Content Manager posted on October 01, 2010 00:13
October 2010 Navy
by Tim Moon
Greetings. I want to thank the membership for placing their trust and confidence in me by electing me to serve as the 32nd President of this Association and the first elected under our new identity, the Association of the United States Navy. I am honored and excited about the opportunity to serve in this office and pledge my very best effort to represent you while working hard to ensure the long term health of AUSN.
By the time you receive this edition of the magazine, my Navy journey will have come to an end. I will retire from the United States Navy on 1 October after more than 31 years of service. My journey has taken me to six continents. I have travelled with the Navy to more than 70 cities, towns or villages in 33 countries around the globe and visited over 80 cities and towns in the United States. I have survived a nine-month deployment in the Western Pacific, a 14-month mobilization to the Horn of Africa, and 12 months as a single parent while my spouse was mobilized to Iraq. I have been blessed with a very supportive family, supportive employers and great shipmates. Robin and I have three wonderful children who have weathered the storm of a dual-military household. My children are my heroes and I can never thank them enough for the many sacrifices they have made to allow Robin and I to serve. She and I are truly fortunate.
The Las Vegas National Conference was a watershed event for our Association. Important issues were debated and decisions were made that will provide a solid foundation from which AUSN can honor its past and springboard into the future. Central to the decision made during the conference was the establishment and election of the first AUSN Board of Directors. I was personally inspired by how quickly our newly elected board came together and began functioning as a concerned, committed and productive group. I was impressed by their collective experience, their passion, and their genuine concern for AUSN and the many men and women who are serving, or have served, in the Navy. They are highly qualified and will surely serve with the same energy, integrity, and success that they displayed during their distinguished careers in the Navy and in the private sector.
As our Association transitions from an organization governed by an Executive Committee to one that is guided and run by an elected Board of Directors, I am sensitive to some of the uncertainties that come with this type of change. You have my pledge that I will work to ensure that all members have the opportunity to voice their concerns and be heard.
I had a great visit to AUSN Headquarters last week and was very impressed. We are very fortunate to have highly qualified, and energized group of full-time professionals supporting us.
Several challenges lie ahead. First and foremost, we must increase our membership and attract new corporate sponsors. This is only achievable through a combined effort from our full-time professional staff, our elected officers, and the more than 17,000 members that we carry on our rolls. Every one of us is an AUSN recruiter!
The seas may be a little rough but our course is true. Now is the time to take a steady strain and answer all bells. I am excited about our future and look forward to working for, and with, each of you. Please keep the lines of communications open!