This article is about a vexillological organization. For other uses see Nava.
NAVA flag.
Seal of NAVA
The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is an organization devoted to "vexillology as the scientific study of flags." Flag researchers, designers, collectors, activists, merchants, and other enthusiasts from the United States and Canada meet annually at NAVA meetings in order to present and discuss research papers, and to honor vexillological achievement with the following awards:
the Whitney Award, named from Whitney Smith, awarded to outstanding contributors to North American Vexillology
the William Driver Award, awarded at each meeting for the best paper, and
the Vexillonnaire Award, which honors a significant success in activist vexillology.
a quarterly newsletter, NAVA News Number 200 was issued in December, 2008.
Members also receive special publications, the mose recent being NAVA's 2006 guide to flag design, "Good Flag, Bad Flag", which has become used extensively in flag-creation efforts at the local and state level throughout the US and overseas and has been translated into Spanish and French.
NAVA has attracted attention (particularly in high- or low-ranked cities or states) for publishing surveys evaluating the design quality of city and state flags. They note that NAVA members and the general public closely parallel each other on judging the quality of flags. The state flags found by NAVA to be considered of the poorest quality are those that simply have the state seal on a blue field. (See external links)
NAVA is a founding member of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations FIAV, and among the largest flag-studies organizations anywhere.
Organizational flag
The flag of NAVA consists of a large white V (an inverted chevron) separating a blue triangle above from two red triangles on either side. The length of the top side of the blue triangle is the same as the width of the flag. The flag proportion is 2:3.
Since 1967 the association has held annual meetings in different locations across the United States and Canada, and since 1977 has marked each of these occasions with a distinctive meeting flag.
A field of 13 alternating red and black horizontal stripes on which is centered a witch riding a broomstick. Refers to the host city's famous witchcraft trials, and to triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13.
The flag shows an upright chevron, similar to the NAVA chevron, but in Canadian colors (red and white). Inside the chevron is the maple leaf emblem from the Canadian flag.
The flag feature's New York City's colors (blue, orange, and white) and an apple emblem representing the city's nickname, The Big Apple. In the apple is hidden the number 17.
The meeting flag incorporates Vs for "Vexillology" that form XX (Roman numeral 20), with the NAVA flag in the canton. The use of blue and gold in the background references the municipal flag of Trenton.
The flag shows the eagle and crown that is on the San Francisco flag. The background resembles the NAVA flag. This meeting was also the ICV 12 meeting.
The flag includes the International maritime signal flags for the letters P (Portsmouth), N (New), and H (Hampshire). A parody of the NAVA flag is shown at the top as a pennant.
The flag shows blue and white, the Minneapolis colors, and is in the famous NAVA chevron shape. There is a yellow star in the center of the flag, which represents Minnesota. There is a red ribbon in the center of the flag which is in the shape of the number 25.
The NAVA chevron appears in red on the meeting flag, with five white stars. The number of the points on all of the stars is 26. A silhouette of the Alamo is located in the background.
The flag shows the yellow beaver on the blue background, such as on the back of the Oregon flag. The NAVA chevron is depicted in the Portland flag's colors, blue, white, and green.
The flag shows the California bear and star that appears on the California flag. A Roman numeral 30 in yellow with a blue shadow also appears on the flag.
The flag shows the fleur-de-lis that appears on the Quebec flag. The NAVA chevron appears as blue and white rectangles going inside and outside, which is the border of the Quebec City flag.
The flag shows a red, white, and blue NAVA chevron with the Canadian red maple leaf on top and yellow and blue waves, similar to the ones on the British Columbian flag.
The flag shows a letter M in the United States colors. Hidden in the middle of the M is the NAVA chevron. The background of the flag is blue, like the Michigan flag.
The V in Virginia and the NAVA chevron are put into one, and are located in the canton area of the flag. The background is blue, like the Virginia flag, and the flag incorporates elements of the flag of Hampton Roads.
The flag has a cross, like the Montreal flag and the Quebec flag. In the canton, the NAVA flag appears with a white fleur-de-lis in the chevron area, such as the ones on the Montreal flag and Quebec flag.
The flag shows the NAVA chevron appearing as the blue bar on the right of the Tennessee flag. The circle and stars on the Tennessee flag appears in the chevron area of the flag.
The proportions of the flag are 5:8, it is swallow-tailed (as for NAVA 20 and NAVA 30). The blue field, the silver star in the canton and the golden-yellow strip remind of the Nevada State Flag. The 3 blue-white-red strips remind of NAVA. There are 4 strips to celebrate 40 years of NAVA. The strips are V-shaped for Vexillology.
The three grape vines are from the state arms of Connecticut, and the blue and white colors recall the Connecticut state flag. The "V" motif symbolizes vexillology. The proportions are 3:5.