NMA Membership Meeting 2011

Here's the unofficial, unedited, sort-of-accurate rundown of the annual Saturday morning meeting of the members of the Navy Musicians Association:

-- President Chesson spoke on the various ways members may contribute to the NMA in addition to taking positions as elected officers. Recruiting new members, of course, is Job One; it's every member's responsibility to pass the word to potential members.Some members make financial donations to the NMA far beyond their dues. Suggestions may be forwarded to the President or other board member at any time during the year, but nobody needs a special request chit to promote the NMA.

-- Executive Vice-president continues negotiations to select a hotel for next-year's Orlando reunion. Three venues remain on the short-list, but make no mistakes--we'll be in Florida next year.

In addition, he solicited comments on the operation of this year's reunion, adding the suggestion, "If you like it, tell me; if you don't, tell Kim Holl."

-- Vice-president Kim Holl, chairman of the Nominating Committee told us that all current members of the Board of Directors had agreed to serve, if re-elected, one more term. By acclamation, with no dissenting votes, all nominees were elected to serve another term.

-- A large topic at the meeting, as well as in the corridors during the week, was the proposed cutbacks to funding for military bands. In a separate posting, I will harangue you to write to your senators.

-- On conclusion of the meeting, members were dismissed with liberty passes that expire at the 1800 social hour that precedes the annual banquet. It is hoped that this flotilla of MUs will not cause too much havoc while on the beach; this is a Navy town, and the Shore Patrol is busy enough handling active-duty problems.