Fleet Week
Raises More Questions Than Answers
![](Fleet%20Week%20Photo.jpg) |
A happy Sailor Shows
His Raffel Prize at the Friends of the Fleet MVP lunch at
City Hall - Photo US Navy |
By Guy Span
This was our first Fleet Week without the Blue
Angels (not counting 2001, where the entire event was cancelled).
Attendance was lighter than last year, and Edward Leonard, volunteer
head of San Francisco Fleet Week Committee, Inc. attributed that
drop to the missing angels. But the Air Show Network (the for-profit
contractor) leaped into the breach and used its connections to
attract the quieter Canadian Snowbirds to be the headliner (in fact
muscling them away from a scheduled appearance in Redding). So the
event was a qualified success.
This year saw the entry of a new organization,
Friends of the Fleet Foundation that sponsored a number of events
for the public and the sailors. Friends of the Fleet operates under
the auspices International Sports Heroes, Inc. a registered
non-profit 501c(3) corporation in good standing with the state of
California (according to the Attorney General’s web site).
Friends of the Fleet was responsible for bringing
the Marine Corp Band to play at Pier 39 and at the veteran’s Home of
the Brave, in Napa. Transportation was provided so sailors could
visit Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center in San Francisco
and the George P. Miller Elementary School in Alameda. Let’s say
that again. Sailors returning from a long deployment (notably from
the USS Momsen, USS John Paul Jones, USS Jarrett and the USCG Alert)
volunteered their incredibly valuable leave time to visit sick and
injured children and veterans. This is a good indication of the
character of the young men and women serving in our armed forces.
A lunch was held at City Hall, honoring sailors
selected by their Captains as “MVPs” and a raffle awarded numerous
prizes including autographed sports memorabilia and gifts from the
San Francisco Giants organization. About this event, Seaman ist
Class Marco Bides noted, “There are civilians ... who appreciate
what we do on a daily basis.” A Black Tie dinner was also held at
City Hall honoring the Captain’s and XOs from the visiting ships. An
appreciative Navy representative wanted to present a plaque to the
city, but surprisingly, there was no city representative on hand to
receive the gift. Ms. Barbara Mendoza (Navy Public Relations but
dressed in civilian attire) accepted on behalf of the City.
So where was the Mayor or any other ranking City official? Not at
the event, although the Mayor was reportedly right outside City
Hall, on stage making a short speech closing the World Computer
Games. What does this say about the City’s commitment to Fleet Week?
And did the Navy notice? You bet they did. But no one would comment
on the record. Interestingly enough, Fleet Week is a major economic
event for the City of San Francisco. On a good year, it draws one
million people to the waterfront and has a huge economic impact on
those businesses.
Reportedly, the Mayor cancelled a joint press
conference with the Navy and was 45 minutes late to meeting where
the Navy wished to present an award. In light of this behavior, it
is simply not surprising that the Blue Angels, the largest Fleet
Week draw, would elect to take their air show to Hawaii. But other
rumors swirl around the waterfront regarding the absent angels. Some
say it is the relentless commercialism by Air Show Network (the
for-profit subcontractor) that limited the Blue Angels contact with
the public, except at paid events. The Blue Angels are the Navy’s
single largest recruiting aid and limiting their public contact
effectively spoils their mission. Whatever happened last year, the
Navy is not saying. But the Angel’s departure spoke volumes.
Then there’s the Fleet Week Committee, which
contracted with Air Show Network to put on the event. Between the
two, according to Edward Leonard, they are responsible for paying
for the extra security, porta-potties, clean up, hosting the
visiting airmen and families, fuel, an air-boss and lots more. It
adds up to a lot. Air Show Network pays for this and more. But they
also have an income side, where they sell sponsorships, concessions,
a guide book, corporate tents, special viewing areas, catered
lunches and the like.
Then there’s the City, which last year reportedly
paid $10,000 to the Fleet Week Committee and the Port also
reportedly kicked in another $10,000. Air Show networks also
reportedly paid money to the Committee, which in turn paid for the
important background services. This year, the Port of San Francisco
was a listed sponsor, as was Fishermen’s Wharf Merchants
Association, Pier 39 and others. And this is where the story gets
more complicated.
The San Francisco Fleet Week Committee, Inc. is
NOT listed on the California Attorney General’s web site as a
registered charity (either a 501c(3) or c(4) corporation). So Bay
Crossings asked Edward Leonard why there was no listing. He said,
“We should be. I don’t know why that is.”
It turns out, according to the Attorney General’s
office, that many 501c(4) non-profits are not listed on the current
web site, although they do indeed have standing as a California
non-profit. (It is Bay Crossings understanding that the c(4)
corporations do not have a Federal exemption, but only maintain a
State exemption. A c(3) non-profit maintains both.) The Attorney
General’s Office specifically stated that the Fleet Week Committee
was in good standing and had filed all the appropriate financial
reports.
So only a few things are clear. The Directors of the San Francisco
Fleet Week Committee, Inc. observe their fiduciary responsibility
and make the proper reports, as a registered non-profit. The City
supports Fleet Week with cash contributions but could not be
bothered to even send a minion to honor the top officers of the
Third Fleet and our visiting Canadian cousins at either event held
at City Hall. The Blue Angels did not fly for Fleet Week this year
and attendance was down. It will be interesting to see what happens
next year.
You can contact Guy Span at info@baycrossings.com