First Coast Commandery

MISSION

To preserve, promote, celebrate and enjoy our Nation’s Sea Service history and heritage. To accomplish this we will:

Commemorate American Sea Service Heroes and important historical events,
Support the study of Naval History through writing, speaking and educational events,
Preserve Sea Service historical artifacts, documents and monuments, and
Promote Camaraderie among our Companions and members of similar organizations

Commander:	CDR J. Michael McGrath, USN (Ret)	jmmusn@bellsouth.net
Vice Commander - Administration:	CDR Bob Averill, USN (ret)	averillr@bellsouth.net
Vice Commander - Programs:	RADM George Huchting, USN (ret)	geohuch@aol.com
Vice Commander - Membership:	CAPT Gregory F. Streeter, USN (ret)	gstreetr@bellsouth.net
Vice Commander - Public Affairs:	CAPT Robert N. Whitkop, USN (Ret)	bwhitkop@comcast.net
USS Stark Memorial:	CAPT Pete Wynkoop, USN (Ret)	pwynkoop@earthlink.net
Treasurer:	CAPT Bill Wirth, USN (ret)	wirthw@comcast.net
Chaplain:	CAPT Jim Mennis, CHC, USN (ret)	jfmgolf7@comcast.net
Historian:	CAPT Edward W. Froehlich, USN (ret)	efroeh06@comcast.net
Commandery Advisory Council:	CAPT Gregory F. Streeter, USN (Ret) Past Commander General NOUS	gstreetr@bellsouth.net
	CAPT John E. O’Neil, Jr., USN (Ret) Past First Coast Commander	windharb@aol.com
Commandery Companions:	CDR Jake Hankins, USN (Ret) CAPT Ernie Joy, USN (Ret) MGEN Gerry Maloney, USAF (Ret) LCDR Mike Manko, USN (Ret) BMC (DV) Bill McLoughlin, USN (Ret) CAPT Jim Morgan, USN (Ret) HMC Tony Ross, USN (Ret)

FIRST COAST COMMANDERY OF THE NAVAL ORDER

2011 CALENDAR

January 2011: If you haven't made your 2011 $20 Commandery dues payment, please send your $20 check made out to “First Coast Commandery” to Bill Wirth, 756 Queen's Harbor Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225.

** Please note that National NOUS Registrar General Frank Green is in Sacramento, CA and he mails out the request for your annual NOUS membership dues ($45 per year) during the anniversary month of your Naval Order membership. These funds keep the NOUS Newsletter and the Naval History Magazine - included with annual national dues -- coming to you!

6 January 2011 (Thursday): Noon - Commandery Council Meeting at the Queen’s Harbour CC. Topics include upcoming lunch at Mayport; Commandery membership and retention; Commandery Officers, future Commandery events and the 12-15 October 2011 NOUS Congress to be held in Galveston, Texas. Assign a Companion to begin work on a submission package for the LCDR Lee Douglas Award for the outstanding Commandery

13 January 2011 (Thursday): 1130 – Special Lunch at Naval Station Mayport’s Ocean Breeze Conference Center to meet with CO’s of the Station Ships, Squadrons, and Commands. Brief the mission of the Naval Order and show the Navy Heroes of Normandy documentary. Hosted by 37th Commander General of the Naval Order Greg Streeter and the First Coast Commandery. POC Pate Wynkoop.

17 March 2011 (Thursday): Noon: Commandery Council Meeting at Queen’s Harbour CC.

24 March 2011 (Thursday): Dinner Cruise – Downtown Jacksonville. POC Mike Manko. Details pending

7 April 2011 (Thursday): Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) Golf Fundraiser at Queen’s Harbour CC. NOUS is a supporter of “Bringing the USS Adams Home” to Jacksonville. Details to be promulgated. Volunteers needed to help JHNSA put this on.

TBD April 2011: Road trip to Charleston, SC. ** Need a trip coordinator to select a destination & make the Plan.

16 April 2011 (Saturday): 1600 - Present a Naval Officer's sword to the outstanding Naval Officer Candidate at the NROTC Unit at Jacksonville University. Companions are welcome to attend with First Coast Commandery Commander.

5 May 2011 (Thursday): Noon – Commandery Council Meeting at Queen’s Harbour CC. Complete Annual report and the LCDR Lee Douglas Award package to be submitted for outstanding Commandery.

17 May 2011 (Tuesday): Host our annual commemoration ceremony with Naval Station Mayport for the former crew and families of USS Stark (FFG 31) who was hit by two Iraqi Air Force Exocet missiles on 17 May 1987. Several of our Commandery Companions were directly involved with the Stark's crew at the time of the attack. Companion Pete Wynkoop, a former CO of USS Stark is our Point of Contact for the program to recognize the 37 crewmen who were killed in action, as well as the remaining crew and all the ship’s families.

4 June 2011 (Saturday evening): Annual Battle of Midway formal Commemoration Dinner to be hosted by the local Navy League Councils at the World Golf Village in St. John's County (details TBA).

7 July 2011 (Thursday): Noon - Commandery Council Meeting at Queen's Harbour CC. Plan remainder of Commandery events for the year.

23 July 2011 (Saturday): First Coast Commandery Wine & Hors d’Oeuvres social from 1530 – 1800, at Patricia and Mike Manko’s, 1543 Harrington Park Drive (221-3186).

8 September 2011 (Thursday): Noon - Commandery Council Meeting at Queen's Harbour CC.

15 September 2011 (Thursday): 1800 - First Commandery invited to attend the opening fall social/dinner session with Navy League Council Mayport at Naval Station Mayport's Ocean Breeze Conference Center.

14 October: USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) Third Annual Meeting & Reception at the Jacksonville Landing's newest Pub Fionn MacCools beginning at 1700 complete with food and a beverage plus Irish Singers for $25 pp. Open to the Public.

15 October: USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) Third Annual Gala at the Omni Hotel in Down town Jacksonville beginning at 1800 with Special Guest Governor Rick Scott and Mayor Alvin Brown. Silent auction, tasty treats $ 75 pp. See this link www.adams2Jax.org

19-23 October 2011 (Wednesday to Saturday): Texas Commandery hosts the Annual Naval Order of the US Congress in Galveston, Texas. Plan on making the trip to honor our own Greg Streeter as he gives up the Gavel as Commander General of the Naval Order. Details TBA.

4-6 November 2011: The U.S. Navy's famed Blue Angels will be flying at NAS Jacksonville again this year in honor of the 100 years of U.S. Naval Aviation.

10 November 2011 (Thursday): Noon - Commandery Council Meeting at the Queen's Harbour CC - plan 2011 First Coast Commandery Calendar, Commandery Elections (RSVP's appreciated), and finish planning for the annual formal Pearl Harbor dinner at Queen's Harbor CC.

14 November: First Coast Commandery hosts the "No Dough" Dinner at the USO on Mayport Road Volunteers appreciated and will be coordinated through George Huchting.

2 December 2011 (Friday): Annual MOAA & Navy League Mayport Holiday Dinner Dance at Naval Station Mayport. Details TBA

4 December 2011 (Sunday): Annual First Coast Commandery formal Pearl Harbor Commemoration Dinner at Queen's Harbour CC. Social hour 1800 followed by dinner at 1920. Special Guest Speaker is RADM Bill Goodwin from Birmingham, AL. Cost $38 pp, please mail your check - and entree choice chicken, pork or salmon - made out to "First Coast Commandery" and to Bill Wirth, 756 Queen's Harbor Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225 wirthw@bellsouth.net.

7 December 2011 (Wednesday): Fleet Reserve Association Branch 290 will lead its Annual Pearl Harbor Day Sail on a Navy ship out of Naval Station Mayport. There is usually room for 8 First Coast Companions. Meet at the FRA Building at 390 Mayport Road about 0600 for doughnuts and coffee, receive your ticket and catch a bus out to the ship. Ship gets Underway at 0900 sharp and is scheduled to return at 1500.

** We need a Point of Contact to work with the FRA Branch 290.

All Companions are invited to attend any and all Commandery events. Any questions email John O’Neil