|  The
Icebucket is currently on the "hard" at the Brewer
Pilot Point Marina in Westbrook, CT, undergoing a compete retrofit.
As you can see from the picture, she is down to "bare metal"
(actually bare fiberglass) and will soon receive a new coat of paint,
a new name and a lot more new goodies to get her seaworthy again.
In September 2000, Jack Erhard from the Glacier Society rescued
the Artic Survey Boat (ASB) from the Baltimore Coast Guard yard.
He and some friends labored over the remainder of 2000 into 2001
to get the ASB ready for a cruise up the East Coast to NYC for "Fleet
Week" in May 2001, where she was berthed next to the carrier
INTREPID and the destroyer EDSON. She then sailed on to Glacier
Society headquarters in Stratford, CT, and subsequently to Westbrook
and the Brewer Marina. Jack is most appreciative of the help he
received during those months from the USCG Station Baltimore and
the "John W. Brown" Liberty ship, which gave him and his
work crew free berthing during their many overnight trips to the
boat.
The primary mission of the Icebucket program is to build
a youth educational program around her and focus upon education
and fund-raising. The Icebucket experience would teach
kids how to work and drive the ship. From September to May each
year, Icebucket and her complement of Boy and/or Sea Scouts
would sail Long Island Sound and perhaps traverse the Intercostals
waterway (ICW) to Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
The educational mission involves educating youth in boat handling
and navigational skills so they qualify for Boat Operator's Licenses
(commonly known in the Industry as a 6 Pack). This allows them to
operate small watercraft (45'-60') and carry paying passengers.
Additionally, the mission is to educate these students in marine
sciences and leadership skills as well as the history of the ice
operations of the mother ship, the USS/USCGC GLACIER to the polar
regions of the globe.
Donations of equipment, services and cash from major donors are
critical to the eventual success of the program. For example, The
Dometic Corporation,
the largest LBO firm in Sweden, has donated the new heating and
air-conditioning system for Icebucket. This funds the cornerstone
for the rebuilding project. Dometic also is in a position to provide
additional needed equipment, which includes microwave ovens, marine
heads, refrigerating /freezer and various electrical items.
Another major contributor is Brewer's
Yacht Yard in Westbrook, CT, whose labor and hosting contribution
is significant in helping us prepare the Icebucket for this mission.
Other major contributors include Sherwin
Williams Marine Paints who generously donated exterior coatings
and paints; and Kellogg
Marine Supply.
Currently, an additional $100,000 is needed to complete the entire
overhaul.
Year One Objectives:
- Launch Icebucket fully refurbished and refitted, ready for sea.
Conduct sea trials.
- Enlist support from leaders and students to man and serve on
Icebucket.
- Enlist support from Navy League Chapters on eastern seaboard.
- Identify Marine Sciences instructors and enlist support in planning
for marine sciences courses during Year Two.
- Take initial cruise down ICW.
- Commence educational activities for Boat Operators' Licenses.
- Prepare and implement Leadership curriculum.
So, what can you do to get involved? First, help us with the new
name and then, if you are an East Coast sailor, visit the Icebucket
in Connecticut and sign up for working on the boat, or send a financial
donation to the GLACIER SOCIETY and
help us complete this mission.
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