Vice President of Membership Report

Membership Corner and Annual Wrap-up

By CDR Michael Short, USN

It has been an honor to volunteer on the NHA Staff and to work with a strong group of individuals who believe in the mission that is Naval Helicopter Association. I want to start with a quote from Rudyard Kipling. I heard it several times during the HSM-75 Change of Command Ceremony. “The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.” With that I would like to announce that the HSM-75 Wardroom is this year’s Max Beep Winner and can pick up their $1,500 check from the NHA Office. In February 2022 we will start our next Max Beep Drive in hopes of building a stronger organization.

Membership has grown quite a bit since November of 2020. In this time frame, our organization has added over 700 members, 80% of whom joined in the last three months, with more than 80% in the last three months! I attribute this growth to another successful Symposium and Gulf Coast Fleet Fly-in/NHA Join-up. The drumbeat has been "Every Member Counts" and "We are Stronger Together!" I challenge you in the next year to help build NHA into a stronger TEAM. "Together Everyone Achieves More!" We are working to embrace the VRM community and to grow as a strong rotary community. May Symposium, in Norfolk, is right around the corner! We (NHA Membership) can do more in your regions! The Staff at NHA is here to help you.

Due to some time constraints, I was unable to formally present the Mentorship Program at this year's Symposium. NHA is working to hang my presentation on the website, but I am proud to say that a great deal of members have updated their profiles and completed mentorship resumes. This will allow our members to have more informed choices about future jobs. It is also an important part of learning how to network. Our next project is a jobs portal that will mirror the mentorship portal but will concentrate on future job opportunities. NHA will take care of members from cradle to grave! Whether you stay for 10 or 20 years, NHA is here to help.

Lastly, this is your organization. Events like Symposium and GCFFI / NHA Join Up are executed by a few select volunteers in the region that host those events. Without the support of the volunteers those events would not be possible. If you find yourself in a region that hosts an event, please step up and help! It is rewarding and a selfless service to others. So, on behalf of NHA, thank you to those who have been involved in making events worth attending and adding value to our membership.

Fly Navy!

Bus

“The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”