14 FRA Convention News
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HIGH STAKES POLITICAL POKER 6 DECEMBER 2007 14 FRA CONVENTION NEWS Updates from Corpus Christi 11 NP Perspective 19 Branch Listing by Region MESOTHELIOMA If you or a loved one has been diagnosed Please contact the law firm of: Bergman & Frockt with, or died from, mesothelioma, we may 614 First Avenue, Fourth Floor Seattle, WA 98104 be able to help get monetary compensation Toll Free: (888) 647-6007 from the asbestos manufacturers. www.bergmanlegal.com No charge for initial consultation. Please ask for Emily Murray. Bergman & Frockt 6110 FRA Today 1_07 v2.indd C2 12/11/06 2:00:46 PM GRV654-04_7.75x10.qxd 10/16/07 2:59 PM Page 1 World’s Most Valuable Timepiece Disappears ack in 1933, the single most important are assembled entirely by hand and then tested price. Many fine 27-jewel auto- watch ever built was engineered for a for over 15 days on Swiss calibrators to ensure matics that are on the market Bquiet millionaire collector named Henry accuracy. The watches are then reinspected in today are usually priced well Graves. It took over three years and the most the United States upon their arrival. over $2,000 dollars, but you advanced horological technique to create the What makes rare watches rare? can enter the rarified world of The face of the multifunction masterpiece. This one-of-a-kind fine watch collecting for under Business Week states it best…“It’s the complica- original 1930 s watch was to become the most coveted piece $100. You can now wear a Graves timepiece tions that can have the biggest impact on price.” in the collection of the Museum of Time near millionaire’s watch but still from the (Business Week, July, 2003). The four interior Museum of Time. Chicago. Recently this ultra-rare innovation keep your millions in your vest complications on our Graves™ watch display was auctioned off for the record price of pocket. Try the handsome Graves ‘33 timepiece the month, day, date and the 24 hour clock $11,030,000 by Sotheby’s to a secretive risk free for 30 days. If you are not thrilled with graphically depicts the sun and the moon. The anonymous collector. Now the watch is locked the quality and rare design, please send it back innovative engine for this timepiece is powered away in a private vault in an unknown location. for a full refund of the purchase price. by the movement of the body as the automatic We believe that a classic like this rotor winds the mainspring. It never should be available to true watch Not Available in Stores needs batteries and never needs to be aficionados, so Stauer replicated Call now to take advantage of this manually wound. The precision the exact Graves design in the limited offer. crafted gears are “lubricated” by 27 limited edition Graves ‘33. Stauer Graves™ ‘33 Wristwatch or rubies that give the hands a smooth 3 credit card payments of $33 +S&H The antique enameled face and sweeping movement. And the watch Bruguet hands are true to the is tough enough to stay water resistant 800-859-1736 original. But the real beauty of to 5 atmospheres. The movement is Promotional Code GRV654-04 this watch is on the inside. We covered by a 2-year warranty. Please mention this when you call. 27 jewels and 210 replicated an extremely complicated Not only have we emulated this To order by mail, please call for details. automatic movement with 27 hand-assembled stunning watch of the 1930s but just 14101 Southcross Drive W., jewels and seven hands. There parts drive this as surprising, we’ve been able to build Dept. GRV654-04 are over 210 individual parts that classic masterpiece. this luxury timepiece for a spectacular Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 For fastest service, call toll-free 24 hours a day 800-859-1736 Visit us online at www.Stauer.com for the complete line of Stauer Watches, Jewelry and Collectibles COMMUNIcatIONS What a Week! 2 IT IS HARD TO put into words what NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS FRA Convention means to the Nat’l President Lawrence J. Boudreaux, Hangtown Branch 275 shipmates, national officers and Nat’l Vice President Donald Mucheck, Sarasota Branch 250 staff. Branch delegates come from Nat’l Executive Dir. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Dept. Branch 181 near and far to handle the busi- Finance Officer Paul Rigby DECEMBER 2007 Jerry L. Sweeney, Navy Dept. Branch 181 Junior PNP Y ness of the Association. Everyone A has a voice, and the truly demo- cratic business sessions lead to the REGIONAL PRESIDENTS FRA TOD rules, budget and guidelines for the New England William J. Waite, Pinetree Branch 156 coming years. There is certainly Northeast James E. Brown, Staten Island Branch 226 East Coast Claire Haynes Purdy, Annapolis Branch 24 also a social aspect to Convention, Southeast Roger E. Mitchell, Gasparilla Branch 188 with the Welcome Aboard Party North Central Marty J. Posekany, Wolverine Branch 298 on opening night (this year’s was A Reason to Smile South Central Melvin R. Harper, Mountain Home Branch 251 a costume party on 31 October!), On behalf of Poway Valley Branch Southwest Harry N. Lyons, Green Valley Branch 77 an Inaugural Banquet to end the 70, Jr.PRP Charles F. Smedley West Coast Lee M. Hollowell, Jr., Lake Shasta Branch 281 presented a $30,000 donation week and the hospitality room open Northwest Robert E. Gilmore, Whidbey Island Branch 97 to the Disaster Relief Fund to NP PNP J.C. Jim Eblen, San Diego Branch 9 nightly in between. Jerry L. Sweeney. Shipmates who Nat’l. Parliamentarian For staff, it is a unique opportu- suffer hardships brought on by Nat’l Chaplain Patrick H. LeClaire, Silver Dollar Branch 192 nity to get to know the shipmates on floods, hurricanes, fires and other a one-to-one basis. It is also a won- disasters understand how impor- ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL tant receiving financial assistance Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe Campa derful chance to share information can be — and how reassuring it is through workshops and meetings. that shipmates are looking out for Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent We also benefit from the impres- each other in times of need. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen sive wealth of knowledge and ideas RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL shared with us from those “in the field.” In all honesty, it is nearly impossible to distill all the information ex- Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve David Pennington changed during the week and publish it in one magazine. As pictures USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Jimmy D. Cummings Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force are worth a thousand words, we have replaced the normal department Jeffrey Smith “News From the Branches” and included a collage called “Photos From Convention.” Hopefully this issue will help entice you to come to Branson, Mo., 24–27 September, 2008 for the 81st FRA National Convention. FRA TODAY MAGAZINE This issue also holds our annual printing of the FRA region listing, Publisher FRA including the contact information for each branch. Updates are made Managing Editor Eileen Murphy to this list constantly and the most updated Region Listings are always Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong available on www.fra.org under My FRA. You will need to login to ac- Design and Art Direction cess these reports online. FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com Design Director Scott Rodgerson Production Manager Sandy Jones 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 annUal DUes. PeriOdicals POSTage paid AT AleXandria, VA and addiTIOnal OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER Services, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754 PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] Your Headquarters Team at Convention www . fra .O rg Left to right: Penny Collins, Director of Membership Development; Alicia Landis, Director of Administration; Eileen Murphy, Director of Marketing & Communications; Bob Washington, Outreach Manager; Paul Rigby, Finance Officer; Joe Barnes, National Executive Director; John Davis, Director of Legis- lative Programs; Chris Slawinski, National Veterans Service Officer. Eileen Murphy is the Director of Marketing and Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. December 2007 Volume 86 Number 12 3 Featured 14 FRA TOD A Y DECEMBER 2007 1 4 CONVENTION IN CORPUS CHRISTI FRA’s 80th and LA FRA’s 75th National Conventions were held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Business mixed well with pleasure, and there is much to report! Departments 2 COMMUNIcatIONS 5 SHIPMATE FORUM 6 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL 11 NP PERSPECTIVE Recruitment and retention 12 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS 19 BRANCH LISTING 30 A complete listing of all branches in FRA 28 FRA NATIONAL OFFICERS Congratulations to our newly installed National Officers 30 PHOTOS FROM CONVENTION 36 REUNIONS 38 TAPS 39 LOOKING FOR… 44 LA FRA NEWS 13 36 LOYaltY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHartERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZatION ON THE COVER ADVOcatING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE Newly installed FRA National President Larry U.S.