Our Name Has Changed

 In this month’s editorial, I mentioned the recent vote at our Fort Worth conference. President Hardy has also commented on the change as has Commander Aaron Bresnahan in his column this month. Nonetheless, I thought that perhaps a bit more needs to be said in an attempt to be sure that the membership understands the facts as they are today. First, while the Association voted at our conference in Norfolk last September to “Do Business As” the Association of the United States Navy, your President wisely decided to go very slowly down that road. Therefore, except for a few legal filings, we have essentially changed nothing during the intervening six months; nothing in the public domain that is. The President did appoint a Transition Committee to work all the issues involved in considering such a change. The committee was formed of officers and enlisted, serving and retired, newly active and a past President. The committee met frequently via conference call and once for two days at Headquarters. Subcommittees were formed around issues. I believe that there were nine or ten specific issues that were addressed in some form. The committee was tasked to develop a plan, to consider the positives and the negatives, and to make recommendations. The committee came to Fort Worth with a three-part brief on that plan. It recommended to the EXCOM that three Constitution and Bylaws changes be made at the conference. Those were to change the name of the Association, make several changes to the list of elected Vice Presidents, and to realign the Association’s Districts with the Navy’s districts. The EXCOM approved those changes and
recommended that they be adopted by the General Session. IAW Robert’s Rules of Order, we do not announce the specifics of a counted vote; but as National Secretary, I can tell you that the required 2/3 majority vote was easily achieved for each of the three issues.

So, what next? The Transitions Committee will continue to work its remaining issues until the September conference. Many of the members will remain, some new will be added, and will make more recommendations at the next conference in San Diego. The Headquarters staff and consultants will work a long list of things to be changed from the simple such as new challenge coins and plank owner certificates, to the complex like a new Web site. The President will decide on a month for an official public announcement; and at the San Diego conference, the first slate of AUSN officers will be elected.
That’s the business end of things. What about the emotional? Commander Bresnahan mentions that in his column. Those who were reluctant or outright opposed to the change seem to fall into two categories: Those worried about losing a voice for the Navy Reserve and those who worry that the Active Component will take over the Association. My first response is that we own our heritage, and we control our destiny unless we choose to abdicate. Your President and your full-time staff will continue to surface Reserve issues where they are unique. This is not a Williamson Turn or a Corpen-Niner. It is a midcourse correction to avoid shoal waters and make possible a new horizon. We are creating a partnership and understanding with the Active Component top leadership. We will speak our conscience with respect to Navy Reserve and Active Component Sailors’ issues, and we will support programs that will build a strong Navy for our country. The journey to an inclusive association for all Navy people, past and present, will be measured in the speed of ships not the speed of tactical jets. There will be no rush by the AC to control the Association, but we welcome their membership. We control the future unless YOU let go of the lines.