The Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League is gathering steam for the new year.

The first official gathering of the year was held Tuesday at the Officers’ Club on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, marking the last meeting at which co-presidents Beth Munns and Dick Devlin will preside. Newly elected Navy League president Jim Slowik will take over the reins of leadership next month, although the official change of watch ceremony will be held in March.

In a fast-paced meeting, members were able to applaud Oak Harbor resident Jim Riney, who produced the video centerpiece of the Navy League’s Veterans Day ceremony, entitled “Pearl Harbor — A Time to Remember.” The video highlighted the experiences of four area veterans and a local Battle of Midway survivor.

“He’s a community asset,” said Navy League member Dave Williams, who, along with Munns, presented Riney with a certificate of appreciation. “We want to acknowledge what you have done for the Navy League and the community.”

Intelligence Specialist Second Class Alfred Schoenfeld gave the intelligence briefing, discussing  Iran’s recent warning to the U.S. to not return an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region.

According to Schoenfeld, U.S. officials responded by saying “the country will not adopt any irrational move, but it is ready to severely react against any threat.”

Guest speaker for the January meeting was Deputy Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Capt. John Springett, whose presentation covered highlights of the 2011 Centennial of Naval Aviation and the Navy’s first century of flight.

He began with Glenn Curtiss, a founder of the U.S. aircraft industry who is commonly referred to as the “father of naval aviation.”

“Curtiss knew a key market (for his aircraft) would be the military,” Springett said. Curtiss developed the Navy’s first aircraft, the A-1 Triad, the first seaplane and amphibian ever made.

In a good-natured gibe, Springett also pointed out that the Marine Corps will celebrate its aviation centennial this year, a year after the Navy’s, which drew appreciative chuckles from league members.

Springett touched on several major events during naval aviation’s first century, including contributions to space exploration by astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong and the contribution made by women, beginning with Lt. j.g. Barbara Allen, the Navy’s first female aviator.

“Today every command, every squadron, is mixed and we are better for it,” he said.

Looking at the past led Springett to talk about the future of naval aviation as well, including the shift to the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which is being developed for the Navy’s Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers.

“We’re going to give up steam and trust in electricity completely,” Springett said. “We are investing the future in EMALS and it is fantastic.”

While he had no crystal ball with him, Springett said the future of Whidbey Island is good, as is the future of naval aviation. He noted that threats like those made recently by Iran and discussed during the intelligence briefing will keep everyone on their toes.

“Things won’t be dull in 2012,” he said. “But Whidbey Island and our aviators will be ready. It’s an impressive time to be part of naval aviation. …We are still the envy of the world.”

The next meeting of the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League will be held at the NAS Whidbey Island Officers’ Club on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 11:30 a.m.