| THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY CLASS OF 1955 CLASS PLAN GENERAL The Class Plan is composed of functional plans that complement each other and are coordinated through the Class Executive Committee. These plans are written to provide both annual goals and objectives, as well as to provide planning guidance to achieve long-term objectives. The Class Plan’s annual goals and objectives are established to coincide with an administrative and fiscal year from 1 January to 31 December. GOALS The goals of the Class of 1955 (hereafter called “Class”), as set forth in this Class Plan, are as follows: Support the U.S. Naval Academy, the Naval Academy Foundation and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association (USNAAA) through philanthropic activities for appropriate and unique projects to foster and promote the mission and goals of the Academy and the Alumni. Contributions made by the Class can be found in the Overview section of Class Project Plans. Within overall NCAA regulations, seeking out, informing, encouraging and assisting outstanding, qualified young men and women to pursue careers as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps through the Naval Academy. Increase Class membership in the Alumni Association. Increase participation of all Class of 1955 members in Class social and philanthropic endeavors, via a rigorous campaign of communications, using all available media (print and electronic) and personal contact. Provide for a variety of social activities in the Washington DC Area for Class members to attend, as well as providing the leadership and planning for Class-wide events, such as major homecomings and reunions. Assist regional Class members in organizing and supporting Class activities in their geographic areas. The Washington DC Social Plan (included in “Class Calendar”) will serve as a benchmark for other regional areas to emulate. Support the administration and communications needs of the Class through the maintenance of current, reliable data on Class members’ home and business addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and E-mail addresses. Together, and individually, supporting the highest standards of the Naval Service. ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN Overview Provides for the administrative functions of the Class for the coming year, as well as setting the agenda for the long-range administration of the Class. The administrative requirements for the subsequent plans are contained therein. Procedures Maintenance of Class Plan – The Vice President is responsible for maintaining the Class Plan and updating the plan annually. Prior to the first meeting of each administrative year, the Vice President will call for all Executive Committee members (specifically, those responsible for Class projects and social activities, as well as the Treasurer) to provide updates to their respective portions of the Class Plan by October of the current year. The Vice President will then update the Class Plan for the coming year and distribute a draft to all Executive Committee members for their review. Changes or modifications to the Class Plan will be incorporated prior to the next Executive Committee meeting (usually in December) and the Vice President will subsequently publish and distribute the modified Plan before the start of the new administrative year. Annual Financial Audit – The President shall be responsible for having an annual financial audit conducted of the Class finances, including reports of funds maintained by the USNAAA in the name of the Class of 1955. The President shall schedule the audit with the Treasurer, appoint a class member to conduct the audit and, with the auditor, prepare a report for presentation to the Executive Committee and for the record. This audit will be conducted at a date convenient to the treasurer and the auditor. Class Calendar – The Vice President will create and maintain the Class Calendar of annual and long-term events. It will include social events, both for the Washington DC Area and for regional events, as known, all scheduled meetings of the Executive Committee, and all special events, such as elections. The calendar shall incorporate all Class-wide functions. The calendar shall be maintained on a monthly basis and, at least once annually, be published to the Class at large. The next year’s calendar shall be ready for Executive Committee review at the winter meeting (usually in December) so that it may be approved and published prior to the beginning of the new administrative year. Decedent Affairs – The Executive Committee shall appoint a Decedent Affairs Coordinator (DAC). It shall be the DAC’s responsibility to interface with the decedent’s next of kin to coordinate any assistance required, arrange for flowers to be sent to the funeral, coordinate in the preparation of an obituary and ensure timely submission to the Class Secretary/Alumni Association, and serve as single POC to the next of kin for continued assistance regarding Class matters. The Class Secretary shall be responsible for notifying USNAAA and classmates of the death, submitting obituaries to the Obituary Editor of Shipmate, maintaining a list of Class of 1955 Deceased, and disseminating class information to the next of kin, as appropriate. Administration of Elections – The Executive Committee shall appoint an Election Coordinator who shall be responsible to the Class Secretary for all Class elections. In coordination with the President and the Secretary, he will provide for the appointment of a nominating committee for Class officers. He will be responsible for preparing the correspondence announcing elections and for preparation of the ballots. He will receive the ballots and present them to the Secretary, who will provide them to the appointed tally men. Distinguished Graduate Program – The Class of 1955 Distinguished Graduate Nomination Committee will be comprised of at least five members with the number being as requested by the Chairman. Members will include classmates who served in the Air Force and Marine Corps. The purpose of the Committee is to select classmates who will be offered to the Executive Committee for approval as class nominees in the fall of the following year for recognition as Distinguished Graduates of the Naval Academy. Using the criteria promulgated by the Alumni Association, the committee will identify eligible classmates including any classmates previously nominated and not selected, and by vote, identify such additional candidates as is considered advisable. Establishing a new committee each year ensures that all classmates will be freshly considered for this recognition. The committee will be responsible for producing nominations in time for consideration by the Executive Committee and submission by class officers to the Alumni Association by the specified deadline. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN Overview The purpose of the Communications Plan is to insure the accurate and timely communication of all Class activities and items of interest, and to provide a rapid means for Class members to respond to Executive Committee or Class initiatives. It must be a well conceived plan, using all methods of communication available to “get out the word.” Procedures Class Database – The Class Secretary shall maintain and update the Class Database. He will make every effort to determine and correct Class member information based on data obtained from all reliable sources, such as the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, media sources, and individual information provided by Class members. The Class Database will be maintained in an appropriate spread sheet format so that it may easily be updated on a continuous basis and be readily available for distribution. The Class Secretary will strive to complete all information on all Class members, but, as a minimum, maintain an up-to-date address and phone number for each member. A least once a year, he will engage in an active search for “missing” Classmates. The updated Class Database will be made available to all Classmates at the Five Year Class Reunions. In addition to the Class Database, the Secretary will be responsible for and maintain the Washington DC Area Phone Tree for contacting local Classmates who do not have, or who have not disclosed, their e-mail addresses. Annual Letter – An Annual Letter will be mailed to all Classmates at the conclusion of each calendar year. It will include a statement from the Class President, a summary of the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings held during the completed year, to include major events/issues and actions taken, and an update on our Budget and Finance Plan, Class Projects, Class POCs, and Executive Committee members. The Class Calendar for the coming year will be attached. Internet – Good sources of Class information are the ’55 Listserv and the Class Home Page located at www.usna.com/classes/1955. The latter, in particular, contains a wealth of information about the Class, including statistics, address lists, service-unique info and photos. USNAAA Membership – It is the objective of the Class to increase the Class’ membership in the USNAAA to 70 percent of living Classmates. Executive Committee members will work toward this goal through personal contact, and encouragement will be made during significant gatherings, such as Five Year Class Reunions. For the purpose of assisting this effort, the Class Secretary shall maintain a list of Classmates who are non-members. OPERATING FUND BUDGET AND FINANCE PLAN Overview The objective of the Class, with respect to the operating fund, is to maintain a level of financial security in order to carry out the business, functions and obligations of the Class. This objective will be met by conducting fiscally responsible management and accounting of operating funds collected at class functions and distributed primarily for the social functions and the day-to-day operations of the Class, as well as monitoring the funds maintained by the USNAAA in the name of the Class of 1955. The Class Treasurer maintains this part of the Class Plan. Procedures Class Treasurer responsibilities: (1) Manage and maintain up-to-date accounting of class operating funds (2) Maintain cognizance of our funds held by USNAAA (3) Update Operating Fund Budget and Finance section of the Class Operating Plan Present a Treasurer’s Report at Executive Committee meetings Present the Class Operating Fund Account for an annual audit, and Present an annual operating budget proposal. CLASS PROJECT PLANS Overview The Class Projects Plan establishes a basic framework for the development, funding and execution of special long-term projects. The plan is maintained by the Class Projects Coordinator, designated by the Class President and approved by the Executive Committee. Through the years, the Class of 1955 has become prominent among USNA classes, in donating time, energy and funding to support worthwhile projects beneficial to the Navy and the Marine Corps, the U.S. Naval Academy, the Brigade of Midshipman, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Class of 1955 members. Contributions made by the Class include: a Bust of Admiral Nimitz placed at the entrance to the library; a portrait of astronaut William Anders located in the Preble Hall Museum; contributions to the Alumni Hall Project, including the magnificent mural, “Winning the Cold War”; a 1955 Class Crest hanging in Alumni Hall; a Memorial Battle Arch in the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium; and the Class’s most ambitious project, renovation of the John Paul Jones Crypt. In addition, our Class has established a lasting bond with “fifty year link in the chain” graduates, the Class of 2005. Over the years, individual Classmates have made additional special gifts of their own choosing. Procedures Fund Raising – Giving is voluntary and is strongly dependent on a large donor base. Effort toward fund raising will be directed through various programs, most of which will fall under the aegis of the USNAAA. Coordination with the USNAAA is a key to success. Expansion of the donor base is a Class priority and will be a coordinated effort by all officers of the Class organization. The Class Projects Coordinator shall develop a Fund Raising Plan that supports existing projects, and identifies opportunities for future giving efforts. The Plan should also prioritize the paying off of existing gifts, and the need to maintain (upkeep) them. A mechanism will be established for soliciting suggested projects from Class members. CG-55 Leadership Award – Starting in 1988, the Class has chosen to give annual recognition to the outstanding junior officer of USS LEYTE GULF (CG-55). Each year, a leadership award is presented to this individual on board ship, normally in Norfolk, the ship’s homeport. Due to the location and the continuing nature of this event, it is appropriate to have a Tidewater Area Classmate coordinate the presentation and usually represent the Class. A CG-55 Award Coordinator has been designated by the Class President and approved by the Executive Committee. SOCIAL PLAN Overview The Vice President will be responsible for putting together the Social Plan for the Washington DC Area. Social events are voluntary and pay-as-you-go. Their purpose is to provide pleasant opportunities for social interaction of members of the Class of 1955. A variety of events will be conducted to provide different venues, that is: luncheons during the working week where networking can occur; tailgates before and after football games for camaraderie and spirit; golf matches; show/educational events, and evening get-togethers of a more formal nature. The Social Plan will become part of the Class Calendar promulgated with the Class Annual Letter. Changes to the plan will be promulgated, when occurring. Procedures Football Game Tailgates – For each home football game, the Class of 1955 will set up (rope off) a tailgate area, in the usual place (center of parking lot Gold), ready to go 21/2 hours before the start of each game. During the annual Homecoming Weekend, the tailgate will take on larger proportions, i.e. participants bringing food and drink to be shared. The Class is encouraged to participate in USNAAA and USNA-sponsored events during this weekend. Luncheons – Washington DC Area luncheons will be scheduled usually 10 out of 12 months of the year. They will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, with a target time of 1130 for socializing and 1200 for sit down. Frequently, they will be held at Portofino Restaurant in Alexandria. One luncheon per year will be held in a location more accessible to Classmates in the outlying areas. Golf – The ’55 Washington DC Area Golf Schedule for the season normally kicks off in April and ends in September. Many different courses are utilized with a host Classmate for each event. Traditionally, two out-of-area tournaments are conducted each year. Out-of-the-area classmates and guests are always welcome. Show/Educational Events – Several times a year, Class attendance at afternoon or evening entertainment, followed by lunch or dinner, is offered. Examples are: Wolf Trap, Mount Vernon and USNA musical performances. Winter Dinner Party – A Dark Ages Party will be held in the Washington DC Area, normally during February or March, at a place determined by the Executive Committee. The objective is to have a dress-up event to go to during the dreariest time of the year. The practice has been to alternate between the Army-Navy CC, Arlington, and a Classmate’s local country club. Crab Feast – This is a popular event held annually in July at Wes and Ann Saunders’ riverside farm outside of Annapolis. Class Reunion – Major Class reunions, conducted at five-year intervals, will be held in accordance with the wishes of the Class, as expressed by the Executive Committee. Usually, this means at Annapolis sometime during the football season, other than during Homecoming. This requires long-term planning under a special coordinator. |