Bill Text: NY K00386 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 386 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Soaring Museum on October 5, 2019

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-13 - adopted [K00386 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00386-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 386

BY: M. of A. Friend

        COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the National
        Soaring Museum on October 5, 2019

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality
of life of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched  by
its exceptional cultural, educational and recreational institutions; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commemorate  the  50th  Anniversary of the National Soaring Museum to be
celebrated with a Gala on Saturday, October  5,  2019,  in  Elmira,  New
York; and

  WHEREAS,  The  journey  leading to the establishment of the National
Soaring Museum (NSM) was interesting, challenging, and rewarding, as has
been its progress over the five decades since its founding; the NSM  and
those  in the American soaring community are indebted to the visionaries
who, through their hard work, dedication and support, have allowed it to
become the fine institution it is today; and

  WHEREAS, Serious thought about a museum dedicated to the history  of
soaring  in  America  began  to  percolate  after World War II; in 1952,
Sherman Voorhees, an Elmira resident and  one  of  the  SSA's  founders,
proposed  a  soaring  museum  be  established  at Harris Hill due to the
important role the Elmira area had played in the growth of the  American
soaring movement; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1958,  the local soaring club, the Elmira Area Soaring
Corporation (EASC), elected  to  take  advantage  of  space  offered  in
Elmira's  Strathmont  Estate  which  was  being  converted  into a local
history museum; and

  WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of its  president,  Howard  Burr,
EASC  members created a soaring history exhibit in the estate's carriage
house which opened in the summer of 1959; the  collection  included  the
historic,  restored  Arnot-Chanute-Herring  glider  and  the Fred Loomis
photographs of early national soaring contests held at Harris Hill; and

  WHEREAS, After being open for only a short time, the history  museum
was  forced to close; the next major evolutionary step toward a national
soaring museum occurred in 1968, when the EASC, which had  been  renamed
the  Harris Hill Soaring Corp (HHSC), took advantage of space offered by
Chemung County in Harris Hill's Administration Building; and

  WHEREAS, Once again, HHSC volunteers rose to the challenge, creating
the exhibits and overseeing museum  operations;  concurrent  with  these
activities,  HHSC  leaders drafted a proposal to the SSA's Board for the
creation of the National Soaring Museum; and

  WHEREAS, During this time, Paul A. Schweizer  presented  the  HHSC's
proposal to the SSA Board at its summer meeting in 1969; the proposal to
locate the National Soaring Museum, library, and archives at Harris Hill

had  the  strong  support  of  New York State, Chemung County, and other
local organizations; and

  WHEREAS,  Under  the luminous direction of SSA president, Bernald S.
Smith, a resolution accepting the proposal was unanimously agreed to  by
the  SSA  Board  on  July  4,  1969,  and  the  National  Soaring Museum
officially opened its doors to the public on July 22, 1969; and

  WHEREAS, Today, the National  Soaring  Museum  owns  more  than  100
sailplanes  and  gliders,  32  of which are currently displayed; it also
houses the Soaring Hall of Fame and the  SSA's  collection  of  historic
films and photos documenting early national contests; and

  WHEREAS,  In addition, the National Soaring Museum holds archives of
the SSA containing a treasure  trove  of  information  relating  to  the
history  of soaring in America, the personalities responsible for making
it the outstanding sport it is, and thousands of  artifacts  related  to
soaring contributed by many individuals; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of  this  Legislative  Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to  our
attention,  they  should be recognized and applauded by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  50th  Anniversary  of  the  National Soaring Museum on
October 5, 2019; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York.