Topic starter
26/02/2011 10:13 pm
Greetings From New Orleans ,
It is with a very hearv heart that I have to report this but the current status on the Str. Mississippi Queen has taken a turn for the worst and is presently in dire straights !
After a lengthy conversation with one of the prinicpal players in the attempted purchase of the Str. Mississippi Queen , I have been informed that due to a TIMING ISSUE there is a very good chance that the MQ will be sold and scraped ! I was also informed that although the necessary funds are in play to purchase the MQ , the present owner of the boat has refused to grant any more time for this transacction to take place . Therefore , if at the end of this month the necessary funds have not been brought to the table to seal this transaction the MQ will definately be scraped !
The only hope that the MQ has at this point is if those of us in the steamboating community or some one else that you may know , can step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is ! So no matter what you personal financial and economic situation is , the individuals that are attempting to purchase the MQ would show their appreciation and gratitude by offering free trips in the future and with the names of all that donate to this very worthy cause be ingraved on a plaque that would be proudly mounted in a place of prominence on board the Str. Mississippi Queen .
I have also been given an e-mail address for those of you that can and will step up to the plate and offer just WHAT EVER they can afford , and no donation woul be too small ! This e-mail address is : [email protected]
I personally have pledged $ 1,000.00 for tis cause and I hope that some of you will also do what you can ! If nothing else think of your donation as an investment of not only in the crusade to save the MQ but also to reap the benefits of being one of those that came to the rescue of this fine vessel and made some money as well !
Remember time is of the essence so please do what ever you can to save one of this countries few remaing steamboats !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
26/02/2011 11:11 pm
I'll probably get slaughtered for saying this, but if the Delta Queen is where I would throw any of my money to ensuring she is preserved. She arguably has more historic value to the general public than the MQ and is by no means "saved" in her current role as the boat is still for sale to the highest bidder.
Lets face it, AMIE isn't as interested in saving the DQ as they are recovering from their losses with MAL. If people want to donate to save a boat, my suggestion is the Delta Queen Preservation Foundation, whose website should be up very soon (hopefully within the week) so people can follow the progress and contribute/be a part of it. For all those wondering if that flame had burned out since the Rally on the River last November, it has not. There has just been a lot of behind the scenes work going on to try and move this plan forward. There hasn't been any concrete news to report, so thats why the Chattanooga group has been so quiet.
Topic starter
26/02/2011 11:57 pm
Phillip , point well taken , but ................................
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Phillip , point well taken but the sad truth is that in all likely hood the Str. Delta Queen will never sail again where as there is a very good chance of the Str. Mississippi Queen sailing again with passengers if we can save her NOW ! If you dont feel that the Str. Mississippi Queen is not worth saving then don't contribiute but then don't complain when there are no longer any true over night steamboats to ride !!
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
27/02/2011 7:35 am
Ted,
as much as I appreciate yor efforts to save the Mississippi Queen I have to tell you that this message board is not the platform to ask for donations to an E-MAIL-ADDRESS for a venture from ANONYMOUS POTENTIAL BUYERS of the Mississippi Queen.
The message board rules are clearly stating that anything in this direction has to be cleared by me IN ADVANCE. I'm happy to assist in this cause, but I have the legal responsibility for what's going on here and therefore want to be contacted in advance and want to know the details.
So please tell us who these mysterious potential buyers are or if this needs to be confidential, contact me and give me the necessary information so that I can be sure there is no fraud going on and the donations are safe and being used for the purpose as described in your posting.
Thanks.
P.S:: We're dealing with this in private messages or e-mails now; don't want any discussion about houskeeping stuff here in the public. Thanks for understanding.
27/02/2011 6:53 pm
Nothing would make me happier than to see the Mississippi Queen underway again, but from all I can tell and from all I've heard, the Delta Queen has a much better chance of steaming again than does the Mississippi Queen. After all, the DQ is being carefully cared for, can pass the requirements for COI and, with the correct climate in Washington now, it seems her chances of being exempted from SOLAS are better than ever. Of course, being just a piano player, what do I know?