Fan Photos: A 1750s Costume on Lady Washington

Long-time Lady Washington fan and supporter Lisa Pirkkala sent us these photos of her visit to the boat during Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze in Westport last weekend. She's wearing a circa 1750s dress, which is about the period the original Lady Washington was built near Boston. "My friend had never been to the Washington coast before, so being aboard a tall ship and sailing was a treat," she wrote. "Thank you all for such a wonderful experience, and it is always a joy to come aboard and meet more tall ships friends. If you have photos to share from Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze or any other trip aboard Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain, please send it to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Congratulations to the Purple Pirates!

Congratulations to Melody Miranda and the Purple Pirates of Discovery Tours for winning the 2011 Float the Fleet: Pirates fundraising contest. The Purple Pirates competed with other pirate groups for a chance to win several prizes, including the opportunity to claim Lady Washington herself as the group's official ship for the next year. The winner was announced today at Rusty Scupper Pirate Daze in Westport, Wash.

Fan Photos: HC in BC, LW in Port Ludlow

Photos from our visit to British Columbia earlier this month are still coming in, such as the top photo of Hawaiian Chieftain from Gerry Slobod. The lower photo was taken by Hira Barbara Reid last weekend in Port Ludlow. She also wrote about the boats' visit on her blog. Send your photos of our ships to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Job Announcement: Development Officer in Aberdeen, Wash.

Fundraising professional to support programs aboard tall ship Lady Washington

Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority seeks a unique individual for the position of Development Officer. This person must be a self-motivated team player with leadership abilities and an entrepreneurial spirit.  The successful applicant will have tremendous attention to detail, excel in being creative, dependable, flexible and resourceful. Applicant must have a record of development experience, outstanding management skills, and a demonstrated capacity to motivate supporters, staff, and volunteers.  Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for this position.

The Development Officer will help lay a strong foundation for the continued growth of Historical Seaport programs and facilities into the future.   Working as part of the Historical Seaport’s management team the Development Officer will be responsible for planning, implementing and managing a coordinated program of fundraising and donor cultivation. Primary responsibilities include developing strategic and long range development plans; leading a new program sponsorship campaign, participating in an upcoming capital campaign and major gifts program; defining appropriate procedures to engage the full organization in effective fundraising and development efforts; and overseeing the building and maintenance of relationships with individual, corporate and foundation funders.

Responsibilities/Duties

Planning / Strategy (20%)

• Plan and manage fundraising/development activities to set and achieve annual goals for contributed income. Work with the Seaport management team, shipboard and homeport staff and Board Members to develop an annual development plan that will support the Historical Seaport’s long-range strategic plans.
• Work closely with shipboard and administrative staff to oversee the set-up and full utilization of an efficient donor database and gift tracking record system that will support grant compliance and donor-specific financial reporting.
• Work closely with the Historical Seaport management team to ensure marketing and PR efforts are aligned with fundraising and development efforts.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Staff and Committees to ensure a fully integrated development effort and coordinated communication with funders.
• Prepare and present regular reports to Staff, Board, and Committees.
• Develop and manage volunteers to help support fundraising/development efforts.
• Work closely with and support efforts to grow and steward members.
• Become knowledgeable about the Historical Seaport’s mission, values, programs and strategy in order to identify and develop funding opportunities which capitalize on unique resources or exceptional opportunities.

Overall Fund Development (70%)

• Develop and implement solicitation goals and strategies for major gifts, sponsorships, and upper level membership. Provide leadership and coordination to Board members, committees, staff and volunteers to meet these goals.
• Work to build and deepen relationships with Board Members, current and prospective donors and volunteers, and actively steward such relationships.
• Plan and manage fundraising efforts including sponsorships for shipboard education programs.
• Assist with planning and successful implementation of a major upcoming capital campaign.

Grants (5%)

• In cooperation with Executive Director, steward relationships with foundations and other grantors.  Help strategize and develop grant proposals.

Membership / Annual Appeals (5%)

• Provide support and backup as needed to oversee stewardship and growth of Historical Seaport general membership.

Qualifications

• BA in fund development, marketing/communications, or related field, or equivalent related work experience required; experience in heritage, vocational or experiential education, or marine sciences a plus.
• 2-3 years experience in development and communications required, preferably in a dynamic, fast paced environment where flexibility was key to success
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills reflecting solid customer service in person, via the telephone and via email.
• Motivated with demonstrated ability to engage and train other staff, board members and volunteers.
• Demonstrate experience working both independently, exercising good judgment, decision making and problem solving; and as part of a proactive team in a dynamic environment working on multiple projects while maintaining headway on accomplishing key strategic elements.
• Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook programs required; experience working with donor management software highly desirable; experience working with publishing programs and social media a plus.

Hours

• Full-time position. Schedule will be flexible, with the opportunity for some travel.

Compensation

• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• A flexible but focused work environment in an atmosphere that is casual yet professional.
• Dedicated, innovative co-workers who take their work seriously but enjoy a good laugh.
• Supportive environment in the office and aboard our two tall ships.

To Apply
E-mail cover letter with resume and references (at least two professional references in the area of fundraising from the last three years) to Les@historicalseaport.org Subject: Development Officer.

Fan Photos: An Old-Timey Lady Washington & Hawaiian Chieftain

Photographer Dori Lee of Port Hadlock, Wash., sent us this enhanced photo of Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain near Port Townsend. If you have a photo to share with an old-timey or modern look, sent it to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Laurence H. Dorcy Passes, Ceremony Planned

Laurence H. Dorcy, one of the driving forces behind the construction of the Hawaiian Chieftain, passed away this month. Known to his friends as "The Baron," Mr. Dorcy recruited nautical architect Ray Richards and shipwright Drake Thomas to build Hawaiian Chieftain as a working cargo ship in the Hawaiian Islands. Built at Lahaina Welding Co., the vessel was launched in 1988 with Mr. Dorcy as the first owner. Hawaiian Chieftain came into the possession of the Historical Seaport in 2005. In the photo, Mr. Dorcy is shown aboard the Hawaiian Chieftain helping the Seaport prepare for the vessel's 20th birthday in Westport in 2008.

The Seaport will honor Mr. Dorcy with a ceremony during the June 25 Battle Sail in Westport. Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will fire a 13-gun salute and dip their flags in remembrance. The ceremony will take place at approximately the same time a celebration of his life is held in Molokai. A Hawaiian lei will be dropped into Grays Harbor waters and allowed to drift into the Pacific Ocean.

Mr. Dorcy's friends and colleagues are invited to the Molokai celebration. For information, please call 808-294-6515 or 808-375-3775.

Fan Photos: Our Boats in British Columbia

We sailed in British Columbia waters earlier this month and one of our guests, Harry Kaiser, sent us a few photos. In the top photo, Capt. Rob Mizer of the Hawaiian Chieftain waves to a replica Viking longship that sailed alongside for a time. In the lower photo, Capt. Tommy Cook stands by while Lady Washington is at the dock in Richmond, BC. If you have photos to share of your experience on our ships, send them to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Fan Photos: LW and HC at Port Ludlow

Our friend Pete Leenhouts of the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding sent us these photos of Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain at Port Ludlow, where they will give tours and host guests for Battle Sails and Adventure Sails through Fathers Day. The top photo is Lady Washington; pictured in the lower photo in front of Hawaiian Chieftain is Breckon van Veldhuisen, a NSWB student. If you have photos to share, send them to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Fan Photos: Transit Across the Canada/US Border

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain's transits, which we call "Passages," are growing in popularity. The boats welcome passengers aboard for our trip from one port-of-call to the next. They can last a few hours or several days. Earlier this week, we sailed from Vancouver, BC to Blaine, Wash., crossing the Canada/U.S. border. Rawn Mongovius and his friends were along for the eight-hour ride, and he shared a few of his photos with us.

Rawn says the weather started out miserable and wet, but soon cleared up, leaving a blue sky and favorable winds. "The crew was now given the order to hoist the sails. This is what I had been waiting for, the ultimate experience on a tall ship, a brig, a feeling that the early sailors must have had when the ship was free and at the mercy of the wind in her sails," he wrote. He also lavished praise [blush] on our wonderful crew.

If you'd like to take Passage on Lady Washington or Hawaiian Chieftain, check out our website schedule or call us at 800-200-5239. If you have photos to share of your adventure, send them to photos@historicalseaport.org.