The annual fundraiser of Rosie the Riveter Trust is just two weeks off – Saturday, March 21, 2009. Click here for your invitation.

Our Neighbors: Dinner full of park discovery

By Chris Treadway
West County Times

Posted: 03/07/2009 03:12:15 PM PST

One of the historic waterfront buildings in Richmond that once served Kaiser Shipyard No. 3 during World War II will be the site of this year's Rosie the Riveter Trust "Discover Your Park" dinner. The theme is appropriate because few people get to discover the inside of the 1942 machine shop, which is now an active warehouse closed to the public.

The event starts with cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. on March 21 in the shop where propulsion machinery and propellers were once assembled. The deadline to RSVP for tickets, however, is Friday.

This is a casual dress event, with 1940s or machine shop attire — and maybe a bandanna — encouraged. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit trust, the community partner with the city and the National Park Service in the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park.

"We're trying to highlight everything that's going on," said event co-chairwoman Jane Bartke. "People don't know it's there, that's why the theme is 'Discover Your Park.'"

Along with the catered dinner, guests will get a special gift bag of Rosie-related items, most of which can be used touring the park.

According to trust board member and City Councilman Tom Butt, the plan is to hold the annual dinner at a different historic site related to the park. The machine shop never has been open to the public, and presentations at the dinner will illuminate all that once took place there.

Last year's event, the first, was held in the Ford Craneway, which will house the visitor center for the national park. The center, incidentally, could open this year, according to Butt.

Individual dinner tickets are $150 each, and table sponsorships are available; sponsors will be prominently acknowledged. For details on the dinner, call Bartke at 510-235-1315.

Donations will be recognized in the Rosie the Riveter Hall of Honor.

ROSIE PARK PLAN RELEASED: A new general management plan that will guide development in the Rosie the Riveter park during the next 15 to 20 years has been released and is available for review. Copies are available at the park office, 1401 Marina Way South in Richmond, online at parkplanning.nps.gov/rori or by sending name and mailing address via e-mail to RORI_Gen_Info@nps.gov, or regular mail to Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, 1401 Marina Way South, Richmond, CA 94804. The plan also can be requested by calling 510-232-5050.

An open house to learn about and comment on the plan will be held March 18 in the City Council chamber at the interim City Hall, 1401 Marina Way South, Richmond. Park staff members will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day, and people are invited to drop in any time to hear about plan alternatives and offer ideas and comments.

·  In a related note, Carla Koop of the local National Park Service unit, notes that organizers decided last week that this year's edition of the annual Home front Festival by the Bay will be a two-day affair, with the popular USO Dance on Oct. 2 and the main event Oct. 3. The festival is expected to go back to a three-day event next year.

Reach Chris Treadway at 510-262-2784 or ctreadway@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Tom Butt, President

Rosie the Riveter Trust (Non-profit Partner of Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park)

117 Park Place

Point Richmond, CA  94801

Phone:  510.236.7435

Fax:  510.232.5325

E-mail:  tom.butt@intres.com

www.rosietheriveter.org