The Schooner Ernestina Commission will meet Friday, May 21, 2010 in Boston. The location TBA. The June 18 meeting will be held at 1 pm in the meeting room at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, 33 William Street , New Bedford, MA.

The Schooner Ernestina Commission is proud to announce the opening of the “Celebrate Bartlett” exhibit at the New Bedford Ocean Explorium on Saturday, April 17th, 2010 at 7PM.

This exhibits chronicles the life of Captain Robert A. Bartlett, owner of the Effie M. Morrissey, now Schooner Ernestina, from 1926-1946. Capt. Bartlett, originally from Brigus, Newfoundland, was a renowned Arctic explorer who successfully navigated Admiral Peary to his discovery of the North Pole in 1909. Capt. Bartlett made yearly trips to the Arctic for scientific expeditions and anthropologic studies with sponsorships from National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and the Museum of Natural History. Capt. Bartlett and the Morrissey also were commissioned by the US Navy for surveying in the Arctic during World War II.

The next Schooner Ernestina Commission meeting will be held on Friday, March 26, 1 p.m. in the meeting room at the Visitors' Center of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.

The Schooner Ernestina Commission is proud to announce the opening of the “Celebrate Bartlett” exhibit at the New Bedford Ocean Explorium. This exhibits chronicles the life of Captain Robert A. Bartlett, owner of the Effie M. Morrissey from 1926-1946. The exhibit, designed by the Historical Sites of Newfoundland and Labrador, will be on loan until the end of June.
Click on "read more" on next line for information about a SPECIAL opening event.

Join Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association at the American Schooner Association (ASA-LINK) booth at the Maine Boatbuilders' Show (MBB-SHOW) in Portland, Maine this weekend. SEMA also has a fan page on Facebook. Become a fan of on Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association Facebook.(LINK)

Stephen J. W. Platzer has been sailing since childhood, and in 1982 he served as radio operator on the transatlantic voyage bringing Ernestina from Cape Verde to America. Click Here for INFO

VOTE Ernestina the Best Place in Massachusetts

The Special Commission Relative to Designating 1000 Great Places in Massachusetts was created by an Act of the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick on January 15, 2009. Its mission is to identify and recognize the 1000 most truly special places in the Commonwealth, in order to celebrate pride in our history and culture, increase knowledge of our natural surroundings, and encourage regional and international tourism.

go to this link VOTE

and vote, only one vote for each email address is allowed.

Peter Perreira from The New Bedford Standard Times was taking photos last week. Link to article here: PHOTO and click on thumbnail #7, the oval chain link.

The Commission Meeting Time has been Changed to 3-5 pm. This Friday, 2/19/2010. This will allow attendees to enjoy Maria De Barros' concert at the Z Friday evening.

American Schooner Assn. Award to Shipwright Harold Burnham,
New Slate of Officers Seated at Annual Meeting

Mystic, CT, February 7 -- The annual meeting of the American Schooner Association (ASA) was highlighted by the organization’s presentation of its prestigious Award to shipwright and boatbuilder Harold Burnham of Essex, MA. Burnham was also the guest speaker at the meeting, which took place at Mystic Seaport Museum the first weekend in February.

The award is presented periodically to an individual or organization that has contributed to the preservation of schooners and their history. It was presented at Mystic by outgoing commodore John Eginton, owner and skipper of Mystic Whaler. Past recipients have included the Mystic Seaport Museum, naval architect George Stadel, Jonathan Wilson, founder of WoodenBoat Magazine, Francis E. “Biff” Bowker, longtime skipper of Mystic Seaport’s schooner Brilliant, and the Northwest Maritime Center and Wooden Boat Foundation in Port Townsend, WA.