KVTO-AM is Sold – How This Effects CHRS & The KRE Purchase

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The KRE PURCHASE – The following prepared statement by the CHRS Board of Directors was presented during the CHRS General meeting, June 1st at KRE:

“We have been informed that KVTO has been sold. Early indications are that the successful bidder is not inclined to sell the building to CHRS at this time. The investor toured the building with a commercial real estate agent May 28th and has implied that they intend to assess the best use of the property and the building in the coming months. This is an unexpected turn of events. CHRS is setting up a meeting with the new owner to discuss our future at 601 Ashby. We will keep you informed.”

To our valued Members, friends and supporters of The California Historical Radio Society, The Bay Area Radio Museum, The Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame and The Society Of Wireless Pioneers:

A wise man named Paul Bourbin, who saved CHRS from extinction many years ago, has told us for a long time, “you have to own it.” He is referring to the building and land that houses a museum. How correct Paul is and what a lesson we are now learning. Well we tried, and at this moment in time the chances of us owning this property are slim. This may change. For the last year we have been operating and making decisions based on the best information we have been given. The circumstances that would have allowed us to buy KRE at this time were completely out of CHRS’ control.

Are we disappointed, of course. Are we giving up on securing a permanent home for CHRS, of course NOT. It has been a privilege and a rare opportunity that not many groups have had to be headquartered in a historic building, rent free for almost 10 years. Until we have a meeting with the new owner, we do not know how much longer we will be at 601 Ashby. While we may be there for a long time, we just don’t know for sure right now. What we do know, is how important it is to protect and preserve our museum collection. These artifacts are the heart of what CHRS is about. We do know how important it is to have a secure and safe place for the Maxwell Library, the CHRS and SOWP Archives. A place where discarded radios are made to come alive again. A place to gather and exchange ideas and information. A place for W6CF to operate. A place to teach and learn about radio’s history and its’ importance in the Bay Area. And a place to celebrate the luminaries who make up the Bay Area Radio Hall Of Fame.

The new owner may yet offer to allow us to stay beyond our current license which ends this September. However, we must look to the long run, be prepared, and begin an ernest search for our own permanent home. To this end we have a new Board of Director’s Sub-committee comprised of Directors Philip Monego and Tom Bonomo with assistance from Dennis Monticelli. This committee’s task is to scout out possible future locations for the CHRS Headquarters and Museum. It is vitally important for CHRS to secure a permanent location to continue our activities relating to radio preservation and history. Many of you may have ideas or connections for a new location. If you do please email them to Tom Bonomo or Philip Monego.

Our dream location is in the Central Bay Area. Our dream building is historic, single story, 6,000 to 12,000 or more square feet and is secure. Our dream parking lot will fit 100 or more cars. Our budget now is almost $690,000+, unless someone wants to donate a property to CHRS for a nice tax write off. We can not lose momentum in our fundraising efforts and our constant pursuit of historical preservation. We have been assured by our 3 members who have made $100K pledges and others, that they have confidence in CHRS’ ability to find a permanent home, so their pledges will remain. We hope this holds true for all reading this.

This past year has been quite an experience for CHRS. You all have shown overwhelming support and confidence in our efforts to raise funds for a permanent location devoted to radio. CHRS would not be the fine organization it is today without your support. The door is not closing right now. But, if and when does close, another one will open giving CHRS limitless possibilities for a bright future.

Now we must focus on Radio Day By The Bay 2013 and make this July 20th’s event, the best ever!

I’m always available and do appreciate your comments.

Best Regards, Steve Kushman

(415) 203-2747

kushseal@flash.net

REMEMBER – You can pledge now, but you need not send any funds until we need them. CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE.

TODAY’S UPDATE – June 5th– We started with $93,000 in our Museum Fund last June, and today we have 263 donations and pledges totaling $689,290! THANK YOU! Our goal is $750,000+. Holy Cow, we have already raised nearly three quarters of a million dollars! It’s downhill from here. We have done so well, please dig deeper and make this happen! We should be able to raise the rest with your help and support.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NEARING OUR GOAL, OUR FUND RAISING MUST CONTINUE. WE ARE AWARE THAT SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FULFILL YOUR PLEDGES, SO OTHERS MUST STEP UP AND DONATE FOR THE FIRST TIME OR INCREASE THEIR PLEDGES AND DONATIONS. WE ALSO HAVE INSURANCE, OPERATING COSTS AND FUTURE EXPANSION PLANS FOR KRE TO CONSIDER. PLEASE PLEDGE NOW. WE HAVE AMAZED THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHRS FOR OUR ABILITY TO RAISE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY IN A VERY SHORT TIME. YOUR SUPPORT AND THE THE SUPPORT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THIS, WITH YOUR HELP.

SUPER DONORS – The list keeps growing. You can be part of it! EVERY pledge and donation means a great deal to CHRS. But it is worth noting several pledges / donations that are really helping us to reach our goal:

• Mike & Barbara Adams – $5,000
• Jack Bethards – $5,000
• Bert Buss – $5,000
• Elmo & Kim Giovanetti – $5,000
• Eugene & Marianne Haller – $5,000
• Steve & Janice Kushman – $5,000
• Chip Lim – $5,000
• Robert & Reina Swart – $5,000
• Verne Anderson – $10,000
• Judy Mears & Bart Lee – $10,000
• Larry & Joan Drees – $16,600
• Norm Howard Lehfeldt – $15,000
• Tom & Julie Bonomo – $25,000
• Tom Nelson – $25,000 + $25,000
• George Patterson – $25,000
• Gilles Vrignaud – $25,000
• Norman Leal – $75,000
• Philip Monego – $100,000
• Scott Robinson – $100,000
• John Staples – $100,000

Thank You! The response to our cause has been phenomenal! CHRS / BARM Members and Friends have done a terrific job so far, but we’re not done yet. We’ve done something in a very short time that other organizations can only dream about. We have been getting pledges and donations from all over the country. In addition to our Super Donors, (see above), some noteworthy pledges have come in from:

• The CHRS Central Valley Chapter – $3750
• The Alabama Historical Radio Society – $1000
• The SF Bay Area SBE Chapter 40 – $1000
• The Sacramento SBE Chapter 43 – $1000
• The Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club – $1000
• The Art Deco Society of California – $500
• The Delaware Valley Historic Radio Club – $1000
• The Iowa Antique Radio Club and Historical Society – $500
• The Tube Collectors Association, Inc. – $1000
• The Oakland Radio Communication Association – $250

We are grateful to each and every person and organization supporting our efforts. Everyone who donates will have their name on a plaque in our CHRS building. Please remember to mention our plight to friends, family and people you meet. You never know where our angels may come from. Speaking of angels, people have been asking if Mr. George Lucas has offered to help. So far… no. Can anyone reach out to him? Please do.  CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE

CLICK HERE TO DONATE BY PAYPAL

DONATED ORIGINAL RADIO ART FOR SALE – Here’s aother way to help. Local talented artist Patrick O’Connell has donated 4 of his original radio art paintings to us to help raise money for our cause. These are beautiful, stylish original acrylic paintings on wood. “Radio Head” and “TV Head” are framed and measure 18″ x 24″. We are asking $500 apiece for these. “AM Radio – Fins” and “AM Radio – Grille Cloth” are approximately 15″ wide and we are asking $150 apiece for these. Of course, if you love them and want to offer more, we will accept more.The paintings can be picked up at KRE. We are grateful to Patrick for his fine donations. The original art does not have the green CHRS across the front. If you are interesred in this art PLEASE CLICK HERE.