Tesla Memorial Society of New York

One of the oldest Tesla Societies in the world. It is the second oldest in the United States and the oldest in New York. Established in 1979, it has been the most influential of all the Tesla Societies. It has battled furiously to make the name of Nikola Tesla better known and for his inventive genius to be recognised fully in the 21st century. Involved in the foundation of Nikola Tesla Day and responsible for bringing the achievements of Tesla to the United Nations.

The Tesla Memorial Society New York said of itself in 2002:

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"The purpose of this society is to honor and perpetuate the memory, ideals, scientific achievements and Tesla’s contribution to the progress of humanity. It was founded in 1979 in Buffalo, New York, USA. The society is promoting science, peace and brotherhood among nations. It is a non-profit organization."

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Distinctions

The Tesla Memorial Museum (Tesla's old house in Smiljan) has gathered an archive of almost all the papers ever published by and about Nikola Tesla. Most were obtained from Ljubo Vujovic, the Secretary General of the Tesla Memorial Society.

The Society successfully instigated the foundation of the Nikola Tesla Day in Former Yugoslavia.

In a press conference (organised by the Tesla Memorial Society) at the United Nations in 1997, the landing of the Radio Controlled Sojourner robot on the planet Mars was noted as "epoch" making since Tesla had invented and demonstrated early robotic remote control almost a century before (Madison Square Garden 1898).

They helped organise the installation of a bronze bust of Tesla at the Hillman Library of University of Pittsburgh in 1985.

The Secretary General was present at the International Conference on Global Warming at Kyoto. In the name of the Tesla Memorial Society, he outlined several emission reducing schemes based on the inventions of Nikola Tesla. Kyoto was responsive and sent a letter of gratitude.

In 2001, the Society in conjunction with the Hotel New Yorker (Tesla's home in New York) erected a commemorative plaque in New York. It reads:

"Here died, on January 7, 1943, at the age of 87, the great Yugoslav-American Scientist-Inventor, Nikola Tesla, whose discoveries in the field of alternating electric current advanced the United States and the rest of the world into the modern industrial era".

Louis Adamič (1898-1951), a friend of Tesla and author of the novel Laugh in Jungle, had visited the scientist just two days before Tesla's death. He wrote a eulogy which was read on New York radio station by Mr. Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the Mayor of New York on January 10, 1943. A recording had been made but was subsequently lost and "with huge effort" later discovered by the Tesla Memorial Society after a diligent search through the New York archives.

The Secretary General accepted in the name of the Tesla Memorial Society, a diploma of the Pupin Gold Medal from the Serbian Academy of Sciences at Columbia University in 2005. Dr. Vujovic has received many esteemed awards but this was given to him under the banner of the society.

The Nikola Tesla Memorial Society of New York is currently appealing to the U. N for recognition of July 10th as International Nicola Tesla Day.

Tesla Wardenclyffe Project Committee

The Tesla Memorial Society, with the help of Tesla Historian Leland Anderson contacted the numerous Tesla organisations to request a letter writing campaign to put Wardenclyffe on the National Register of Historic Places. There was wide-spread support for the scheme. Based on advice from the President's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the letters of support were to be addressed to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. An application for Technical Assistance was filed with New York State to aid in the preservation and enhancement of Wardenclyffe. Formal Nomination followed and the New York State Office of Parks carried out an on-site inspection and found that the Wardenclyffe site met with the seven New York State criteria for Historic Designation.

Board of Directors

Among the many notable Board Members, the first man to conduct a space walk, Alexei Leonov, is the current Secretary of Russia. He said of Tesla: ''

"Every device which is moving today on Earth, in the depth of the seas, on the surface of the sea, in the air, and the cosmos, need for its function, electrical machines invented by Nikola Tesla."

'' Additional members include the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations, the former secretary of the Nephew of Tesla, a consulting Aerospace Engineer involved in the Apollo Descent Engine Control Assembly during the Moon Landing, the Prince of Montenegro (Secretary of France), and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Nations (Secretary of the Czech Republic).

Margaret Cheney, one of the directors, published her Tesla: Man out of Time biography to great acclaim and using the Memorial Society's archives in 1981. It was reprinted in 2001 and met with great success. It would quickly become the definitive Tesla Biography of the modern day. The papers said of it:

A dramatic and poignant portrait. Discover

Excellent...a significant contribution to the recent history of science...informative and delightful to read. American Scientist

Well documented, sympathetic, and engaging. Publishers Weekly

Cheney's excellent biography of one of the most idiosyncratic and truly enigmatic "scientists" is both comprehensive and well written...very warmly recommended. Choice

Uncommonly colorful...absorbing. The Sunday Times, London

Notable members

Secretary General – Dr. Ljubo Vujovic M.D., writer, film producer

Honorary Chairman - Helen Delich Bentley, former US Congresswoman, in her honor the Port of Baltimore was named the "Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore".

President – Professor Dr. Aleksandar Marincic, previous Director of Nikola Tesla Museum, Belgrade, writer, educator, film producer

Secretary for Scotland - A.J. Morton, Researcher, Explorer, Antiquarian

Secretary for Russia – Leonid Leonov, Russian cosmonaut, first man to walk in space

Secretary for Czech Republic – Honorable Vladimar Galuska, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Nations.

Secretary for Australia - D. Susic, inventor of the biomagnetic micro massage therapy

Secretary for France – Nicolas Petrovitch-Njegosh, Prince of Montenegro

Secretary for Germany – Dr. Mihailo Rundo, M.D.

Margaret Cheney – writer, Tesla Biographer

Dr. Hani Shennib MD – cardiac surgeon who performed the first cardiac bypass surgery, with the aid of a robot, in New York Metropolitan area.

Zorica Civric - Curator of Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Former Yugoslavia.

Scott M. Harney - Advisor, United States Mission to the United Nations

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