NAVY LEAGUER

SANDY HUFFAKER JR., ESTELLA CANO

Convention Draws Record Attendance
McGrath New President, Board Returns to Two Annual Meetings

The Navy League’s 2007 National Expeditionary Force (Forward), who took part tunities, including a seminar about the Global Convention in Palm Desert, Calif. in presenting awards to individuals for outstand- Terror Threat and a K9 drug and bomb detection in November was a stunning suc- ing services on behalf of U.S. naval, defense and demonstration by the Coast Guard’s Deployable cess thanks largely to the efforts of maritime efforts. Numerous other awards, spe- Operations Group (DOG). The Sea Services Panel the Palm Springs Council and the enthusiastic cial acknowledgements, and donations were pre- discussion focused on the recently released mar-support of the more than 500 attendees. Among sented at the Honors Ceremony for Outstanding itime strategy and included four speakers: Maj. the many highlights of the busy four-day event Council Awards, the Board of Directors Meeting, Gen. Kelly; Rear Adm. Frank Thorp, the Navy’s was the swearing in of the Navy League’s new and the Annual Meeting of Members, where Chief of Information; Rear Adm. Mary Landry, National President, J. Michael“Mike” McGrath. President McGrath was officially sworn into Coast Guard Director of Governmental and The annual meeting included more than 50 office. Six Navy Leaguers were also presented Public Affairs; and James Caponiti, Associate committee meetings, workshops, demonstra- Public Service Awards at the closing dinner. (See Administra-tor for National Security, Maritime tions, seminars and special local area tours. It story page 2.) Administration (MARAD). The Palm Springs was the setting for several major awards cere- Key developments at the convention included Council organized other convention activities, monies, among them the Hall of Fame luncheon, approval by the Board of Directors to return to including off-site excursions to the Marine Corps hosted by Selective Service Director William two membership meetings per year. The re-struc- Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Chatfield. At the event, two Navy League mem- tured annual meeting calendar will be announced the Palm Springs Air Museum and a covered bers were inducted in the Navy League Hall of sometime after the new year. In other convention wagon tour.

Fame for their significant work for the organiza- news, Corpus Christi, Texas, was the unanimous The 2008 National Convention will take place tion on a national level. The Sea Services Awards choice for the Navy League’s 107th National Oct. 27 – Oct. 31 at the Westin Crown Center in luncheon featured keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Convention in 2009. Kansas City, Mo. For more convention coverage, John Kelly, Commanding General I Marine, Attendees enjoyed several educational oppor- visit www.navyleague.org. ■

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: National President McGrath addresses members shortly after his official swearing in during the national convention’s Board of Directors meeting; Petty Officers Bennett Lesberg and Robert Ringelspaugh and Senior Chief Petty Officer Chris Thomas showcase a 25-foot Coast Guard Defender Class vessel to council members Dan Dermer, National Director-elect and Jersey Shore Council President James Weller; in a posthumous presentation honoring council member Peter Finnerty, former National President John Panneton presents a Hall of Fame certificate to his wife, Tory, and Finnerty’s son, Peter; Sea Service Panel members Rear Adm. Mary Landry, the Coast Guards Director of Government and Public Affairs and Maj. Gen. John Kelly, Commanding General 1 Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); at the Sea Service Awards luncheon, Panneton and the Navy’s Chief of Information, Rear Adm. Frank Thorp present Navy Lt. Deserine S. Price-Jordan with the Capt. Winifred Quick Collins Award for Inspirational Leadership; Palm Springs Council President John Easton welcomes attendees at the convention’s opening day ceremony; National Directors take oath of office during convention’s Board of Directors’ meeting; Panneton and Madrid, Spain council members Josapina and Albert Altimiras accept the Meritorious Award on behalf of Madrid Council President Tom Denegre.