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The American
Lighthouse Foundation, the nation's leading lighthouse preservation
organization, announced today the appointment of Bob Trapani, Jr. as its
first executive director.
"We are
honored that Bob accepted the position," said Tim Harrison, president of
the nonprofit organization that is based in Wells, Maine. "Bob brings
years of leadership experience in building and managing nonprofit
maritime organizations to our group," said Harrison.
The hiring of
Trapani comes after a yearlong nationwide search by the group to find
someone who could become the first executive director of
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
American Lighthosue
Foundation Executive Director,
Bob Trapani, Jr. |
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the 11-year-old
organization.
The American
Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) prides itself on what's been accomplished with
volunteers only since our founding in 1994," said Harrison. "We have helped
save lighthouses all over the United States, we have created the largest
archive of lighthouse history, and we founded the Museum of Lighthouse
History, which now has some of the rarest artifacts from the old United
States Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard on display in the United States.
However, it was now time to take our organization to the next level by
making a commitment to the hiring of a full time executive director. We
exist solely on donations, so this is a big step for us as well as a risk --
not only for us, but also for Bob and his family."
Trapani is
currently the President of the Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation,
a position he will leave on May 1st when he moves his family to Maine. He
previously served as executive director of the Delaware Seashore
Preservation Foundation, a steward of the 1876 Indian River Life-Saving
Station.
Trapani said, "No
organization has done more to save lighthouses than ALF, and that's the
primary reason I accepted their offer."
He went on to say,
"Lighthouses will only be saved through a combination of hard work,
education and a constant commitment to fundraising. The more money that the
American Lighthouse Foundation can raise through education and public
awareness for the plight of our lighthouses, the more bridges of achievement
will be built for the future. ALF's efforts saving numerous lighthouses from
being lost, its effective stewardship of lighthouses through various
chapters, its role as a national advocacy group, and its efforts to draw
public attention through awareness and education make it an honor to become
the first executive director."
Along with the
operation of the Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells, Maine, the American
Lighthouse Foundation has 18 lighthouses directly under its care, with all
but one in New England. Last year the group saved Prospect Harbor
Lighthouse in Prospect Harbor, Maine, and has numerous other restoration
projects underway. |
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