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Plankowner Campaign update

Posted: 1/26/2023

Ship’s Store Final

Posted: 11/1/2022

Classmates,

Even though our fabulous 50^th Reunion is history, you can still get merchandise from the Class of ’72 Ship’s Stores.  If you bought ’72 gear prior to the reunion and want another polo shirt, jacket, etc., or if you didn’t order anything or could not attend the reunion, the stores are still open!

For clothing items, orders will be accepted until Friday, December 2, 2022, at www.usnaclasstore.com/72store.html.  After December 2, this store will be closed.

For mugs, glasses and other items, there is no cutoff date.  Orders will be accepted for the foreseeable future.  You can order a reunion “package” at https://www.foreverfirstie.com/product/class-packages. If you prefer ordering single items rather than the ’72 package, go to https://www.foreverfirstie.com/product/yeti-mugs. Any item can be customized so order whatever you’d like and describe the details of your request in the notes section at checkout.

Once again, don’t delay ordering clothing items…December 2 is your last chance!

Tried and true with ’72!

June 2022 update: Class of ’72 Plank-Owner Campaign Project

Posted: 6/15/2022

Navy Football 2022

Posted: 5/27/2022

For: Immediate Release

Sent: May 27, 2022

Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

CBS Sports Network and ESPN / ABC Announce Game Times for Eight Navy Football Games

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—CBS Sports Network and ESPN / ABC announced game times for Navy’s five home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Notre Dame game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and the Friday, Oct. 14 game at SMU.

Navy’s season opener on Sept. 3 against Delaware will kick at 12 noon and air on CBS Sports Network.  The other three games on CBS Sports Network (Sept. 10 vs. Memphis, Oct. 8 vs. Tulsa and Oct. 29 vs. Temple) will kick at 3:30 PM.

Navy’s game at SMU on Friday, Oct. 14 will kick at 7:30 PM (ET) and will be televised by ESPN.

ESPN selected the Houston game on Oct. 22 as its Navy home game to televise. That game will kick at 12 noon and will be televised on the ESPN Family of Networks.

The Notre Dame game will be televised by ABC or ESPN on Nov. 12 at 12 noon.

Yesterday, CBS announced the Navy at Air Force game on Oct. 1 will kick at 12 noon (ET), 10:00 AM (MT) and the Army-Navy Game presented by USAA on Dec. 10 will kick at 3 PM.

Season and mini-plan tickets are on sale now at navysports.com: https://tinyurl.com/npabpbx7 or by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY.

2022 Navy Football Schedule

Date                          Opponent                                 Location                                     Time                          TV

Sept. 3                      Delaware                                  Annapolis, Md.                       12 noon                   CBS Sports Network

Sept. 10                   Memphis                                   Annapolis, Md.                       3:30 PM                   CBS Sports Network

Sept. 24                    at East Carolina                       Greenville, N.C.                       TBA                            TBA

Oct. 1                        at Air Force                               Colorado Springs, Col.          12 noon                    CBS

Oct. 8                        Tulsa                                           Annapolis, Md.                       3:30 PM                   CBS Sports Network

Oct. 14                      at SMU                                       Dallas, Texas                            7:30 PM                   ESPN

Oct. 22                      Houston                                     Annapolis, Md.                       12 noon                   ESPN Family of Networks

Oct. 29                      Temple                                       Annapolis, Md.                       3:30 PM                   CBS Sports Network

Nov. 5                       at Cincinnati                             Cincinnati, Ohio                      TBA                            TBA

Nov. 12                    vs. Notre Dame                      Baltimore, Md.                       12 noon                   ABC or ESPN

Nov. 19                     at UCF                                         Orlando, Fla.                            TBA                            TBA

Dec. 3                        AAC Championship Game  TBA                                              4:00 PM                   ABC

Dec. 10                     vs. Army                                    Philadelphia, Pa.                    3:00 PM                   CBS         

Feb ’22 update: Class of ’72 Plank-Owner Campaign Project

Posted: 1/31/2022

Happy (Chinese) New Year & welcome to 2022, meaning we’re approaching our 50^threunion in October. At this year’s reunion business meeting, I’ll provide the entire class a report regarding how we’ve done with respect to our last successful campaign (the ’72 Athletic Facility & Excellence) and our current Class of ’72 Plank-Owner Campaign.

But first, some nautical trivia: (1) A Sailing vessel having two masts, the ‘aft’, i.e., rear mast, being taller than the front (for’ard) mast is called a ______________? and (2) The mount used to house the steering compass is called a ________? (Answers at the end).

Regarding the last five-year campaign (“72 Athletic Facility & Excellence), you all know we broke the record on this one. No class has ever had a more successful campaign in the entire history of USNA class campaigns. We raised $6.8 Million (goal was $5 Million), successfully funded four components (the Sports & Rehabilitation Centre – $2.5 Million; DMP – $1.8 Million; Project-Based Learning – $ 750K; & the Naval Academy Fund – $ 1.7 Million). We also had 404 class donors (almost 50% of the eligible class). When you get into the Yard this fall, go check out the Ricketts Hall renovation and see the plaque outside our Centre, which reads:

The Class of 1972 is proud to sponsor this Sports Centre that will sharpen the competitive advantage and serve as a safe harbour of physical restoration for all members of the Brigade of Midshipmen.  While participating in varsity, club, and intramural sports at the Naval Academy, we honed a competitive attitude, learned the importance of placing team over self, discovered the transforming power of purposeful daily drudgery, and reinforced the impact of effective leadership skills.  We all know from personal experience that these endeavours prepared us for the challenges we faced as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps and as business and community leaders.  We are confident this Centre will support this vital physical development of Midshipmen in the years to come.

Regarding our current campaign (Class of ’72 Plank-Owner Project), we’re not doing quite as well. To-date we’ve raised $ 464 K (of a $750 K goal) and 31 classmates have participated thus far. My hope is that we can stir up some interest, now that it’s a reunion year… and so that I don’t have to report back to you in October that we fell short of goal (for the first time) in our last & final campaign! So, cutting to the chase, here’s my pitch:

• We’re raising funds for the new Alumni Association & Foundation Centre (AAFC), which is currently
  being constructed outside the Yard & across the road from the baseball field. It’s a $36 Million project and many classes are helping to fund it. The facility—targeted to open in 2023—will provide a premium venue for a wide range of alumni events, streamline, and enhance Alumni Association and Foundation operations and provide an ideal space to celebrate alumni achievements in all aspects of society—all of which help support the Naval Academy mission and strengthen the alumni network.

 

• Our $750 K will go toward: (1) A class naming opportunity ($500 K) for a conference room AND (2) a $250 K class major “plank-owner” plaque that would be displayed with other class plaques in the North Garden Terrace (see images below). Funds raised so far mean we have the “plaque”, but we are not quite halfway toward the conference room goal.

• For those of you that pledged to our last successful campaign, the last pledge comes due this year (2022). Please consider extending your pledge to this new campaign from 2023 onward (up to five years). Here’s a like to our class pledge form, which can be filled out online, saved, and sent directly to USNA via an e-mail: http://www.bit.ly/72pledgeform
• Some of you are fortunate enough to have IRAs to help fund your retirement but may find you don’t really need to draw down the full required minimum distribution (RMD) which will begin for us at age 72. This RM
  D will be counted by the IRS as income, meaning you’ll need to report it for both state and federal taxes. Please consider using a portion of your RMD as part of a qualified charitable deduction (QCD), allowing you to avoid paying taxes on the amount being donated, even if you file the short form. Here’s a link with more information on the QCD: http://www.usna.com/plannedgivingIRAQCD. If you’d like to do this, but are confused, let me know & I’ll get you some help.
• Of course, there’s always the option to send in a one-time check or VISA donation via the link above.

So, that’s my pitch. if you are interested in participating in this new class campaign but have not yet gotten around to filling out the pledge form, please consider doing so now by clicking on the link provided. If you have an IRA, please consider saving yourself the income tax “hit” by using the QCD tool to donate directly from your IRA.

The answers to the quiz: (1) A sailing vessel having two masts, with the rear mast being taller than the front is called a Schooner. Other vessels such as ketches, yawls, and brigs also have 2 masts, but do not meet the description of the schooner. (2) The mount used to house the steering compass is called a binnacle. On smaller vessels the steering compass is normally fixed to the cockpit bulkhead rather than on a separate mount.

Thanks again for your help & support on this. Let me know if you have questions or need some help!    Jeff Beard (jeffreyb72@icloud.com).

Class of 72 Ship’s Stores

Posted: 1/21/2022

“Classmates,

The Class of ‘72 Ship’s Stores for 50^th Reunion Merchandise are now opened for business!

For clothing items go to http://www.usnaclasstore.com/72store.html and for non-clothing items go to https://www.foreverfirstie.com/product/class-packages.

Our clothing supplier, Anchor Enterprises, is conducting an “early bird” campaign, featuring personalized football jerseys.  These highly customized jerseys have a long lead time and a minimum order requirement, so orders for this “early bird” sales campaign will only be accepted until February 13, 2022.   Again, the web address is: http://www.usnaclasstore.com/72store.html

Finally, we welcome ForeverFirstie to the Class of ’72 Ship’s Store lineup. As a reminder, their link address is https://www.foreverfirstie.com/product/class-packages. Here you will find glasses, mugs, decals, etc.  You can order a “package” specially selected for our class or you can purchase separate items from an array of quality merchandise.  You also have a choice of two logos on your choices; either our class crest or the new 50^th reunion logo created by Gary Besaw.

Don’t be a “straggler” – get your orders in now!”

CLASS OF ’72 DMP FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION LETTER

Posted: 8/29/2021

August 2021 update: Class of ’72 Plank-Owner Campaign Project

April 2021 Update: Class of ’72 Plank-Owner Project update

Posted: 4/3/2021

I sent around a memo in January, then followed up with one in February announcing another class project with the opportunity to get our name displayed within the new Alumni Association and Foundation Center (AAFC), which still needs $7 Million (it costs $36 Million) to be completed. We set a $750K goal to see if we could achieve both: (1) A class naming opportunity ($500K) for a conference room inside the AAFC facility AND (2) a $250K class major “plank-owner” plaque that would be displayed with other class plaques in the North Garden Terrace, located on the front of the building

I also gave you a nautical teaser question…and by popular request here’s another one: What’s the history behind the term “touch and go”? (answer below).

Anyway, regarding our status. We’ve raised (through mid-March), $215K, which is short of the $250K needed for the plank-owner plaque, and of course nothing yet for the conference room to bear our name. It’s still early days, so I’m hoping the pledges will pick up this spring. Since our 50^th Reunion Class project ends in 2022, my pitch has been to encourage those of you that are interested to consider extending your pledge AFTER 2022, when your 50^th Reunion pledge expires. The AAFC building will be outside the USNA gate, and across from the baseball field. Here’s the artist rendering plus a reminder regarding where our conference room and plank-owner plaque would be displayed:

A number of you have written back inquiring more about the QCD (Qualified Charitable Deduction). It turns out that our age (over 70 years) makes this a viable and tax-efficient vehicle for donations to a qualified charity. Let me explain the logic again. At age 72 (for most of us, that’s in 2022), we’re going to be forced to anyway withdraw from our IRAs what’s called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), which will be reported as “income” and meaning you’ll need to pay both federal and state taxes on that income at your marginal tax rate. If you don’t make the withdrawal, the IRS will impose a 50% penalty. The ONLY WAY to avoid counting this RMD as income and avoiding the subsequent tax is through a donation to a qualified charity (i.e., The USNA Foundation). There’s a vehicle called the QCD (Qualified Charitable Deduction) that can be used to transfer money directly from your IRA custodian to a qualified charity. The amount transferred is then exempt from being reported as income, meaning you will not have to pay tax on it. Even if you don’t itemize, you’ll be able to take advantage of this tool. The Foundation has come up with a helpful webpage which explains this in further detail, so if you’re interested, type this into your browser to learn more about how it all works: https://usna.planmylegacy.org/ira-qcd-(qualified-charitable-distribution).

My point is, if you are interested in participating in the class project and have an IRA you might as well use the QCD to donate directly from your IRA so that you can avoid the extra income “hit”. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?Here’s a link to our class pledge form: http://www.bit.ly/72AAFpledge.  Call it up on your browser, fill it out online, save the PDF changes, then attach the file in an e-mail to Clay Evans at the Foundation (clay.evans@usna.com).

That’s my pitch. Please consider joining in on this so we can have two additional naming opportunities for our class on display at the new Alumni Association and Foundation Center.

Let me know if you have questions or need further info. Contact me at: jeffreyb72@icloud.com.

Thanks, Jeff Beard

Hello vaccine, goodbye pandemic (part two)

Posted: 2/14/2021

So, who’s idea was it anyway to sing “Happy Birthday” while washing your hands? Now every time I go to the bathroom, my grandkids expect me to walk out with a cake…ok, ok, now that I’ve got your attention, I continue to hope 2021 finds you in good health and following safe practices.

Nautical teaser question: What’s the history behind the term “hard up”? (answer below).

Last month I provided an update on our 50^th Reunion Legacy Campaign and introduced a new mini campaign for those classmates who would consider extending their pledge or otherwise financially support the funding of the new Alumni Association and Foundation Center (AAFC), which still needs $7 Million to be completed. My pitch is to encourage those of you that are interested to consider extending your pledge AFTER 2022, when your 50^thReunion pledge expires.

The new Alumni Center costs $36 Million, and they’re $7 Million short. Dan Quatrini (our guy at the Foundation) is rallying the classes to help support this gap through various class recognition campaigns. After sending around my first e-Gouge, coupled with a separate e-mail to a subset of classmates that have a giving history, I’ve gotten some great feedback and interest from (so far) around 30 of you. Based on your feedback and interest, I now believe we could realistically set a $750K goal that would get us both: (1) A class naming opportunity ($500K) for a major conference room inside the AAFC facility AND (2) a $250K class major “plank-owner” plaque that would be displayed with other class plaques in the North Garden Terrace, located on the front of the building (see both options below):

There are two things going for our class that make this $750K goal feasible: (1) timing and (2) our age. Let me explain.

1. Timing: This year, 2021, is the fourth year of our 50^th Reunion Legacy Campaign, meaning the last of your pledges would be paid out in 2022. We’re not planning on running another “major” campaign, instead we’ll be running more minor or opportunistic campaigns. So, my pitch is, I’m asking if you would extend the same pledge you made for the current campaign (2018=>2022) to this next campaign for four years (2023=>2026) but redirect that extension to the Foundation’s $7 Million campaign goal which expires in 2026.
2. Age: In my last e-Gouge, and for those of us that have IRA accounts set up, I made you aware that, at age 72 (for most of us, that’s in 2022), we’re going to be forced to withdraw from our IRAs what’s called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), which will be reported as “income” and meaning you’ll need to pay both federal and state taxes on that income at your marginal tax rate. If you don’t make the withdrawal, the IRS will impose a 50% penalty. To roughly calculate your RMD, take the value of your IRA today, top it up a bit for some growth until you’re age 72, then divide by 25.6 (from the IRS tables). While you’re allowed to withdraw money today, that calculated number is the amount that MUST be withdrawn at age 72 and beyond. The ONLY WAY to avoid counting this RMD as income and avoiding the subsequent taxes is through a donation to a qualified charity (i.e., The USNA Foundation). Here’s how:
   • There’s a vehicle called the QCD (Qualified Charitable Deduction) that can be used to transfer money directly from your IRA custodian to a qualified charity. The amount transferred is then exempt from being reported as income, meaning you will not have to pay tax on it. Even if you don’t itemize, you’ll be able to take advantage of this tool.
   • Turns out that we can begin using a QCD beginning at age 70.5 (so, many of us today) to draw down our IRAs. Even though you may not be required to make a minimum level of withdrawal this year, you can still use the QCD today to begin drawing down your IRA. In a nutshell, here are the QCD requirements:

• You must be 70½ or older to be eligible to make a QCD. (Check)
• QCDs are limited to the amount that would otherwise be taxed as ordinary income. This excludes non-deductible contributions. (this means the RMD from your IRA).
• The maximum annual amount that can qualify for a QCD tax deduction is $100,000. This applies to the sum of QCDs made to one or more charities in a calendar year. (If, however, you file taxes jointly, your spouse can also make a QCD from her own IRA within the same tax year for up to $100,000.) (if your RMD is above $100,000 per year, I’m impressed).
• For a QCD to count towards your current year’s RMD, the funds must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline, generally December 31. (so, you can’t wait until just before you file your taxes on April 15^thof the following year).

My point is, if you have an IRA and are anyway going to be donating to a charity or USNA, you might as well use the QCD to donate directly from your IRA so that you can avoid the extra income “hit”. HOW DO I DO THAT? You may ask. I’m including a link to our class pledge form: http://www.bit.ly/72AAFpledge  that I’m asking you to fill out online (save the completed PDF with changes) then attach the file in an e-mail to Clay Evans (clay.evans@usna.com).

That’s my pitch. Please consider joining in on this so we can have two additional naming opportunities for our class on display at the new Alumni Association and Foundation Center.

Let me know if you have questions or need further info. Contact me at: jeffreyb72@icloud.com.

Thanks, Jeff Beard

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