Educational, yes, fundraiser, no

COEUR d'ALENE - The Museum of North Idaho had to write off $26,000, stemming from a vintage hydroplane historical exhibition and failed fundraiser in 2010.

The write-off was listed on the museum's 2014 newsletter. Dorothy Dahlgren, the museum director, confirmed the write-off.

She said Tuesday she is holding out hope that Diamond Cup president Doug Miller can repay the money in the future.

"Doug would like to make it right with us one way or another," she said.

She said the museum anticipated the money would be paid after the 2013 Diamond Cup. When that didn't work, the museum just decided to get it off the books.

The event cost more than $58,000 to put on, and brought in nearly $32,000, she said.

Dahlgren said Miller came to the museum with the idea for the event.

"It was supposed to be a moneymaker for us, but it didn't turn out that way," she said.

She said most of the expense was bringing the actual vintage hydroplanes to Coeur d'Alene. Other expenses included travel expenses for Hall of Fame unlimited hydroplane driver and 1966 Diamond Cup winner Miroslav "Mira" Slovak, who was a guest speaker.

There was also the expense of getting the hydroplanes ready to run on the lake, and providing lodging for drivers.

Dahlgren said it was an educational program which focused on the history of hydroplanes on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

The educational part of the event was a success; the fundraising part wasn't, she said.

Doug Miller couldn't be reached for comment.

Stephen Shepperd, a Diamond Cup and hydroplane historian in North Idaho, said the 2010 event was hurt by bad weather. He wasn't part of organizing the event, and was just a spectator.

He said three boats, reproductions of the Miss Wahoo and 1955 Miss Thriftway and the original Miss Bardahl, came for the event.

Only one boat ran on the lake because of treacherous conditions, negatively affecting the fundraising.

"The water was just too rough, and the wind was too high," Shepperd said. "Despite everybody's best intentions, (the event) didn't meet everyone's expectations with fundraising."