SavannahSteamer. Another Great St. Patrick s Day Parade for the Navy. Many Thanks to Our Community Affiliate Members!

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1 SavannahSteamer Founded May 15, 1957 Volume 45 Issue 1 Another Great St. Patrick s Day Parade for the Navy Saturday morning, March 17, Savannah Navy League was happy to welcome over 100 Navy sailors to Savannah s 194th St Patrick s Day Parade. Shirley McCarthy, 2017 Navy Leaguer of the Year, led our portion of the parade. About 60 sailors of USS Alaska GOLD along with 20 sailors from USS Sioux City BLUE, plus Navy Band Southeast were our primary guests along with their commanders. RDML Michael Holland, Commander of Submarine Group 10, CDR Eric Cole, Commanding Officer of USS Alaska GOLD, CDR Randy Malone, Commanding Officer of USS Sioux City BLUE, and CDR Steve Johnson, Chief of Staff of LCS Squadron TWO rode in cars. South Effingham High School s NJROTC provided our Color Guard, and Jenkins High School NJROTC cadets carried our Navy League banner. Joe Tillman, O.C. Fowler, and Bob Tully did a fantastic job obtaining cars for our portion of the parade. In fact, Joe had so many cars he was able to offer some of them to the Coast Guard and political candidates. Great weather topped off the celebration for a grand time for all. Many Thanks to Our Community Affiliate Members! Crescent Towing Savannah Steamer 1

2 Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Updates CMDCM Eddie VanMeter Retirement Tom Latham and Bob Gephart travelled to Kings Bay on 23 March to attend the retirement ceremony for CMDCM Eddie VanMeter. CMDCM VanMeter was Chief of the Boat (COB) of USS Alaska BLUE when Savannah Navy League adopted USS Alaska in His leadership as COB was a key component in USS Alaska s selection as the best ballistic missile submarine in the U.S. Navy. After leaving USS Alaska he rose to be Command Master Chief for Submarine Group 10, covering all the ballistic missile submarines on the East Coast. USS Alaska (SSBN 732) GOLD Sailor of the Quarter & Sailor of the Year Awards On 13 FEB, Tom Latham and Bob Gephart traveled to Kings Bay to present Sailor of the Quarter and Sailor of the Year awards to USS Alaska (SSBN 732) GOLD crew members. CDR Eric Cole, CO of USS Alaska GOLD addressed the crew expressing appreciation for Savannah Navy League s attention to these awards. Books and gift catalogs were presented to six Sailors of the Quarter and three Sailors of the Year Savannah Steamer 2

3 Updates on our LCS s Naval Station Mayport Updates Pat Yovich, LCS Liaison USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5) Our Savannah Navy League was invited to the Change of Command of CDR Ken Lieberman as he was relieved by CDR Aaron Anderson on March 23 at Mayport on the Ship. Attending were Pat Yovich and O. C. Fowler. CDR Ken Lieberman has been a part of our adopted Crew 108, which is now the Blue Crew of the USS MIL- WAUKEE, currently the Training Ship for the next 4 LCS s, including the USS LITTLE ROCK (LCS 9) and the PCU (Pre Commissioned Unit) SIOUX CITY (LCS 11). CDR Ken Lieberman is retiring and will be heading to Washington D.C. to work for Lockheed in D. C. as his expertise is needed for the future LCS s being built in Marinette, WI. He informed Pat and O.C. that he is also engaged. Savannah Navy Leaguers are invited to the 2 nd Qtr. Sailor of the Quarter awards and to meet CDR Anderson, the new CO of our Blue Crew of the USS MILWAUKEE within the next couple of months. Date to be Determined. Other Mayport Events Our Adopted Ship, USS LITTLE ROCK (Crew 109 which is now the BLUE crew) is making its way to her home port of Mayport. Time to be Determined. All Navy League Members are invited to the Homecoming! Our Adopted PCU SIOUX CITY had their 2 nd Qtr awards held on April 3. Savannah Navy League Members attending were Pat and Alan Yovich, Chuck Towles, and Gary Johnson. Sometime Mid April, our Crew 110, now the BLUE crew, with Cdr. Randy Malone will head to Marinette to train with the Gold Crew and prepare to bring the Sioux City down to Mayport early summer. The Commissioning of the Sioux City will be in the Fall at Annapolis, and all our Navy League members are invited. (Date to be Determined) Savannah Steamer 3

4 Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island Alan Yovich, USMC Liaison A few of our Navy League Members attended the Regimental Relief and Appointment Ceremony at which time SGTMAJ Paul Davis was relieved by SGTMAJ Christopher Thomas of the USMC followed by a Retirement Ceremony in honor of SGTMAJ Paul Davis. SGTMAJ Davis along with Alan and Pat Yovich were responsible for setting up the DI Awards at Parris Island. United States Marine Corp Drill Instructor of FY 2017 Year GYSGT Kimberly Barton Savannah Navy League has started our 2 nd year of honoring the Senior Drill Instructor (SDI) and Drill Instructor (DI) of the quarter. February 3, 2018, Navy League Members, Alan and Pat Yovich, Chuck Towles, John Towles, and Ron Bagley attended the Ceremony. It was very special as we honored THE United States Marine Corp Drill Instructor of the Year, FY 2017, GYSGT Kimberly Barton. (This included Recruit Depots San Diego and Parris Island all the Drill Instructors!) It was quite an honor! We then recognized the SDI SSGT Jason Carty and DI Jasmin Rodgers for 1 st Qtr FY Our 2 nd Qtr. Award Ceremony is coming soon and all Navy League members are invited to Parris Island. A Constant Contact will be sent out with the information. Savannah Steamer 4

5 U. S. COAST GUARD UPDATES The GREAT NEWS Regarding our USCG Community Project! Pat Yovich At the Jasper Green Ceremony reception on (March 16, 2017, the day before the St. Patrick s Day Parade), ADM Peter Brown, USCG 4 th Fleet Commander, and CAPT Marshall Branch, USCG Air Station Savannah, announced to Congressman Buddy Carter, Mayor Eddie DeLoach, Mayor Mike Lamb of Pooler, Hunter Hall, Cong. Buddy Carter s Aide, and Pat Yovich, Project Organizer from the Savannah Navy League, that the Congressional Coast Guard Community Designation has been awarded to Chatham County, including the City of Pooler, City of Savannah, and City of Tybee. Per USCG Headquarters, CAPT Marshall Branch has told us that the current Commandant is retiring the end of May, and that the new Commandant and his schedule wouldn t allow for an event of this magnitude until Fall. They are prioritizing 1) Commandant Availability, 2) Congressman Carter availability, 3) USCG Band Availability, 4) USCG Honor Guard Availability. CDR Tim Eason is going to be our project officer for continuity with USCG Headquarters and will be the lead on organizing everything. Again, and Pat quotes CAPT Marshall Branch, We will do this right by our Community. The Savannah Navy League, and Chatham County (and cities named) deserve that. Pat and Hunter Hall will be helping with the event and will keep our Savannah Navy League Board and Members totally informed! USCG Marine Safety Unit Savannah Awards On 31 JAN, MST3 Marc Doades of MSU Savannah was recognized as Enlisted Person of the Year for MSU Savannah and also Sector Charleston. Rear Admiral Linda Fagan presented his award for Sector Charleston, and O.C. Fowler presented him with Savannah Navy League gifts. On 22 FEB, MST1 Chris Ahern (far right) was recognized as EPOQ for MSU Savannah s th Quarter. Savannah Steamer 5

6 COMMANDER S QUARTERS Savannah Council members who have paid their dues and have also made a Special Contribution are members of the Commander s Quarters. These contributions are substantial and are very much appreciated. Year 2018 members are listed below - Thank you all! James Lutton John Boylan Clifford & Karen Lindholm Michael Campbell Edward Conant Robert & Mary Ann Gephart Ken &Rose Schuster Robert Tully Ruth Berges Charles Scobee Joost Gompels Debbie Keller Ed Robb Doug Marchand R.Mitchell Bush Tom Nichols Shirley & Frank McCarthy Ed & Johanna Lavish Elizabeth Forrester Craig Maggioni Newt & Phyllis Aaron Richard & Linda Wigger Tom Latham Patti & Jeff Zureick Karen & Cliff Angers O.C. Fowler Sybil Cannon Pat & Alan Yovich Thomas Denmark URGENT --- HELP NEEDED To be a member in good standing in Navy League Local and National dues must be paid annually. Local dues are $25 annually and are due the first quarter of the year. National dues range from $25 upward and are due on your anniversary date in Navy League. The Savannah Council has 262 members and only 40% have paid their 2018 Local dues and only 64% have paid their National dues. The Savannah Council simply cannot survive with this level of participation. Please, if you have not paid your dues write a check today and if you are not sure about your dues payment please contact: Jeff Zureick 17 Lake Heron Court West Pooler, Ga piwi@hargray.com Thank you in advance for your usual fine cooperation. Treasurer s Report - First Quarter 2018 Through March 31, Total INCOME was $5,004, total EXPENSES were $3,871 for a net GAIIN of $1,133. Of note is that local dues have only generated income of $2,500, which leaves a big gap to make budget of $4,000. Please, if you have not remitted your $25 for local dues send it in now. More encouraging is that personal contributions from our recent drive have nearly equaled dues receipts at $2,360. Making up for the Lost City Grant and Corporate Shortfall After so many years of providing up to 25% of our budget, City of Savannah is no longer offering support to non profits except for those that deal directly with issues of poverty, homelessness etc. That leaves us with a big revenue hole of $6,000 to make up as well as a deficit of $3000 in budgeted corporate giving which currently has no sponsorship. We are attacking this revenue need head on with the formation of a new Fund Raising Committee. Corporate targets have been identified and teams/individuals have been assigned targets. New marketing materials are being developed to help provide our presentations with a serious and first class net impression. This will be an on going effort throughout the year. It is important to remember----the Committee is only one facet of fund raising, each of our members can provide very important help by providing leads of organizations and individuals and providing introductions for our teams. Don t be shy----if any leads come to mind please contact me or any Board member. Cliff Angers Treasurer Savannah Steamer 6

7 Inaugural Savannah Navy League Golf Classic This tournament will be held at Cross Wind Golf Course at the Airport. On May 25th. Cost for each team is $ ( $ per player) We need Council members to help with the following: Get your friends together and enter teams Sponsor Coast Guard and Alaska Teams Buy a Sponsor sign for $ Visit businesses that will give raffle prizes: ( I will have f flyers for you to use at the dinner on April 17 th ) o Hotel room for a night o Restaurants o Liquor Stores o Movie Theaters o Tools o Anything that will be a good prize, the more the better Contact Joe Tillman at or ctsincsav@comcast.net Help at day of: o Registration o Selling mulligans and 50/50 chances to assist with this event o Selling raffle tickets o Sell Eagle chance on a designated hole. All of the money we make this year will go directly into our budget, so let s all get out and make this the best tournament ever. Savannah Council Family Support Activities Shirley McCarthy has taken a leadership role in our Council s Family Support Activities this year. She, along with Jan Bell, Patti and Jeff Zureick, Jean McRae, Karen Angers, Deb Stautberg, and Pat Yovich, have been actively engaged with the FRG (Family Readiness Group) of USS Alaska GOLD and USCG Air Station Savannah. Numerous meetings and activities have been achieved so far this year. Most recently, they assisted with the Kids Easter Party at the Coast Guard Air Station, with about 100 kids plus parents attending. They delivered supplies for Single Sailor Bags to USS Alaska GOLD s FRG, and a Savannah Getaway Box for some lucky Sailor and his spouse to enjoy after the next patrol. And, as always, numerous Baby Bags to the various commands. Savannah Steamer 7

8 2018 Officers & Directors President O. C. Fowler 1st Vice President Chuck Towles 2nd Vice President Mary Ellen Sprague Vice President Pat Yovich Vice President Bob Gephart Vice President - Legislative Affairs Ed Lavish Judge Advocate Ed Robb Treasurer Cliff Angers Secretary Larry Sprague Past President Tom Latham Savannah Steamer Newsletter Editor Bob Gephart Photographer Tom Wright 1st Quarter Dinner Meetings Recap First Quarter dinner meetings provided an interesting mix of speakers and topics. Our January meeting featured John MacLean who described some of his Great Grandfather s adventures aboard the Confederate Navy s CSS Shenandoah and CSS Arkansas during the War of Northern Aggression. February s speaker was Regina Wages, Director, USO, Ft. Stewart / HAAF. She gave a very interesting presentation detailing some of her experiences during her 7 ½ years as USO Director in Afghanistan. Then in March, Col. Matthew D. St. Clair, USMC, spoke on some of the unsung missions the Marine Corps prepares for around the world, especially the Marine Expeditionary Units that are deployed aboard Navy Amphibious Assault ships. Official Business Savannah Navy League P O Box Savannah, GA Non-Profit Organization U S Postage Paid Savannah, GA Permit Number 213 Official Document: Savannah Council of the Navy League of the United States Savannah Steamer 8