Members and Friends Show Enthusiasm for
Lighthouse Preservation
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
The perfect lighthouse event is when the
element of fun is uniquely blended with an enthusiasm for fundraising to
help raise money to save and preserve our historic beacons of the sea.
The 2005 American Lighthouse Foundation spring event on June 18th
& 19th in Westport, Massachusetts, was one such memorable
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lighthouse enthusiasts enjoyed a
cruise of the Narragansett Bay
aboard the Vista Jubilee
event. Over 300
lighthouse enthusiasts took part in a delightful cruise of the Narragansett
Bay where people were
presented the opportunity to view 12 Rhode Island lighthouses aboard the
spacious decks of the Bay Queen Cruises’ Vista Jubilee. With shutters
operating at a rapid-fire pace, few people missed the chance to photograph a
wide selection of the Ocean State’s most picturesque lights, which were
found standing sentinel on the edges of rocky outcrops of land, granite
piers and atop water-locked caissons.
Shooting a plethora of lighthouse-filled images though was not the only fun
activity aboard the Vista Jubilee. The camaraderie of friends and
fellow enthusiasts sharing stories, facts and lighthouse favorites – along
with a tasty buffet lunch in between the next anticipated lighthouse on the
horizon, proved to be as rewarding as the inspiring glimpses of the lights
themselves. The enjoyable atmosphere was further enhanced by the ability to
participate in a score of raffles and silent auctions of lighthouse
memorabilia, as well as the ability to purchase lighthouse merchandise – all
of which benefited the preservation efforts of the American Lighthouse
Foundation.
Following the lighthouse cruise, the American Lighthouse Foundation hosted
an evening dinner at the White’s of Westport for members and
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Tim Harrison (left) holds the
microphone for the "Trapani Trio"...
Nina, Katrina & Dominic
friends alike
who showed their passion and support for lighthouse preservation. The
activities of the evening included a scrumptious meal and “musical
entertainment” performed by the “Trapani Trio” – Nina, 12 years of age,
Katrina, 10 and Dominic 6, who sang the self-penned song “I am a
Lighthouse” to the delight of the audience.
In addition,
dinner attendees were provided with an interesting overview of the American
Lighthouse Foundation’s lighthouse preservation and education efforts by ALF
president Tim Harrison and ALF executive director Bob Trapani, Jr., who
jointly presented a PowerPoint program entitled, “We’ll Leave the Light on
for You.”
The earlier momentum for fundraising aboard the lighthouse cruise to help
save ALF’s lights continued throughout the evening dinner as more fun-filled
raffles and silent auctions kept people excited about supporting lighthouse
preservation. Special thanks goes out to Tom &
Judi Kearney of Ambler, Pennsylvania, who created and
donated many items for the raffles and auctions, including all of the
beautiful lighthouse-related gift baskets and rare lighthouse artifacts
– all of which contributed mightily towards making the 2005 ALF spring
event the second best fundraising event in the history of the
organization.
The memorable
weekend concluded on Sunday morning with a brunch at the White’s of
Westport
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Judi &Tom Kearny helped make
the silent auction a success
where people in
attendance heard exciting updates from American Lighthouse Foundation
chapter presidents who conveyed the latest goals, activities and successes
of their local group’s preservation efforts. In addition, ALF president Tim
Harrison presented Don Doucette, president of the Friends of Pomham Rocks
Lighthouse – a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, with a check
in the amount of $365 from funds that were raised in a specific auction
aboard the Narragansett cruise. Bill Collette later presented ALF president with a check in the
amount of $615 to assist in the creation of a future lightship exhibit at
the Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells, Maine.
