At his death, J. Paul Gettys, the richest American of his generation, funded a number of institutions for the benefit of the public, including the world famous Gettys Art Museum. Not as well known is his vast, and eclectic, Bird Sanctuary established for the protection of endangered birds, other wildlife, rare plants and threatened minorities.
The Bird Sanctuary director was required to annually report, to the board of directors, all the accomplishments of the Sanctuary. The past year was an especially busy one, and the director was careful to list every event of consequence. For example, a caustic substance had spilled and ruined the flooring of the research lab located on the 7th floor of the Bird Sanctuary tower. The most efficient, and least expensive, repair was to strip the floor to the concrete base, apply an overlay of new concrete and etch in an attractive design. Other major activities included a report on the proliferation of an endangered species of wildlife brought from Africa in the early 1990s by a group of animal activist Franciscan monks headquartered in the Sanctuary. Also important was the creation of a new order of tea bush named, Libra, for the astrological period in which it was developed, and the decision to hire a professional chair person to head up an association formed to protect the rights and habitat of native pigmy tribes. During the year, the Sanctuary was forced to file a lawsuit against an aggressive competitor in an attempt to protect the patent on its organic frozen confectionery produced from its unique and rare grapes. The director would also have to issue a dire warning on global warming as result of the tests conducted by the Sanctuary's internationally respected weather scientists. Here is an extract of a portion of his notes covering the events of the year: 1. Floor scored on 7 2. Years ago, our Fathers brought forth, on this continent, a gnu nation 3. Conceived a Libra tea 4. Dedicated a pro position for Small Men Are Created Equal (SMACE) 5. We are engaged in a grapesicle war 6. Testing weather - can this nation, or any other nation, long endure? The list went on, but the activities will never be as remembered as much as the director, Abe Blinken's short, but moving, annual status report. It will be known, and loved, forever, as the Gettys Bird Address. (no need to thank me, I'll be here all week...) -- Mugsy<http://www.macgeekofdogtown.com>"You can't judge a book by its movie." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "StrataList-OT" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/StrataList-OT?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
