United States Naval Institute: An Open Letter by Raymond Pritchett - Information Dissemination.
The Board's intent in proposing that we revise the Mission Statement is to take the first important step in a strategic plan that will move the Institute to a stronger, more relevant future with increased financial stability.
- Steve Waters, Chairman, United States Naval Institute Board of Directors
"On February 25, 2011 Major General Thomas L. Wilkerson, USMC (Ret.) announced on the United States Naval Institute blog that "the Board of Directors has recommended an historic change to the Mission of the Naval Institute to 'advocating the necessity of global seapower.'" Nearly three weeks later a letter from Steve Waters, Chairman of the United States Naval Institute Board of Directors, was posted to the Naval Institute blog with the intent to address the criticism and concerns being expressed by USNI membership. In his letter explaining the mission statement change, Chairman Steve Waters highlighted three specific challenges facing USNI that included financial instability, decline in membership, and a trending loss of relevance. The emphasis by Steve Waters in all conversations has been on the first issue, financial instability, but I personally believe the second and third issues are far more serious problems."
Raymond then examines each issue in detail.