When Matt Young approached me about serving on the CSS Neuse Gunboat Association board, I felt a wave of trepidation wash over me. About a dozen years ago, I promised Sandra, my wife, that I would start getting off some of these boards. Every time she turned around, I was heading to a board meeting. She was not thrilled.

But Matt is a friend – and I have spent years learning about the CSS Ram Neuse and working to promote the replica at the corner of Gordon and Herritage, the CSS Neuse II. As soon as I told Matt I would serve, I came to a realization: I knew almost nothing about the Gunboat Association, which we affectionately call the GBA.

My learning curve has been a little steep. The GBA, established in September 1976 as the CSS Neuse Restoration Committee, Inc., has seen many changes over the years. The Association came into existence to support the CSS Neuse and the Governor Caswell Memorial when these two historic sites were together at the Vernon Avenue location. The CSS Neuse State Historic Site became the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center in 2015 when the current facility opened in its downtown location.

Many people wonder why a state facility needs a private fundraising organization. After all, doesn't the state pay the bills for the Interpretative Center?

My long-term experience as a member of the public library board and Friends of the Library board answered that question for me. While state funding does pay for most of the facility and personnel costs of these facilities, the state coffers do not provide much money, if any, for programming expenses.

The CSS Neuse Gunboat Association is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation whose purpose is to support the CSS Neuse State Historic Site's development through fundraising, advocacy, volunteer support, programming, and membership.

The GBA uses the money it generates to provide programming, market the site, and acquire merchandise for the gift shop. All these functions lie outside the state's funding to the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretative Center.

Helping to plan and fund programs is a vital function of the GBA. The Interpretative Center's recent programs focused on female spies, period boat construction, period medical care, symposia, lectures, guest authors, and battlefield tours. Living history programs are another significant part of programming that the GBA funds.

Sometimes the GBA steps up to assist with immediate needs. When those who designed Phase II of the Interpretative Center's exhibits failed to provide plans for lighting, the GBA stepped up to provide $4,000 for lighting fixtures, bulbs, and wiring. The availability of GBA assistance expedited solving the center's lighting problem.

The Interpretative Center offers a spacious facility for housing the remains of the original CSS Ram Neuse. Crews built the hull at White Hall, today's Seven Springs. Then they brought the hull to Kinston to finish the gunboat, armor it, and equip it for battle. The remains of the CSS Neuse housed in the Interpretative Center is the largest artifact the State of North Carolina owns that is not a building.

On March 12, the Interpretative Center will open its latest exhibition space – Phase III. The name of Phase III is “The Civil War in Eastern North Carolina.” These exhibits present the “landside” of the war. The celebration of this opening will begin with a Gala and catered meal on Friday evening, March 11.

The naval side of the war is in the downstairs section that houses the remains of the CSS Ram Neuse. On the other side of the mezzanine, Phase II is all about how the war impacted Kinston and its civilians.

The GBA, like the local Friends of the Library, exists for the primary purpose of generating additional funding for the state agency we support. When you see me selling raffle tickets, do not run and hide. Please be kind and supportive.

In fact, I have raffle tickets for chances to win a 14-foot wooden skiff built of locally-provided wood and assembled with period tools. Just let me know how many tickets you would like.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.