Biography of Arthur W. Bryant ’66
And
Responses to Concerned Alumni Questionnaire
For
Central Region Trustee Candidate

Below is my biography, which will be printed in Shipmate, followed by my responses to the questions presented by the Concerned Alumni.

BIOGRAPHY

Arthur W. Bryant has been a USNA Alumni Association Life Member since 1966. He has been President of the Detroit Chapter of The USNA Alumni Assn for over 20 years. He served as the 13th Chapter Trustee representing Detroit on the USNA Board of Trustees from 1997 to 1999. He currently is a member of the Governance Committee, a new standing committee of the Board of Trustees. He has previously served on Board of Trustee committees including Nominating Committee. Alumni Association President Selection Committee, Governance Study Group Committee, Other Chapter Selection Committee and Chairman of the 13th Chapter Selection Committee. He directed efforts of the Detroit Chapter in raising funds to sponsor a room in Alumni Hall during the 1987 Building Campaign. He was instrumental in starting the Chapter President’s Meetings in May of each year and has attended them since their inception. He has attended all but one Board of Trustee meetings in the last 14 years.

He is a charter member of The President’s Circle and serves on The President’s Circle Advisory Committee. He works closely with the local Blue and Gold Officers and has helped run the OPINFO Night for many years. He is a member of The Navy League and The Naval Institute. He has served on a Michigan Senator’s Candidate Selection Committee.

He has additional educational institution experience as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wayne State University Alumni Association, president of the WSUAA from 1995-1996 and he is currently on a Board of Visitors at Wayne State University.

Art is retired from Ford Motor Co. He and Lynne have four children and a son-in-law who is an active duty commander class of ’82. Art is also the lay leader of his Church.

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

Of course, as a member of the Board of Trustees, you will have the primary obligation of ensuring adherence to the Alumni Association's Bylaws. There are currently a number of Amendment Proposals that are now under consideration at Alumni House. Please review these Amendments (available on the CA web site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/usna_ca/files/U-Bylaws.doc ) and advise of your views on these Proposals. (If you do not have access to this site, please advise and we will forward the documents to you via email.)

Amendment A
I agree with the possibility of a write-in vote for Vice Chairman. However, I do not agree with the write-in candidate for Chairman. I was a member of the Governance Study Group that made this change and I agree with the reasoning for it. It is important in today’s environment that the Chairman be a well thought out and specific selection. This person must have just the right influence and cache with Congress, the military, the media, and Alumni, etc. This selection should not be a popularity contest or open to nomination of fine people who are not fully qualified.

Amendment B
I can concur with this flexibility being added to the By-laws for Vice Chairman. However, I still believe the position of the Governance Committee was correct in insuring that the Chairman is a single slate candidate for the reasons listed above.

Amendment C
I do not agree with this amendment and refer back to the reasoning of the Governance Committee in creating the two Board Appointed Trustees. I know this position very well as I was the one who made the initial recommendation. As a bit of background, one of our goals was, if possible, to decrease slightly the size of the Board. This was based on surveys of many Boards of different types to try and fit the proper convention. The purpose for making two of the Board seats ones that would be selected by the Board of Trustees was to accommodate needs of the Board and possible unrepresented constituencies. For example: as the Alumni Association becomes involved in a major project, such as the upgrading of the communication system to alumni or the renovation of the football stadium, the Board would be able to add an alumnus who is an expert in information systems or stadium architecture. These types of appointments would enable the Alumni Association to maintain better oversight of a given project. In addition, these slots could be used to represent constituencies that are unrepresented on the Board, such as females, minorities, etc. to further enfranchise all of our members. If it is felt appropriate, the Board could use these positions for additional class and chapter representatives if they are not needed elsewhere. These positions can also be left vacant, thereby reducing the size of the Board

Amendment D
I could agree with changing the timing that the Nominating Committee has to submit a slate to the Board. However, I do not agree with changing the number of petition signatures or the method of submission. I was on the Nominating Committee when the decision was made to go from 50 to 150 signatures. I have also, now, just gone through the process of obtaining 150 or more signatures to get on the Central Region ballot and I feel the number is fair. In actual fact, I obtained 198 signatures. This was not easy, but it shouldn’t be. I am speaking from the position of someone who is a member of a small chapter. Detroit is number 23 on the list. It cost me around $250 in postage and printing to send out letters with stamped return envelops. This should not be a financial deterrent to anyone running for this position even at twice the cost. Others and I pay more than this in unreimbursed expenses just to attend each Board of Trustee and Chapter President meeting. In addition, I obtained signatures at President’s Circle Weekend, Homecoming and the Toledo football game. I do not feel that is asking too much at all of somebody who wants to obtain this position. You should have to get to know the people you are representing. And I also feel that, just like in any other election, original signatures should be required. Those supporting you should be willing to do more than just hit a return mail button on a computer.

I have let the Nominating Committee know that I will be submitting a report to them, in detail, on what it took me to obtain my signatures since, I believe, at this point in time, it is the only objective information regarding what it takes to go through this process.

Amendment E
I can agree with the proposal for filling vacancies. However, I do not feel this is a major issue, and I only remember one time in the past when this came up. I believe that vacancy was created when Chuck Krulak resigned from the Board due to his change in job assignment.

Amendment F
I agree with this amendment. I feel that amendments are not given proper consideration, dissemination and thoughtful review.

2. Do you think it proper for the Association to discuss and, when considered appropriate, voice constructive criticism of Academy policies. Further, do you consider that Shipmate should be the voice of the Association or the voice of the Academy, or is there a difference?

Yes, I believe the Association should discuss all aspects of events and policies at the Naval Academy. However, I feel when we are voicing our opinions, they should only be offered as suggestions. I don’t necessarily feel that we have all the information or even adequate information to assume we have all the right answers.

Shipmate is unquestionably the voice of the Naval Academy Alumni Association and is not controlled by the Naval Academy. There is definitely a difference.

3. Current fund-raising efforts by the Association (actually the Naval Academy Foundation, but the two organizations are, in important ways, joined at the hip) are unprecedented; with goals five to ten times historical amounts. Do you think the Association's current emphasis on fund raising is overdone, underdone, or about right, and why do you think this?

I firmly believe that current fund raising efforts are correct, or if anything, underdone. It is absolutely essential that all alumni come to realize that, if the Naval Academy is to maintain its position as the premier institution building warriors and leaders, all alumni must step up to the bar and help to increase the endowment level of the Naval Academy. Many Alumni either do not know or refuse to believe that private funds have done a great deal in the past to make the Naval Academy what it is today. Many of the buildings in the yard are only there because of private funding, such as Preble Hall, The Crown Sailing Center, The Baseball Club House, The Visitors Center and Alumni Hall as well as others. The initial costs for the layout of the Academy Yard and the Architectural theme were paid for by Robert Means Thompson. In the past a lot of the public funding was done on a case-by-case basis. The needs and the competition for public funds have become much greater. We are already behind the curve as far as endowment fund raising if you look at the Military Academy. Our Alumni have achieved much in their lives as a result of the tremendous education they received at the Naval Academy and to not support the Academy financially should be embarrassing. I personally believe the goals should be higher.

In the quiet period of the present campaign, over $70 million was pledged. Since the public announcement in June the number is up to around $90 million.

4. In your opinion, should appropriated funds be commingled with private funds? Give your reasons. For example, what fraction of faculty salaries should be paid by the Association, if any, and why do you think this?

Commingling of funds does not hit me as being the right word to use here. It sometimes has sinister meaning or connotation. If we look at Alumni Hall, which the Naval Academy was trying to build since World War II, it is clear that when the government finally offered up $13 million for a $27+ million building it was entirely appropriate that the Alumni Association step in, as it did, and raise the remaining money. If you ask them at the Academy what they would do without that building today, they will tell you it would be hard to function. Without that building you cannot assemble the entire brigade to listen to people like the Superintendent, President Bush, General Powell, Margaret Thatcher, etc. and hold all the many other events they have during the year. If you think in terms of salaries for faculty, certainly the creation of Chairs for extraordinary professors in needed subjects is a way that the public can directly increase the faculty compensation level. If these were averaged in with other salaries I would say the appropriate amount is whatever the end figure is after the needs of The Academy are filled.

5. Do you think the Naval Academy Foundation should be responsible to the Alumni Association and the Alumni? If so, how would you, as a Trustee, expect to monitor and control expenditures? If not, should the Association be party to raising monies for purposes beyond the knowledge or control of the membership?

Yes, I feel the Naval Academy Foundation should be responsible to the Alumni Association and the alumni. I believe the process for this control is in place. First of all, the president of the Naval Academy Foundation, George Watt, is also the president of the Alumni Association. The CFO for the Alumni Association is also the CFO for the Naval Academy Foundation. And, these two people serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees. Information on the work the Naval Academy Foundation does is presented at each Board of Trustees meeting. The CEO of the Naval Academy Foundation is Admiral Charles Larson, an alumnus. Of the 23 members of the Board of the Naval Academy Foundation, 18 are Naval Academy Alumni. I am confident that the proper oversight is in place.

I do not believe that monies are being raised for purposes beyond the knowledge or control of the membership, but Trustees have a responsibility to be watchful in this area. If you look over a list of the Naval Academy Foundation Board of Directors, you see names like: Crowe, Larson, FitzGerald, Holloway, Lovell, Marriott, McMullen, Sheehan, Smith and Watkins. You do not have to agree with every decision they make to know their decisions are based on what is best for the Academy.

6. Much has been said for a number of years about improving communications between Trustees and the membership, but no serious mechanism is in place. Under the present arrangement, as a Trustee, you will be unable to consistently communicate directly with your thousands of constituents, or through Shipmate in any meaningful manner. Do you think the membership should be polled on matters of substance? If so, how would you go about putting in place a mechanism to facilitate this? Do you have any other ideas on the subject of constituent communications?

There is no question but that the real issue with making the Alumni Association work, to paraphrase the old real estate slogan, is; communication, communication, communication. The Alumni Association Information Management group, under Tim Kobosko, is working hard to produce a database whereby all alumni can be contacted when necessary. Right now there are a lot of communications that are passed on to the chapters for dissemination. There is a communications committee, which to the best of my knowledge, is doing good work and will continue to do so. One of our chapter members, who was an At-Large Trustee several years ago, Heather Carrington, is working on the committee to move communications to a state-of-the-art level. This is an on-going process.

I do not think the membership should be polled on specific matters. The Alumni Association should disseminate the information on issues. Subsequently, those who have comments can engage their trustees, and good trustees should seek the information from their constituents. I suggest there be a link to the Trustees on the Alumni Association Home Page.

When I served as the 13th Chapter Trustee for Detroit, I initiated a program whereby I sent regular communications to all the other small chapters soliciting comments on issues and asking for their input on pending issues and problems that they needed to have resolved. Each Trustee should be expected to communicate, in the best way possible, with those who are his constituents.

7. If you could change the course and speed of the Association, what would you do or what would you recommend to the membership?

I believe the course the Alumni Association is on is correct and the speed is actually pretty good. An awful lot has changed in the last 10 years in the way things are done. We are much better informed than we ever were. We also have much more say in what is going on at Alumni House. However, that is not to say there isn’t much more that needs to be done.

Long gone are the days when one admiral, acting alone, would call someone into his office and tell that person he is now the president of the Alumni Association.

8. Are you familiar with the current courses of instruction in ethics at the Naval Academy and with which the Alumni Association has assisted in funding? What are your opinions?

I have not had the opportunity to attend a class on ethics at the Academy. I think next year at President’s Circle Weekend, when we are given the opportunity to go to class with a Mid, I will specifically ask to go to an ethics class. There is no question but that there are divergent opinions on this issue. I do feel, without question, that there is a great need for ethics classes at the academy. Young people today come from a totally different universe than most of us grew up in. And, sad to say, it lacks the ethical and moral framework that most of us grew up with. Ethics training is an absolute essential in this day and age. You need to do more than just set a good example when you are dealing with someone who isn’t a clean sheet of paper ethics-wise. They come with a lot of bad ideas that must be identified and overcome.

9. On a scale of 0 to 10 how do you judge that USNA is delivering the appropriate products to the U.S. Naval Sea Services? Please provide a qualitative rationale for your quantitative scoring.

I suppose I should not say 10 because that is perfection but I certainly think that our young officers rate an 8 or 9. My qualitative rationale is based on having personal experience to justify this rating. I personally recruited a sweet young girl from Plymouth Michigan, Carrie Howe ‘98, and watched over the years as the Academy transformed her into one hell of a Marine pilot. My son-in-law, Marcus Yonehiro ’82, Captain of the USS O’Brien (DD975), has just returned to Japan from deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom firing some of the first missiles in the campaign against terrorism and doing an outstanding job. My interaction with these two people and many other recent officers and midshipmen has shown me that they are as good as those who went before them.

On another point, the Naval Academy is providing somewhere between 20% and 25% of the new ensigns and second lieutenants to the Navy and Marine Corps. Yet by the time they reach the O-6 Level, they represent about 52% of the officers.

I appreciate the opportunity to give my views to the Concerned Alumni and I feel this has helped me focus my thoughts on these issues. For that I thank you. I will be out of the country for an extended period of time beginning January 3, 2002. I will be monitoring my email as much as I can at lynorart@yahoo.com and will attempt to answer any questions. Due to the fact that some of these messages will be picked up in remote locations, please understand that there may be a long delay before I answer.

I would appreciate your vote. I have always put a lot of time and effort into Alumni affairs and I will continue to do so and I hope it will be as your Central Region Trustee.

All USNA alumni—active duty, retired and civilian—
are invited to JOIN the Concerned Alumni discussion.