October 2006 President's Corner

Steve Frederick '72, USNAAA Atlanta Chapter President

Things are cooling off a bit and Fall has finally arrived. Football season is in full swing, Navy is 5-1 as we speak, having just trounced the Falcons on Saturday. To date I have been unable to see any of the televised games at Jock’s and Jill’s Sports Bar in Brookhaven, but the reports that I have received indicate that the staff at Jock’s and Jill’s is treating us great once again this year. I hope to see at least part of the game on Saturday and hope to see you there.

Speaking of televised Navy football games, the RV Chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association is holding a ‘come-around’ at Stone Mountain over the weekend of the Navy – Notre Dame game, and has invited our Chapter to join them as they watch the game on a 52” HD TV that they will be setting up. We will be sending out an email with all the particulars within the next week, so watch for that communication. This could be “the” year, and watching Notre Dame finally go down will be much more fun with an appreciative audience. Watch for the email, and check the website (www.usnaaaa.com) for details.

Our monthly luncheon in September was attended by a number of first timers, and we had one of the more energetic speakers in some time. Pete Herrmann, a former Navy head basketball coach, and current associate head basketball coach at the University of Georgia, joined us and regaled us with stories of his time at Navy. Having also coached at Kansas State (think Kansas – Kansas State) and now at UGA (think UGA and GaTech) Pete has been exposed to long standing rivalries. However, he was emphatic in his appreciation for the Army-Navy rivalry. At all of his stops, Pete has patiently explained to the locals that they really don’t understand the full meaning of the word “rivalry”. (It should be noted at this point that the preceding sentence may be the first time that Pete’s name and the word “patiently” have ever appeared in the same sentence.) While a few weeks of fevered energy means big time rivalry for most, Pete has always explained that within minutes of arrival at Navy, the words “Beat Army” become a heatedly bellowed prayer that is an integral part of life, and that the Army rivalry is an intense and emotional 24/7, 365 state of mind. For those who missed Pete’s visit, go to the website for Bob Schultz’ great piece on the presentation. It was terrific. Attendees at the luncheon included: John Stark ’51, Jim Todd ’55, Denny Sloan ’57, Perry Stephens ’57, Carl McCallum ’60, Clint Johnson ’60, Jerry Popp ’62, Mary Popp (Jerry’s Spouse), Mitch Rowland ’71, Bob Schultz ’71, Phil Williams ’71, Steve Frederick ’72, Terry Hamilton ’77, Pete Knoetgen ’77, Mario Maddox ’85, Greg Morrow ’85, Mary McElroy ’87, Brad Chattos ’99, Pete Herrmann (Speaker/Guest).

We are getting to that time of year when the Chapter activity level increases, and the opportunities to get together for some great camaraderie are numerous. As always, I would suggest that you pay close attention to the website for the latest and greatest on upcoming activities. Of note, the Army Navy game viewing venue is moving this year from TJ’s on Holcomb Bridge Road, to Pepperoni’s, near Exit 10 off of GA 400. Specifics in regard to the time, place, cost and directions will be available on the website in plenty of time to make plans. Pepperoni’s has been scouted by our own Ples Bruce ’77, and he reports that it is newer, more spacious, and has all the TV’s needed for constant viewing that we could want. If you are not in Philadelphia, you need to be at Pepperoni’s to watch the annual mule thrashing along with fellow alums.

Another activity that may be in the offing is the Meinike Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, NC on 30 December, at 1300. Navy has a contract to play in that bowl game if they win six games. We need two wins in the final seven contests to qualify, and I don’t want to be premature, but at our most recent Board of Directors meeting we discussed some ideas about putting together some activities in Charlotte that weekend. Again, watch the website for details after Navy officially qualifies and we have a chance to put some specific plans together. It could prove to be a great weekend.

Our monthly luncheon venue, Jocks and Jills, has been our home for the past several years, and I think that all will agree, they do a great job in supporting us every month. What many of you may not know is that Jocks and Jills will be moving after the first of the year to a new location within a few blocks of its current location. We will be moving our luncheons with them, but there is a minor problem. The new Jocks and Jills is not scheduled to open until February 2007, while the current facility will close in December of 2006. At the present time, we do not have a definitive site for the January 2007 luncheon, but have some great leads. We will keep you informed of the plans for January’s luncheon via the website and my monthly missives in our newsletter. Please stay tuned for more information.

Sometime in the next few weeks, if you have signed up to receive email from our organization, you will receive a request to complete a very brief but important survey about your perception of our organization. Pete Knoetgen ’77 put it together, and you will see from the content that the members of the Board of Directors are very interested in your input about our organization. Much thought and work goes into the various events in the course of the year, and while we are very proud of the quality of our organization, we know we can improve. Please take a few minutes (it really is brief, but at the same time will elicit some very useful information) and provide us with your observations about what could make our organization better for you. I can’t promise that we will implement every suggestion, but will promise the each one will be reviewed and discussed. Thanks in advance for your help.

One last item that is near and dear to my heart. At our most recent Board of Directors meeting we discussed our 2007 membership drive plans in detail. We will be actively pushing membership sign ups for 2007 for the next 15 months, as the tri-annual membership count that determines which Chapters are represented by Trustees will occur in December of 2007. In mid to late January 2007, you will receive a distinctive mailing asking you to become a member of U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Atlanta Chapter (if you have not signed up for 2007 by that time). Please watch for it, and when it arrives, act on it. Dues have been held to $25 per year for the last several years, and I would ask that you make out your check as soon as you receive the mailing. It is critical that we increase our membership count this year to enable us to remain engaged and represented at the national level. As you know, Carl McCallum ’60 currently serves as our Chapter Trustee, and his presence is appreciated at the Alumni Association. We very much want to continue the tradition of contribution that Carl (and several predecessors) has created. WATCH FOR THE MAILING IN JANUARY 2007, AND BECOME A MEMBER OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP ASAP.

We have many opportunities to gather over the next few months and I would encourage you to take advantage of as many of them as possible. I hope to see you at the Notre Dame game and the Army game.

Beat Notre Dame and BEAT ARMY (if we beat those two, the remainder of the schedule should be cake).

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 Carl:

The semi-annual USNAAA Board of Trustees meeting in Annapolis is just a few short months away, and there is much on the docket to be discussed and acted upon. Bill Rentz and I went to Annapolis to attend the Executive Committee meeting called by Admiral Carl Trost and held on September 11th. In attendance were all six members, Admiral Trost '53 - Chairman; Corbin McNeil '62 -Vice Chairman (by conference phone from Paris); George Watt '73 - President, Bill Rentz '55; Carl McCallum '60 - Chapter Rep.; Mike Haskins '66 - Class Rep.; plus three non voting members of the USNAAA staff.

The majority of the issues to be addressed are the make up of the Board and assuring the Bylaws and Operations Manual are adhered to and are always relevant. There will probably be some changes made to update the procedures to continue to improve operation and administration of the Alumni Association. There may be some small changes in the Board make up. They will not be major changes, such as was the case in 1998 when the Governance Study Committee was charged by past Chairman, Admiral Leighton "Snuffy" Smith '62 to reconstitute the make-up of the Board. This was done to insure proper constituent representation, efficiency of operation, relevance to the ever growing and expanding Alumni Association and to better fulfill our mission: to serve the Naval Academy, the Naval Service and the Alumni.

Some of the major accomplishments made in recent years were the rewriting of the Association Bylaws which were out of date and had not been addressed since 1946. Jim Ravenel ‘45, our Trustee Emeritus, was on the initial Bylaw committee which began the rewriting of these ancient documents, followed by me, and then Paul Hurst ‘62 in our tenures as Trustees on this same committee, the formation of the ever so successful Naval Academy Foundation; the upgrading and reconstitution of the Board; the formal inclusion and participation of Classes on the BOT, The increase in Alumni Chapters from approximately thirty two Chapters to one hundred, (as of May of this year). These are but a few of the major advancements and improvements in your Alumni Association.

The continued success of the Alumni Association and its ability to fulfill our mission starts at the grass roots and expands to all points on the compass. We are the grass roots and most important to this improvement and growth of the Association. Please stay involved, or if you haven't in the past, get involved now! Serving is rewarding, interesting and a great deal of fun. We need all of you. If you have questions, please contact me.

Carl McCallum '60