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NAVY NEWSLETTER
Page 2
February 2005

PATRIOT AWARDS

Capt. William Robertson, USN
CO Naval Weapons Station Earle

Lt. Com. Daniel Pickles, USCG
CO USCGC Bainbridge Island

P03 Greg Tidey, USN
Naval Weapons Station Earle

Nancy Eldridge
PAO, Naval Weapons Station Earle

SAILOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Patrick Cohan,
USCGC Bainbridge Island

Sara Hobson, Senior Sailor,
Naval Weapons Station Earle

Ralph Irizarry, Junior Sailor,
Naval Weapons Station Earle

Justin Cook, Blue Jacket,
Naval Weapons Station Earle

SEA CADET AWARDS

Navy League Medal
Austin Palombi,
League Cadet of the Year
&
Alex Keeler,
Sea Cadet of the Year

Honored Ltjg. Shelly Rossell, Sea Cadet Instructor of the Year

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE!!

The following is our President's speech from the Installation Dinner.

What a difference a snowy week makes. For those who were able to reschedule and be here tonight I am grateful for your presence.

And what a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, I spoke of broad goals and challenges. I spoke about the wonderful ideals and hopes that I held for this Council.

SO HOW'D WE DO?

You have seen over the last hour a parade of our guests: Coast Guard Activities New York; Earle Naval Weapons Station; our friends aboard the Katherine Walker and the Bainbridge Island, and wishes sent from the cutter Sailfish.

 

You have witnessed those among us singled out and recognized for their

outstanding hard work. For all who were recognized tonight, many more sit quietly among us. Though recognized on other nights and by other presidents, they are now content to let the spotlight shine upon others.

And so to the quiet ones, the ones that have worked just as hard this year, you deserve a word of thanks.

To Jane Niedzwiecki, Thank you for all of the things you do for this Council. All the little details that only a few of us get to see and all of the big and wonderful things you have done to help our Earle sailors and marines.

To Ed Troche, Thank you for your continued advice and help. Most of all for taking the time to put the installation dinner programs and ad journal together for so many years.

To Stu Chalkley who's here tonight and to Dick Ehlert and Walter Olkowski who are not. The support these gentlemen provide to me is only dimmed by the support they have for this Council. Incidentally, Stu is the one who works so hard to make all of the certificates we've handed out tonight, so thank you.

To Carl Jablonski, Well Carl deserves about 7 certificates for this past year. AND not just for each one of the newsletters he produced either. He deserves recognition for the 7 months he has chased me to get my Presidents messages and articles to put into the newsletter. So thank you for being patient, understanding and most of all persistent.

To John Niedzwiecki, We don't see John as much anymore since he became Liberty Region President. Some might say that's a good thing. I however miss his advice and long chats. But remember, our loss is Liberty Region's gain.

Lastly, to the really quiet ones like Angus, Tom, Monty and Paul as well as all of those who are not here tonight, a simple thank you cannot convey my gratitude for what you do.

There is another person who is not here with us tonight. That is Don Starr. We've dedicated tonight's program in his memory. I ask that you remember all that was good in him and all that he worked so hard to achieve.

As you can see the list can go on and on with thank you's and praises. But in answering the question of How'd we do, consider this......

 

We got 5 new community affiliates in 2004 with Sprint joining this past week and more community affiliates in the wings and fund-raising has exceeded all goals and expectations!

We have a new, more open relationship with Earle Naval Weapons Station. One where the Central Jersey Council and Earle have a friendship based on shared concerns, hopes and respect. Thru this friendship we have been able to be there for Captain Robertson's Sailors and Marines. Whether it was at the Command Picnic, thru turkeys or holiday baskets, helping them open their pool or giving Christmas gifts for their children to open, we have been there!

We have been there with gifts in hand for Lakehurst Naval Air Station, for Coast Guard Activities New York and our adopted cutters. Almost 800 gifts or the equivalent of close to $40,000.00.

We have continued and expanded our friendship with our dear friends about the Katherine Walker. Its Commanding Officer Brian Donahue is more grateful to us than you can ever imagine. Thru Lt. Donahue we found the Bainbridge Island.

Now there is always a fondness and a deep friendship between an adopted unit and its sponsor. But that underestimates our relationship with Lt Cmdr. Daniel Pickles, his boat and his crew. In the beginning, I had the unfortunate duty to explain that the Bainbridge Island was without a sponsor. As I explained this, the mess deck grew silent and the CO's jaw sorta dropped. His question to me was more of a statement. "So we've been officially ignored". The truth was that the Bainbridge Island had been ignored. But that has now changed and they will never ever be ignored again. The formal adoption ceremony with all its majesty simply formalized our friendship and cemented us together as a family.

Thru Lt Cmdr Pickles, this Council had the rare opportunity to help commission and to adopt the cutter Sailfish. Although they are not here tonight because they are always busy or underway, they too are never far from this Council's heart.

1 year... 2 new cutters, a new relationship with Earle and the Coast Guard. More Fund-raising and community affiliates than ever before. Those are accomplishments that far exceed anyone's hopes or aspirations.

NEWSLETTER: CARL JABLONSKI 240 SPRAY AVENUE, BEACHWOOD, NJ, 08722      732-244-8861


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