sent you) and have him give you a quick rundown of the process we went through to get the 501(c)(3) designation for the Torsk Volunteer Association.
We work closely with BMM in our fundraising but we are seperate entities when it comes to donations and fundraising. We have an understanding that we won't approach any company or organization that they are working with, with the same in reverse. They also understand that all funds that TVA raises go directly to support our restoration efforts on the boat. We have worked many projects where we have split the cost 50/50 with them, and other projects where they have funded the entire cost. It's worked pretty good so far.
Any other questions, let me know!
Gil
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So Gil, I got a Torsk sweatshirt over at the Taney last Saturday. The Torsk gets a bit of this sale, correct?
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Thanks, Gil. I dropped Dave an email. Only the IRS could create such a mess as this.
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Chris,
If you bought it on board Taney, then that sale goes into the BMM treasury. Their ships store is separate from ours. But we will eventually see something from the sale in the form of support from BMM for our projects.
Gil
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10-4
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No word from Dave, yet.
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Mark,
Dave is a pretty busy guy - give him some time. I saw him on the boat Saturday and he had just flown in the nite before from CA, and was headed back out again Sunday morning to CA for more work. If you don't hear from him in a week or so let me know and I'll goose him a little.
Gil
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Okay, Gil. Thanks.
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I just visited the Batfish Foundation website and they have the Batfish listed as a 501(c)(3) as of 2004. Rick was under the impression that it was a 501(c). So, someone got confused.
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Gilbert cleared our staus up pretty clearly. We are a separate entity from the Baltimore Maritime Museum (BMM). They actually have custody of Torsk. The Torsk Volunteer Association (TVA) is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that does all the maintenance and restration work aboard Torsk. BMM helps us to fund many of our restoration projects and they fund the periodic shipyard period. TVA does its own fundraising and has a separate budget for accomplishing restoration projects. Our volunteers also do many many hours of research to find and procure missing equipment. We have acquired missing Sonar consoles, radio equipment, ECM gear, valves, bunks, torpedoes, and much, much more. Anytime strip ship events occur at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, James River Reserve Fleet, Bremerton Naval Shipyard, and other locations, you will find Torsk Volunteers present. Torsk is slowly but surely being restored to its 1965 appearance and operational condition. We have many people to thank including Rich Pekelney, NAVSEA personnel, and all of our tremendous crewmembers (well over 120). I personally believe that our volunter crew is as good or better than any crew that ever manned a submarine in the US Navy. We have a long way to go, but, with this crew of ours, I believe Torsk can be the best of the Museum boats in the next few years. A far ry from where we started out about ten years ago.
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Chief she has come a LONG way in the last 4+ years that I have been onboard and I can't wait to see her work all the way through the boat with the exception of turning the ships screw, been one hell of a ride and damn it is a shame that I can't make it to work for my 5th Work Weekend, may try to sneak a couple of hours on her but no workie allowed >:(