The Navy League of the United States was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt. It is unique among military-oriented associations in that it is a civilian organization dedicated to the education of our citizens, including our elected officials, and the support of the men and women of the sea services and their families. Further information may be obtained from www.navyleague.org.
The Levante Council covers the Costa Blanca of Spain from Alicante to Valencia and was chartered in 1981 at a time when the U. S. Navy was prominent in the Mediterranean. In those days, telephones were scarce and money exchange difficult so the services provided by the Levante Council were much appreciated by visiting military personnel. Through the years, the Levante Council members have entertained and assisted numerous men and women of the United States and other services from the lowest ranks to Admirals. We have met and hopefully helped military personnel from the Armed Forces of many countries, including those stationed at the NATO base in Betera, and those serving on HMS Montrose, the USS Mitscher and the USS San Jacinto.
We regularly contribute to our present charity of choice: the US Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society at the Naval Base in Rota Spain. We made a donation to help sponsor the commissioning of the destroyer, USS Stockdale. A donation was also made in the name of the NLUS Levante Council to the USS Arizona Memorial Fund. The Levante Council will be listed in the Honor Roll of Donors and Memorial Registry at the Memorial Museum & Visitor Center Pearl Harbor.
The Levante Council has continuously maintained the largest membership in Europe with an average of 100 members and will be celebrating our 30th Anniversary in April. English is the language of the Council although we have members of all nationalities, including British, Dutch, Belgium, French and German, and, of course, American.
A letter called the Scuttlebutt is sent to notify members of pertinent information and the monthly luncheon meeting. Guest speakers are usually military or related personnel while members are encouraged to bring guests who hopefully will themselves become members. In order to cover administration and other extraneous costs, raffles are held at our monthly meetings. Special emphasis is placed on American holidays such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving
SCUTTLEBUTT
NOVEMBER 2011
Despite the bad weather, 41 members and guests attended the October 2011 meeting of the Levante Council of the Navy League of the United States, at which we also celebrated the birthday of member, John G. Deacon.
I was delighted to present NLUS Membership Certificates to 6 new members, Koos and Adinda Venekamp who were sponsored by Marjon Van der Kruijs, Peter Trower who was sponsored by Peter Langley, Brian Ratcliffe and Leila Lawton sponsored by John Power, and Margaret Roberts sponsored by Peter Langley. We welcome them on board!
Thank you to Helen Duckworth and Jim Fry for organizing the raffle and to Joan for helping Helen with ticket selling.
Our Thanksgiving meeting this month will be on Thanksgiving Day, THURSDAY 24th November at Pepe’s, so please book promptly. We will be welcoming a guest speaker, Mr. James Bellew, immediate Past President of the Propeller Club of London. The Propeller Club is a non-profit worldwide organization dedicated to the enhancement and well-being of all interests of the maritime community on a national and international basis.
Dates for your diary:
December 2011. Our Christmas celebration will be at Puerto Blanco on Saturday, 17th December.
January 2012. Annual General Meeting, Saturday 28th January. Venue and details to be announced.
And while we are on the subject of the AGM, don’t forget to contact your Nominating Committee (Erik Hulleman, Alistair Niblock & Jerry Juroe) with your nomination(s) for the 2012 Board. Also, please make sure your current membership subscription is up to date as only fully paid-up members are allowed to vote.
A new NLUS Levante Council membership listing is being prepared by Barbara for the AGM 2012, so if there are any changes to your address, telephone or email, please let her know.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish our distant members a wonderful and very happy Thanksgiving Day, and I look forward to meeting all our local members and their guests at our 2011 Thanksgiving celebration at Pepe´s.
Peter Langley
President, Levante Council
Navy League of the United States
SCUTTLEBUTT
October 2011
It was a pleasure to welcome members and guests to the 24 September 2011 meeting of the Levante Council of the Navy League of the United States. It was good to have a chance to catch up with everybody after the summer hiatus. Thanks to Hugh Stewart for the photos below. We were happy that Marjon came with her friends (causing a mini Dutch invasion!) to celebrate her birthday with us. Koos and Adinda Venekamp signed up as new members; as did Margaret Roberts, Brian Ratcliffe and Leila Lawton. We welcome them into our Navy League family.
I was very proud to present the Navy League of the United States Scroll of Honor to Past President Beverly Stewart, who is currently serving as a member of this Council’s Board.
The Scroll of Honor is the highest award that the Navy League can bestow on a member of a Navy League Council. This prestigious award is given by the Navy League to an individual who is considered to have contributed in an outstanding manner to the furtherance of the aims and programs of the Navy League. This award was given to Beverly in recognition of her many years of service and dedication to the Navy League; from 9th April 1981 as a founder and charter member of Levante Council, through to her term as President from January 2009 to January 2011, and her work over the years on Community Relations programs with Ships´ Crews. Well done, Beverly!
There are no words adequate enough to describe the depth of gratitude that Levante Council owes to Jo MacMaster for her many years of service as our Raffle Supremo, and the funds she has raised which have enabled our Council to keep functioning.
Jo had advised the Board that due to personal circumstances she is unable to continue in this role. I thank Helen Duckworth and Jim Fry for volunteering to take on this important function. I was pleased to present Jo with a beautiful orchid as a small token of our appreciation.
Thanks also to Derek Needham who’s winning auction bid secured him the USS Recovery plaque.
The NLUS Levante Council sends our very best wishes to all our members who are not in the best of health, and we were happy to see Southern European President Ron MacMaster almost fully recovered.
With the AGM coming up next January, don’t forget to contact your Nominating Committee (Erik Hulleman, Alistair Niblock or Jerry Juroe) if you wish to put your name forward or have any other nomination(s) for the 2012 Board.
Do check out the NLUS Levante Council Website http://www.navyleaguelevante.org where webmaster Campbell Waterman has included information and photos from past events including our September meeting and the festive Independence Day celebration at Restaurante Puerto Blanco ...
A gentle reminder…..Please note that the NLUS Levante Council membership list is private and confidential to members only and may not be used for commercial purposes.
I look forward to seeing you all at Puerto Blanco on 29th October.
Peter Langley
President, Levante Council
Navy League of the United States
