As we begin 2013, it is time for the annual election of our Board of Directors and Editorial Board. The ballot is even more important this year because Members are also voting on a revised Constitution and By-Laws (C&BLs) for the Naval Institute. We have printed the entire proposed revised C&BLs and circulated them to Members with the ballot. We look forward to receiving your vote.
There are several changes worth noting; however, one thing that is not proposed to change is the mission of the Institute. Our mission will remain to provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense.
The process of updating and revising our C&BLs has been lengthy and deliberate. The Board met frequently on the issue. Vice Chairman Nancy Brown and I conducted two face-to-face sessions with Members in April 2012, after which the Board—the newly elected Board—evaluated the draft C&BLs. After Member and Board feedback was incorporated, the Board again reviewed the C&BLs. On 19 July, the Board voted to post the revised draft online for further Member comment. Having received no negative feedback from the larger membership, the Board voted on 23 October to put the issue on the ballot for Member vote.
The Board of Directors, working closely with me as CEO and with Member input, has recommended changes. Now it is time for Members to vote. Key changes are:
• Only individuals can be Members, and only Members have a vote.
• Members will elect Directors on an individual basis, not by “slate.”
• Members will elect more Directors (15). Currently, we have 9 elected Directors.
• Fewer Directors (no more than 2) will be appointed. Currently, appointments are unlimited.
• Elected Directors will be limited to 2 terms and limited to 6 years total service as a Director.
• Directors will rotate over a three-year cycle with three-year terms. At least one-third of the elected Directors will be voted on each election cycle. Currently, 9 Directors are elected annually, and appointed Directors have no term/time limits.
• The draft provides a process for Member feedback to the Board and Institute staff.
• The nomination process for Directors will have increased transparency.
• There is more emphasis and acknowledgement of the use of electronic communication.
• There is increased definition for Board committees and processes.
I endorse the revised C&BLs as they will strengthen the processes that guide the Institute while preserving our important purpose and mission. It takes a two-thirds majority of those who vote to change our C&BLs. I encourage all Members to vote!
Our Defense Forum Washington on the topic of the “fiscal cliff” was a success! Bill Lynn’s keynote and Q&A with our audience was well received, as were our two panels. All are available online at www.usni.org. We think this format worked extremely well, and is a perfect fit for our open, independent forum. We plan to do a compact conference on a timely and important topic again next year.
News.usni.org, the Naval Institute’s daily adjunct to Proceedings, has outpaced expectations. Since its June launch, original content from the site has been referenced in traditional publications such as The Atlantic and the U.K.’s Daily Mail. It has also exposed the Naval Institute to online news venues we have previously not reached. The space allows us to react faster to events of the day, allowing top Sea Services experts and journalists to provide clarity on issues ranging from diplomatic security in Libya to the reality of depictions of the submarine service in popular television. As the site develops, the Naval Institute will continue to extend its reach and provide timely content in the digital space.
We are looking forward to our WEST 2013 Conference, co-sponsored with our partner AFCEA in San Diego, 29-31 January 2013: “Pivot to the Pacific: What Are the Practical and Global Implications?” Keynote speakers will include Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, Marine Corps Commandant General James F. Amos, Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Robert J. Papp, and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Cecil D. Haney. Panel discussions will address budget issues, cyber security, and China, among other topics. If you cannot attend the conference, please check the USNI website for daily updates on the conference and video recordings of the keynote presenters and panel discussions.
Again this year, the Institute will host an evening for Members during WEST. We look forward to the opportunity to meet and socialize with some of our local supporters and friends in San Diego. Please go to www.usni.org/memberevent to register, find directions, and get additional information.
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free USNI app!