Gig Opportunity at Navy 250th Birthday in Philadelphia

The NMA has received the following message from Neil Stein of The Creative Group, the event planning company that is producing Homecoming 250, the gala celebration of the Navy's 250th birthday in Philadelphia this October.

They're looking for musical groups that include "Navy alumni" to perform cocktail music at various functions. It's a pay gig, although travel funds are not available. 

If you're interested, please contact Mr. Stein, whose contact information is below.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Greetings,

My company will be producing the Official Navy 250 Gala being held in Philadelphia, PA at the National Constitution Center on Saturday, October 11th.

While I know there will be countless Navy 250 Galas and balls taking place throughout the country in October, this gala will be part of the official set of events for Homecoming 250.

The Navy has graciously provided us with members of the Navy Band to play ruffles and flourishes for the event.

However, we would like to offer an opportunity to any local or regional musical groups comprised completely or partially of Navy Alumni to provide music for the cocktail receptions and the after party. 

We would also be interested in a DJ for the after party if that seems more feasible than a dance/cover band.

Please let me know if you are aware of any potential groups near Philadelphia or if you can put out a message to see if anybody is interested. I can provide more specific information on the timing of the event and the specifics requests for each group if that would be helpful.

This would be a paid gig for local musicians, however we do not have a budget for hotels or travel.

Thanks

Neil

--

Neil Stein|The Creative Group, Inc.|
Event Producer|T:215.850.0499|nstein@cre8ivegrp.com 

2026 NMA Reunion

Already? We're talking about the 2026 reunion already?

Doubletree by Hilton Norfolk Airport 

You're damn right we are. If you've been to an NMA reunion before, you know that it's an event worth anticipating, worth telling your friends about, and certainly worth preparing for.

So, with the music and camaraderie of the 2025 Kansas City reunion still ringing in our ears, we look ahead to another festival of camaraderie, sea stories, and music. 

Our Reunion Coordinator, Carl Gerhard, has announced that the 2026 NMA reunion is scheduled for

Wed. morning, June 24 - Sat. night, June  27, 2026 

at the 

Doubletree by Hilton Norfolk Airport 

in

Norfolk, VA

You'll note that, while we're returning to our Tidewater "homeport," we'll set up in a new hotel. The Doubletree is really an airport hotel, right next to Norfolk International, a trip of just a few minutes by Doubletree shuttle.

Or, if you're driving, parking is free for NMA members, as is the daily complimentary breakfast buffet. 

So, yessir, we're already talking about the 2026 NMA Reunion; a new berth in our old homeport,

We'll publish details about registering for the reunion when they become available, but it's not too soon to reserve your hotel room. Information is available at the NMA Website.

We're Having a Ball in Kansas City

The 2025 Reunion of the Navy Musicians Association is rocking in Kansas City.

Reunion highlights are posted at Frank Mullen's blog, NavyLyres.

More Information for Last-minute Reunion Deciders

 More Information for Last-minute Reunion Deciders

An earlier message (reprinted below) advised last-minute reunion deciders to book their hotel rooms by calling the Hilton and asking to speak to a sales manager. You can simplify the process by calling managers directly:

Kortney Cunningham, Sales Manager, at 1-816-801-4012,

or

Kia Stuart, Group Rooms coordinator, at (816) 801-4008

---------------------------ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----------------------------

2025 Navy Musicians Association Reunion

Kansas City (MO) Airport Hilton Hotel

Wed. morning, June 18, - Sat. night, June 21

Date: June 5, 2025

To: NMA Reunion Malingerers, Stragglers, and Dawdlers

Subj: Important info for booking hotel rooms and registering for reunion

------------------------------------------------

Time is marching on-- not at a stately British pace, but at a Barnum & Bailey circus tempo. If you have not yet booked your hotel room or registered for the reunion, please note the following:

If you have not yet reserved your hotel room:

While, the block of hotel rooms reserved for us is expired, rooms are still available at our special NMA rate. To book your room, call the hotel (888) 446-6677 and ask to speak with a manager in the sales department.

If you have not yet registered for the reunion:

Do not register by mail; at his late date, snail-mail may not reach Treasurer Stephanie Rowland before she departs for Kansas City. To register for the reunion, call Stephanie at (410) 353-5967, or register at the hotel when you arrive.

I join the rest of the Board of Directors in my hopes you’ll join us at the NMA’s 30^th-anniversary celebration in Kansas City.

Forward, March!

Frank Mullen III

NMA Website Manager

Important Info for Booking Hotel Rooms and Registering for Reunion

2025 Navy Musicians Association Reunion

Kansas City (MO) Airport Hilton Hotel

Wed. morning, June 18, - Sat. night, June 21

Date: June 5, 2025

To: NMA Reunion Malingerers, Stragglers, and Dawdlers

Subj: Important info for booking hotel rooms and registering for reunion

Time is marching on-- not at a stately British pace, but at a Barnum & Bailey circus tempo. If you have not yet booked your hotel room or registered for the reunion, please note the following:

To reserve your hotel room:

While the block of hotel rooms reserved for us is expired, rooms are still available at our special NMA rate. To book your room, call the hotel (888) 446-6677 and ask to speak with a manager in the sales department.

To register for the reunion:

Do not register by mail; at his late date, snail-mail may not reach Treasurer Stephanie Rowland before she departs for Kansas City. To register for the reunion, call Stephanie at (410) 353-5967, or register at the hotel when you arrive.

I hope you will see these instructions not as barriers, but as invitations. We're doing our best to get you to Kansas City for the NMA’s 30^th-anniversary celebration. 

Forward, March!

Frank Mullen III

NMA Website Manager

Kansas City SitRep

30th-Anniversary Reunion of the Navy Musicians Association

Kansas City, MO Airport Hilton Hotel

June 18-21, 2025

Information at www.navymusicians.org

- SITUATION REPORT - 19APR25 -

Shipmates,  

Over the last few weeks, I've been spreading bits and pieces of news about the 2025 Reunion. Today, I'm presenting this "Situation Report" to consolidate this information. Some of it you may have heard before, some will be new. I hope this helps to provide perspective for those who are making their reunion plans (or are still in the debating stage).

Two factors prompt us to anticipate a big reunion. Firstly, our last anniversary reunion, the 20th in 2015, was a giant affair. Secondly, our most recent visit to Kansas City in 2016 was also big, due, in part, to the Midwestern location that brought many new members.

We hope that holding an anniversary reunion at such an accessible location will serve as a double-barrelled attraction. A couple of clues encourage us: 

• Treasurer Stephanie Rowland has already received a substantial number of membership applications from MUs who are joining the NMA for the first time and those who are rejoining after a few years' absence. (In the NMA, we don't put AWOLs in the brig; we welcome them home.) 
• Reunion Coordinator Carl Gerhard has announced that the Hilton has made a new block of rooms available at our special NMA rate.

MUs, like everyone else, keep their eyes on their wallets. But, when it comes to reunion costs this year, there's no need to tap dance around the subject, because the news is good:

• This year's nightly room rate of $119.00 is waaay below the average for association conventions in the United States. According to MeetingsNet, a major resource for the meeting-planning industry, the average price for hotel rooms at meetings and conventions this year is $169.00. (Another way to look at this: at our last visit to the same Kansas City hotel in 2016, our room rate was $115.00. After nine years of CPI inflation, our room rate is only four bucks more.)  
• Parking at hotels near airports can be pricey, as the number of travelers increases demand for parking spaces. Carl has successfully negotiated our parking fees down to $5.00 per day. 
• Upon check-in, members will receive free breakfast coupons for use in the hotel dining room (two per room, based on double occupancy).  

These benefits are a direct result of our Reunion Coordinator Carl Gerhard's ongoing negotiations with hotel management. I'm in frequent contact with Carl (you might say I'm his "mouthpiece"), so I know how much work he puts into his job.

These are the facts as we have them. I see it all as excellent news and hope that you, too, will find them as inviting as I do. 

Hoping to see you in Kansas City,

Frank Mullen 

NMA Website Manager

Free Breakfast at the NMA Reunion

Late-breaking good news for attendees at the

30th-Anniversary Reunion of the Navy Musicians Association

Kansas City Airport Hilton Hotel

Kansas City, MO

June 18-21, 2025

Our Reunion Coordinator, Carl Gerhard, continues working with the Kansas City Airport Hilton Hotel to provide the best deal for the NMA and its members. 

Carl is also negotiating a discount on the hotel's parking fees. We'll get that information to you as soon as we can.