Outstanding and Meritorious Councils: A Blueprint for Local and National Success

The principal goal of all Navy League councils is to promote the sea services in their home communities and within their councils. To reach that goal councils participate in a broad spectrum of activities, including but by no means limited to the following: "adoption" of Navy ships, Coast Guard cutters, or sea-service shore stations; sponsorship of awards programs--Sailor of the Year, Marine of the Year, Coast Guardsman of the Year, etc.--recognizing the top achievers of local sea-service units; sponsorship of NSCC (Naval Sea Cadet Corps) and NLCC (Navy League Cadet Corps) units--for which additional adult leaders are always needed; assisting sea-service recruiters and local NROTC and NJROTC units; hosting ship visits--for allied as well as U.S. ships; sponsoring "media days" at Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard bases and stations in the area; working with the Marine Corps in its "Toys for Tots" program; and hosting luncheons, dinners, and receptions featuring sea-service speakers, with particular emphasis on National Maritime Day, Armed Forces Day, and the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Birthdays.

The focus of these and numerous other programs, appropriately, is on the sea services themselves and the men and women now serving on active duty (or in a Reserve component) and their families. Each year, though, a number of NLUS councils are officially recognized for their efforts throughout the preceding year and receive plaques of appreciation; the plaques, designating councils as "outstanding" (the highest award category) or "meritorious" (the second highest level of achievement), are presented at the Navy League's annual convention--which next year will be held in New York City (28 June-2 July at the Marriott Marquis Hotel).

The selection of councils for the Outstanding or Meritorious designation is made by a committee consisting of national and council officers that meets at NLUS headquarters about 2 to 3 months prior to the convention. The committee reviews the information packages provided by councils from throughout the United States and overseas that have performed "above and beyond" in their support of the sea services. "To qualify for selection as an outstanding or meritorious council," said National Executive Director Charles L. Robinson, "the council must have submitted its annual report on time, and must also provide the substantiating documentation needed for each program or project that it wishes the committee to consider--news clippings about various events, for example, or letters from the commanding officers of adopted ships; photos, with full identification of those in the photo, also are helpful, because the photos can be used in various ways in NLUS publications, including Sea Power Magazine and The Navy Leaguer."

Among the most important keys to winning official NLUS recognition, Robinson emphasized, are the statistical data related to NLUS membership--how many new members the council has recruited during the past year; how well it has achieved "one of the most important goals of every council--the retention of current members"; and whether the council has an active retention plan in place and is following that plan. "Most councils find that new members usually bring new ideas into the organization," Robinson said, "including recent active-duty experience, and this helps improve the council's retention rate as well."

The committee also rates councils on how well they are reaching out to their home communities to educate them about the sea services. A certain number of public appearances are required by each council either at local schools or at meetings of civic groups in the area; the number of such appearances varies with the number of members in the council. Winning councils also must have sponsored at least one educational presentation, seminar, panel discussion, or symposium featuring guest speakers from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.

One of the councils' most important tasks is to support the young people in their communities, particularly through sponsorship of NSCC and NLCC units, and by assisting NROTC, NJROTC, and other youth programs.

To qualify for outstanding or meritorious designation the councils competing must have held a certain number of board of directors meetings and general membership meetings during the previous year. They also must have a sound internal organizational structure, publish a council newsletter (at least four times a year), and have an active media/public relations program in place.