Summer is here

July 2011 - Navy
By RADM Timothy D. Moon, USN (Ret)

Welcome to summer! Summer does not officially arrive until June 21st – but it is surely here! The oppressive heat and extreme weather that we have experienced across the country have challenged us as a people and brought out the best in us as citizens of this great nation. Our hearts go out to the people of Joplin, MO, and Tuscaloosa, AL, and elsewhere where entire towns were leveled and the lives of so many people have been disrupted. Those who survived these tragedies are rebuilding their lives with the help of generous donations, support from many volunteers, and with the spirit and teamwork that define us as a nation. Working together, all of those affected will overcome the tragic effects of these disasters. We should all keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Since I last wrote, AUSN hosted our annual golf outing at Andrews Air Force Base. Many thanks go out to Kenya Houston and Jean Byrd for planning and executing a successful event, and to the many sponsors and players who donated time and money to benefit the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation. Fun was had by all who participated and we look forward to an even bigger event next year. If anyone wants to help with the planning for next year’s golf outing, please contact RADM Coane or me to express your interest.

I am preparing for the upcoming AUSN National Conference and Board of Director’s meeting that will both be held in New Orleans from 13 to 16 July. I plan to discuss the roles of our elected national officers and look for ways to build on past successes to improve their effectiveness while increasing their engagement and participation in AUSN operations. Historically, AUSN has achieved success through active participation by the elected officers and members at large in the management and operations of the Association. But that participation has waned over the past few years and I want to change that trend. The other topics that I intend to discuss are recruiting and retention of members, initiatives to raise awareness of AUSN in the fleet, and our relationships with NROTC Units and NOSCs. I am sure that we will also find time to socialize and to take in the sights and sample the cuisine for which New Orleans is so famous.

Membership continues to be my top concern. We get our strength through our membership and to put it in simple terms, we need to grow. The Active Component, both currently serving and retired, represents the single largest pool of potential new members. They benefit from the many legislative initiatives that AUSN undertakes in support of platform and equipment procurement, fleet and family readiness, and benefits during the entire continuum of service from enlistment or commissioning and continuing through retirement. The hard part is that the Active Component also represents a large group of potential members who really do not know who AUSN is or for what AUSN stands. We need aggressively to raise their awareness and capture them as members or we stand to lose our strength and effectiveness as an association fighting for the needs of all Sailors: active and reserve, officer and enlisted, serving and retired.

Summer is a wonderful time as many of us travel to visit friends and family or to relax and experience the many sights, attractions and places of interest around the nation, and around the world. Please be safe. I hope to see you in New Orleans. It is not too late to register!