Featured Sections:

• Branch relieves McGrath as National President
  President Mike McGrath, in his departing remarks, reviewed the numerous challenges faced by the Navy League during the past two years – the recession, unanticipated vacancies in our new building, investment portfolio reduction and declining membership. Mike noted he dealt with these issues while continuing to focus on our mission – educating the public and supporting sea services members, their families and our sponsored youth groups.  Mike was recognized for his leadership for two very difficult years.  He received Distinguished Public Service Awards from the Coast Guard and the Navy.
  
  Daniel B. Branch, Jr., a member of the Denver Council and former National Vice President for Legislative Affairs was elected National President at the National Convention.  Dan stated he is committed to better communications and a review of programs and priorities through the Strategic Planning process.  He asked ALL MEMBERS to submit recommendations for program improvements and improved 
  services to our constituents.

• New Executive Director
  Retired Navy Captain Jeffery K. Sapp, a Naval Academy alumnus from the class of 1977, is the new Navy League Executive Director.  He will be formally introduced to the staff on Nov. 12.  Steve Pietropaoli departed Nov.1 and is now assigned to the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, DC.  He heads the CAPSTONE training program for general and flag officers in planning and employing U.S. forces in joint and combined operations.
  

• New Leadership Team: The following members were elected at the National Convention:
  

  National President	Daniel B. Branch, Jr.
  National Vice Presidents	Pamela Ammerman   J. Douglas Crawford   Patricia Du Mont Philip Dunmire  Thomas Jaffa Richard Kennedy William Kopper Richard Macke Robert Sutton John Tozzi	Region, Area and Council   Presidents' Liaison Public Affairs and Public   Education Legislative Affairs Corporate Affairs and    Development Membership/Marketing and    IT Finance International Relations Youth Programs Sea Services Liaison Strategic Planning
  National Treasurer National Judge Advocate National Secretary	Alan Kaplan Rockwell O’Sheill Vicki Ruckman

  Region Presidents

  Thomas Hoffman William Evanzia Elizabeth Reese  William Dudley Bobby Ferguson William Keller Glenn Looney James Offutt Samuel Bushman  George Wardwell  David Todd Nora Ruebrook Donald Hale  Ray Roth William Marshall  David  Reilly Robert Crates

  Caribbean/Mexico Empire European Florida Great Lakes Liberty Lone Star Mid-Atlantic Midwest New England Northwest Pacific Pacific Central Pacific Southwest Rocky Mountain South Atlantic Coast Southern

                                                                                                  

• Use of conference calls, Twitter and Facebook for board and member communications.
• For sea service activities, such as Coast Guard Appreciation Day (the last Friday in March), Fleet Week and Navy Week, invite the public and recruit members.  The Marine Corps has now established a Marine Week coordinated through its Community Relations Branch. This is another opportunity for community outreach. 
• Find an enthusiastic member to develop and run your internet tools – website, social networking, newsletter, etc.
• Add command master chiefs and command sergeants major to your distribution lists to increase participation and effectiveness.
• Sponsor and schedule regular meetings with your local military commanders and business and political leaders to offer assistance on local issues.  See http://sdmac.org/ for an example.
• Publicize your adopted units in your local media as a recruiting opportunity.
• Public Service Announcement (PSA) high resolution TV spots for Navy League and Sea Cadets were distributed to council representatives at the convention.  The PSAs can be edited to include local council information. Each council will receive a copy of the PSA DVD.  Headquarters will send copies of the DVDs to councils that did not have a representative at the convention.   Low resolution version of the PSAs will soon be available by Nov. 13 on the national website under Council Resources. 
• Council Public Information programs are very important and should include distribution of SEAPOWER magazine and the Public Affairs Directorate.  Send your information to SEAPOWER at SeaPowerMail@navyleague.org and to Public Affairs at publicrelations@navyleague.org.
• The importance and benefits of Adopted Units were discussed.  It is suggested that councils adopt multiple ships, units and youth groups. The current list is at: http://www.navyleague.org/councils/adopted_ships.php. 
  Adopted Ship/Unit/Youth Group activities can also increase media coverage, which supports Public Education.
• Every council should prepare an annual plan (documented in the annual report). Preparing and reviewing the annual plan with your board is a positive step.
• Community service is an important area and will increase media coverage. Youth programs and scholarships/awards are examples of community service activities.  Navy League presentations to Kiwanis, Rotary and other service clubs can lead to partners for community service activities and Community Affiliate members.  A Council Partnership Guide and Workshop was presented; the guide is posted on our website at http://www.navyleague.org/councils/council_guides.php.
• A Council Annual Report Workshop was presented; councils should have an independent review of their annual report by a board member not involved in drafting the information before submitting the report.
• Dan Branch asked every council to maintain an accurate up-to-date member email list because he plans to start national emails to all members.  Dan doesn’t want to wait for Annual Reports to learn how the councils are operating.

• Starting in 2012, the National Convention will be scheduled in June with a National Director meeting in Washington in the fall. The following Convention locations have been announced:
  2010    Jacksonville, FL   
  2011    Chattanooga, TN
  2012    Honolulu, HA
  2013    Long Beach, CA
  2014    San Diego, CA
  
• The Navy League financial situation has improved and the NL building should be cash positive in 2010; the budget is balanced. The building is 95% occupied.
  
• The membership decline is continuing and must be addressed. The current total, 53,472 members, is the same as the total in 1986.
  
• Sea Services Awards and Sea Services Panel
  Eighteen military and civilian members of the sea services were presented highly coveted awards at the Sea Services Awards Luncheon.  The keynote speaker was Rear Adm. Mary Landry, commander of the Coast Guard's Eighth District.  Rear Adm. Landry represented Commandant Thad Allen who was originally scheduled as the keynote speaker but unfortunately had a last minute schedule conflict.  
  
  This year's convention Sea Services Panel consisted of a representative from each of the services. The panelists were:
  
  Mr. Kevin M. Tokarski, Associate Administrator for National Security
  RDML (sel) Karl Schultz, USCG, Acting Director Governmental & Public Affairs
  CAPT W. Jeffrey Alderson, USN, Special Assistant to the Chief of Information
  Col Bryan F. Salas, USMC, Director of Public Affairs
  
  The videos of the awards luncheon and panel discussion as well as the panelists' presentations are available on the convention website's Media Room at http://www.navyleagueconvention.org/media09.html
  
•  Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Juan M. Garcia, III was the dinner keynote speaker.  An audio file of his remarks is available on convention website Media Room.
  
• Navy Leaguers presented with Public Service Awards
  The following Navy League members were presented with Public Service Awards at the convention dinner:
     -- Suzy Williams - Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award
     -- Richard Macke (in absentia) - Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award
     -- William F. McLoughlin - Navy Meritorious Public Service Award
     -- Mike McGrath - Coast Guard and Navy Distinguished Public Services Awards
  
• The Naval Sea Cadet Corps gave a special recognition awards to Congressman Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas) for his support of the program.
  
• Convention member attendees' fill-in-the-blank news release
  Members who attended this year's convention may send a news release to their local hometown media by using a fill-in-blank news release.  The release is available online under Council Resources (Membership Recruiting/PR Tools)  at http://www.navyleague.org/councils/Fill-in-the-blank-Release-Corpus-Christi-Convention2009.doc
  
• Navy League Convention Photos & Video
  The photos, video, audio and presentation files from the Navy League Convention are now posted online on the National Convention website News Room.  http://www.navyleagueconvention.org/media09.html

1. Giving the gift of membership and pay for someone’s membership as a gift  - perfect for the Holiday season; or
2. Sponsor a member

1. Be a member of the Navy League
2. Use the official contest form [link to attached application]or write the Priority code 4Q2009 on an application you already have; or
3. Submit an online application and fill in the Priority Code field with 4Q2009
4. Complete the sponsor information section
5. Submit the application after October 1, 2009, and on or before December 31, 2009. Applications must be postmarked or received electronically by 12/31/09.