ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 081926Z MAR 04 ZYB 
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC 
 
TO ALNAV 
 
UNCLAS //N02300// 
ALNAV 021/04 
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAR// 
 
SUBJ/2004 ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS 
/RELIEF SOCIETY// 
 
REF/A/DOC/SECNAVINST 5340.7/08FEB1999// 
 
AMPN/REF A IS SECNAVINST, GOVERNING ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVES IN 
SUPPORT OF THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY (NMCRS)// 
 
RMKS/1. THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY HAS RESPONDED WITH 
ENTHUSIASM AND COMPASSION TO THE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL NEEDS OF ACTIVE 
DUTY AND RETIRED SAILORS, MARINES, AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR MORE THAN 
100 YEARS. TODAY, 3,000 VOLUNTEERS DISPLAY THE SAME COMMITMENT AND 
RESOLVE SHOWN BY THOSE FIRST 19 VOLUNTEERS WHO FOUNDED THE SOCIETY 
IN 1904. THROUGH THE DECADES, THE PROBLEMS OF OUR SAILORS AND 
MARINES HAVE GROWN MORE COMPLEX AND, AS A RESULT, THE SOCIETY HAS 
IMPLEMENTED A FULL SPECTRUM OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO MEET THE 
DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE NAVAL SERVICE. DURING ITS 
FIRST CENTURY OF SERVICE, THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY HAS 
RESPONDED EFFECTIVELY TO THE DISTRESS CALLS OF NEARLY FOUR MILLION 
CLIENTS, DISBURSING MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN INTEREST-FREE 
LOANS AND GRANTS. 
 
2. STANDING GUIDANCE FOR CONDUCTING THE ANNUAL ACTIVE DUTY FUND 
DRIVE IN SUPPORT OF THE SOCIETY IS CONTAINED IN REFERENCE (A). THE 
FUND DRIVE IS CONDUCTED EACH YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH AT NAVY 
AND MARINE CORPS COMMANDS AROUND THE WORLD - AFLOAT AND ASHORE. THIS 
IS THE ONE TIME OF THE YEAR THAT SERVICE MEMBERS WEARING A NAVY OR 
MARINE CORPS UNIFORM ARE ASKED TO HELP THEMSELVES AND THEIR 
SHIPMATES. THE VOLUNTEERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE SOCIETY ARE YOUR 
PARTNERS IN FAIR WEATHER AND FOUL, AROUND THE CLOCK AND ACROSS THE 
GLOBE, 24/7. THE SOCIETY HAS A TREMENDOUSLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE 
QUALITY OF LIFE AND READINESS OF OUR SAILORS AND MARINES.  HERE ARE 
A FEW STATISTICS FROM 2003: 
 
A. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF $34.1 MILLION INVOLVING 44,500 FINANCIAL 
RELIEF CASES. 
B. SCHOLARSHIPS AND LOANS FOR COLLEGE EDUCATION OF $2.7 MILLION TO 
ASSIST STUDENTS IN 3,842 CASES. 
C. APPROXIMATELY 8,500 NAVY AND MARINE CORPS FAMILIES RECEIVED 
COMPLIMENTARY JUNIOR SEA BAGS, EACH CONTAINING AN ASSORTMENT OF BABY 
ITEMS, SOME HANDMADE BY SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS. 
D. VISITING NURSES CONDUCTED MORE THAN 33,000 PATIENT CONTACTS. 
E. 32 THRIFT SHOPS PROVIDED LOW-COST CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO 
HELP FAMILIES STRETCH THEIR PAYCHECKS. 
 
3. I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT, ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE FOR THE 
SOCIETY'S VOLUNTEERS AND EMPLOYEES WHOSE COMMITMENT, HARD WORK AND 
PERSEVERANCE ENSURE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN NEED.  LET 
ME LEAVE YOU WITH THESE TWO THOUGHTS: 
A. DURING THIS, THE SOCIETY'S CENTENNIAL YEAR, PLEASE  GIVE 
GENEROUSLY TO THE NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY.  ONE HUNDRED PER 
CENT OF YOUR DONATION IS RETURNED AS FINANCIAL RELIEF TO SHIPMATES. 
DURING THE 2003 ACTIVE DUTY FUND DRIVE, YOU CONTRIBUTED 
APPROXIMATELY $9 MILLION.  DURING THAT SAME YEAR, THE SOCIETY 
DISBURSED $34.1 MILLION IN INTEREST FREE LOANS AND GRANTS. LET'S 
MAKE THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER IN THE HISTORY OF 
THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. 
B. WHEN YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IN THE NAVY OR MARINE CORPS IS 
EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, CHANCES ARE THE SOCIETY WILL BE 
ABLE TO ASSIST THEM.  PLEASE MAKE THE SOCIETY YOUR FIRST RESOURCE; 
NOT YOUR LAST RESORT. 
 
4. THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS AN EARLY, STRONG COMMITMENT THROUGHOUT THE 
CHAIN OF COMMAND THAT FOCUSES ON PROVIDING EVERY SAILOR AND MARINE 
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE.  OUR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS FAMILY 
DESERVES NOTHING LESS. 
 
5. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS YEAR'S FUND DRIVE. 
 
6. RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE 
NAVY.// 
 
BT 
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