Executive Director's Report:
2007 and Beyond

The Tailhook 2007 reunion shirt is good looking and has been available in the ship's store since early December. It is 100 percent cotton denim with short sleeves. We have both men's and women's sizes for $34.95 each plus $2.00 for 2XL sizes. Buy your shirt now and wear it throughout the year.

Membership and Recruiting

The Tailhook Association board of directors set a membership growth goal of 13,500 in our current five-year plan. We are three years into that plan, and our overall membership numbers have shown a slow decline.

The total number of members changes for many reasons. We have a regular turnover of about 600-800 members leaving and the same number joining each year. In the last two years, 1,370 members failed to renew while a few more members joined. This resulted in a growth of about 150 members. At the end of the year, we sent invitations to all of the members who failed to renew in 2005 and 2006. This initiative should show some progress in the beginning of 2007.

Total membership in 2004 -- 11,349

Total membership in 2005 -- 11,142

Total membership in 2006 -- 11,293

Our active-duty strike force is responsible for most of the growth. Strike Force members initiated membership drives at NAS Oceana, NAS Whidbey Island and NAS Pensacola. In addition to their efforts, the Tailhook staff established Recruiting Initiatives at military and civilian events including the MCAS Miramar Airshow, the EAA Copper State fly-in and the AOPA national convention in Palm Springs. Recruiting attempts at civilian events were not very productive, and in the future, we will focus our efforts on supporting the Strike Force.

Remember all new members receive a cool free T-shirt with the Tailhook logo and the words "Proud Member -- Tailhook Association." The shirts also are available online at cost -- $5.00 plus $2.32 postage.

2007-2008 Budget

Our membership fees have remained at $40.00 for the last 10 years, and we will remain solvent for at least one more year. We have been able to maintain our $40.00 membership fee by increasing our income from sales of Tailhook merchandise, more participation in our annual reunion and additional support and advertising from our corporate sponsors. However, as I examine the increasing costs for running the organization and producing The Hook magazine for the last 10 years, I foresee an overall operating loss in 2008 if membership totals and Association fees remain fixed. I will continue to look for ways to cut our expenses without reducing the quality of our magazine. The board of directors has appointed a committee to review the overall cost for running our organization and other similar nonprofit fraternal associations. The bottom line is that on 1 January 2008, we may see an increase in our membership fees. Some ways for you to avoid or delay a fee increase follow.

• The first is recruiting 1,000 new members. Take the time to bring in one new member.
• The second is to start or convert to a life membership now. The cost is currently $705.00 that can be paid over 15 months (active duty pay over four years).
• The third is to sign up for a multi-year membership. We offer a three-year membership for $105.00 and a five-year membership for $185.00.

Tailhook Reunion

• The working theme for our reunion is Naval Aviation in the Next 50 Years. For 2007 we are working on many issues to improve the reunion experience.
• We will select a keynote speaker who can focus on our theme to provide insight into future changes in Naval Aviation.
• We are taking a fresh look at the symposium to find ways to make it more attractive for our active-duty members.
• In the early planning stage, we have added a screening of a feature length movie titled "Speed and Angels."
• Additionally we are planning to add alternative events to make our reunion more "spouse friendly."

Start planning now for Hook '07.

If you are part of a reunion group, please consider the advantages of staging your reunion activities at Hook '07 in Reno. Many reunion organizations have done so in the past and report that it's "the only way to go."

Headquarters Contacts

Hook 2006 Reunion Coordinator (Marc Ostertag): (800) 322-4665

Tailhook Educational Foundation (CFC #2965): (800) 269-8267

The Tailhook Ship's Store: (800) 322-4665

Tailhook Web site: http://www.tailhook.org or http://www.tailhook.net

e-mail: thookassn@aol.com