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Ahoy Navy Club members and all Shipmates,
First, I
would like to thank all Shipmates who voted and/or supported me
on my path to being elected as your new Commandant. Second, I
also have to say Thank You to the past PNC’s that put their
trust and in me by appointing me their Great Lakes Day Chairman
and their guidance through the various positions I held.
Since my bio has not yet been posted, I will give a brief
synopsis of my Naval History and affiliation with the Navy Club.
I joined the Navy for a four year tour in September of 1965.
After boot camp at San Diego, I went to Aviation Boatswain’s
(Handler) “A” school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From their I
was sent to Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, first to a
jet training squadron, VT-9, and then to the Station’s Crash
Fire/Rescue department.
After leaving the Navy in 1969, I
moved to Rockford, Il., with my new family and started my
civilian life. That is where I was introduced to the Navy Club
and Ship #1, which I joined. After being discharged from the
Navy, I rejoined the Naval Reserves in Glenview, Il., and was
assigned to VP-90, an anti-submarine squadron, where I served
for another 22 years.
While pursuing a civilian career as
a police officer, the hours and type of work I performed
interfered being an active member of Ship #1 for most of the
first 18 years I belonged. After seniority and a change of work
hours, I was able to start holding various offices until
reaching the Commander’s position. I also became active on the
Squadron level and rose to the Commander’s position. That is
when I started the climb on the National level of the Navy Club.
During this time, I was learning more of the great history of
the Navy Club and Ship #1, which still continues now.
One
of the goals that I have, is to bring back to life the rich
history of the Navy Club organization. I am asking our senior
members to start sharing their knowledge about this organization
more with the junior members. These last years, I have learned
of the Navy Club’s involvement with the USS Arizona and the fact
that we were the first organization to have placed a monument to
those men and that ship. I will be attending the 70th
anniversary this Dec. 7th. Since mentioning this, I became aware
of a Pearl Harbor survivor from Ship #18, Green Bay, Wi., and
approximately 20 other Navy Club members attending. NES Tim
Hilton and I have been in contact with the Arizona Memorial
Committee to accommodate us. I hope more members will make the
effort to attend this year as fewer PHS will be around to
attend.
When approaching perspective new members, our
history is one of the reasons that should be brought to the fore
front as people want to know and be apart of, when choosing to
belong. Membership recruiting is our lifeblood and we have to
all work together to be successful.
No one person can do
it all, and I am asking all members to join with me in proudly
representing all that the Navy Club USA has and will continue to
stand for, as our preamble states.
As your Commandant, I plan
on being as visible as possible to the entire organization. If
your Ship or Squadron has an event, let me know about it. I
won’t be able to attend every event, however, I will travel as
much as possible if given a reasonable notice.
Again,
thank you and smooth sailing,
Commandant Geno
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