Dear Fellow Members,
Our 2006-2007 Year started off with the award of our Sword of Honor to the Top Cadet at the Naval Academy in Marin at his graduation followed directly by our recognition of him with the assistance of our Padron, Captain Kevin Little, at our July Dinner Meeting. The next day we sent him off to our fellow Councils in Baltimore and Norfolk who hosted him with visits to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Baltimore, Washington, DC and various Naval facilities in the Norfolk-Newport area.
In September, several of our Directors attended a Barcelona conference of the European Navy League Councils, convened by US National President John Panneton. Suffice it to say that the presentation of what Madrid and Menorca accomplish each year with the breadth of their activities presented an example for all the other Councils to follow.
The Internet Web Page and Newsletter our Member Maire Claire Pfeifer has put in place, not only warrants a Bravo Zulu, but was one of the star presentations at the Barcelona Conference which was looking for a web page to serve all the Councils.
Our October Gala Ball was beholden to Spain’s Supreme Military Commanding Officer, General Felix Sanz Roldan for taking time out of his busy schedule to pass by and share his well chosen words regarding the mutual support and “Amistad” that exists between Spain and the US. It can be no coincidence that the date was the 211th anniversary of the first treaty between our two countries. The then Minister of Defense, Jose Bono gifted us a copy of this Treaty when he spoke to us in January of 2006
How great to have our Corporate Membership Logos on display that evening! We are constantly thankful to Lockheed Martin España and General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas for their support and the guests they introduce to us at our Meetings. By the time you read this we expect to have added EDS as a second Gold Corporate Member. Thank you.
Our Guest Speakers we feature later in this issue, but suffice it to say that the quality and breadth of what they bring to our meetings is rapidly making us one of the most popular speaker bureaus in Madrid, Membership input and suggestions for the future are both welcome and encouraged. Your input makes this Council the success it is.
We owe a very special thanks to Admiral Harry Ulrich, CINUSNAVEUR, for requesting the opportunity to speak to us. What a fabulous insight he gave us to the timely and urgent matters of terrorism on the high seas via commercial shipping vessels, Spain’s essential contribution to its monitoring, terrorism operating of Africa, and treatment of immigration issues. Above all else we are thrilled with his completion of a promise to reinitiate and maintain future Sixth Fleet support to our preservation of the American Cemetery in Mahon.
I personally want to commend our Second Vice President representing Menorca, George Ferrara, for his unstinting endeavors not only with Admiral Ulrich and his staff, but with the Spanish Military and Political Authorities in the Balearics for their contribution to the American Cemetery preservation One has to go back almost 20 years to find the kind of support his has generated, A rousing “Well Done”, George
Our May Cocktail Reception returns to the US Ambassador’s Residence. The Honorable Eduardo Aguirre has been a great supporter of our Council and we most appreciate his taking time to attend our Admiral Ulrich Dinner. His DCM Hugo Llorens was there as well and is coming to appreciate the People to People aspect and importance of what we achieve through most all of our activities, as did his predecessor Bob Manzanares. We look forward to working even closer with him in the future.
Again we are hosting the Sailor of the Year in Spain at the May Cocktail. We understand he may well be the Sailor of the Year for the entire US Navy so very much look forward to his attendance, and perhaps some comments on Today’s Navy.
A very welcome change to the make up of our Board of Directors has been the increasing number of Spaniards, which also reflects the ever increasing number in our membership. This is not only healthy but opens other avenues for us to follow in ever improving what we do. Both the past and current Commanding Officers of the NATO Group in Remates have now been present at a number of our affairs, as have the Commandante and his Second in Command of the Spanish Marines. Hopefully these will attract the Army and Air Force components of both our nations.
Repeating what I said the last time “Land locked as our Council is, I hope you will continue to help your Board in their efforts to think “outside of the box” in giving benefit to ALL our US Military (and I now add NATO) services and their endeavors within our very special host county, Spain.” Thank you.
Highest regards,
Thomas B. Denegre, III
President
Warm wishes for the Holidays
