Kennedy cites SAS, education and awards programs; Middendorf selected for Burke Award; Fisher elected senior VP

Sea Power, Jan 1999 by Reynolds, Jean B

The year past was one "of continued growth, productivity, and effectiveness" for the Navy League, said National President Jack M. Kennedy in his report to the NLUS Board of Directors at the 1998 Winter Meeting in Miami. "Our legislative and community education programs were extremely successful in spreading `The Seapower Message' both on Capitol Hill and throughout the length and breadth of America. The 1998 Sea-Air-Space Exposition (SAS) set records both in square footage and in the generation of income for NLUS programs. Our three principal Navy League publications [Sea Power Magazine, The Almanac of Seapower, and The Navy Leaguer] all increased in size, readability, and the scope of their coverage. The NLUS public affairs and awards programs were increasingly effective in supporting the men and women of the nation's sea services, and our youth programs prospered as well.

"It was. in short, a `banner year' for the Navy League," Kennedy summarized. "But we must all recognize that it represents only a beginning, and that a much greater effort will be required in the years ahead. In this post-Cold War era of downsizing and reduced budgets, the sea services need the Navy League's support more than ever before. We must expand our own membership, as well as the full spectrum of educational programs the Navy League now supports. Those will be among our principal goals over the next two years as we prepare for the Navy League's own centennial celebration in 2002."

One of the numerous highlights of the Winter Meeting was the election of John R. Fisher of the Pacific Southwest Region as the League's senior vice president and, in accordance with the NLUS tradition in recent years, the probable successor to Kennedy, whose term expires at the end of the League's 1999 National Convention (21-25 July at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, Ill.). "Jack Fisher is eminently wellqualified to take the NLUS helm and lead us into the next century," Kennedy said. "Pam and I look forward to working even more closely with Jack and Kit over the next several months. I know that all Navy Leaguers will give them the same outstanding support that Pam and I have received over the last two years."

Following, from information provided by the Navy League headquarters staff, are more detailed reports on current NLUS programs and activities.

Convention and Winter Meeting

A new national treasurer, Melvin G. Burkart, and four new national vice presidents-Pamela K. Ammerman, Timothy 0. Fanning Jr., Christopher A. Sales, and Bruce B. Smith-were elected at the 1998 National Convention, which also featured:

Adoption of the League's 19981999 policy resolutions in support of the sea services;

The announcement that J. William Middendorf II had been selected as winner of the League's 1998 Admiral Arleigh Burke Leadership Award, and that Donald R. Misura of the Mid-Atlantic Region had been selected to receive the 1998 Distinguished Service Award-the highest honor the Navy League bestows on one of its own members;

Presentation to Commodore Thomas J. Lupo of the League's 1998 Robert M. Thompson Award for Outstanding Civilian Leadership;

The induction of Mary E. Barrett of the Pacific Southwest Region, and Paul E. Hazelrig Sr. of the Pacific Central Region, into the Navy League Hall of Fame; and

The presentation to numerous other NLUS members (and councils) of awards recognizing their contributions to the nation, the sea services, the Navy League, and their home communities.

The policy resolutions, presented by Resolutions Committee Chairman Lou Kriser, recommend, among other things, increased funding for all of the nation's sea services, the strengthening of the nation's defense industrial base, equal opportunities for all members of the armed services, and extension of legislation key to the survival of the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine. "These extremely well-articulated resolutions," said Kennedy, "reflect the strong patriotic beliefs of the Navy League's membership at large and will serve as our policy guidelines for the coming year." The policy resolutions are available on the worldwide web at http://www.navyleague.org; anyone not able to obtain a copy from the web should write to: Navy League of the United States (Attn.: Resolutions Committee), 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Va. 22201-3308.

Complementing and expanding upon the plans and programs approved at the annual convention, a proposed 1999 agenda of operations and the League's 1999 budget were submitted and approved at the League's Winter Meeting, 5-8 November at the Biscayne Bay Marriott Hotel and Marina in Miami, Fla. The Winter Meeting was "extremely productive and forward-looking," said Kennedy, "and gives us the agenda we need to take the Navy League into the 21 st century."

Kennedy closed out the Winter Meeting by urging "all national officers and national directors, all council presidents, and as many other Navy Leaguers as possible" to "plan now to attend the League's 1999 National Convention in Chicago." (Additional information about the convention will be reported in the February and later issues of Sea Power.)