General Information

Friends of the Aquarium is a not-for-profit Missouri corporation. Formed in April of 1977, FOTA is organized to fund, build, and operate a world-class public aquarium for the greater Kansas City area.

FOTA is a volunteer, membership organization. Memberships are available in several categories; individual memberships are $25.00 per year, business memberships are $100 per year, and life memberships (for either businesses or individuals) are $1,000.00 are payable one time. The one common denominator for all FOTA members is their love for the Kansas City region and their desire to help build a world-class public aquarium for Kansas City and the surrounding midwest region.

The members of FOTA elect a Board of Directors to direct policy for the organization. The Board, in turn, elects officers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, etc.). The officers form the management committee which directs the day-to-day activities of FOTA.

Recent History

Since about 1990 FOTA has been in more or less of a "holding pattern". The President, John Farrell Kuhns (one of the original three incorporators of FOTA), has maintained appropriate contacts with political, community and business leaders in an attempt to keep the project alive and well.

In 1980, after a presentation to the Port Authority of Kansas City, Missouri by J.C. "Clyde" Nichols, Jr. (the then president of FOTA) and Mr. Kuhns, the Authority's chairman, Ilus Davis (former mayor of Kansas City) stated that the aquarium project, as proposed by FOTA, should be considered the "keystone to the riverfront development." The present day Port Authority has finally been able follow through on that recommendation and has, in 1996, funded a new feasibility study for the aquarium. This study reaffirmed most of the conclusion reached in the 1980 study by Peckham, Guyton, Albers & Viets, Inc., a Kansas City-based consulting firm. The recent study was done by Eskew and Associates of New Orleans.

The most important aspect of the most recently completed study was that the riverfront site, between the Heart of America and Paseo bridges, was confirmed as the most desirable site for the aquarium. This site was chosen by FOTA in 1980 at its annual membership meeting and has been actively promoted by FOTA ever since. FOTA has maintained contacts and a presence on various advisory groups and committees looking at the development of the riverfront.

Some Important Points

Over the years FOTA has had to introduce and define the aquarium project to the community. Some assumptions made by the public have had be clarified. The first among these is the term, "public aquarium". This does not imply a facility that is funded by tax money or operated by a city, county or state agency. In fact. FOTA's plans have never included the use of tax money. It is true, however, that the plans have all assumed that the actual land upon which the aquarium is to be built will be either donated or leased at a nominal sum. The operation of the aquarium should be by a professional staff directed by a professional director who answers to a board composed of community leaders. In addition, the aquarium is to remain as a not-for-profit organization devote to providing the community with a top notch entertainment facility that also concentrates heavily on education and conservation. This will mean that operating revenues not needed to retire debt will remain in Kansas City and will be used to maintain and expand the facility and its programs.

This drawing is presented here for reference, and represents a view from atop the Paseo Bridge looking south towards downtown Kansas City.

The aquarium itself will feature aquatic life from around the world from all water environments (cold and tropical freshwater and marine environments). The presentation can be expected to concentrate on local environments and flora and fauna (Missouri has more species of fishes native within its borders than any other state), while at the same time presenting ecological equivalents from all over the world. Such "anchor" exhibits as a tropical coral reef will be featured, but always in a manner that thematically and logically relates to the over all presentation scheme. The river front location was made official by FOTA at its general membership meeting in 1980. Ever since then FOTA has actively pursued this site and has attempted to persuade community leaders to see the wisdom of such a location for the project. The first feasibility analysis included a site concept drawing.

The Next Step

FOTA, working with the Port Authority and the community as a whole now needs to identify the most likely funding sources. FOTA has already restarted its membership drive, and with this effort it hopes to increase both active members and donations to the project. The Port Authority, with its chartered ability to issue revenue bonds, is now in the position to make its major contribution to the project. However, before any major fund raising effort can be started FOTA and the Port Authority will be going into its mutual public relations efforts. While the project's history is generally known by the public, the specifics need to be reiterated and presented to the community.

Following a major public relations effort and a rebuilding of the membership of FOTA, the next step will be to have an architectural competition or bidding process. This is necessary to find the best possible designers for the aquarium. FOTA has been fortunate to have worked since its founding with the internationally recognized firm of PGAV Architects and is highly aware of the value of a firm which has designed aquarium projects around the world. Once preliminary designs are completed then a major fund raising push can be started.

Window of Opportunity

Over the years since FOTA was formed more than one "window of opportunity" has opened and closed. Theses set backs were taken in stride, for while it lengthened the time before the goal could be achieved, it also led to an understanding of what needed to be done next and what needed to be avoided in the future. The current window, according to the consultants, is about six years long. That means there are about six years to complete all necessary studies and the majority of the fund raising and the first phases of construction. Beyond that time, if these goals are not met then the next window's appearance is highly unpredictable.

Since 1997

The latest opportunity was managed by the Port Authority of Kansas City, Missouri. Presumably acting upon previous boards' mandates to consider the aquarium as "the keystone to the river front development" (as spoken by Ilus Davis, the chairman of the Port Authority, at an Authority meeting in 1980) the recent boards (most recently chaired by Baylis Tate of Kansas City Power & Light) made what seemed to be an honest attempt to study and promote the project for the developing River Front Park (now named after Richard L. Berkley, a member of Friends of the Aquarium both before and during his term a Kansas City's mayor). David Bass, the chairman of the Authority's Aquarium Committee working with the Economic Development Authority (which provide staff to the Port Authority) promulgated a "request for proposals" (RFP) for the design, financing and construction of the aquarium. This RFP was poorly drafted and failed to attract any recognized aquarium development groups. One group, Cambridge Seven Associates, was invited by FOTA to attend the open meetings regaring the RPF and to ask questions and consider making a proposal. After attening the one public meeting and after reading the scores of pages included in the RPF they essentially stated that the RFP appeared to be "hard wired" (meaning drawn to attract a proposal from a specific company) and they didn't want to get involved. FOTA's president had been promised that FOTA would be included in formulating the RFP; they were not!
The one proposal which was received was from a Texas group which, up to that time, had never turned one spade-full of dirt towards the construction of an aquarium. They appeared to be a loose assembly of various "experts" from around the country. Some of the principals actually had no aquarium experience, and others had worked on aquarium project of one kind or another (including the Underwater World at the Mall of America which at the time of this group's presentation was undergoing bankruptcy proceedings). Glen LeRoy, a former Port Authority member who had first suggested to FOTA that the Authority could issue revenue bonds to help build the aquarium, was included as a member of this presenting group.
FOTA was asked by one of the Authority members to preview the group;s written proposal and critique it. This was done and the Authority member went into the meeting armed with some valuble information. The group's proposal was not accepted.

The Next, Next Step!

Kansas City's aquarium project remains in limbo. FOTA continues to raise money and maintain its non-profit status. The organization stands ready to serve as an appropriate vehicle for moving the project ahead. FOTA, as a 501(c)3 organization can easily be used as the community organization needed to handle fund raising and promotion. It is most unusual in Kansas City that community organizations with the experience and dedication like that of FOTA's are not tapped for their wisdom and guidance.
The next, next step is for FOTA to take back the lead for this project and for the community to get behind a non-partisan, grass-roots movement to make this a project with total community ownership.

News as of 30 August 1999

The Kansas City Port Authority has enlisted the help of former mayor Dick Berkley to form an ad hoc group to study the aquarium project. FOTA was represented at the first meeting of this group. Glen LeRoy (who had previously been part of the World of Atlantis group who failed to win approval of their proposal presented to the Kansas City Port Authority) represented Gould Evans. There was some talk about forming a group to explore the aquarium project. The question was raised about the wisdom or need for forming another group for this purpose.
The Kansas City Port Authority, with the change of city government was essentially replaced (except for two members which were retained from the previous board). The Economic Development Corporation also saw a kind of "bail out" by some staff, and a permanent executive director has yet to be appointed.
At the July meeting of the Port Authority the FOTA representative was informed by an EDC staff member that the aquarium project was on the "back burner" and not of immediate concern. One important item had, in fact, changed. The site for the aquarium was moved (presumably by the Port Authorty/EDC staff) from the space on the river to a site which is set back south of the curent road which runs from the east to west through the River Front Park.
It is to be hoped that the Port Authority will learn from the recent past an accept the assitance of FOTA and others in te commnity who have vast experience in the public aquarium field. To this end we would liketo remind our friends of the firm PGAV Architects this Kansas City firm has been working along with FOTA for over 25 years on Kansas City's aquarium project.

News as of 15 February 2001

A lot has happened! The board of directors of FOTA voted in nine new members to fill the vacancies that had accumulated on the FOTA board. These new members included John Dillingham, John Bondon, Georgia Lynch, Al Tikwart (formerly president of FOTA), Myron Wang (a member of the first FOTA board), George Blackwood, Jerry Mackey, Jinny McCoy and John Farrell Kuhns was retained on the board. The new FOTA board was presented with nearly $50,000 in an investment fund that started with the enrollment of FOTA's first life memberships in the late 1970s. The new board's first job was to elect a treasurer and Jinny McCoy was elected. John Dillingham, John Bondon and Georgia Lynch are acting a co-chairs for the purposes of meetings until formal nominations and elections of officers can be completed. Carol Kuhns is serving as the chair of the membership committee, and Dr. David Sallee is serving as the education committee chair.

Presentations to both the Port Authority and Kansas City's mayor Kay Barnes were made during February. Mayor Barnes has been a supporter of FOTA for many years. Former mayors Richard Berkley and Dr. Charles Wheeler are participating as advisors and they regularaly attend the board's monthly meetings. FOTA is seeking new and renewing members and it hopes that the community will once again become enthusiastic about the project and that its numbers can be brought back to the high water mark or 1,600 members...or more.

As ever, if you have an interest we urge you to join FOTA and let us know of your interest. You may send e-mail to jfk@compuserve.com to request an Adobe Acrobat *.PDF file of FOTA's membership application.

Specific Needs

These are specific items need as soon as possible to get this project back on track:
(1) Interested citizens should attend the monthly Port Authority meetings. These are held on the first Monday of every month at 10 Petticoat Lane, Kansas City, MO (for information call 816/221-0636). If you are a FOTA member, always be sure to sign in as such.
(2) FOTA still needs a temporary storage space for its files and archives. This would serve as a central location where interested officials can have access to FOTA's extensive information.
(3) Former members of FOTA need to renew their membership's (see below for more information).
(4) Interested persons need to contact FOTA at 816/842-5936 or 816/891-6671 or by e-mail at jfk@compuserve.com.

(5) FOTA needs to establish an e-mail L-list for members so they can learn of news and notices.

What Can I Do to Help?

Currently, the most important step you can take is to join FOTA and to encourage others to do the same.

If you are a business owner, especially of a business with some connection with water (aquarium shops, SCUBA centers, etc.), please consider joining other area businesses in making on-going monetary contributions to Friends of the Aquarium. If your business maintains an e-mail contact list FOTA can supply you with an Adobe Acrobat *.PDF file of its membership application. This *.PDF file can be e-mailed as an attachment to a welcoming message that explains the attched file.

To learn more about