HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

The May Dinner Meeting of the Central Jersey Council will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at McAteer's Restaurant in Somerset, NJ. Our special guests will be Rear Admiral, USN (Ret) George M. Furlong, Jr. and J. Rodney Taylor, Ed.D of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Both Gentlemen will be speaking of the goals and visions of the Museum and the National Flight Academy. The National Flight Academy will be open to 7th through 12th grade students from around the county.

The dinner meeting will be held at McAteer's Restaurant, 1714 Easton Ave, Somerset, NJ (see directions below). Cash bar at 6pm and dinner at 7pm. The presentation will last approximately 45 minutes after which our guests will entertain questions.

The cost is $24 per person and the menu choices are Prime Rib, Chicken Francaise or Filet of Sole. Checks should be made payable to the Central Jersey Council, NLUS and mailed to Jane Niedzwiecki, 282 Jill Court, Toms River, NJ. Please use the the form on page 4 to send in your reservation. Reservations must be received no later than Saturday, May 15, 2004. We hope you can attend this event as our special guests have made a long journey to speak with our Council. Guests are always welcome.

Directions to McAteers
1714 Easton Avenue,
Somerset, NJ 08873
Tel: 732-469-2522

From Route 18 (East Brunswick Area)
Take Route 18 North to the Easton Avenue exit.
Go to traffic light and make a left turn.
At next traffic light, make a right turn onto Easton.
Go through 5 traffic lights (approximately 2-1/2 miles).
McAteers is on the left.

Route 287 (North or South)
Take Exit 10, Route 527 South, Easton Avenue.
McAteers will be 1/4 mile on your right.

NJ Turnpike (North or South)
Take exit 10 to Route 287 North.
Follow directions above for Route 287.

Garden State Parkway (from the South)
Take Exit 129 for Route 287 North.
Follow directions above.

Garden State Parkway (from the North)
Take Exit 127 and follow signs for Route 287 North.
Then follow directions above.

Route 22 or Route 78 (East or West)
Take Route 287 South.
Follow directions above.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE!!

As winter finally recedes and spring blooms around us, we are reminded that rebirth and renewal are at hand. I truly hope that every Council member has had a good Easter or Passover Holiday. As we begin this new season, let us take a moment to reflect on those who will no longer stand with us. Our hearts go out to the families of the men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our nation. We also remember in our prayers Bob Thomas and Norma Brown. Bob was a member of our Council and the Board of Directors. Norma was a past president and longtime member of the Lakehurst Council-NLUS. Both of these individuals were dedicated Navy Leaguers and we will miss them greatly.

This spring finds the Central Jersey Council very busy. Since January when Philips Lighting came on board as a Community Affiliate, Dick Ehlert's son Bob has renewed his Community Affiliate membership. This is his sixth straight year as a Community Affiliate and we thank him for his continued support. Four more Community Affiliates, including another major corporation and a radio station, are also close to signing on. While recruitment of new members and Community Affiliates are thriving, retention of existing members has slowed. I urge all members to renew their national membership as soon as notified and to pay their Council dues as soon as possible.

The first part of the year saw a lot of good moments for our Sea Cadets. Jason Camaratta, our lead cadet in the Kitty Hawk Division, accepted an appointment to the US Naval Academy. We wish him well in this and all his future endeavors. On May 16, 2004 at 1200 hours, a formal change of Command Ceremony will be held at Ft. Dix for the Kitty Hawk Division. Senior Chief Ed Meeks will accept Command of the unit at that time. The Board of Directors has approved a donation of $1,000.00 to support our cadets this year and will make a $250.00 donation to the BB-62 corps as well.

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