1.  Our Bylaws are listed on the web site and all potential members can review the Bylaws before they join.

     2.  We are the only known U. S. Naval ship reunion organization that is a corporation. This is very important when it comes to legal matters.

     3.  Term limits for the officers are written into the Bylaws. This is very important because the leadership will not become stagnant. New innovative minds will also bring new ideas that will flow through the organization. We encourage change to our officers and this way no individual can control this organization.

     4.   No one has to be a member of the organization for any length of time to be elected to serve as an officer. All members are treated equally, as stated in “Roberts Rules of Order.”   

     5.   Our membership dues, on average, are $4.00 per year, which is the most reasonable found anywhere. If you join after January, your dues will be current to the following year on June 30th.

     6. Bank Statements are available at all the reunions.  All members know exactly how their money is being spent. Squadrons & Shipmates does not have a checkbook. All payments are issued through our bank (Fifth third Bank) so that all members can see who is being paid and the amounts. There has never been a hand-written check issued by Squadrons & Shipmates.

   7.  The corporation does not plan to return to the same reunion city a second time unless the membership votes to return.

     8.   Members who attend consecutive reunions can deduct 1% for each prior reunion attended from the total amount of all reunion fees, which includes registration fees, venue costs, banquet fees, etc. For example, if a member has attended 13 consecutive reunions, he or she may deduct 13% from the sub-total amount of their fees for the 14th reunion and so on. This policy is only in effect if prior reunions do not result in a deficit. No other reunion organization is known to have this policy.

9.   It is common practice for many hotels to offer large groups a free night stay for every 35 to 50 paid nights. Some hotels offers as low as one free night for each 25 nights sold. At each reunion we raffle off all these free night stays rather than give them to the officers or reunion organizers. As an example, if 200 rooms are paid for and each room is booked for 5 nights, that is a total of 1000 nights. The organization would receive 20 to 29 free nights stays and each night would be a prize at the annual raffle held the night of the banquet. In this way the members receive more value from their membership for attending reunions. No other U.S. Naval Reunion organization offers this benefit. In Washington D.C. in 2014 we raffled-off a record of 17 FREE night stays. One couple won three times and was credited over $300.00 on their lodging expenses.

10.   We provide all members with individualized ID cards. The ID Card contains your rate or rank at discharge, department or unit and years on board or in squadron. Charter members are also recognized on their ID Cards.

11.   Squadrons & Shipmates, Inc. offers a 50/50 Bonus Plan for members who may have financial difficulties and find it difficult to pay their annual dues.  For members who would find it beneficial, the corporation will pay 50% of their annual dues. No questions are asked.

12.   The organization will also actively assist members in finding lost comrades and in most cases are able to locate your buddies.

13.   The corporation can also locate pictures of most of the cruise books in the entire U.S. Navy and send them to you via e-mail.

14.   The corporation offers Lifetime Memberships. The Lifetime Membership dues are 10 times the annual membership dues. It is a one-time fee for your lifetime, no matter how young you are.

15.   We are the only organization that has a custom-made design on our hats and we are very proud of it. Many aircraft carrier organizations use the same silhouette of a ship and just change the name. There are also no patches on our hats as everything is embroidered directly on the hat. Our corporation name is embroidered on the back of the hat. (see “Merchandise” page on the web site) 

16.   Reunion attendee rosters are sent out before the reunion to all members. Everyone knows beforehand who will be attending the reunions. All reunion attendees are also given a list of everyone who attends the reunion. This is something other organizations have not done before.

17.   There is never a fine for late registration for the reunion and walk-ins are always welcome. 

18.   Members who attend the reunions decide where future reunions will be held. The officers or any one individual do not decide this. Reunions are held in all 4 time zones. 

19.   We have a Board of Directors and if a problem cannot be resolved among the officers, the Board is called upon to resolve the issue. No one person has complete authority within the organization.

20.   We can find almost anyone for you free of charge when you become a member. No other known organization offers this benefit. 

21.   The organization will issue a profit or loss statement at the end of each reunion and is available to the members upon request.

22.   One of the best amenities Squadrons & Shipmates, Inc. has always offered their reunion attendees is that all rooms includes a FREE hot breakfast for each night spent in the hotel. There are very few reunion organizations that negotiate this benefit.

23.  We negotiate to achieve the lowest room rates achievable in the selected reunion area. Our rates have been as low as $89.00 in 2014.

24.  We now have included FREE shuttle service to and from the local airport at our reunions.

25.  Our refunds of expenses are the most reasonable of all reunion organizations. If the corporation has not paid for your fees as of the time you cancel, all your funds will be credited to the next reunion you attend or refunded to you. In 2013 one member had to cancel two days before the reunion commenced due to a death in the family. All their funds were credited to their 2014 reunion.