BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!

The turkey program, expanded by Ed Troche, continued to grow in 2004. Through the support of friends   like Donna and Pete McCann, the program continued to flourish. No longer confined to Thanksgiving, the program expanded to include the Christmas holiday food baskets.

We have heard several times this evening about the 800 gifts for the kids during Christmas of 2004. That little gift giving idea, started long ago by Jack and Elaine has now grown into its proper proportion. The size of the program finally fits with the amount of love, honor and affection that its founders displayed so many years ago.

Through tragedy we met Rob Hooper. His commitment to honor a fallen friend on a battlefield in Iraq is now our commitment too. By providing some initial monetary support and now the full resources of the council, we are helping on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. 12 individual units of Marines and Army Rangers are being sent care packages as fast as they can be assembled. Central Jersey Council's Operation "SOS" or Support Our Soldiers is still gearing up and needs all of our help.

We have supported many causes this year. Some very close to our homes and some very far away. We have done so with soaring hopes and beliefs in just causes, AND we have been recipients of much generosity because we have never stopped being generous. Good fortune has shown down upon us because we have always sought to do good. AND those blessings that we have received are ten fold greater than that which we have given.

And so my friends and fellow Council members let us continue that which we have begun. To show kindness and mercy, to always act justly and walk humbly. For that is what we ask of each other and that is what our Lord expects from all of us.

God bless each one of you, all of those who serve in our nations military and God Bless America.

Dan

KATHERINE WALKER UPDATE!!

Our adopted ship USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM 552) commanded by Lt. Brian Donahue has been very busy changing ice buoys up the Hudson River and regular buoys in New York Harbor. Lt. Donahue has been at our meetings and has been a very generous and courteous host to several of our members who have been on day trips.

"Welcome Aboard" is Lt. Donahue's advice to our members. We are grateful for his wonderful cordiality to our members. The Katherine Walker was in port for maintenance from Dec 13, 2004 to Dec 31, 2004. The Katherine Walker has resumed normal aids to Navigation Duty. Several tentative working day trips are being discussed. For information call Pres. Dan Dermer at 732-257-7999

SAVE THE DATE!!

When: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Where: E. Brunswick Chateau
Time: 6:00 p.m. cocktail hour (cash bar)   and 7:00 p.m. dinner
Cost:   $25.00 per person
Featured speaker: Admiral Joel R. Whitehead, USCG, Assistant Commandant for Governmental and Public Affairs and Chief, Congressional and Governmental Affairs. (see bio below)

See enclosed flyer in this newsletter for complete details and reservation form.

BIO:
Rear Admiral Joel R. Whitehead

Rear Admiral Joel Whitehead currently serves as Assistant Commandant for Governmental and Public Affairs staff. A native of Newport News, Virginia, Rear Admiral Whitehead graduated from Walsingham Academy in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1971 and from the United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and Government. Rear Admiral Whitehead holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the State University of New York at Albany and from 1996-1997 was National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also completed Seminar XXI, a yearlong Washington, DC based program in foreign politics and international relations sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rear Admiral Whitehead has served in a variety of operational and policy tours during his career. From 2001 to 2003 he served as the Chief of Staff and second in command of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, Louisiana, the largest Coast Guard district which encompasses 26 states from the Gulf Coast northward through the nation's extensive inland river system to North Dakota. Other recent assignments have included Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Office, Boston/Captain of the Port of Boston from 1999 to 2001, and Chief of Strategic Planning for the U.S. Coast Guard in Washington, DC from 1997 to 1999 where his team developed the Coast Guard's strategic vision, Coast Guard 2020.

Other tours of duty have included Deputy Group Commander of Group Woods Hole, Massachusetts from 1993 to 1996, and a Program Reviewer in the Office of the Chief of Staff in Washington, DC from 1991 to 1993 where he was responsible for program oversight and budget development for almost one-third of the Coast Guard's operating budget. He also served in the Port Safety and Security Division at Coast Guard Headquarters and in 1989 was detailed as a marine safety advisor to the Federal On-Scene Coordinator in Valdez, Alaska during the Exxon Valdez oil spill. As a junior officer, he served on the 378', high endurance cutter MORGENTHAU in New York, at the Marine Inspection Office, New York, and as Executive Officer of Marine Safety Office, Albany, New York where he was Alternate Captain of the Port during the first "Superfund" cleanup in the nation's history.

From 1996 to 1999, Rear Admiral Whitehead was a Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association. He served 1999-2003 as a member, and in his final year as Chairman of the Alumni Executive Council at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. which represents over 20,000 alumni in 120 nations. Read Admiral Whitehead is married to the former Martha Millaras of Waterford, Connecticut. Their daughters, Christine & Katherine attend college in the Washington, DC area.

SPECIAL GUEST AT MARCH 29 MEETING!!

We are pleased to announce that in addition to our Guest Speaker Adm. Whitehead, Stephen Pietropaoli, Executive Director of the Navy League of the US will be a guest at our dinner meeting on March 29, 2005. Since we had to reschedule our Installation Dinner and Steve was unable to attend due to a previous commitment. Our last newsletter had bio information on Steve. We are delighted that he will be with us on March 29.