Today is the last day that the Saab Museum is open to the public, if it will open after new years is depending on the will of the receivers and if a potential buyer is found that is willing to take over the museum itself. It is our belief that the museum should be separated from Saab the company!
We want to save Saab Car Museum… if we have to! This is a very important phrase, because we might not need to. But as I have hinted before we have been working on different backup plans for many months drawn different conclusions from that. I have today had a long and very constructive talk with Karl Ask chairman of the Swedish Saab Club and we agree completely on how things needs to be done if we as a world-wide community are to make a contribution of this size.
No individual organization or small club has even a chance to actually save the museum, it needs to be a united action by people, clubs from all over the world if this is to work! Even so we might not be able to do it.
Here is part of the plan which might be the way to save the museum, note the word “might”…
1. Start an association “Club”, for example called the Saab Cars Museum Association (SCMA)
2. Anyone who wants to join in and contribute to saving the museum needs to become a member of this association and pay a membership fee which will be used to cover the running-costs of the museum.
3. Clubs around the world will need to commit to aiding the association with funds to preserve the cars and cover costs, details about how this will be done is private information for each club.
4. A 5 year pure business plan needs to be established on how to cover costs
5. A 10 year plan to display the vision of the association needs to be established
6. Rules and regulations needs to be established
7. The people who will do the actual work will need to display their interest.
8. An temporary management group of the association needs to be established which will run the association for one year until a more permanent team can take over.
This is a joint effort by the whole Saab Community world wide. SaabsUnited is NOT a leading factor in this but only a small contributor and a part of the big picture.
To do this we will need the support of EVERYONE! If you are willing to join in this cause, we want to know. That is why we have created an e-mail where you can declare your intention to join the cause and become a member of the association once it starts. The membership fee is not yet established but should in my mind be in the regions of €50,- / $65,- per year. The people working on this project will do so completely without payment and no company will be involved or any purpose of profit making for anyone except to cover ongoing and future costs for the association.
Please declare your intention to help out at museum@saabsunited.se
I just want to wish everyone on behalf of all the great guys in the SU Crew that I’m so happy to call my friends, a happy new year ! =)
