At Hilton Hawaiian Village, 18-22 June

Fanning Urges "Maximum Attendance" At Navy League's 2003 National Convention

By DAVID VERGUN
Production Editor

NLUS National President Timothy O. Fanning has urged as many members as possible to attend the Navy League's 2003 National Convention, scheduled for 18 to 22 June, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in Honolulu, Hawaii.

A new NLUS national president, and possibly several other national officers, as well as the Navy League's new Board of Directors, will be elected at this year's convention. Navy Leaguers attending the Hawaii meeting also will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from senior leaders of all of the nation's sea services about the new programs and policies that are transforming the military of the 21st century.

"The global war on terrorism and the proliferation in recent years of weapons of mass destruction have escalated the operations tempo to an all-time high," Fanning said. "The sea services need the support of the Navy League and other patriotic organizations today more than ever. The attendance at the convention of not only our national directors and council presidents but as many other members as possible will be a clear demonstration of that support.

"The budgetary demands and other pressures on Congress and the administration make it all too easy to become complacent about national security, and homeland security as well," Fanning said. "The continued underfunding of the future readiness accounts--procurement and RDT&E [research, development, test, and evaluation] throughout the 1990s and into the present have threatened the long-term readiness of our active forces. The size of the Navy's active fleet has declined from almost 600 ships in the early 1990s to just over 300 ships today--and will continue to drop for the foreseeable future. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark has stated that the Navy needs a minimum of 375 ships to carry out all of its commitments worldwide.

"The other sea services also are at a critical juncture," Fanning said. "As the Marine Corps moves into expeditionary maneuver warfare, a new generation of weapons, transportation, and equipment are needed to stay apace of modern technology. The nation's first line of homeland defense--the Coast Guard--needs continued funding of its Deepwater Project to carry out its many new as well as traditional missions. Last but far from least, the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine, the logistics workhorse for all of our nation's armed services, has suffered a serious decline in both ships and seafaring manpower. We therefore must continue--and, indeed, expand--our own efforts to educate Congress, the media, and our fellow citizens about the continuing need for a strong national-defense program.
"Today," Fanning continued, "relatively few Americans have ever served in any of the armed services, and there are now fewer members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate with naval or military experience than at any time since World War II. This means we must carry out our educational programs of support for the sea services with a new sense of urgency. We also must continue to recruit new members for the Navy League itself and groom them for future positions of leadership in our organization."

There are other compelling reasons to attend, Fanning said: "First and foremost, the election of a new national president."

Sheila M. McNeill, a life member of the Navy League from Brunswick, Ga., who was elected senior vice president at the 2002 Winter Meeting, is expected to succeed Fanning. McNeill, the first woman to be elected senior vice president in the Navy League's 100-year history, is a long-time national director who also has served at various times as president of the Camden-Kings Bay Council, as Georgia State President, as Region President for the South Atlantic Coast Region, and, as the Navy League's National Vice President for Legislative Affairs.

A progress report on the new Navy League Headquarters Building will be another topic of compelling interest at the convention. The preparations work for demolition of the League's former Headquarters Building (at 2300 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Va.) already has started. Demolition of the old building is expected to be completed before the formal groundbreaking, scheduled for 14 April.

The new building, which is expected to be completed sometime in late 2004, Fanning said, "will give the Navy League a steady stream of revenue for many years and decades to come and will provide our organization the resources needed not only to continue but to substantially expand our numerous programs of support for the nation's sea services."

In addition to the Board of Directors Meetings, a number of of important meetings are scheduled at which decisions that will affect the direction of the Navy League for many years to come will be made. All NLUS members and other convention attendees are invited to participate in the following meetings:

On 18 June (3-5 p.m.), the Marine Corps Affairs - Active/Reserve/Recruiting Committee, Navy Affairs - Active/Reserve/Recruiting Committee, Coast Guard Affairs - Active/Reserve and Auxiliary Committee, and the Merchant Marine Affairs Committee will meet.

On 19 June, the following meetings and events are scheduled: The Opening Ceremony (8-9 a.m.); the Awards Committee Meeting (9-10 a.m.); the Bylaws Committee and Public Relations Committee Meetings (9-11 a.m.); the Corporate Affairs Committee, the Information Technology for Council Initiatives Committee, and the Youth Programs Committee Meetings (9:30-10:30 a.m.); the Budget/Audit Committee Meeting (10-10:30 a.m.); the Resolutions Committee and Scholarship Committee Meetings (10-11 a.m.); the Property Development Committee Meeting (10 a.m.-noon); the Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting (10:30 a.m.-noon); the Council Organization and Training Workshop (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.); the Development Committee Meeting (11 a.m.-noon); the outgoing Board of Directors Meeting (3:30-5:30 p.m.); and a Welcome Aboard Reception (starting at 6 p.m.).

On 20 June, the following meetings and events are scheduled: the annual Hall of Fame Breakfast (7:30-8:30 a.m.); the Membership Awards Ceremony (9-10:30 a.m.); a Military Briefing (1-2:30 p.m.); the Community Education Committee and Homeland Security Committee Meetings (2:30-3:30 p.m.); the Membership and Marketing Committee and Convention Committee Meetings (2:30-4:30 p.m.); the Investment Committee Meeting (3:30-6 p.m.); and a Legislative Affairs Workshop (4-5:30 p.m.).

The 21 June schedule is as follows: Council Presidents' Breakfast (8-10 a.m.); the Navy League Foundation Board of Trustees Meeting (9-10 a.m.); a Sea Service Panel Discussion (9:30-11:30 a.m.); the Proxy Committee Meeting (10-11 a.m.); a Council Presidents/Council Officers Workshop and Naval Sea Cadet Corps Region Meetings (10 a.m.-noon); the annual Awards Luncheon (12:15-2 p.m.); the Annual Meeting of Members (2-2:30 p.m.); the incoming Board of Directors Meeting (2:30-4:30 p.m.); and the annual Reception (6:30-7:15 p.m.), which will be followed by a dinner dance.

On 22 June, an ecumenical church service will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. A number of other meetings for members only, or by invitation only, also are on the convention schedule. (For information on these events, see pages 83-86 in this issue of Sea Power.)

The Hawaii convention will give attendees another opportunity not only to develop and learn more about plans for the League's 2003-04 programs, but also to visit one of the world's most spectacular island chains. The hotel is on Waikiki Beach, and a number of sightseeing tours around Oahu and neighboring islands are scheduled. However, attendees who wish to participate in any of these tours must register at NLUS Headquarters no later than 2 June and make their hotel reservations no later than 10 May to guarantee their rooms and the special convention rates available. Registration forms and additional information are on pages 83-86.

Convention Chairman Richard Fahrenwald and members of the Honolulu Council have been planning the convention for more than one year. Fahrenwald said there will be numerous activities "that anyone and everyone can enjoy."Attire in Hawaii is casual," he added.

For military buffs, guided tours of the Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor/USS Missouri are slated, as well as a trip to Midway Island. Golfers can enjoy the nearby Klipper Course at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe. Sightseers can go on a Wild Dolphin ECO Adventure Cruise and sail the Leeward Coast of Oahu. Adventurers can explore reefs, sunken vessels, and marine life aboard Atlantis Submarines. Lovers of history and/or the fine arts can view the Pearl Harbor Performing Arts Group, tour the mansion of tobacco heiress Doris Duke, visit the Polynesian Culture Center, and attend Hukilau and Imu native ceremonies and arts and crafts demonstrations. Most of these and other exciting events will be scheduled several times to allow attendees the most flexible scheduling possible.