When their father, CDR Dustin Smiley ’97, USN, is deployed, the three Smiley boys definitely missed him and were saddened by his empty seat at their dinner table. So their mom, Sarah, encouraged them to invite friends over to fill that seat. “Dinner With the Smileys” was born and some impressive folks have been invited.

The Midshipman Action Group has ballooned in size and impact, with 2013 being one of the most amazing on record. 1,000 Toys For Tots toys collected, 13,000 lbs. of food donated to Harvest for the Hungry, 60 mids in post-Hurricane-Sandy areas and 23,400 volunteer hours donated last school year. The group’s faculty representative Miriam Stanicic said the year’s dollar value per volunteer hour is $22.14. The fall semester should be just as filled with large hearts and more service.

There are multiple Maryland-area events in October and November honoring our alumni whose names adorn the walls of Memorial Hall: the Run to Honor memorial dinner; Marine Corps Marathon with Run to Honor; the Alumni Association and Foundation's Honor Our Fallen Heroes reception at Ogle Hall; and field recognition at the Hawaii football game for families of the fallen. We hope you can join us for any of these events.

Move over, green Army men. LEGOs could soon be supplanting you as the favorite toys of war. The tiny little blocks from our childhoods are being used to teach the Navy’s future officers how to use the fleet’s weapons. And it’s not because of budget cuts. LT Kristina Rohlin ’05, USN, weapons and control systems engineering instructor, recently discussed with Federal News Radio how these LEGO kits will work.

During the glory days of the space program in the 1960s and ’70s, astronauts returning to Earth splashed down at sea in their capsules and were picked up by the Navy in a triumphant moment that became a familiar scene to American TV viewers. Now, in Norfolk, VA, NASA and the ARLINGTON are training again for the first such recovery in more than a generation.

The fall semester has begun and the plebes are settling in. And while they seem normal, there are some keen differences between us and their generation. They don’t ask for directions, have only had two presidents in their lifetime, have always had USB ports, define “chat” differently and think your car CD player is incredibly uncool.

The annual recognition of President’s Circle donors is approaching this 3-5 October. Activities include Superintendent’s reception, seats at the formal parade, Leadership Panel with midshipmen and the Air Force game and tailgate. View our invite here and find out more about how to join our premier giving society.

In celebration of the United States Navy’s 238th birthday, the City of Annapolis will honor the midshipmen and Navy personnel with a parade along Maryland Avenue and a Navy Band concert at Lawyer’s Mall on 7 October. For a complete listing of Annapolis-based Navy Birthday events, go to the MainStreets Annapolis Partnership website.

For the first time, women’s rugby was included in the University World Games, this year in Kazan, Russia. The Navy Women’s Team made up a full 10 out of the 13 players selected for the 2013 USA Rugby 7 Team, playing against Brazil, Italy, Great Britain, China and Japan. While they did not medal, we still consider this a win.

We keep adding books to our Lucky Bag of Books department, “fiction and non-fiction books, some written by alumni, some are about alumni and subjects of interest.” The latest addition is from the Class of 1959: “The Color Company: U.S. Naval Academy 8th Company,” compiled by Dr. Frederick Yeatts ’59.

Designed to inspire, inform and connect current, future and former women military officers from all military services, OWLS focuses on cultivating leadership skills by addressing the diverse range of interests and pursuits that empower women’s growth and development as leaders. Find out more and register here for the 20-21 September event and download the agenda here.

Calling all Navy fans: join the Alumni Association inside the stadium for great food, cold drinks and fun. It starts 2 hours before game time and runs through halftime. For menus, dates and to register go to our website. Hope to see you at the tailgate—Go Navy!

In May 2014, the currently serving Vice Chair and Central Region Trustee will complete their terms of office and their respective positions will become vacant. Also, the currently serving Eastern Region Trustee will complete his first 3-year term and be eligible for re-election. A nominating committee is already formed to find and recommend to the Board one or more nominees. Regular members are encouraged to propose candidates for the vacant Vice Chair and regional trustee positions. Regular members proposing candidates for the regional trusteeships should reside in the region to be served by the proposed candidate.

It was first printed in 1913 and has just returned for all of you super-salty alumni. If you would like to subscribe to The LOG in print, download the subscription form here to get plugged in to their mission “to provide humor and wit to Bancroft Hall” and “help Salty Sam show ‘the Man’ the continued need and support for The LOG both inside the Hall and outside the Gate!”

Corporate and foundation contributions continue to play a significant role in supporting the Naval Academy mission. Biometrics hardware and software recently donated by Cross Match Technologies has strengthened a number of key electives in the discipline, while new scholarships made possible by the Stamps Family Foundation will fund international study, internships, research, training and/or conference experiences for up to five midshipmen each year.