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US based lending libraries of Nevil Shute’s books, audio tapes of the books, video tapes of films based on the books, unpublished manuscripts, and other references to the Nevil Shute’s works.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

A photograph of seven eighth's of the Foundation Board taken at York on 31 July 2009 (Jim MacDougald was unable to attend the UK 2009 conference)

Biographies of current (October 2011) Board members can be found by clicking on the name.

• Heather Mayfield, President (USA)
• John Anderson, Vice President, Chief Researcher, Treasurer and Organiser of UK2009 (UK)
• Alison Jenner, Secretary (UK)
• David Dawson-Taylor, Webmaster and UK Librarian (UK)
• Laura Schneider, Organiser of OZ 2007 and Seattle 2011; US Librarian (USA)
• Joost Meulenbroek, Newsletter Editor (Holland)

Past Board members include:

• Dan Telfair Founder (USA)
• Jim MacDougald, Original Member (USA)
• Shirley Norway, Original Board Member (USA) ( Deceased)
• Steph Gallagher, Organiser of UK 2003 (UK)
• Richard Michalak, Newsletter Editor and Historian (Australia)
• Jack Callaway, Website Manager (USA) ( Deceased)
• Babette Hills, Secretary and Treasurer ((USA))

TAX STATUS

At the present time the Foundation does not have tax exemption status and therefore 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 11 April 2000.

Since that time, in addition to managing OZ2001, UK2003, Cape Cod 2005, OZ2007 & UK2009 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:

Alice Springs Library Support

The Alice Springs Community Library was officially named the Nevil Shute Memorial Library when it was first opened some twenty years ago. In 2001 the Foundation donated approximately $3000 AUD towards the erection of a suitable memorial to Nevil Shute. Alice Springs Town Council contributed $20,000 to renovate the Library garden and to put benches and a memorial plaque and rename it the Nevil Shute Memorial Garden.

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.

Unveiling of the Memorial Plaque 24th April 2007 Left to Right Laura Schneider, Dan Telfair, Mayor Fran Kilgariff, Denise Senior, Library Manager

The garden was formally opened, and the memorial plaque unveiled, during the Alice Springs Conference in April 2007.

The Foundation has donated a complete set of hardbound Nevil Shute books for display as well as a full set of paperbacks for loan.

Yorkshire Air Museum - Pioneers in Aviation Exhibition

The Foundation worked with the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington near York during the creation of this exhibition. This has good displays which give details of the life and work of Nevil Shute covering both his aviation and literary work. This is a permanent exhibition which was officially opened to the public in March 2010.

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.