To address why I am on here, No I certainly did not start this thread. In fact, I didn’t even know WIX existed – naive as that may seem, being an L-5 pilot – but my warbird world has been strictly within the CAF. I have known more about the management of the the CAF over the years than most members would because my husband Hal, was on the general staff for many years and he was the founding president of the museum.
It was brought to my attention that this subject was being discussed by all of you, and a thread set up for this purpose, so I logged on and followed the comments. While I could certainly tell you were intelligent minds with signs of critical thinking, it was clear to me that you were uninformed of certain basic truths on the subject. With successive posts I would say to myself, “well that’s not true”, “no, that’s not the correct picture” My intention to join in on your group was merely to inform, as the frustration from my point is huge knowing the only information a CAF member gets comes from CAF headquarters, and there is obviously CAF members here and CAF interest.
I will not rehash my first blog entry. You can go back and read it again if you like. But I must comment on the clear misconception that runs throughout about the governance of the museum as it relates to authority.
I think a good way is to simply copy here Hal’s letter of recommendation to Tami posted on Linkedin.com.
http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewPro ... AL-profile It would be worth your time to go there and also read all the 24 letters of recommendation as well as Tami’s bio and credentials. It gives you a clear understanding of the museum board’s fierce fight to preserve what was.
“In the late 1980’s the Confederate Air Force realized it had in its possession the largest collection of WWII artifacts in existence. The governing board for which I was chief of staff, along with the founding father of the organization, Lloyd Nolen, realized these priceless artifacts were in fact greater than the CAF, as they represented the story and sacrifice of all Americans during that great period of American history. The artifacts were neglected and it was our duty to honor them with the prestige and care equal to their importance.
I, along with Lloyd Nolen, was tasked to find that special person whose talent and integrity rivaled the task at hand. Tami O’Bannion was selected for the job. The primary, fundamental reason for this selection; her unquestionable passion for preserving the history of WWII through the non-flying assets of the CAF. In 1990 an independent corporate structure was formed and the American Air Power Heritage Museum was born, with Tami O’Bannion as Director. With independence came the authority for Tami to fly – and fly she did.
Over the next 20 years it has been my great privilege to watch the fruits of this decision grow. I must say, my decision to place Tami in the position as the ultimate caregiver of this priceless collection of WWII history is one of the smartest moves I have ever made, and one I am most proud of. The proof is in what you see today.
Due to the vision and leadership skills of Ms. O’Bannion, The American Airpower Heritage Museum is now a 6 million dollar entity, fully accredited by the American Association of Museums. It enjoys Smithsonian equal status to share artifacts. I have served as a board member of the AAHM for much of the past 20 years and therefore have seen first hand in intimate detail Tami’s leadership abilities.
Tami is a true visionary, with adherence to quality and integrity unparallel. Her ability to gain the trust and support of many foundations in the Permian Basin, endowments, and secure state funding has insured the safety and security of the AAHM for generations. Tami does not have the word “status quo” in her vocabulary. She is driven to improve, foresee, and implement new and exciting programs and artifact acquisition displays, always with the true mission at the core of her endeavors. Integrity, creativity, and uncompromising resolve for the protection of the pubic trust best sums up Ms. O’Bannion. Her excellence is achieved by constantly striving to please her toughest critic – herself."
Harold A. Fenner, M.D. Founding President, Sec/Tresurer, American Airpower Heritage Museum, Commemorative Air Force
managed Tami at CAF Airpower Museum July 16, 2010
To put things in prospective, while you are on
www.Linkedin.com view Steve Brown’s cradentials and experience for running a museum. Jeff Wood, the now interim museum director is also there. Jeff is the one thread of museum knowledge left, as whatever he knows Tami taught him.
The CAF director and the museum director have always had signed agreements to work together towards the common overall mission, but the CAF director has never been Tami’s boss. I will venture to say, based on the museum she created, didn’t need one. To her and Bob Rice the past CAF director’s credit, no one would ever know, as they worked seamlessly together. Bob was a gentleman and respected Tami’s ability, profession, and the fact that her intity (the non-flying assets) was a different part of the mission than his, yet equally important. He knew they were peers.
No one ever said the museum could survive without the support of the CAF, nor would it ever want to, they are a team. And I am just speculating, but I would say there may not be much contravery over the CEO of the CAF being over the 3 corporations – but the museum is different because it is the care of the non-flying assets. The grants that support the museum are given with the specific purpuse of the museum, not the CAF. The endowment donor individuals gave to the museum, not the CAF. And the artifacts themselves #1 were given to the American people as an irrevocable gift to the public trust when the museum was formed to be a true accredited bound museum instead of a collection of relics. #2 only a small percentage of the donated artifacts came from CAF members in the first place. The vast majority cames from the pivate sector.
The accreditation standards are very good standards to protect and sustain a museum over time. These standards concern independent governance, professional staff and director, and independent board of directors who wear the hat of the museum, not the CAF, while sitting on that board. Tami can recite these standards by heart. She had held meticulously to them for 20 years.
The idea that the CEO of the CAF has to be over the museum to “move the CAF in a positive direction” really holds no merit other than it sounds catchy. The CAF is the airplanes, the museum is the artifacts, and the sound constructive reasons they were separate are just as valid today as they were 20 years ago. Protection and a check and balance doesn’t change.
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