USNA Out Members,
Yesterday you received news from Jeff Petrie via email that USNA Out is in transition – making positive strides forward and organizing to even more effectively meet our shared objectives and mission.
USNA Out Members,
Yesterday you received news from Jeff Petrie via email that USNA Out is in transition – making positive strides forward and organizing to even more effectively meet our shared objectives and mission.
Almost six years ago at the the “Meeting of Friends” in San Francisco, the members of the newly formed USNA Out set a goal for ourselves to establish non-profit status, also known by its IRS section code as 501(c)(3). As a non-profit, USNA Out can accept gifts from individuals that could be tax deducible. At the “General Membership Meeting” held March 14, 2009, in Washington DC (with teleconferenced call-ins), attending members unanimously voiced renewed interest to follow through on our five year long dream. On a Board Call last Saturday, we officially formed the Organizing Board.
I am deeply honored and excited to lead the Organizing Board as Chair of this new entity. Within a few weeks, I will be sending you more details on the options for organizing USNA Out to best achieve the mission and objectives which we have held from the beginning. I encourage all of you to be a part of this process. Your voice is important to us.
The Organizing Board welcomes all USNA Out members who can bring talent, skills or experience to the board and who are willing to put in an effort as a member of the board. Please join us if you are interested!
I want to personally thank Jeff and the 14 members of USNA Out who stepped forward at the Gemeral Membership meeting this past March who over the past 7-1/2 months have worked diligently to move us forward. Twelve of these members remain on as the “Organizing Board” members of the 501(c)(3).
I also thank Jeff for his enthusiasm, vision, 6 years of service as our Founding President, and dedication to USNA Out. It is because of his outreach that I connected with this group and ultimately re-engaged with my Naval Academy history. He created a proud voice for us that replaced a long silence. Thank you, Jeff. I look forward to your active participation and counsel.
Go Navy!
Brian Bender, USNA Class of 1993
Chair, USNA Out, a 501(c)(3)
http://usnaout.org/brian