Naval War College President Kicks Off Relief Society Fund Drive

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- The president of the Naval War College, kicked off the start of the 2013 Active Duty Fund Drive for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), Newport, in a ceremony, March 1, at Naval Station Newport.

The annual fund drive, March 1-31, will support financial, educational, and other programs provided for active duty Sailors, Marines, and their eligible family members in time of need.

NWC president, Rear Adm. John N. Christenson, described his close connection and affection for the Society that has lasted for many years. He said the four most important women in his life had connections to the Society as well as helping those in need.

"Being a shipdriver, a SWO (surface warfare officer), the four most important women in a SWO's life were my mom, my wife, my daughter, and my ship," Christenson said. "My late mother who was a Navy nurse in Newport, met my dad here, and was a Society volunteer.

"Some of my earliest memories growing up with five brothers while my father was deployed were of my mother leaving home to volunteer for the Society. It was something that really energized her. She really loved to help someone else," Christenson said.

When she died my father gave me her Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society service pin that she received for all her volunteer hours, he said.

"My wife, Theresa, who was in maternity clothes also received a service pin for volunteering with the Society while in San Diego when I was a student at the Naval War College 21 years ago," he said. She, too, came home so energized and happy that she was able to help someone else, he said.

Christenson told a story about how his wife helped the wife of a deployed Sailor to quickly secure funds for an emergency automobile repair instead of waiting for the husband's return in three months.

Christenson's daughter, Grace, who is away at college, has not volunteered with the Society, but served as the campus Toys for Tots campaign coordinator last year that was successful in collecting many toys for those in need.

Christenson said his first collateral duty as a Ensign aboard his first ship, USS Cook (FF 1083), was the ship's Fund Drive coordinator. Christenson said his hard work to promote the campaign didn't impress the ship's executive officer who always pushed him to beat a sister ship, USS Barbey (FF 1088). Christenson's hard work paid off when he learned that his ship exceeded their goal.


"For those whose lives the Relief Society has touched, every gesture, no matter how small, has had a tangible impact," said Capt. Douglas Mikatarian, commanding officer, Naval Station Newport. "The Society's programs are designed to take care of our most precious resource - our service members - and their families," he said.

Pat Drislane, director, NMCRS-Newport, thanked leadership for attending the kickoff and supporting the campaign. In attendance were Mikatarian; Capt. Vernon Kemper, commanding officer, Officer Training Command; Capt. Jim Cunha, commanding officer, Naval Academy Prep School; Capt. Dana Weiner, commanding officer, Center for Service Support; Capt. Richard Brown, commanding officer, Surface Warfare Officers School; Lt. Cmdr. Carl Gerhard, director, Navy Band Northeast; and Cmdr. William Perdue, executive officer, Defense Institute of International Legal Studies.

Drislane said the NMCRS thrift shop served 5,000 patrons during 2012. She said her staff of 27 dedicated volunteers performed 4,000 hours of volunteer service at the thrift shop. Last year the Society in Newport assisted 117 clients with over $53,000 in interest-free loans and grants, as well as a wide range of support services.

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Chief Helen Sowinski, Officer Training Command, 2013 NMCRS Fund Drive base coordinator, said her goal is 100 percent contact and to exceed last year's fund drive total of $129,000 in donations and pledges.

"There are so many ways the Society touches us, our junior Sailors and young Marines," she said.

The ceremony, attended by more than 80 active duty and DoD civilian employees, was concluded with a cake cutting. Navy Band Northeast's Jazz Combo provided musical support.

For more information about the NMCRS Fund Drive, visit www.nmcrsfunddrive.org. The web site also serves as a forum for fund drive organizers and key persons to share successful fundraising ideas.

For more news from Naval Station Newport, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsnewport/.