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Our DiamondAura Canary Promotional Code CNR203-02 Ring has a look that’s sure to turn heads! Please mention this when you call. The ring features an oval-cut canary 14101 Southcross Drive W., DiamondAura set in the center with two Dept. CNR203-02 oval-cut white DiamondAuras on either Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 side, for a total carat weight of over www.stauer.com COMMUNIcatIONS THE SPIRIT OF SHIPMATES helping NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS each other resonates throughout Nat’l President Jerry L. Sweeney, Navy Dept. Branch 181 this issue of FRA Today. Of course, Nat’l Vice President Lawrence J. Boudreaux, Hangtown Branch 275 our feature story on volunteerism Nat’l Executive Sec. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Dept. Branch 181 APRIL 2007 Y focuses on how programs such as Finance Officer Paul Rigby A Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Junior PNP Edgar M. Zerr, Poway Valley Branch 70 (VAVS) are designed to make an FRA TOD impact – but it takes the individual REGIONAL PRESIDENTS such as Shipmate Tom Elliot Jr. of New England Paul F. Loveless, Jr., Pine Tree Branch 156 Pinetree Branch 156 in Brunswick, Northeast Francis D. Tyson, Anthracite Branch 288 Maine to make the program work. East Coast Delbert L. Herrmann, Wilmington Branch 299 Tony Cassata, The Delbert D. Black Branch 117 NP Sweeney gives a personal ac- Southeast North Central Leon J. Zalewski, Milwaukee Branch 14 count (page 10) of how the branch EILEEN MURPHY South Central Leo V. Vance, Space City Branch 159 in Yokosuka, Japan offered hospi- Director of Marketing and Southwest Charles F. Smedley, Poway Valley Branch 70 tality during his visit and opportu- Communications West Coast Charles R. McIntyre, San Jose Branch 140 nities for him to provide legislative Northwest John Ippert, Pearl Harbor-Honolulu Branch 46 briefs to CPOs, tour the USS Kitty Hawk and meet many people during Nat’l. Parliamentarian PNP J.C. Jim Eblen, San Diego Branch 9 his seven day stay. OnWatch (page 14) is two pages this issue to cel- Nat’l Chaplain Vincent W. Patton, III, Navy Dept. Branch 181 ebrate the establishment of the CPO grade. In that article we look at why it was so important to recognize Chiefs and even how FRA helped ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL establish the position of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. NES Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa Joe Barnes focuses his Perspective column (page 21) on the uproar Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John Estrada over conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the care for Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen wounded patients recovering there. With so many things happening throughout the Association and on RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL Capitol Hill, it was no surprise that during this past month, we had a Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve David Pennington sharp increase in requests for additional copies of FRA Today. Shipmates USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Jimmy D. Cummings are using them as a way to provide service to prospective members by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force Jeffrey Smith increasing awareness of the Association and its work on Capitol Hill. One example is Shipmate Charlie Baldwin from Branch 99 in Virginia Beach, Va. Shipmate Baldwin had been receiving an extra 50 copies each month for his branch to pass out at the Navy Exchange and FRA TODAY MAGAZINE the Coast Guard station in Little Creek, Recruiting Station in Green Publisher FRA Briar, Navy Federal Credit Union, etc. They had wonderful results and Managing Editor Eileen Murphy needed an extra 50 to meet the demand. This is paying off in new mem- Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong bers! Shipmate Baldwin recently wrote suggesting we ask, “What do you Design and Art Direction do with yours?” He asserts that if after each member read the magazine FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com Design Director Scott Rodgerson and then gave that copy to a prospective member, we would double the Production Manager Sandy Jones exposure of FRA’s work without any additional cost. This is certainly a great way of providing a service to both the recipient and FRA! “Drop it off on a store magazine rack, barber shop, doctors office etc.,” Baldwin suggested. “Let prospective members learn about what the Association FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., AleXandria, VA 22314-2754. A member’S SUbscriptiON is COvered BY the member’S is doing and why it is important they join!” annUal DUes. PeriOdicals POstaGE paid at AleXandria, VA and additiOnal In the coming months, we will report on some of the great ways ship- OFFICES. PUblicatiON OF NON-SPONSORED advertisinG IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS representatives. POSTMASTER: mates are recruiting new members. Please e-mail me at [email protected] to SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER Services, FRA, 125 N.