New York Council Navy League is pleased to present the next installment in our long-running National Security Briefing Series. Members and friends are invited to join us at The Union League Club on Thursday, April 24 to hear from the USN and USMC Military Fellows from the Council on Foreign Relations, plus Samuel Byers from the Center for Maritime Strategy, as they discuss challenges to U.S. interests in maritime hot spots such as the Arctic, Panama, South China Sea and Strait of Hormuz.

Doors open at 7:45 A.M., program is scheduled to start at 8:00 A.M.

REGISTER HERE

Are you a woman in maritime or a woman who supports the sea services? Join us for a wine-tasting and networking social at Flatiron Wines & Spirits to celebrate some of our members and partners who are achieving great things and learn more about our mission and programs.

Admission is $25 and includes a sampling of four wines led by the experts at Flatiron Wines & Spirits, snacks from Murray’s Cheese and networking with fellow New York Council members and friends.

Spread the word and bring friends — the best time to join the New York Council is before Fleet Week!

REGISTER HERE

NOT A MEMBER YET? JOIN NOW

Ready to learn — or keep learning — about the May 6 and 7 Anchors Aweigh Congressional Fly-in and other ways you can help the New York Council with our Legislative Affairs efforts? Join us on Zoom for the next Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting:

Thursday, April 10 at 3:00 P.M.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86223228656?pwd=a5lM15petRGtORa9iQlBMKkS8mnpqs.1
Or Dial In: 646 931 3860
Meeting ID: 862 2322 8656
Passcode: 240814

 If you want to get a head start on scheduling an appointment for our team with your Member of Congress, we've got scripts available in the Scheduling Templates folder of our 2025 Congressional Fly-In shared Google drive. To join the Council’s Legislative Affairs Committee and gain access to the drive for these and other resrouces, contact Jess Hitchen at jhitchen@nynavyleague.org.

New York Council Navy League is donating a cake to help the families of USCG Sector New York celebrate the Month of the Military Child at their basewide family dinner.

The Fleet Week and Unit Support subcommittees that support the Council’s Fleet Support initiatives will meet together via Zoom to discuss upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Fleet Week is coming soon, so don’t miss your chance to get involved in our highest-profile events of the year.

If you would like to attend or have questions, send an email to info@nynavyleague.org.

Save the date for a National Security Briefing breakfast with the Navy and Marine Corps Military Fellows from the Council on Foreign Relations and Samuel Byers, Senior National Security Advisor at the Center for Maritime Strategy. We will announce the location and open registration soon, so please be sure to check back.

A meeting of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee is scheduled to be held via Zoom on Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 P.M. Directors and Advisory Committee Members, please check your email inbox and/or the Board Portal of the Council website for meeting documents. If you need help accessing the portal or can’t find the Zoom link, please email info@nynavyleague.org prior to 4:00 P.M. on the day of the meeting. After that we might be commuting between locations and miss your request.

Ready to learn more about the upcoming Anchors Aweigh Congressional Fly-in and other ways you can help the New York Council with our Legislative Affairs efforts? Join us on Zoom for the next Legislative Affairs Committee Meeting.

Contact Jessica Hitchen at jhitchen@nynavyleague.org to RSVP or for more information.

To celebrate our upcoming trip to Capitol Hill, we invite all attendees to make a presidential-favorite cocktail to enjoy during the call. This month we'll celebrate Theodore Roosevelt with a mint julep. For those of you who wish to abstain, you can celebrate three recent non-drinker Presidents, two of whom are partial to diet colas. 

Teddy Roosevelt's Mint Julep recipe

10 to 12 fresh mint leaves from the White House garden, muddled with a splash of water and a sugar cube

2 or 3 oz. of rye whiskey

1/4 oz. of brandy

Sprig or two of fresh mint to garnish

Join Membership VP Norma Milio to learn how you can help the Council reach our membership recruiting, retention and engagement goals in 2025.

If you’re interested in planning, volunteering or just want to know what exciting programs and events you can look forward to this year, join us on Zoom to learn more.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE VIRTUAL INFO SESSION, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JESSICA HITCHEN AT JHITCHEN@NYNAVYLEAGUE.ORG TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK.

Not a member yet? Join today so you don’t miss out on the fun of helping our membership grow.

NYC’s newest Sea Cadet unit — the LT Harriet Pickens Division — is ready to join our three other adopted USNSCC units in supporting youth leadership development. Youth from 10–18 years old interested in joining the unit and adults interested in volunteering are invited to an open house on Monday, February 24 at at 5:00 P.M. at Manhattanville Community Center, 530 W 133rd Street.

Can’t make it but want to learn more? Please contact the New York Council office at info@nynavyleague.org. Let us know if you are a potential Cadet, parent of a potential Cadet or a potential adult volunteer, and we’ll pass on your information to the unit. We also support units in Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island, so let us know if one of those units is closer to you.

Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Joe Fila is inviting all Council members to join him for an information session about Navy League outreach to elected officials and how we can work to influence sea service priorities in 2025.

If you’re interested in planning, volunteering or just want to know more about Navy League’s maritime policy efforts this year, including another Congressional Fly-In, join us on Zoom to learn more.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE VIRTUAL INFO SESSION, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JESSICA HITCHEN AT JHITCEN@NYNAVYLEAGUE.ORG.

Not a member yet? Join today so you don’t miss any of the 2025 Legislative Affairs opportunities.

Join Fleet Support VP Joe Fila to learn how you can help the Council support our adopted and visiting sea services units in 2025.

If you’re interested in planning, volunteering or just want to know what exciting programs and events you can look forward to this year, join us on Zoom to learn more.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE VIRTUAL INFO SESSION, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JESSICA HITCHEN AT JHITCHEN@NYNAVYLEAGUE.ORG TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK.

Attendees are also invited to log on at noon, on the same Zoom link, to learn more about volunteer opportunities for Fleet Week 2025.

Not a member yet? Join today so you don’t miss any of the Fleet Support opportunities.

Vice President of Fleet Support Joe Fila is inviting all Council members to join him for an information session about our favorite celebration of the sea services — Fleet Week New York.

If you’re interested in planning, volunteering or just want to know what exciting programs and events you can look forward to this year, join us on Zoom to learn more.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE VIRTUAL INFO SESSION, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KARINA VERNA AT KVERNA@NYNAVYLEAGUE.ORG.

Attendees are also invited to stay for a follow-on meeting, on the same Zoom link from 12:30–1:00 P.M., for members interested in learning more about the Fleet Support Committee.

Not a member yet? Join today so you don’t miss any of the Fleet Week opportunities.

Make plans to join us for our annual Army-Navy Game Watch Party on Saturday, December 14. Doors open at 2:30 P.M. for a 3:00 P.M. kickoff at District Tap House, 246 W 38th St. Entry fee includes snacks and a drink ticket good for one beer, wine or well drink and is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers.

This should be the best match-up for these rivals in years, so don’t miss the fun!

REGISTER NOW

Join your fellow New York Council members for a year-end celebration of this year’s accomplishments and preview of next year’s highlights. We’re returning the the National Arts Club to celebrate the season and accomplish our final bit of Council business for the year — member recognition and voting in next year’s Board of Directors.

Members in good standing may attend at no charge, guests are welcome for a fee to cover food and beverages. Want to save the entry fee for a colleague, friend or family member? Give them a gift of membership starting at just $25.

If you complete the online registration and proxy authorization via the link below, you do not have to return the hard copy forms you should be receiving in the mail in early December. In case your plans change, please complete your proxy authorization whether you plan to attend the meeting or not.

view the nominees for Board, officer and Advisory Committee

view proposed bylaws changes

RSVP and complete your proxy authorization

New York Council members and friends will be keeping mariners in our hearts this holiday season by volunteering for a packing day at Seaman’s Church Institute’s Port Newark location to assemble gift bags that will be shared with mariners away from their families. In addition to volunteering that day, there are two other ways to participate:

Donate toiletries, games and snacks. See the list of most needed items on the SCI website, or visit the Christmas at Sea wishlist on Amazon.

Knit or crochet warm gifts. Two knit items are included in every Christmas at Sea gift package. Whether you are a beginner or an expert with yarn crafts, you can download patterns and guidelines for hats, scarves and socks here.

Donations can be delivered to the New York Council office or mailed to:

Christmas at Sea 
The Seamen’s Church Institute
118 Export Street
Port Newark, NJ 07114

Include your name, address and email or phone number so that SCI can acknowledge your gift. If you are sending on behalf of a knitting group, please include the group’s name and contact address as well. Donations are accepted year-round.

SIGN UP HERE

New York Council Navy League members, partners and friends are invited to join us at our 122nd Anniversary Dinner, set for Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at The Edison Ballroom to support the men and women of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.  

The evening will be a fitting tribute to our richly deserving guests who, through their leadership and philanthropy, reflect our Council’s 122-year legacy of supporting our sea services. This year, we have the honor to invite Admiral Linda L. Fagan, 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to be
the recipient of our Council’s Distinguished Service Award. We will be announcing additional honorees soon.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE EARLY RESERVATION FORM

The New York Council and Metro NY USO are joining together again to host some fun for visiting Sailors during Veterans Week. We will be hosting crew members from a visiting USN ship at Barcade in Chelsea for food, drinks and arcade games.

Want to enjoy some spooky vibes but don’t have any trick-or-treat-aged family members to take out in your neighborhood? Join the New York Council in the gym at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island to help staff the Coast Guard’s haunted house on Halloween night.

The haunted house will be in two parts:

6–7pm Family Fun

7–9pm Thrills and Chills

sign up here — if you dare

New York Council and sponsors including Transportation Institute and American Maritime Congress will once again be bringing together thought leaders and experienced professionals from across government, the private sector, defense and academia to address the complex operational, commercial, policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities within the U.S. maritime value chain, both at home and abroad.

Visit the conference website for this year’s topics and panelists as they are announced, and to learn about sponsorship opportunities and registration dates. John Jay College of Criminal Justice will once again host the conference.

A special Climate Week National Security Briefing will feature a fireside chat with Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, Meredith Berger, and Dr. Sarah Kapnick, Chief Scientist at NOAA, focusing on climate change and its risk implications for our economies, our environment and our national security. The leaders will provide insights on how their respective agencies are affected by climate change risk, and solutions they are implementing.

We are grateful to ASN Berger for her Climate Week 2023 STEM program with some of our youth program participants, pictured here, and look forward to welcoming her back.

Register here.

After a brief hiatus, we are excited to announce the return of the Commodore John Barry Book Award. 

Explore history and industry at the Brooklyn Navy Yard!

Join fellow New York Council members on a two-hour walking tour of the Yard’s historic landscape to see how this shipyard has been repurposed for modern industry. Founded in 1801, today the Yard is home to more than 500 businesses that employ 11,000 people in manufacturing, technology, and skilled crafts. On this tour, we’ll explore the Yard’s rich naval and labor history, through examining historical documents, listening to oral histories from workers and sailors and visiting historic buildings, including the Yard’s museum and visitor center at BLDG 92 and a working dry dock still used today for ship repair. We will also learn about the Yard’s business ecosystem, community programs and workforce development of today, and the future plans for the Yard’s development. This tour will be led by Andrew Gustafson, a New York Council member and the vice president of Turnstile Tours, which has been operating the official tours of the Yard since 2008. This special program will be followed by pizza and refreshments at Transmitter Brewing in the Yard.

• This is a walking tour and we will walk approximately 1.5 miles. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

• Detailed directions to the tour meeting location will be provided with your reservation. Please read them carefully, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact Turnstile, who's contact info will be provided.

• Your $25 ticket includes the tour, tips and access to the post-tour pizza social at Transmitter Brewing. Beverages, while delicious, are additional.

• All proceeds from this event will go to the Council.

• Quantities are limited, so reserve your spot now to celebrate summer with the New York Council Navy League and Turnstile Tours.

Purchase tickets here.

Council VP of Fleet Support Charles Blaich will present awards for the Enlisted Person of the Quarter at both the Sectorwide and Sector proper levels for the second quarter of 2024. The presentations will be made at the USCG Sector New York All-Hands meeting on August 9 in the Father Capadano Chapel at Fort Wadsworth. Our Council’s awards to quarterly top performers includes a certificate, check and letter from the Council President.