Members of the Broward County Council used a local 4th of July celebration as a way to raise funds as well as awareness of the Navy League.  Al and Shelly Stein have been using books as a way to collect donations for several years; they put up a sign that asks people to make a donation and to take a book.   They have been quite successful with their book project and have collected over $25,000 in the past three years.  The funds are used in a variety of ways such as for donations to military-related charities (i.e. the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Fund) or to the Council's adopted ships' family support groups.   The Steins also have donated almost 400 cartons of books to Navy ships visiting Fort Lauderdale. When Al & Shelly heard that there would be a July 4th celebration at a local park, they thought it would be the perfect opportunity to raise funds.  Marianne Giambrone is the membership chairperson for the council and she thought it would also be a perfect opportunity to make people aware of the Navy League and to distribute Sea Power magazines and membership applications.  She was joined by her husband, Joe, who is the Council's past president and who has been selected as a National Director.  The Steins and Giambrones were joined by several Marine Reservists who had recently returned from Iraq.  They were part of a Scout Platoon from the Council's adopted Navy Operational Support Center from Hialeah Florida.  The Steins had used funds from their book project to keep these Marines stocked with nutrition bars - the one thing they could not get enough of during their tour of duty.  Many of the people at the park thanked the Marines for their service and a local TV station interviewed one of the Marines and the clip was shown on the news that evening.  The fund raising project was very successful and the many people who stopped by the tent learned about the Navy League and its mission.