On October 12, 2005, the new executive directors for the American
Lighthouse Foundation and the United States Lighthouse Society – Bob
Trapani and Jeff Gales, had the opportunity to be introduced to one
another for the first time and discuss preliminary ideas on how the two
organizations can collaborate on present and future issues that
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to R) ALF Executive Director Bob
Trapani & USLHS Executive Director Jeff
Gales at Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse
impact the preservation of
our nation’s historic lighthouses. Both the ALF and USLHS possess rich
histories when it comes to saving our lighthouse heritage -- and now have
set bold courses for the future of the respective organizations by hiring
executive directors in 2005.
“October 13th was a bitter
sweet day for me; on the down side, it meant the conclusion of one of the
U.S. Lighthouse Society's most popular tours, lighthouses of Maine, where by
way of a variety of ocean vessels and a tour bus, myself and a group of 45
were able to see 33 spectacular lighthouses . . . not being deterred
whatsoever by the uncooperative weather. In fact, the weather made the trip
that much more exciting. On the upside, this particular trip to
Maine
marked my first meeting with Bob Trapani of the American Lighthouse
Foundation (ALF). Bob is dedicated to the preservation of American
lighthouses, and his sincerity in this important work shines though. As I
toured ALF's modest museum in Wells, I found myself surrounded by timeless
objects, and am proud to say that I learned a few new things. I also had
the fortunate opportunity to take a tour of the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, a
structure in a state of immaculate condition, in part due to the efforts of
Bob and his group. ALF and the U.S Lighthouse Society share many common
goals, and I am confident that this initial meeting will be the first of
many. It is my hope that together, we may explore opportunities that will
allow us to combine our efforts, in order to ensure that America's
lighthouses and maritime history is preserved for future generations.”
-Jeff Gales, Executive Director
United States Lighthouse Society
“The challenges and complexities associated with saving America’s
lighthouses today are greater than any other time in history. For many of
the nation’s lighthouses, their future is now literally at a crossroads.
Given these facts, I was especially excited about having the opportunity to
meet with Jeff Gales, the new executive director for the United States
Lighthouse Society and the prospect of our respective organizations working
together to address national lighthouse preservation issues. The USLHS
selected a superb individual to help guide their organization into the
future – a person who brings both a commitment and business savvy to the
task of saving America’s lighthouse heritage. On behalf of the American
Lighthouse Foundation, I am looking forward to working side by side with
Jeff and the USLHS on many initiatives that will bring about positive
solutions for the long-term preservation and educational utilization of our
nation’s rich lighthouse heritage.”
