"Weighing In At The Heart of New Jersey" Navy league of the United States Central ]ersey Council - Founded in 1902

President's Message by Richard V. Elhert

After nine months in office, I can not believe how fast the time went and how busy we have been. At 83, I tend to move slower than my associates, but their enthusiasm and dedication effects us all and we carry on in the best Naval Tradition. As you can see throughout our newsletter, we have been very active towards accomplishing our Navy League goals. To continue on I have relied on two great teachers in my past, my mother and an Indian friend. My mother taught me to speak only the truth, then you never have to wonder what you said at any given time. My Indian friend advised me to listen very carefully and hold back on speaking, - you learn nothing by speaking.

After a somewhat quiet Summer, we are now gearing up for the “big operation.” The giving of Thanksgiving turkeys to service families. More demanding will be the annual “Angel” program where we give Christmas gifts to the many children of our sea services in the New York area, and those families aboard the ships that we adopted. The paper work is beginning and becomes “mountainous” by the time the holidays arrive. But with lots of helping hands, and young hearts, we will accomplish our goals and leave many happy children in the wake of our paths. Not to be left out, we will hold a couple “shake-the-can” events at the local grocery stores to accumulate some monies and goods to be sent to the service people spending their time overseas, - we should not forget them or their sacrifices.

We seem to be at a stalemate in gathering new members. Hopefully, some attention is being given to this by becoming more visible to the general public through attending major local affairs and spreading our gospel. Time seems to be the important factor here, and we have to address that concern to attract new members. Hopefully, we can address this issue by having more productive meetings, and by involving others to help out in the running of our affairs. It should be pointedly reinforced here that we must always be in support of our service people and their families and strive to help them in any way we can.

Before signing off, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the Central Jersey Council Officers and membership who make all this work possible and bearable for this old timer. Your concerns, enthusiasm, and willingness to help out in all circumstances makes me humble, yet smile like a King having a grand old time. I thank you, each and everyone of you.

Bless you all

Dick Ehlert