At the annual Winter Meeting held Nov. 2-5, approximately 160 National Directors and scores of other volunteer leaders worked through a full business agenda that included approving the 2007 budget and the Maritime Policy Statement, voting against a dues increase for regular members, and electing the next national president.
J. Michael McGrath, current National Vice President for Region and Area Presidents' Liaison and a former Florida Region president, was elected to become the Navy League’s 44th national president. He will be sworn into office at the National Convention in Palm Springs, California, Oct. 30 to Nov. 4, 2007.
Several proposed amendments to the bylaws and to the policy on dues and rebates were discussed and debated. A proposed amendment to change the term limit for the National President from two consecutive terms to three was defeated, and amendments that addressed the number of business meetings and turnover time for incoming presidents were tabled and referred for further review. The findings of these reviews will be presented at the next National Convention. The decision to combine the Winter Meeting with the Annual Meeting of Members and have a single annual meeting each fall was passed by the Board at last year’s National Convention in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Board did approve a dues increase for corporate members, with corresponding adjustments to council rebates, effective July 1, 2007. The issue of increases and adjustments for all membership categories in 2010 and 2013 was referred for reconsideration.
Other highlights included the Sea Service Panel forum involving senior representatives of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Maritime Administration. National Vice President for Sea Service Liaison Dick Macke moderated the discussion on budgetary and mission requirement issues affecting national and economic security. Brig. Gen. Raymond Fox, the USMC representative, succinctly summarized the challenge: is our nation willing to pay the human and financial costs of preserving our way of life? Another special occasion was the presentation of the Coast Guard’s Meritorious Public Service Award to Navy Leaguer John Thorne for his many contributions over the years. Rear Adm. Scott Burhoe presented the award on behalf of the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
The capstone concluding event was the dinner in which the guest speaker, the newly-appointed Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton provided great insights for our members about the least understood but vitally important sea service, the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.
For more information about the Winter Meeting and upcoming events such as the Sea-Air-Space Exposition 2007, click here.
