This message is being sent to all Alumni Association members with good e-mail addresses.

Communicating with our members in a two-way dialogue is the key to setting the tone for the future of our Alumni Association & Foundation. Every week it seems that another newspaper or magazine is being forced to change its business model to better compete in today’s multimedia environment. The Association is no exception to this trend.

As a result, we are increasing our emphasis on electronic and multimedia communications, and we plan on decreasing the emphasis that we have historically placed on Shipmate magazine. Thus, we will increase the amount of content we provide in an electronic format and change the publication schedule of Shipmate from 10 issues a year to eight issues in 2009. Additionally, we will further reduce the number of Shipmates to five issues a year in FY 2010, beginning this summer. This new communications strategy will result in greater interaction with our members.

Over the past two years we have worked closely with the Communications Committee to determine how we can increase our communications capabilities to reach a broader base of alumni. The current economic environment that is impacting all of us has accelerated the discussions and decision regarding Shipmate, but our communications will be more effective, more efficient, and more aligned with best practices.

We have worked diligently to develop this new strategy. The Communications Committee has served as a sounding board for the staff, and has validated the need for this new strategy. WaveTops, our electronic newsletter, will be increased from every other month to monthly; a “President’s Blog” will be launched shortly; and by the end of March we will have the capability to post videos on www.usna.com. We will continue to explore emerging technology and opportunities for “User Generated Content” (UGC). The reduction in the number of issues of Shipmate to be published in 2009 is effective immediately, and we will combine the March and April issues and post the “donor report” online. The next issue will be our “Summer Issue” with anticipated home delivery of 1 July.

This decision has not been made lightly. While these are challenging times for all of us, there is an opportunity for us to accelerate our communications capabilities so that we can better serve you.

Your U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation