Now is an important time to have a strong Naval Institute, and I am pleased to announce that our membership grew in 2012. Not only do we have more Members, we have more active-duty Members, junior and senior alike. The Naval Institute is healthy and vibrant, and 2013 is going to be another exciting year!
As we look at recent trends, history, especially military history, is increasingly being marginalized in our schools and universities. Continuing to make military history available is an important outcome the Naval Institute delivers. Naval History helps bring the past and its meaning alive for both regular citizens and naval professionals. We need your help to increase its educational reach and impact.
Naval History’s February cover story examines how, following some early miscues, the Marine Corps evolved into “the premier exemplar of expeditionary warfare.” With Marines refocusing on their traditional expeditionary role as they look beyond the ground war in Afghanistan, the article is especially timely. Other features in the issue reveal the Navy’s central role in a top-secret mission to recover spy-satellite film from the bottom of the Pacific, and how late 19th-century “navalists,” including Theodore Roosevelt, helped transform a decrepit U.S. Navy into a world-class force.
If you don’t already subscribe to Naval History, I ask you to do so now. Keeping this magazine in print—while simultaneously developing exciting new digital-delivery options—requires a subscriber base large enough to make it financially stable. And it furthers the Naval Institute’s mission. This is why I’m asking you to subscribe now at the special Member-only rate of $22.75. If you already subscribe, please accept my thanks and consider giving a subscription to a friend so they too may enjoy this treasure trove of naval history. Simply fill out the enclosed card, or call Member Services at 1-800-233-8764.
The Board of Directors has approved a membership dues increase to $59 effective 1 July 2013. This is the first such increase in more than five years, and it is necessary for us to keep up with the higher postage and printing costs associated with physical delivery of a paper copy of Proceedings plus technology costs for Web services, apps, and the addition of better online content. If you would like to lock in one or more years at current prices, please give Member Services a call even if you are not yet in the renewal cycle. Membership remains only $39 if you prefer your content delivered via the Web or the app. I remind all Members that we have a wonderful new app for both iOS and Android tablets and smartphones.
We participated in a terrific ceremony last month at the Naval Academy during which we recognized the generous donors who gave a gift of student memberships in the Naval Institute to three Naval Academy companies. VADM James R. Sagerholm, USN (Ret.) sponsored the 6th Company. Ms. Mary Ripley and her family sponsored the 17th Company in honor of her father, the late Colonel John Ripley, USMC, and RADM Dan Bowler, USN (Ret.) sponsored the 30th Company. We welcomed about 400 midshipmen as new Members. We have also received donations to fund several NROTC Units, and are most grateful to the following sponsors:
University of Illinois—Mr. Chris Michel
University of Wisconsin—RADM Dave Janes, USNR (Ret.)
University of South Carolina—Mr. Tom Deas
Marquette University—Mr. David Chomeau
Virginia Military Institute—RADM Terry McKnight, USN (Ret.)
I ask our Members who have benefited from the tremendous advantages of Naval Institute membership to sponsor midshipmen from your USNA company, your NROTC Unit, or cadets from your U.S. Coast Academy company. And don’t forget Officer Candidate School! Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” If you wish to make a gift, contact our Development Director, Heather Lancaster, at (410) 295-1048.
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free USNI app!