posted 06-28-2003 08:19 PM               

As some of you have been through Titusville, Fl, I'm sure you have heard about or seen the Space Walk of Fame Museum. The museum is located inside Miracle City Mall, at the heart of the city. It is free to walk in and see the exhibits and memorabilia. And they have a nice little gift shop.

Recently, the mall has come under new management. This new management has asked the museum to vacate it's premises. The reason seems to be that since the museum only pays untilities and not full rent, they don't contribute to the income to the mall as a whole.

The museum has till September to empty out it's new model rocket exhibits. The main part of the museum has until December 31 to vacate.

I am appealing to the space community far and wide. If you would like to help us keep this little museum open, please follow the link to view and or sign the online petition that has started. We will send this to the mall management at Miracle City Mall in Titusville, Florida.

Thank you for your time.
Cindy

To view and or sign the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/swof628/petition.html

posted 06-29-2003 10:25 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by David Stephenson:
I have signed the petition,it would be a pity to see this museum go.

---

Yes! I agree!

And so far so do lots of folks!
Thanks to everyone who has signed so far!

posted 06-29-2003 02:32 PM               

Cindy are you a member of the SWOF?

posted 06-29-2003 07:22 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by albatron@aol.com:
Definately a worth while cause, they do very god works.

Cindy are you a member of the SWOF?

Al

---

No.
But I do know the head of the SWOF (Charles Mars) and also work at the JC Penney store right next to the museum.

posted 06-29-2003 07:32 PM               

They have some really neat items in the museum also. If you are in the area, you really do need to check out this little museum.

posted 06-29-2003 10:15 PM               

You should join - they can use every penny they get. I joined a while back as a life member.

Leon - on target amigo - I would venture a large portion of their traffic is a result of the museum.

posted 06-29-2003 10:44 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by albatron@aol.com:
Cindy:

You should join - they can use every penny they get. I joined a while back as a life member.

Leon - on target amigo - I would venture a large portion of their traffic is a result of the museum.

It sure don't hurt!

Many, many thanks to all the folks showing their interest in this. We will do all we can to keep this museum open.

Al

---

posted 06-30-2003 09:22 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by spaceman:
Well done,we visited in May and it was great. A friend of ours (Russell Smith) has some of his 'trophies' residing there.Its a great collection and the gift shop prices are very reasonable, the staff are knowledgeable.
It would be a great shame for it to close its ideally located and certainly does bring trade to the other Mall outlets.
Thanks for bringing its potential closure to our notice,

Nick.

---

You're welcome!

posted 07-04-2003 08:38 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
How does one become a member?

---

Click on that SWOF website in the first message. Then to to the email addy, I'm sure someone will get you some info on how to participate. The head of the organization is Charles Mars.

posted 07-04-2003 08:46 PM               

There is a black spot at the moment.
The mall owner called me the other day, after getting wind of the petition. She had to tell me her point of view, and why she is doing what she is doing. It's a business decision on her part. Now, I know, this doesn't excuse her decision, not at the least. But I had to listen to her for about 20 minutes tell me how unfair it is to other tenants that the SWOF only pays a fraction of the rent the others day. She has a business to run, yada, yada.

Reading between the lines, the only thing that will save this museum is some 11th hour monetary donation, and from the local area. She doesn't give a rats arse that people from across the country and around the world sign this petition....
But in the next sentence says she is all for the space program as she has been in Brevard County since the days Werner Von Braun was flying V-2 rockets......(oh puleez spare me!)

That is the latest news I have on this situation. I wish it were better news. I guess the next move is local government,(what a laugh!)

posted 07-04-2003 09:02 PM               

Now, regardless if they get to stay, if I were the management of the SWOF I would start looking for another location immediately. From what I hear the Miracle City Mall is really rundown, hardly a place of a pride (and certainly not a point of distinction like the Mall of America).

(One last note: Cindy, if you know, how much does the SWOF need for a last minute reprise? With the 450 people who have signed the petition, you have 450 e-mail addresses. By my calculator, if each person donated only $25, that would over $11000.)

posted 07-05-2003 10:40 PM               

Not a bad idea.
I wonder how many would sincerely do this...
That's what this lady is looking for. Support from the community, monetary that is.

posted 07-05-2003 10:42 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
What about writing Gov. Bush? He's very pro-space. Perhaps the local Congressman?

---

posted 07-05-2003 11:14 PM               

Dont be so quick to pass of Jeb being a state concern as opposed to a local one. You may recall recently Jeb took it upon himself to take an interest in a former Marine who was fined repeatedly by his Property Owners Association for flying his American flga (I wont bring up the nationality of the President of the POA) and helped the guy out. Lots of press and Jebs intervention saved this guys bacon.

Also there are many grants, and other support from State Agencies available for local concerns. Contact Museums, Colleges (I know the Univ. of Central Florida helps considerably - I do not have the ladys name in front of me, but she is involved with the Cape history), even Federal grants could help.

Certainly contact the local Congressman, Dave Weldon. I have had lots of interraction with his office, they are good concerned local people. Weldon also has a GREAT interest in the space program (for many reasons) - also contact Bill Nelson, he - as Weldon, represent local concerns too on a Federal level.

Theres a lot out there to help. For Weldons website, go to http://www.house.gov and it links off there. To contact Jeb, email him. Say what you want about the guy - but he answers email (probably not after this flood...<G> ). jeb@jeb.org

Al

posted 07-09-2003 05:58 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by nojnj:
If a campaign for donations does materialize, count me in also!

---

Ok, thanks to the folks who are offering monetary help. I need to get with Charlie Mars and discuss this with him.

I've been chasing after a new job, that I've probably secured, I hope. And some other things got pushed aside.

I'll let ya know what he thinks.

posted 07-09-2003 06:00 PM               

I can always give it a try, or pass along the suggestion to the owners, of the museum that is.
That mall owner is one tough cookie!