<VV> CPF Museum

[cfm]

keyword equals "overhead"

granted a building requires maintenance as does a piece of land.

I design homes and perform drafting services for the residential building industry. But the methodology for said "museum" construction of planning for thereof is don't so different from what I do already for a living.

Projected overhead costs can certainly be kept to a minimum, and with some creatively towards building design or building renovation, things can be accomplished to keep mechanical, electrical and other building systems to a minimum. Thereby keeping the monthly operating costs LOW.

Staffing it would likely have to be voluntary to a certain degree, and if the museum is more static thing, then it seems to be that it would be likely that one of our chapters would have to be a "primary" caretakers. Which is certainly a large undertaking but could be feasible for a larger chapter to sponsor the work. Of course if another chapter is within a couple of hours away of said "static" museum that they could contribute time too.

Landscaping, lawn cutting, all this type of equipment could be donated, I am sure some of have an extra air cooled lawn mower to donate, and an air cooled snowblower (if required) that is out of service that could be resurrected for plowing sidewalks.

Interior lighting can be electronically automated and managed so that you have maximum efficiently and have little operating costs.

Electrical systems can be "off-grid" as much as possible by incorporating solar panels. I know, I know, I sound like a tree hugger, but seriously, with the cost of typical building materials and systems on the rise (because of oil prices), the reality is that these types of systems are coming into their own. Heck they even have personal windmills available over the counter now. And in some states, there are programs where the state government kicks in a percentage of costs to help you get "off-the-grid". Furthermore, it may be quite possible to produce more electricity than you use and that actually can be sold back to the electric company for a small profit. It just depends on how far you want to go.

Water collection systems are more sophisticated also. By gather water from the roof, you can incorporate a filtration system and use this water to flush toilets, mop the floors, wash the cars, and water the lawn. All of this with nearly no dependence on municipal water systems or overextending a privately drilled well (depending on the local circumstances).

The building doesn't have to be designed by some flashy architect (like the 'vette guys did). It could simply be an older building renovated to modern standards, or a new building and be just an insulated metal pole building for all intensive purposes.

What is popular in these parts nowadays are these "hobbyist" condos. Essentially its like a little trailer park, expect there are 20-30 metal pole buildings  all lined up with electric power and gas only. And as an owner you "buy" into a condo association and you share the expenses with others on snow removal and lawn cutting. Heck, these things sell for 40-50k a piece and cost about $500-750 a year in condo association fees. Now that is low overhead isn't it?

end transmission.

Chris Mann

Mark Corbin <airvair at earthlink.net> wrote: The key word here is ENDOWMENT. Without large endowment funds, no museum
could survive. What we need is an endowment fund large enough to pay for
ALL overhead, over and above that which has to purchase the facilities that
we would have for the collection. Once the Endowment Fund can cover all the
overhead, THEN we can truly have a self-sufficient museum. We would also be
one of the privileged few.

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject:  CPF Museum
>
> As CPF Curator, I should be more positive but, I can't ever see us
> having our own museum.  Even if someone "gave" us a building, it costs
> lots of money to maintain a museum.  Jack Miller at our Ypsi museum says
> visitor admission fees don't even cover the electric bill let alone
> insurance, heat, water bill, wages,etc.  He recently spent $50,000
> installing a sprinkler system to meet city code.  Who would we get to
> stay at the museum 7 days a week to run it?  I'm curator for CPF and I
> only get to the museum a couple of times a year.  Jack is paid a salary
> to sit there waiting for the dozen or so people who may wander in on a
> given day.  To fund a museum you need endowments from rich people or the
> government.  Let's face it, Corvair people are at the bottom of the
> barrel wealth wise.  If we had any money we wouldn't be playing with
> rusty Corvairs!
> Clark Hartzel
>

 _______________________________________________
This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are the property
of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, http://www.corvair.org/
Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs 
 _______________________________________________