NMCB 14 Alumni Association

The start of a new Association Year provides each of us with the opportunity to contribute more than we did last year, and to allow those that were not able to contribute to join in the Can Doî spirit.  The 2011 Annual Meeting of the Association celebrated the 50th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Battalion honoring those ìPlank-Ownersî among us, brought the spouses into a more meaningful dialogue to support the Association goals, and was successful in bringing us closer to the active Battalion with their participation in the dinner-ceremony.  Each of those attending in person and those joining us in spirit were responsible for the continued progression of our organization in serving the Seabees of NMCB 14.  I want to thank Mike and Jackie Wood for setting up and managing the Hospitality Room and Ed Crenshaw for managing the fund raising activities during the reunion.  Many others also supported these activities and I want to thank you for willingly jumping in where needed.

2012 can bring us to even greater achievement with the increased participation of the membership, both Seabee and Spouse.  I propose that we move forward in 2012 as the Ombudsman Year ñ where we support the deployed Seabees of NMCB 14 and their families, never losing sight of the families of those who gave the ultimate sacriÆce, and those that were injured in supporting our Country and their Battalion.  The Ombudsman Program initiated by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting and to be implemented this year will be the focus of our energy in 2012.

Anna and I want to thank those spouses who were able to attend the Presidentís Luncheon and contributed with your ideas, your desire to actively participate in supporting our Seabees, and your enthusiasm.  Anna will be contacting you in the near future to seek your continued contribution to the many ideas developed at the luncheon, and those yet to be born in the spirit of giving.

Welcome to Keith Stephens, our new Director and continuing WebMaster, to the continued service of Mark Monaghan as  Director,  and Fred Bossard who left the post of Association Secretary to be a Director while continuing as the Newsletter editor.    I look forward to working with Mike Grace, who is serving as the new Association Secretary, Al Robertson as the Association Vice President, and George Manning as the Association Treasurer.  The new Directors, the Offcers, and  the existing Directors make a winning Team - a Team that always has room for more contributors.  Many of you provided valuable support at the Annual Meeting and I will be calling on you to continue that support over the years to come and increase your participation as Offcers and Directors of the Association in the following years.

Do not wait for September of next year to put the Association Annual Meeting on your calendar; start becoming involved now and each month of 2012.  You are the most important part of the organization.  We need you to grow our membership, through your examples of supporting our Seabees and their families - the reason that NMCB 14 Alumni Association was established.

Anna and I wish you and your family a blessed holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Randy Bushey, President