Captain Paul Whitescarver

The Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) hosts its first presentation of the new season Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Crozier Student Center at Connecticut College.  The presenter will be Capt. Paul Whitescarver, Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine Base New London.

Prior to the presentation, SECWAC will host a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by their annual meeting at 5:45 p.m.

The presentation is titled, “Forging America’s Future from Undersea: Examining the Impact of the U.S. Submarine Force and Naval Submarine Base New London as our Nation and Navy seek to Maintain Maritime Superiority in the 21st Century and Beyond.”

The presentation is free for members or $20 for walk-ins.

Following the presentation, join Capt. Whitescarver, guests, and fellow members for a delicious meal at Connecticut College. The price is $35/person. A reservation for dinner is required by Sept. 17.  Call 860-912-5718 or email info@secwac.org to make your reservation (vegetarian option available if reserved in advance). Checks payable to SECWAC or credit card payment are accepted before the meeting by Courtney Assad.

SECWAC is a membership organization. A guest of a member may attend once as a complimentary guest. Thereafter, there is a $20 walk-in fee.

Full membership is $75 per person or $25 for Young Professionals under 35. Membership is always free for students.

More information about membership and its benefits can be found at secwac.org/membership.

Whitescarver became the 51st Commanding Officer of Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., in December 2015.

While the installation’s history dates back to 1868, Naval Submarine Base New London was designated the Navy’s first Submarine Base in June 1916. Today, the base occupies more than 680 acres straddling the communities of Groton and Ledyard, Conn., and serves as home to more than 70 tenant commands and 15 attack submarines.

A native of Roanoke, Va., Whitescarver enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1980, serving 11 years in the enlisted ranks before being selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Graduating from Virginia Tech in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, he then completed his initial officer nuclear power and submarine training.

A submarine enters the Thames River.

At sea, he has served in the submarines USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (SSN 708), USS NORFOLK (SSN 714), and USS ALABAMA (SSBN 731).

Whitescarver commanded USS SCRANTON (SSN 752) from 2009 to 2012.

Ashore, his assignments have included service on the Joint Staff and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Staff. On the Joint Staff, he was the Executive Assistant for the Deputy for Force Application and Director for Chemical, Radiological, Biological and Nuclear Defense in the Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate, J-8. On the CNO Staff, he was Nuclear Enlisted Program and Community Manager for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program for the Chief of Naval Personnel, N-1.

Among various personal and unit awards, Whitescarver was the recipient of the Naval Submarine League Charles Lockwood Award for Submarine Excellence in 2001. He is also a graduate of Naval Post Graduate School with a Master of Arts degree in National Security Affairs.

Prior to taking command of Naval Submarine Base New London, he most recently served of the staff of Commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic (CSL) in Norfolk, Va., as the Operations Officer.

For more information, visit secwac.org.

Shawn Carey, who took this photo, will speak tonight at the Connecticut Valley Camera Club meeting at the Lymes’ Senior Center on tips taking nature photos.

The guest speaker at the Monday, Sept. 17, meeting of the Connecticut Valley Camera Club (CVCC) will be the renowned wildlife photographer Shawn Carey, who will give a talk titled, “ Photographing Birds and Other Wildlife in New England and Beyond.” The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Lymes’ Senior Center, 26 Town Woods Rd., Old Lyme, Conn.

All are welcome and there is no admission charge.

Over the last 10 years, bird and wildlife photography has seen a surge in popularity—thanks in large part to vast improvements in digital technology. Digital cameras are better, easier to use, and more affordable than ever. But how do you choose the right one? And once you have the camera, what’s next? Where do you go? When should you get there? And how do you turn those great views you’re getting into memorable images that truly capture the moment?

Don’t panic: wildlife photographer and educator Shawn Carey has you covered. Join Carey as he expertly guides you through these topics and shares some tricks of the trade to help you truly enjoy your experience.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Carey moved to Boston, Mass. in 1986 and has been photographing birds and other wildlife for over 20 years. He’s been teaching wildlife photography for Mass Audubon for the past 18 years. On the board of directors for Eastern Mass HawkWatch where he serves as their Vice President, he is also on the advisory board for the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Mass Audubon Museum of American Bird Art.

“I love the natural world,” Carey says, “if it walks, crawls, flies, swims or slithers … I’ll photograph it!”

Carey’s work can be viewed on his website at www.migrationproductions.com.

The CVCC is dedicated to offering its membership the opportunity to become better photographers. The group offers a variety of presentations and interactive workshops to help members expand their technical and creative skills. Photographers of all levels of experience are welcomed.  The club draws members from up and down the river, from Middletown to Old Saybrook; from East Hampton to Old Lyme; and along the shoreline from Guilford to Gales Ferry.

For more information, visit the club’s website at https://ctvalleycameraclub.smugmug.com/. CVCC meeting dates, speakers/topics, and other notices are also published on the club’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CTValleyCameraClubPage.