Much like General MacArthur, I have returned, with the “New and Improved” (meaning “less often”) CFO Report.

While Mike Getscher has all the fun digging in the dirt and building the new Park and Pavillion, we’re working on insurance during the construction period.  Our primary “line of defense” is the insurance of the subcontractors we’ve engaged.  However, we need to have a backup plan and have our own insurance, too.  Note, we’re acting as our own General Contractor on this project, saving us a significant amount of money.

This past week our Investment Committee held its quarterly meeting.  This group provides guidance to the 2 investment firms who manage our funds.  We tend to be on the conservative side as we’re dealing with donors’ money and can’t afford “a swing and a miss” on more risky investments.  The Committee consists of 2 professional investors/money managers, 3 accountants/CPAs, and 1 attorney, all of whom volunteer their time and experience.

This coming week a PBC contingent will be attending the Chamber of Commerce’s “State of the County” luncheon featuring Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.  This event usually attracts a “who’s who” of San Pedro business, non-profit, and government “movers and shakers.”

Remember to be kind, it doesn’t cost a thing.

Thank you,
Ross

From the desk of the Chief Engineer

Another riveting note from the world of engineering and capital projects.

We are pleased to report that the construction site for the Pavilion project has now been cleared of old structures and debris. With an estimated 50 or more truckloads of material removed, this is a significant milestone and a huge first step towards actual building.

 Kudos to Larry and Jay who handled most of the heavy lifting these last few weeks, including the challenges with underground pipes and other features which had to be addressed. I must say that I was particularly pleased to see the old restroom go, as well as watching the light pole topple. Sometimes we are simply big kids in a bigger sandbox.

We are currently limited to a demolition-only permit from the City of Los Angeles and the Harbor Department while we work through final construction permits with both. And with Fleet Week looming, further work on the site would be difficult regardless. We can, however, perform a highly accurate survey of the site with the intent of identifying and marking the specific positions of such features as foundation pilings and the building perimeter. And we’ll also take this time to finish barge repairs and prepare for the relocation of the rangefinder and wood container, likely in early June.

 In other work, we’ve returned to our National Museum project on 3^rd deck this week in anticipation of opening it over Memorial Day weekend. Jonathan and his son Haydon have been hard at work in the very cool Blueprint Room, John Goodson is beginning work on the sailor cutouts, the IE&T team is laying floor tile, and the Engineering Team has been picking up where we left off some months ago. There will be items left incomplete this summer, but when additional funding becomes available, we’ll return to polish the design even more.

 With less than 3-weeks remaining till go-day, Fleet Week is also dominating much of our time. The Engineering Team is responsible for and preparing for power distribution, F&B refrigeration and a certain amount of logistics. My role is limited to EXPO design, load-in and permitting with the Fire Department.

 In practical matters, the Engineering Team will need to shut fresh water down for several hours Wednesday morning beginning at 0800. Restoration time TBD.

And now for Richmond…

Perfect timing… Looking through my old files today, I found a group of pictures dated May 2^nd, 2012, exactly 14 years ago today. At this point in time, scaffolding was being removed from the aft superstructure, most of the painting was complete, and the main deck portion of the deckhouse was shrouded in canvas due to final sandblasting and coatings application. By this point, we had applied almost 25,000 pounds of paint, reinstalled the mast platform, sandblasted and coated the CHT tanks, and were well along with preparations for tow. We were almost done and seemed to be on the cusp of leaving. But drama continued to follow us.

 Unknown to most, we had only been given temporary custody of the ship by the Navy for our initial tow out of Suisun Bay and had yet to complete the actual donation contract. To my knowledge, this was unprecedented, and very much driven by the almost desperate need of the Navy to remove the ship from the bay in 2011 before additional silting precluded her movement completely. We simply didn’t own the ship until that contract was completed, and it wasn’t going anywhere. But through herculean efforts by several people, the contract was completed on April 30^th, just two days before the attached pictures were taken.

Not to be outdone, additional drama had crept up from LA that spring in the form of doubt about the project from the Port of Los Angeles. Visits from Harbor Commissioners and other port leadership had occurred in previous weeks, some of them extremely tense. Capping off the concerns during that period was a phone call from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) in Los Angeles to the COTP in San Francisco, denying our departure from the bay area until a legitimate lease was signed with the Port of LA. At one point, it appeared that the ship would be ready but have nowhere to go. Time and money were running out.

It was during this time that fatigue and the emotional toll associated with the work began adding up for many of the crew. Weeks of long days, family separation, constant pressure, and money constraints began to break us down. Virtually all of us cracked at some point that spring, and as I recall, I finally spun out about that first week in May, informing Jonathan in an emotional moment that I was done. I pounded out my intended resignation in an email and shut down the computer. But the next morning, Jonathan asked me to come along with him on an impromptu tour of the city. I was reluctant but went anyways.

Hopping into his old convertible Volvo, we headed off across the San Rafael Bridge. It was a cool and clear morning, and I literally melted into the heated seats as we headed across the bay. I had never been to the headlands in Marin, nor had I seen or been across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was incredibly beautiful, and as we rolled across the bridge heading south, the tension began to drift away. After an impromptu tour of ILM at the Presidio with John Goodson, we ended up at Johnny Rockets for a burger and a milk shake, and it was there that we realized just how messed up we were. We were exhausted, but we were not broken yet.

 Life was better after that.

 As always, I am grateful to be here,
Mike

Engineering from Chief Moser
– Finally, another Fleet Week is descending upon us like a loving vulture. We are clearing as much space as we can around the piers for storing all of the Fleet Week goods.
– Continuing with Hull preservation and complete our first port side section. If time allows, we will move the cofferdam to the next section before Fleet Week festivities begin.
– Complete preparations for the opening of the 3rd deck boot camp experience. The opening of this exhibit is scheduled for the Fleet Week weekend.

Development from Kyle Aube
– Hosting 5th annual Leadership Summit at LA Fleet Week on May 21st. Ribbon-cutting of Phase One of the NMSN on May 23rd.

Programs with Mike Nguyen and Anna Borough
N/A

Tours with VJ Alcomindras
FLEET WEEK

Marketing with Hall Roosevelt
LA Fleet Week is great but let’s not forget the GRAND OPENING of National Museum of the Surface Navy’s Life of a Sailor! We will be celebrating this grand opening all year long.

Tech from Troy Vail
– Upgrades to the modern internal phone system in the works and should be complete
– Upgrades to Fleetweek Wireless distribution

IE&T from Gary Lopes
– Completion of the security door project is planned to be done in May with the installation of doors on the 04-level captain’s quarters and the chart room.
– The annual Armed Forces Day crossband radio event, scheduled for May 9th, will use the 04-level flag plot for the legacy radio equipment communications. This will allow guests to see and hear actual radio communications with radio amateurs across the country as they pass by on the self-guided tour route. IOWA’s original callsign, NEPM, will be used for the operation. Radio operation will also take place in the message center using the BIARA stations.

Sales from Catherine Moreno
– LA Fleet Week!

Curatorial with Dave Way
N/A

Communications with Marann Fengler
– All things LA Fleet Week. Planning content across multiple channels and platforms. Good stuff coming your way.
– Next podcast release is another really fun one: David Alan Arnold, the helicopter cameraman for the TV show Deadliest Catch. It goes live on our YouTube channel and wherever you get audio only podcasts tomorrow (Thursday, May 7th).

Have fun stuff you’d like to share in this newsletter or on socials? Drop us a line! marketing@labattlehip.com

Crew Services from Hershell Hardimon
– HR: Introduction of new job training program Safety
– Participating in the Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade and recruitment drive Training
– Looking for crew members interested in training development Volunteers
– Received 20 new volunteer applications

Accounting & Finance from Nui Valletta
In May, my focus will still be our annual audit. As of now, the overall completion shown on the Audit Software is at 80%. I hope to complete the pending items of the priority list in 2 days, and the auditors may have follow up or analytic questions so the completion rate can go up, or down at this point, but we are on track with the schedule. I also hope they will schedule an audit field work soon. To me, that is a point where I can feel more relief & relax, and expect less work on our part and more from their part until the completion.

Volunteering with Sue Schmidt
N/A