Navy League's national convention this week
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Honolulu Council of the Navy League is hosting the national Navy League convention this week at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Richard Fahrenwald, president of the Honolulu Council, said more than 500 people are expected to attend the annual convention. "We are pleased and honored to be the host," Fahrenwald said.
The convention begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday. The new slate of national officers, including Sheila McNeill, the first woman to serve as national president of the 101-year-old nonprofit service organization, will be sworn in during the convention.
Among the activities are two on Wednesday that are open to the public, said Pauline Worsham, a spokesperson for the organization.
"Treat a Sailor to Lunch" begins at 11:30 a.m. at Don Ho's Grill in the Aloha Tower Market Place. The cost is $45, which includes the sailor's lunch. The event includes a tour of the USS Reuben James, an anti-submarine warfare vessel, and the USS Hopper, a guided missile destroyer. Both ships will be moored at Aloha Tower.
Dinner and a stage show, Follies Americana, begins at 6 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Monarch Room. The show is produced by Jack Cione and features Randy Smith, singers and dancers from the Pearl Harbor Performing Arts Association and other performers. The cost is $55.
Reservations for both events can be made by calling Robert Flores, executive director of the Honolulu Council, at 422-9404. The fax number is 423-0749.
The Navy League was founded in 1902 when President Theodore Roosevelt gave part of his Nobel Peace Prize earnings to finance a civilian support organization for the Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. The organization assists seagoing military personnel, serves as a civilian liaison to the military, supports ship commissioning receptions and lobbies Congress.
The Honolulu Council, with 3,500 members, is the biggest of 330 councils worldwide.
E-mail for the council is navyleague@hawaii.rr.com. The Web site is www.navyleaguehawaii.org.
Reach Karen Blakeman at kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2430.
