NLUS Council Alert

Hello, Navy Leaguers! As we approach the National Convention, please consider attending, since this convention offers much information and training for your use. Please contact the Member Service  Center at service@navyleague.org or 800.356.5760, with any questions, comments, concerns or requests. Thanks! Bill Waylett 

Featured Sections:

I. 2007 NLUS National Convention Highlights for Council Officers
II. Public Relations
III. Membership
IV. Legislative Affairs
V. Development
VI. Announcements

I. 2007 NLUS National Convention Highlights for Council Officers

The 2007 Navy League National Convention will be held at the JW Marriott Resort in Palm Desert, CA on October 30 to November 4, 2007 (for more information, see http://www.navyleaguenationalconvention.org/program-november-3.htm). The convention offers many educational opportunities for council officers who attend. Highlights are:

Program Updates

Saturday morning at 9 a.m. will have presentations on the following programs:

  • Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) – Learn about the Chief of Navy Information’s field outreach organization. Programs managed by NAVCO include the Navy Speakers' Bureau, Navy Band support, Navy Aviation support, Caps For Kids program, media outreach, as well as coordinating with Ships and Submarines for namesake visits during the Navy Weeks.
  • CNO’s Reading Program – Receive a status report on this initiative, which was briefed at the National Convention in St. Thomas in June, 2006.
  • USS Constitution Museum’s “Old Ironsides Across the Nation” – Navy League councils have sponsored this exciting educational program for schools and communities. Learn how your council can bring this program to your community.

Workshops

Thursday morning at 10 a.m. during the Area President’s Meeting

  • Grant Writing for Councils – Does your council need more funding for important community service programs? Learn how to find grant money (grantors) and apply for financial support through grant requests.

Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m., the following council workshop will be presented:

  • Council Officer and Board Member – Does your council Board understand its’ duties and responsibilities? Learn about the accountabilities of ALL Boards by attending this important workshop.

Saturday at 11:30 a.m ., the following council workshop will be presented:

  • Council Activities Workshop – Are your council’s activities aligned with the Navy League’s Mission and Goals? Attend this workshop that reviews some basic council activities that support your community, the men and women in uniform, families of the men and women in uniform, and youth in the community.

Committee Meetings

Most national committees meet at the National Convention. Several committee meetings directly impact council operations.

  • Information Technology for Council Initiatives Committee – Learn about the Navy League’s plans to increase support for council websites (Thursday, 1:30 p.m.).
  • National Meetings Committee – Has your council ever considered hosting a National Convention? This committee makes the decision! (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.).
  • Membership & Marketing – What are the Navy League’s recruiting plans for 2008? Also, get an update on the Navy League’s database conversion and meet the new Deputy Director, Salvador Chairez (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.).
  • Public Relations – Learn about the Navy League’s PR efforts and meet our new Director of Public Relations, Tiffany Anzalone (Saturday, 8:30 a.m.).
  • Public Education – Learn about the Navy League’s initiative to support council-sponsored public education seminars in your communities (Saturday, 11:00 a.m.).

Special Events

At the Convention, you should try to attend these events:

  • Council Presidents' Breakfast w/National President – Council Presidents only have an opportunity to meet and interact with the National President and the National President Elect (Friday, 7:15 a.m.).
  • Online Community Demonstration – Learn to use the Navy League’s online membership database at this session (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.).
  • Spiritual Terrorist Seminar: Global Terror Threat, The Iraq Factor – Our National Chaplain will present this seminar (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.).
  • Honors Ceremony: Presentation of Outstanding Council Awards – Celebrate the recognition of the Navy League’s best councils for 2006 (Friday, 8:30 a.m.).
  • Sea Service Panel – Get an update on the issues affecting the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine (Friday, 10 a.m.). Speakers are:
    • Major General (select) John F. Kelly, Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, USMC,
    • Rear Admiral Frank Thorp, Chief of Information, USN,
    • Rear Admiral Mary Landry, Director of Governmental & Public Affairs, USCG, and
    • Mr. James Caponiti, Associate Administrator for National Security, Maritime Administration.
  • Sea Services Awards Luncheon – Join us in recognizing the sea service’s outstanding performers for 2006 (Friday, 11:45 a.m.).
  • Annual Meeting of Members – Cast your vote for various proposals and for the NLUS leadership team for 2008 (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.).
  • Final Dinner – Join your fellow Navy Leaguers in concluding our Convention with our speaker, General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the dinner commences at 7:30 p.m.

II. Public Relations

PR Recognition Award Winners Announced

This year’s winners are:
Large Council: Santa Barbara
Medium Council:
1st Place : Stockton
2nd Place : Atlanta Metropolitan & Greater Central Texas
Note: There were no entries in the small category

Please join us in congratulating these councils for their efforts to reach out into their communities and raise awareness of the Navy League’s Mission and Goals.

The Public Relations Recognition Program Awards are presented annually at the National Convention to councils in their respective size categories with the highest accumulated Public Relations activity points for the previous year, based on criteria outlined in the Operations Manual, pp. 158-160, “Report for Council for Public Relations Activities”. Reports are evaluated on the honor system at National Headquarters. For award purposes, councils are judged in three divisions, identical to those used for the Mackie Awards selections: i.e., small (fewer than 250 members), medium (251 to 499 members), and large (more than 500 members). The awards presented to the winners in each division are identical. Thank you for your participation!

Help celebrate the Navy’s 232nd birthday!

Is your council doing something to celebrate the Navy’s birthday? Let us know! Email your event information to publicrelations@navyleague.org.

Navy Leaguers Donate Your Miles!

Are you interested in donating your frequent flier miles to assist families of seriously wounded servicemen and women? The Fisher House Foundation makes it extremely easy for you to pass along your miles to service members in need. You can donate to the Hero Miles program online at http://fisherhouse.org/programs/heroMiles.shtml or by calling 888.294.8560 and a Fisher House staff member can answer your questions and assist you in making your donation. Thank you for continuing to support the men and women of the sea services.

Call for council stories, photos and video

Please keep sending your stories, videos and photos to publicrelations@navyleague.org. The Communications Department is working with a video production vendor to update the Navy League's promotional video. Councils with high quality video footage of Navy League mission-oriented council activities should contact Tiffany Anzalone, Dir. of Public Relations at 703-312-1581or tanzalone@navyleague.org. We are also looking for high-resolution photos. You’re help is greatly appreciated.

III. Membership

Deputy Director of Membership Announced

Please welcome Salvador Chairez who has taken over as the new Deputy Director of Membership. Salvador comes to us from the American Health Lawyers Association and brings considerable experience in member servicing. Salvador can be reached at schairez@navyleague.org, or (703) 312-1569 by telephone.

IV. Legislative Affairs

Council leaders and members are asked to please take a moment to visit <http://www.capwiz.com/nl/home/> and send a constituent message of support for two Coast Guard programs now at stake in the Fiscal 2008 appropriations process. The National President recently wrote a similar letter to key congressional leaders. However, no voice is more important to your U.S. Representative than yours as a constituent - so please consider sending your message soon. Thanks for your support!

V. Development

Support Navy League Foundation in the 2007 Combined Federal Campaign!

The Navy League Foundation is a participating organization in the 2007 CFC fund drive.  Our CFC number is 11067.

We appreciate your promoting Navy League Foundation, CFC #11067 and making your adopted ships, units, commands, plus friends and family employed by the Federal Government aware of this opportunity to support the Navy League Foundation.  The Campaign season runs until December 15, 2007.

VI. Announcements

1. Correcting IRS Records

If your council has any questions about your non-profit status, the correct point-of-contact (POC) is the IRS Cincinnati Area Office. Contact info is as follows (per the IRS website):

"Charities & Non-Profits

You may direct your technical and procedural questions concerning charities and other non-profit organizations to IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities Customer Account Services at (877) 829-5500 (toll-free number).  Direct questions about employment taxes to the Business and Specialty Tax Line at (800) 829-4933 (toll-free).

If you prefer to write, you may write us at:

Internal Revenue Service
Exempt Organizations Determinations
P.O. Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201”

2. Retention Reports

September End-of-Month Reports will include the council retention report, which will continue to be provided going forward.

3. Digital Edition of SeaPower

The digital edition of the October issue of SeaPower is now live. Check it out!

http://www.seapower-digital.com/seapower/sample/

Member Services
service@navyleague.org
www.navyleague.org