The 2008 Navy-Marine Corps Ball will be held April 5 in Washington, D.C., at the Washington Hilton. This ball has been held almost every year since 1904 and is the major fund-raising event in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. The Ball Committee has set a goal of $1,000,000 for 2008. All funds raised by the Ball are used by the Society to provide financial, educational and other assistance to Navy and Marine Corps service members and their dependents. Assistance is available at Navy and Marine Corps bases located throughout the world and on board Navy ships. To learn more about the programs the Society provides, visit their Web site at www.nmcrs.org. For tickets or more information on the Ball, call their office at 202-889-8112⁄3, email navmcball@aol.com or visit their Web site at www.navymcball.org.

Summer Uniform Change

Beginning April 7, summer uniforms will be worn by all Navy and Marine Corps personnel. For Navy officers and CPO’s, the Uniform of the Day will be summer whites, and the alternate workday uniform will be service khakis. For enlisted Navy personnel E-1 to E-6, the Uniform of the Day will be service dress whites, and the alternate workday uniform will be summer whites. For Marine Corps officers, the Uniform of the Day will be the service ‘‘C” uniform with Garrison cover or service cap, and the alternate workday uniform will be the desert MARPAT uniform. For enlisted Marines, the Uniform of the Day will be the service ‘‘C” uniform, and the alternate workday uniform will be the desert MARPAT uniform.

Another ‘‘Nashville Star” Audition

The All-Military Casting Call for ‘‘Nashville Star” will be held in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, April 11 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the Naval Station Norfolk Theater, Bldg. C-9 to select 40 additional finalists. This casting call is open to all branches of service, reservists, Midshipmen, retirees, Department of Defense civilian employees and their family members (must be 16) and DoD Contractors. Even if you participated in the local Annapolis auditions, you can compete again at Norfolk for one of the 40 additional slots at the All Military Casting Call. You will perform for Nashville Star judges and be videotaped on board a Navy ship in Norfolk. The video will be edited and portions will be included in this fall’s season of Nashville Star on NBC. There is no charge to participate in the casting call. For more infor-mation call 757-444-4814.

Mothers of Preschoolers

All mothers of preschoolers - military, non-military and spouses - are invited to come to Stein Fellowship Hall in Mitscher⁄Levy April 16 from noon - 1:15 p.m. Please RSVP so that we can provide lunch for everyone. Information will be presented on a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group that will be beginning soon. For questions or to RSVP, please e-mail Pastor Teresa Martin-Minnich at martinmi@usna.edu, or call 410-293-1096.

Naval Academy International Ball

The Naval Academy will hold the 42nd annual Naval Academy International Ball Saturday, April 12, at 8 p.m. Opening Ceremonies at Alumni Hall. Enjoy a magical evening honoring the Intern-ational Officers and Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. Tickets are required for all attendees. Midshipman tickets are complimentary and must be picked up at the Music and Theater Ticket Office in Bancroft Hall. The uniform is Dinner Dress Whites or equivalent. Tickets for all others will be $15 available via the Music and Theater Ticket Office. To purchase tickets online, visit http:⁄⁄purchase.tickets.com⁄buy⁄TicketPurchase?agency=TDC&pid=6204711.

Naval Academy Women’s Club

The Naval Academy Women’s Club will host a Luncheon for ‘‘A Spring Fling with Talbots” at the Doubletree Inn, Holiday Court, Annapolis April 9 at 11:30 a.m. Luncheon will be followed by a fashion show. Contact Betty at 410-295-0089 or bettynrick@comcast.net by April 5. The Naval Academy Women’s Club is a non-profit organization which serves to foster an atmosphere encouraging closer relationships among its members.

Trident Online

Trident articles can also be viewed online at www.dcmilitary.com⁄navalacademy.shtml.

Command Ombudsman

To contact the Naval Academy Ombudsman email Naomi Sullivan at ombudsman@usna.edu or call 443-223-7302.