Just a note to updat you on progress on the 2009 Great Lakes Shipwreck
Festival.
We have already starting filling the slots for programs and seminars for the
2009 festival. Our goal is to have an early flyer and tickets available in
December.
In our last note we requested submissions for dive related seminars. These
programs should be limited to 1 hour and can consist of electronic media
(video or powerpoint) or overhead projection. We have a limited number of
time slots left so please submit your program outline and description as
soon as possible to myself or Tony Gramer. Our goal is to fill all the
availabel space by the end of November.
Last year the Seahorses chose to partner with Dossin Great Lakes Museum for
the first time in the 27 year history of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival.
We see this relationship as mutually beneficial in promoting awareness of
the rich maritime history in the Great Lakes and exposing more people to the
exciting sport of Scuba diving both in the Great Lakes and around the world.
This year we are taking a very aggressive marketing approach and have
enlisted the support of Bob Sadler of the Detroit Historical Society to
assist us in promoting the show with the local media. To further cement this
relationship Tony Gramer, (Ford Seahorse member and 2009 festival co chair)
has been appointed to the Dossin Great Lakes Maritime Auxiliary Goup of the
Detroit Historical Society. Tony is working closely with the Marine group
and Dossin Museum. The Seahorses have already carried out several joint
projects with Dossin Museum performing bottomland surveys of the area in
front of the museum to clear the way for a tall ship visit in the near
future.
In addition we have also enlisted the help of one of our own (Ken Bean) who
is a videographer and producer for the local cable networks. We will be
shooting a video to be aired on local public access cable channels to
promote the show, the sport of Scuba diving and Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
As part of this promotional video, Tony Gramer and myself recorded a program
on Monday Nov. 10 at Dossin Great Lakes Museum commerating the loss of the
steamer Carl D. Bradley. It was a very interesting and well attended program
highlighted with the placing of a wreath on the waters of the Detroit River
in rememberance of the lives lost. The ceremony drew not only
representatives of the US Coast Guard but the Canadian Coast Guard as well.
As a US Coast Guard vessel placed a wreath on the water it was escorted by
the J. W. Westcott Marine US mail boat while a Coast Guard helicopter from
Selfridge ANGB shined a light on the wreath and a Detroit Fire Dept. tug
sprayed water in the air. It was a very impressive and touching sight on
this cold and windy November evening. The program also featured Great Lakes
Balladeer, Lee Murdock singing about our rich maritime heritage.
If you have never been to Dossin museum on Belle Isle it is a great way to
spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with many interesting exhibits, ship
models and the actual pilot house from the Edmund Fitzgeralds sister ship
the SS William Clay Ford. The Dossin sight can be accessed at
Detroit Historical Society
Russ
