November 2006 President's Corner

Steve Frederick '72, USNAAA Atlanta Chapter President

October saw us meeting at our usual monthly watering hole in Brookhaven, Jocks and Jills Sports Bar on Peachtree Road. Our guest speaker was Mary McElroy ’87, an active member of the Board of Directors of our own Chapter (along with her husband Terry ’86), and a person who has spent her life taking on challenges and performing “firsts”. For those of us who know her on a personal level, listening to her story brings her unique leadership traits into focus. Bob Schultz ’71 has written a great summary of her remarks and they are available on our website homepage, www.usnaaaa.com. If you were not in attendance for Mary’s talk, go to the website and read Bob’s synopsis. We are really fortunate to have Mary in our Chapter.

The event was well attended, with the following members joining us for lunch: Jim Ravenel ’45, Jim’s bride Carol Sue Ravenel, Jim Hatch ’47, John Stark ’51, Bill Rentz ’55, Ed Hux ’61, Paul Hurst ’62, Bill Holmes ’64, Lorie Moore ’64, Jon Barton ’66, Dick Click ’70, Paul Borer ’70, Win Rorabaugh ’70, Mitch Rowland ’71, Bob Schultz ’71, Lee Whitfield ’71, Steve Frederick ’72, Pete Knoetgen ’77, Paul Lutz ’77, Ples Bruce ‘77, Ed Brownlee ’81, Joe Calle ’81, Pete Canalichio ’81, Mario Maddox ’85, Mary McElroy ’87, Kevin Maroney ’87, Tony Yannone ’98, Tony’s bride Vilma Yannone, Brian Pilger ’93, and John Prendergast ‘90.

Make plans to join us at our November luncheon, which will feature Dick Williams, a local political commentator. His comments, immediately after the mid term elections, should prove to be more than interesting.

The only remaining home game, and therefore the only game that we will be watching on CSTV is the Temple game on 18 November. Join us at Jocks and Jills for the final warm up before the mule thrashing. The Army Navy game will be broadcast nationally on CBS and our Chapter will be watching, along with the West Point Society of Atlanta, at Pepperoni’s just off of 400. Please see the website as the event gets nearer for specifics, but expect good food, an ideal venue for viewing and a great victory celebration.

Keep plugged into the events that the Chapter will be conducting over the coming months, from the Chapter Holiday Party, to the potential Bowl Game in Charlotte, to the Dark Ages Party in early 2007. The website will always have the latest and most up to date information. Join us whenever you can – you won’t be disappointed.

BEAT ARMY!
Steve Frederick ’72, Chapter President

USNA Board of Trustees Update

We are fortunate to have two members of the Atlanta chapter – Bill Rentz ’55 (Eastern Region Trustee) and Carl McCallum ’60 on the USNAAA Board of Trustees. The following is a report from Bill:

The October 2006 newsletter provided an excellent summary of our activities as Alumni Association Board Trustees written by your Atlanta Chapter Trustee and my good friend Carl McCallum ‘60. I won’t repeat all of it, but I recommend it to your reading again, since it is easily available on line on our Atlanta Chapter Website at USNAAAA.com. I would also commend to your attention the Chapter President’s October Newsletter by Steve Frederick ’72, particularly his important discussion on Chapter membership, also on the website.

As Carl mentioned, he and I were called to Annapolis last September 11 for an Executive Committee meeting of the Board of Trustees. Carl represents the twelve Chapter Trustees and I represent the four Region Trustees on the Executive Committee, consisting of six voting and three non-voting members. Chairman Trost called the meeting because he felt that the gap between the Spring (May) 2006 and the Fall (November) 2006 was too long to let several important issues go without making sure some guidance and thought were being put into them. He was absolutely right. Of the twelve issues discussed, ten of them were related to Governance of the BOT and/or Composition, e.g., what to do about the Board appointed Trustees, role of Past Chairman, selection process for Chair and Vice Chair, how to improve BOT effectiveness and voter participation, to name a few. In almost every case these issues were put in the lap of the Chairman of the Governance Committee, our own Carl McCallum, for his committee to study and make recommendations for a vote by the entire BOT. This is quite a responsibility.

My point and the significance of all of this is to emphasize to you the role the Atlanta Chapter and its elected officers, as your representatives, play in the operation, function, and management of your national Alumni Association Board of Trustees. Your membership numbers and votes are what puts us in this enviable and important position. In 1993 Jim Ravenel ’45, was elected as the first Atlanta Chapter Trustee, serving until1996. His contributions were many, but most significant was his work on updating the USNAAA by-laws. He was followed by Carl McCallum ’60 (1996-1999), then Paul Hurst ’62 (1999-2001). All had important input to the Governance Committee. Bob Bush ’65 (2001-Feb. 2002), served on the Finance and Investment Committee, and I was elected to complete Bob’s tour (Feb 2002-May 2003). I served on the Admissions Committee and am now Chairman of that Committee, having been elected as Eastern Region Trustee in May 2005. We will be welcoming a new Dean of Admissions soon and continuing our support of the Alumni funded Admissions Excellence Program. Applicant numbers are down slightly, which makes getting the required high standard of candidates a harder struggle.

Atlanta’s contribution in many areas can only continue if we can continue to have the membership numbers that will put us in the top nine Chapters. That could change. As Steve said last month, December 2007 is the date that numbers will be counted, so help us drive toward that goal in the coming year. Watch the website for membership drive specifics, but you know the drill. Talk to your classmates, shipmates, squadron mates, roommates, neighbors, newcomers to town, if you know they are not participating. Encourage them to join and enjoy the Chapter events, the camaraderie, and support of your Alumni Association. Point them to our outstanding website containing the events calendar and exciting reports of past events. Former Chapter President Bob Schultz ’71 is our webmaster extraordinaire and his product is the envy of all. Have you read his event and speaker summaries? He takes the pictures, too.

The next time you hear somebody complain about the alumni association and the Naval Academy not doing things like they would like them to, ask them what they have done to have an impact on anything. Have they joined a Chapter? Have they served as an alumni officer? Have they sought to get informed? Made suggestions? Worked to get things changed? It is so easy to stand back and take potshots, but much harder to work for change through the system. I call them “drive-bys” or “snipers” - causing more harm than good - and offering very little constructive in the way of practical ideas or suggestions. Take a look at your Atlanta Chapter Roster, Appendix C, pages 1 and 2. There is the list of doers, the vineyard toilers, the “in the trenches” contributors. Join them. Step up to the plate. We need all the help we can get. If you have questions, please contact me.

Beat Army! Bill Rentz ‘55