SAVE THE DATE FOR THE PLANKOWNERS' SAILABRATION – JUNE 6, 2020!
100% of the proceeds benefit ELISSA and the many educational and training programs of the Texas Seaport Museum. The Plankowners' Sailabration also offers the public the opportunity to join the Plankowners' II Syndicate. By joining ELISSA's Plankowners' II Syndicate with the purchase of a plank, you can earn your place in the history of the ship. Each plank donation will be honored with the purchaser's name recorded and displayed on ELISSA's Plankowners' II Honor Board for posterity.
Texas Seaport Museum founded the ELISSA Plankowners' Syndicate in 1980 to honor a special group of donors. Through in-kind and cash contributions, individuals and businesses purchased planks for ELISSA's decks. In 1985, Plankowners' Syndicate members were invited to the first Plankowners' Sailabration. The sale of the final plank inspired a new opportunity for the sale of 318 iron hull plates and in 1990, Hullplate Owners joined the Syndicate and the tradition was opened to GHF members and guests. The Plankowners' Sailabration is now open to the general public.
PLANKOWNERS' SAILABRATION HISTORY
The ELISSA Plankowners' Syndicate was founded in 1980 to honor a special group of ELISSA donors. Through in-kind and cash contributions, individuals and businesses "purchased planks" from ELISSA's decks. These 540 pieces of Douglas Fir were carefully installed during the restoration.
Membership in the Plankowners' Syndicate was later institutionalized to provide ongoing financial support for Texas' tall ship. Numbered planks were "sold" for increasing prices as availability decreased. Finally, the last plank was auctioned in June of 1990. A new opportunity to support ELISSA and the Texas Seaport Museum was inaugurated in September of 1990 when the sale of ELISSA's 318 iron hull plates was added to the Syndicate offerings.
The Syndicate includes individuals, businesses, and memorial gifts. Planks and hull plates have been purchased to honor new babies, as wedding and birthday gifts, and as remembrances of loved ones. A hull-plate sales table will be open throughout the evening.
In 1985, Plankowners were invited to the first Plankowners' Syndicate Auction, an opportunity to purchase nautical items that had been donated for the support of ELISSA. The affair proved to be a big success and thus began the annual party and auction. In 1990 the tradition was opened to GHF members and guests. The party is now held in Galveston, Texas at the Texas Seaport Museum and includes entertainment, food, drinks, and silent and live auctions. Funds generated from this event go for the support of the many educational programs of Texas Seaport Museum and ongoing maintenance of ELISSA.