Nevil Shute Norway Foundation

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation is to further public awareness of the writings and philosophy of Nevil Shute Norway. To fulfil this purpose, the Foundation:

Organizes and conducts conventions and celebrations of the author's work
Maintains Australia, UK and US based lending libraries of Nevil Shute’s books, audio tapes of the books, video tapes of films based on the books, unpublished manuscripts, and other references to the Nevil Shute’s works. All libraries are open to all members of the public
Supports the Nevil Shute Memorial Library in Alice Springs
Assists in the development of educational programs involving Nevil Shute's writing
Maintains a Nevil Shute web site
Publishes a monthly electronic newsletter
Funds and manages an annual Nevil Shute Excellence in Aviation Scholarship
Conducts additional activities to serve the general purpose of the Foundation.

LEGAL STATUS:

The Nevil Shute Norway Foundation is registered as a not-for-profit corporation in New Mexico.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Heather Mayfield, President (USA)
Art Cornell, Vice President (USA)
Babette Hills, Secretary and Treasurer (USA)
Dan Telfair, Founder & Newsletter Editor (USA)
John Anderson, Chief Researcher (UK)
David Dawson-Taylor, Webmaster and UK Librarian (UK)
Laura Schneider, Organiser of NSL2007 (USA)
Jim MacDougald, Original Member (USA)

TAX STATUS

Because of the expense involved ($500 nonrefundable filing fee, plus accountant and legal fees), and because of the small number and amounts of donations received by the Foundation in the first two years of its existence, application was not initially made to the Internal Revenue Service to gain tax-exempt status. As donations have increased and more funds for administration have become available, an application for tax-exempt status (501 [c] [3]) has been initiated. If approved, donations to the Foundation will be tax deductible. At the present time, donations are not tax deductible.

HISTORY:

The history of the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation parallels the history of developments leading to the creation of the web site. It all started in late 1996 with an internet Nevil Shute book club. Members would agree on a book to read, then discuss it via e-mail. Around mid 1998, someone noted that January 17, 1999 would be Nevil's 100th birthday, and that we should have a birthday party. That seemed like a good idea, so Dan and Zia Telfair decided to host what they thought would be a small party in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thereafter, things got a bit out of hand. What started as a birthday party, became a centennial celebration attended by over 120 "Shutists" including Nevil's two daughters, his two grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. Five countries plus Puerto Rico were represented. Participants enjoyed the celebration so much, they elected to declare a two-year intermission, and start all over in Australia in 2001.

Not long after the Centennial Celebration, a lending library was formed to provide public access to all of Nevil Shute's novels and related materials. This was done because of the difficulty in obtaining access to some of his out of print books, films based on his books, unpublished manuscripts, etc. The library now has over 300 items available for loan, and over 100 patrons in nine countries. Additionally, a branch library was opened in Australia following the OZ2001 Celebration and another branch library is now open in the UK.

In early 2000, because of administrative requirements involving the Centennial, the library, and the Australia celebration (OZ2001), it was decided that a legal entity was necessary to handle the property and funding involved. To meet this requirement, the Foundation was incorporated on April 11, 2000.

Since that time, in addition to managing OZ2001 and UK2003 and maintaining the lending library, the Foundation has begun the nevilshute.org web site and a monthly newsletter, and provided complete sets of hardbound and softbound editions and recorded books to the Nevil Shute Memorial Library in Alice Springs.

ACTIVITIES:

Springs Library Support

Over the past two years, the Nevil Shute Norway Foundation has made numerous contributions to the Alice Springs Community Library. Although the library was officially named the Nevil Shute Memorial Library when it was first opened some twenty years ago, until recently, there was nothing there to indicate that honor. There were no signs or displays of any sort, nor was there even a complete collection of Nevil Shute's books. Since OZ2001, the Foundation has donated one complete set of hardbound books, including many first editions, for display. We have also donated a complete set of soft cover (Stratus) editions for use as loaners, and a complete set of recorded books for the same purpose. Most recently, the Foundation offered to provide $1,500 USD (approximately $2,500 AUD) as matching funds if the Alice Springs Town Council would agree to erect a suitable memorial to Nevil Shute at the library. Australian Shutists Chris and Penny Morton added another $500 AUD to our offer. Together, this amounted to approximately $3,000 AUD for use as matching funds for the memorial. When the checks were presented to the Mayor of Alice Springs, she informed us that the Town Council had voted $20,000 AUD to match our $3,000 AUD! The total, now $23,000 AUD, will go toward renovating the library garden, putting in decorative benches and appropriate plaques, and renaming it the Nevil Shute Memorial Garden. All this has transpired in just a bit under two years!

Alice Springs Library Presentation

Foundation representatives present matching funds checks for the Nevil Shute Memorial to the Alice Springs Mayor and the Library Manager. Left to Right: Library Manager Glenys Aird, Mayor Fran Kilgariff, Dan and Zia Telfair.

WEB HOSTING:

The Nevil Shute Norway web site is made possible through the generosity of UltraFast Communications (www.ultrafast.com.au) based in Brisbane, Australia. In response to a Foundation call for assistance with operating expenses, UltraFast executives agreed to donate free web hosting for our site in order to remove the financial burden of paid web hosting. Shutists interested in establishing contact with UltraFast Communications may do so at the above URL or through the UltraFast button on this page.

FUNDING AND DONATIONS:

The Nevil Shute Norway Foundation is operated on small profits from gatherings and on the generosity of member Shutists. We do not charge dues, sell merchandise, engage in fund raising activities, nor set fees for gatherings in order to make a profit. No Foundation Board Member receives a salary. There is no paid staff. We do everything in our power to keep operating expenses to a minimum. From time to time, however, we do fund projects such as assistance to the Nevil Shute Memorial Library in Alice Springs, scholarships, etc.

Although our operating expenses are not great, we do need assistance in the form of donations from our members if we are to maintain the web site, newsletter, libraries, etc. Even though we do not engage in fund raising, we do accept donations.

Those wishing to contribute to the Foundation may do so by using the PayPal button or by contacting the Foundation Secretary/Treasurer at foundation@nevilshute.org