First, here is a little review of some differences in nomenclature between our two submarine veteran organizations.

U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc.
Abbreviated as USSVI 
The local organization is called a BASE
The elected BASE leader is called a COMMANDER

U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War Two
Abbreviated as U.S.SubVetsWWII
The local organization is called a CHAPTER 
The elected CHAPTER leader is called a PRESIDENT

Background
In Kings Bay there is a combined unit that joins the USSVI KINGS BAY BASE with the U.S.SubVetsWWII TRIDENT CHAPTER

Bob Hurley wears both hats as the joint COMMANDER and PRESIDENT of the respective sides of this combined unit of submarine veterans and he describes below how they make it work. 

Let's see how they do it.

Send your feedback to Bob at     HurleyRM@subasekb.navy.mil

By Bob Hurley
Commander USSVI Kings Bay BASE
President U.S.SubVetsWWII TRIDENT CHAPTER

Over the past couple of years, I have been approached by several members of both USSVI BASES and also from U.S.SubVetsWWII CHAPTERS wanting to know what we did to combine our KINGS BAY BASE and WWII TRIDENT CHAPTER into one organization.

Needless to say they also ask, "how well does it work?" I always enthusiastically respond that "it is working GREAT!"

First, I want to emphasize that combining a BASE with a CHAPTER is not as difficult as you might think.

The main obstacle that members have to clear is getting the majority of members in both organizations willing to work together or it will fail.

The next area of concern is that members must become knowledgeable about the Constitution and By-Laws of both organizations and make a concerted effort to ensure that they don't do anything that would break any of the rules or bring discredit to either organization.

Here are listed four, among the many, things that we have done at Kings Bay that seem to work well for us:

1. The COMMANDER and VICE COMMANDER of KINGS BAY BASE also serve as the PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT of the TRIDENT CHAPTER.

In order to serve as COMMANDER/PRESIDENT and VICE COMMANDER/VICE PRESIDENT you must be a member of USSVI and also a member or associate member of U.S.SubVets WWII.

2. In our combined KINGS BAY BASE/TRIDENT CHAPTER the offices of Secretary and Treasurer must be maintained separately for both USSVI and U.S.SubVetsWWII in order to maintain separate BASE and CHAPTER finances, files, records and reports.

To serve as Secretary or Treasurer of our KINGS BAY BASE you must be a member of USSVI and to serve as Secretary or Treasurer of our TRIDENT CHAPTER you must be a member or associate member of U.S.SubVetsWWII.

3. We hold a social (picnic/dinner/cruise, etc.) on a Saturday, once each quarter for our members who are unable to attend our regular Wednesday evening meetings.

This also makes it easier for some of our older WWII members who live a distance from Kings Bay or have difficulty driving at night and also for those who work during our regular Wednesday evening meetings to remain active in our organization.

4. Many of the younger USSVI members become associate members of our TRIDENT CHAPTER.

Our associate CHAPTER members and our USSVI members provide assistance in performing necessary CHAPTER tasks associated with running the CHAPTER, or planning and conducting our Annual WWII Memorial Service Events, here at Kings Bay that relieves our elder members of some of their burden.

Summary

The main thing that makes our combined BASE/CHAPTER work so well, is that our U.S.SubVetWWII and USSVI members are focused on working together as a team.

Our goal is to keep the memory alive of ALL our Submarine Shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country.

Bob Hurley
HurleyRM@subasekb.navy.mil