Beleagured Museum May Survive After All!

The Cradle of Aviation Museum has a champion, Long Island's Nassau county has a $ 2-million plan to keep the museum open.

ANN reported earlier this month the museum was in danger of closing its doors for good. A local polititian might just have a workable fix.

County Executive Thomas Suozzi says he's looking for 10 donors to serve on the museum board and contribute a hundred-thousand dollars each, and other so-called super donors that wouldn't serve, but would contribute another million combined.

He says he's already lined up five board members, two of whom have agreed to donate their hundred thousand immediately to keep the museum's doors open in the short term.

Suozzi told Newsday Long Island, "We are going to do whatever it takes to keep the Cradle of Aviation open. We need to make sure it not only survives but thrives well into the future."

Suozzi plans to share a long-term management and restructuring plan during the museum's annual fund raiser in November. Part of that plan involves making the museum more self-sustaining by generating more revenue.

Suozzi says simple things like using the museum's IMAX (EYE-max) theater for evening showings and changing the exhibits more often will get more people in the door.

So far, Suozzi's plan has drawn only praise from everyone, even critics of the former board. Let's hope the plan goes through, the aviation museum is a national asset and one of the few like it in the New England area.

FMI: www.cradleofaviation.org