HOWGOZIT #4 
21MAR07

MEMORANDUM FROM VADM DUNN    

This is a fourth howgozit 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. 

The temporary leadership of your association continues to get its act together and we hope you notice it.  We remain open to all suggestions and criticisms as we try to reestablish and rejuvenate.  Several squadrons lead the way with expanding membership, support of Fleet units and social events.  I hesitate to name them because I’m sure to leave someone out but it’s encouraging to see such local initiatives take hold.  Please let us know when you have things going on and we’ll get the word out to others in follow-on e-mails. 

At the headquarters level the leading issues for ANA are membership and the budget.  One affects the other, of course, but of the two it’s membership that’s most important.  We need you to get out there, beat the bushes, and recruit.  We’ll help you with tips and leads where we can. 

As for the budget, we’re keeping things in the black but there’s absolutely no cushion.  You’ll see more details on that in the spring issue of Wings of Gold, due out in the first part of April. 

Another feature of the forthcoming issue of Wings of Gold will be a ballot so you can vote on a permanent board of directors for the ANA.  Please do bring this to the attention of your membership.  We need to elect seven directors and we have as candidates seven names which almost all your members will recognize.  They are Admirals Jim Holloway, Tom Hayward, Steve Abbott, Stan Arthur, Jim Ellis, and John (Black) Nathman and me.  When and if that board is elected, in accordance with the by-laws they will then elect a chairman and a president.  The present temporary board will then dissolve but members will remain on the executive committee. 

No one is waiting for the election to move forward, however.  Efforts to reestablish the Naval Aviation Industrial Council are underway and efforts to reestablish our association with the active Navy are continuing.  We are also exploring the possibilities of mini-ANA meetings in conjunction with the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation Symposium in Pensacola May 9-11 and Tailhook in Reno September  

One area in need of special attention that impinges on the budget is the need to sustain traditional ANA awards to active duty individuals and units.  This vital program is one of the best ways ANA has direct involvement with the Fleet.  Commander, Naval Air has named the eleven winners of our awards for 2007.  There are no cash awards, per se, but plaques cost money and we’re struggling to find enough.  We are still working with suppliers for good estimates but it appears we will need some $600 to get the hardware part of the awards program back on track.  In addition, ANA has been offered a great opportunity for increased visibility by presenting a sword to the top academic midshipman in the Washington, DC, area NROTC units.  That would also cost us about $600.  Should any squadron or individual ANA member care to contribute to the purchase of  one, two, or more plaques or the sword, it would be most appreciated and you could also declare an IRS deduction. 

Finally, rest assured that your Navy, and Naval Aviation in particular, continues to perform outstandingly well around the world, and particularly so in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Unfortunately, what they do doesn’t always make the news but they are there, all of them:  carrier aircraft, helicopters, maritime patrol, logistics air and more.  You can be and should be proud.  Dutch Rauch will append to this howgozit selected Naval Aviation news items from around the world. 

Bob Dunn.