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

Sea Power, Jan 1999 by Reynolds, Jean B

As the unofficial "civilian arm" of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and U.S.-flag merchant marine, the Navy League has paid special attention to the recruiting needs of the sea services. Navy shortfalls alone are expected to be in the range of 7,000 recruits this year.

Under National Vice President Glen Huber and Legislative Committee Chairman Alan Ptak, the Legislative Department has been meeting monthly to discuss major issues affecting the sea services and to determine how the Navy League can become even more effective in informing Congress about the readiness needs of the sea services. Capt. Will Brown, of the Navy's Legislative Affairs office, briefed the committee on major Navy programs that need NLUS support; Rear Adm. John T. Tozzi, assistant commandant for systems, and Rear Adm. Thad W. Allen, director of resources, also met with the committee to discuss Coast Guard programs and issues. Community Education And Public Affairs

Numerous NLUS councils sponsored symposia, panel discussions, and other events featuring sea-service spokesmen. The Samuel Eliot Morison Essay Contest provided another important public affairs/community education tool for spreading the seapower message, particularly through local high schools, the principal source for sea-service recruits and for officer-accession programs. The Knoxville (Tenn.), Portsmouth (N.H.), and St. Louis (Mo.) Councils all received national recognition for their outstanding programs during the past year.

The NLUS Public Affairs Department actively supported the NameThis-Ship Contest and the NLUS Awards Program through numerous press releases targeted to specific communities throughout the United States. The Hilo (Hawaii), Treasure Coast (Fla.), Kauai (Hawaii), Cape Canaveral (Fla.), and Lakehurst (N.J.) Councils all received NLUS Public Affairs Awards at the 1998 NLUS National Convention for their outstanding community education and public affairs programs; seventeen councils earned more than 1,OOO points in the Public Affairs Recognition Program competition.

The department added two new columns-"Training Notebook," and "Leadership Notes"-to The Navy Leaguer, hosted a Public Affairs Workshop at the National Convention, helped update and expand the NLUS web site, developed a new (1999) communications plan for national headquarters and NLUS councils, and worked with National Vice President Pamela K. Ammerman in developing a new Public Relations Handbook for NLUS council presidents, public affairs vice presidents, and newsletter editors.

Youth Programs

The two NLUS-sponsored youth programs, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) and the Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC), continued to grow and thrive during the last year. Thousands of young Americans now are enrolled in the more than 290 NSCC and NLCC units that have been formed within the United States and the territories of Puerto Rico and Guam. The quality of the cadets themselves, and of their volunteer instructors, continues to be outstanding, said Bruce B. Smith, NLUS National Vice President for Youth Programs.