Amica Insurance

Tall Ships Rhode Island 2007

(TSRI 2007)

After its founding in 1975, one of the earliest events Newport CIV participated in was the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration Tall Ships visit to Newport in 1976. Although our records do not indicate how CIV was involved, we can be sure that it was related to hosting foreign visitors to our area.

We will  return to our roots this year as we participates in the Amica Insurance Tall Ships Rhode Island 2007 event. This year CIV has again volunteered our assistance in hosting international crew members of visiting ships. Of the current twenty Tall Ships scheduled to participate in the event, ten are from outside of the United States. They include: Bluenose II, Canada; Cisne Branco, Brazil; Dewaruci, Indonesia; Gloria, Columbia; Gorch Foch, Germany; Picton Castle, Cook Islands; Prince William, United Kingdom; Spirit of Bermuda, Bermuda; Tarangini, India; and Urania, The Netherlands.

In keeping with CIV’s purpose of promoting global understanding through people-to-people programs for international visitors, we will host a casual reception on Goat Island on Thursday Evening, 28 June from 6-9 PM. The venue will be at the southern end of Goat Island, across the harbor from Fort Adams. We should have a good view of at least some of the Tall Ships, three of whom will be berthed at the State Pier at the Fort. We will extend an invitation to each of the ten International Tall Ships to send three crew members to the event. In keeping with CIV tradition, we will ask members to contribute an hors d’ouvres or dessert to the event. We will also be looking for at least ten volunteers to provide transportation , and act as hosts to the guest crew members from each ship.

This event will also be combined with our annual membership reception, in which CIV members are asked to invite potential new members to our organization. We hope that many of you will take the opportunity to invite friends, neighbors and colleagues to join us in what should be an excellent opportunity to see what CIV is all about. Full details about the event can be found here.

If any member is interested in assisting the CIV committee with this event, he or she can either send an email to tsri@newportciv.org with your name, address, email and phone number(s), or contact either of the co-chairpersons, Judy Terry at 683-1950 or Walt Wasowski at 338-9222.

In addition to CIV’s organizational participation, we encourage members to volunteer as individuals to help with the Tall Ships event. Of particular relevance to CIV members, the Tall Ships Committee is actively seeking individuals who would be willing to host a few crew members at their home for an afternoon event - say a luncheon or bar-b-que. If you would be willing to host such an event, or would like more information, contact Bob Anson at 683-4711, or see the flyer here.

Tall Ships Rhode Island 2007 is Co-chaired by Vice-Admiral Thomas R. Weschler USN (ret.), a long-time member of CIV. Admiral Weschler provided details about the event at this year's Great Decisions Kick-Off Reception, which took place on Tuesday, February 20 at the Newport Elks Club.

Additional information on the event can be found here: TSRI 2007