This is Howgozit #9 for all ANA Wing Commanders and ANA Squadron Commanding Officers and Membership-At-Large.  It would be much appreciated were you to pass this on to all your members.

Overall, your ANA continues to recover.  Increasing numbers of active duty Naval Leadership are voicing their support, more and more ANA squadrons are reporting new vibrancy, the summer edition of Wings of Gold has met with unprecedented acclaim and the outreach effort to other Naval Aviation organizations is being received with enthusiasm.  In particular, we have arrived at an agreement with the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation (NAMF) and have established a most convivial relationship with the Tailhook Association.  Efforts with the Naval Helicopter Association are underway and an approach to the Marine Corps Aviation Association is planned.

The recent Tailhook Convention in Reno proved to be a watershed event for your new ANA.  Courtesy of the Tailhook Association leadership ANA had a strategically located exhibit booth and a hospitality suite free of charge to the ANA.  At the Friday luncheon I presented the George H.W. Bush Award to “…that first-tour, carrier-based pilot who best exemplifies the skill, commitment, loyalty and courage of America’s 41^st President.” The awardee was LT Shaun Bellamare, VFA-83, in transit to VMFAT-101 (the F/A-18 RAG) at MCAS Miramar.  ANA was also recognized at the banquet.  Throughout the convention encouragement was freely given by a variety of attendees, active, retired and civilian alike, and a number of new members were signed up.  The convention itself, by the way was outstanding with absolutely superb symposia.

Several months ago VADM Gerry Hoewing, president of the NAMF, and I agreed in principle that the two organizations should seek areas of cooperation.  A committee of two persons from each organization met to explore the possibilities:  VADM Bill Ramsey and Captain Earl Rogers from the NAMF and VADM Jerry Unruh and Captain Deano Fournier from the ANA.  Their going-in proposition was that NAMF and ANA are an equal partnership, searching for ways to promote Naval Aviation.  Then, in furtherance of that proposition and in accordance with the committee’s recommendations, VADM Hoewing and I agreed to sharing of membership lists, periodically addressing the partnership by the Presidents of each organization in Wings of Gold and the Fly.By, sharing of information regarding current events in Naval Aviation, providing ANA a presence in the Foundation’s annual May symposia including presentation of selected ANA awards.  I also agreed that ANA squadron members will be available to promote the National Museum of Naval Aviation through DVDs and information provided by the Foundation and that ANA squadron members would be available at various Naval Aviation reunion locations to promote the Museum when practicable.   Finally, the two organizations will share information on Naval Aviation Industrial Council and coordinate any Washington activities which might be beneficial to the common goals of both organizations.

While all that may be good news, problems in ANA do persist.  Absent more members, especially corporate members, the budget is extremely thin.  Some squadrons continue in a moribund status and the intended Advisory and Wing Commanders Council remain unfulfilled.  In that the headquarters staff consists of only three people; we need help from the organization at large.  The following spells out some ways you might help.

Your ANA needs a corporate recruiter.  Although we much appreciate what corporate members we have, they are few.  All one needs to do is compare the corporate membership lists in other Navy oriented magazines with those in Wings of Gold and one can see the problem.  We need to identify a volunteer corporate recruiter. 

We also need to discover innovative ways of raising money outside of dues.  If you have any bright ideas, please chime in.

For those of you trying to rejuvenate squadrons, check the Bullhorn for examples of what the more active outfits are up to.

As for the Advisory Council, I have an outstanding and well-regarded Navy helicopter pilot volunteer, we have a Coast Guard flag officer who has agreed to serve, I have the Marines seeking a retired Marine to serve, but I need a VP-experienced captain of flag officer with a good community reputation and likewise for VR and Naval Reserve   If you are the one, or if you know of someone, please let me know.  The duties won’t be onerous; just an occasional e-mail or phone call to keep the Washington leadership on track.

Regarding the Wing Commanders Council, we do have wing commanders in all areas save Southeast Florida.  Again, a volunteer is solicited.
A job description is in work.

We’ll try to be more direct on fulfilling these requirements in the near future, but with our headquarters staffing so thin, a volunteer or a suggestion would sure help.

Finally, we have a good mission statement, but it doesn’t seem to resonate as well as it should with our active duty people.  We need to come up with some good reasons why they should join the ANA, keeping in mind they’re awfully busy with their day-to-day efforts and there are so many competing organizations.  Perhaps there’s an individual or a squadron out there who can make some suggestions.  As a famous mentor of mine was fond of saying, “We don’t have a corner on the market for brains.”

Keep those cards, letters and e-mails coming.  Sky anchors away!  Bob Dunn.

 

“…to educate and encourage an interest among the general public as to the importance of Naval Aviation
n the defense of the United States and its allies….”