On April 20, 2024, the Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC) USCGC CALHOUN will be commissioned in Charleston, SC. The ship is named for the First Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG), Charles L. Calhoun, who served in the position from Aug 1969 to Aug 1973. While the commissioning was originally planned for MCPOCG Calhoun’s home state of Maryland, a recent change in the ship’s schedule resulted in a shift of the commissioning to CALHOUN’s new homeport of Charleston.

The Commandant of the Coast Guard recently designated Greater Charleston as an official Coast Guard Community and we proud to welcome the CALHOUN to the Lowcountry. CALHOUN is the tenth NSC to join the Coast Guard fleet and the fourth NSC homeported in North Charleston. During the commissioning ceremony, the crew will “bring the ship to life” and place it in service under the operational command of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area.

Some of the costs associated with a traditional welcome event and ship commissioning cannot be paid for by the Coast Guard. A Commissioning Committee has been formed in association with the Baltimore, Washington DC and Charleston Councils of the Navy League to raise funds for and organize activities associated with the cutter’s commissioning such as a crew welcome event and plank owner mementos. It will also provide monies for the ship’s morale funds, which are used, among other things, in support of the crew members for non- reimbursable travel expenses incurred when responding to family emergencies.

We welcome contributions to supporting the commissioning events as we welcome the Coast Guard’s newest National Security Cutter to Charleston.

Sponsorship Packages:

• PLATINUM $15,000 – 5 Chairman’s VIP Reception & Dinner tickets, full page ad in VIP Reception program, Plank owner plaque, 5 ball caps and 5 commissioning coins
• GOLD $10,000 – 4 Chairman’s VIP Reception & Dinner tickets, 3⁄4 page ad, Plank owner plaque, 4 ball caps, and 4 commissioning coins
• SILVER $5,000 – 3 Chairman’s VIP Reception & Dinner tickets, 1⁄2 page ad, Plank owner plaque, 3 ball caps, and 3 commissioning coin
• BRONZE $2,500 – 2 Chairman’s VIP Reception & Dinner tickets, 1/8 page ad, Plank owner plaque, 2 ball caps, and 2 commissioning coins
• CUTTERMAN $1,000 – 1 Chairman’s VIP Reception & Dinner ticket, Plank owner plaque, 1 ball cap, and 1 commissioning coin
• SHIPMATE $500 – Plank owner plaque, 1 ball cap, and 1 commissioning coin Please note: The Chairman’s VIP Reception & Dinner will be held the evening of April 19, 2024 at a Charleston area venue and is an exclusive opportunity for our sponsors to meet with other business, government, and community leaders. Sponsors may also be invited to attend the commissioning ceremony on April 20th. Separate invitations will be sent for this Coast Guard-hosted ceremony and space may be limited, but sponsorship is not required to attend.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
Checks: Please make payable to “NLUS Charleston Council” and mail to NLUS Charleston Council, PO Box 62606, North Charleston SC 29419.

PAYPAL: Please donate through the Charleston.navyleague@gmail.com email address. Please note that NLUS pays a fee for each donation.

Credit card: We can accept credit card payments over the phone. Please contact the treasurer.

Direct transfer: Please contact our treasurer to arrange a bank-to-bank transfer which may be appropriate for large gifts.

Donations in kind: If you would like to arrange payment directly to vendors for certain specific purchases that you then “gift” to NLUS, we can work with you to identify appropriate opportunities. Please act early if this is your intent.

The Greater Charleston Council of the Navy League of the United States is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations and gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by federal law.

We will send an invoice and tax-exempt documentation to all sponsors. Please contact the treasurer for any questions or specific documentation needs.

Unless you specify otherwise, any funds collected in excess of event costs will go into the Greater Charleston Navy League Council general fund for the organization’s ongoing programs supporting the sea services (Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Merchant Marines) in the Charleston area, including support for morale and welfare activities on CALHOUN and other ships and units stationed in Charleston. We may be able to accommodate special intentions for funds; please contact the treasurer.

THANK YOU!

If you have any questions, please contact our treasurer, Mike McAllister at charleston.navyleague@gmail.com or by phone at (719) 360-7478.