June 2016 Newsletter
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The Official Newsletter of the Department of Alabama Marine Corps League Volume III June 2016 www.alabamamcl.org Dianna Grantham Editor The Wall that Heals came to Mobile 1240 Palmetto Ct Mobile, AL 36695 The traveling Vietnam 251-377-9818 [email protected] wall came to Mobile and was displayed May Commandant 18-22, 2016 at the USS Jerry Cherne 251-554-7676 Alabama Battleship [email protected] Park. It was presented by the Blue star Salute Sr Vice Commandant Foundation and the AB Grantham 251-680-0006 South Alabama Veter- [email protected] ans Council. With lots of help from other Jr Vice Commandant VSO’s and individuals Mike Walton 344-712- that donated their time. 6843 It was estimated that [email protected] over 6,000 people came Judge Advocate to the wall. There was Don Fisher 334-221- 177 register volunteers 3175 with 30-40 extras that [email protected] showed up just to help. All 3 lower Alabama Adjutant detachments, Jesse An- Ed Mason 256-90-6729 drews, Joseph Whit- [email protected] head and PL Wilson detachments were Paymaster among the many volunteers. Special thanks to our detachment members for their Darrell Langford 334-805- 7335 extraordinary work in making this happen; Lou Thomas, Kenya Thomas, Herb [email protected] Cole, Jerry Cherne & AB Grantham. There were Chaplain wonderful stories shared John Burks, Jr. 205-587-8634 about many of the brave [email protected] men and women listed on the Wall. It was a Sergeant at Arms very moving experience John Reid 251– 404-492 for all that attended. [email protected] Jr. Past Commandant Jack Hopping 205-983- 3138 Some of the almost 200 volunteers that worked on the Blue Star Salute and the Wall that Heals. [email protected] 1 Commandant’s Corner Commandants Corner IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY DETACHMENT COMMANDANT TO HAVE MEASURES IN PLACE TO MONITOR AND MANAGE RETENTION. That includes timely payment of dues by members, timely and accurate submission of trans- mittal forms to the Department Paymaster, and just as importantly routine recon- ciliation and verification. It doesn’t matter what is on your internal roster, what matters is what is on National’s Roster. COMMANDANTS – YOU ARE RESPONISI- BLE. You may delegate but you are responsible. We will be glad to answer any questions. As I write this many of us are preparing for our 31st Department of Alabama Con- vention. It is right around the corner. I hope to see you there. It is being jointly hosted by the P.L. Wilson and Jesse Andrews Jr. Detachments. It promises to be a great event. We have some important business and it is always a time to recon- nect with old friends and make new ones. No Marine is a stranger. Our guest speaker at the banquet is Sgt.Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia. The Sergeant Ma- jor’s last assignment was as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff and to the Secretary of the Defense. Prior to that assignment he worked for General James Mattis. He and his lovely wife Lisa, also a Marine, re- cently joined the Joseph Whitehead Detachment in Foley, Alabama. Please plan to attend our training Friday afternoon at 1430. There are three classes and all are open to any member. Commandant Training – this will focus primarily on the everyday challenges of a Detachment Commandant. We’ll also discuss the leadership challenges and share with each other some tools to help you be successful. We encourage Com- mandants, Sr. and Jr. Vice Commandants and anyone thinking about entering the officer ranks to attend. Judge Advocate Training – Who could better head up this training then our National Judge Advocate Johnny Baker? He will be assisted by Department Judge Advocate Don Fisher. What does it mean to be a Detachment Judge Advo- cate? Johnny will cover what you need to know and how to do your job. All are invited but each Detachment Judge Ad- vocate should attend. Paymaster Training – Department Paymaster Darrell Langford will organize this discussion. Of course transmittals will be discussed but so will basic bookkeeping, control of funds and audits. Obviously Paymaster should attend but we highly encourage every Detachment Commandant to have at least one person attend. Lastly, I would like to address this Newsletter. We thank all the contributors. Each Detachment should have an article and a picture or two each month. Dianna Grantham does a fabulous job putting this newsletter together. It is a lot of work. We have a newsletter because many of you asked for one. It gets distributed via email to Detachment Commandants. I have asked members from around the state if they received their copy and too many say no, they haven’t seen it. Commandants and De- tachment Officers; it’s a simple task; forward the newsletter to all your members. Maybe print a couple to pass around at your meeting for those who don’t have email. "Marines don't know how to spell the word defeat" (General James Mattis) 2 DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA MARINE CORPS LEAGUE 31ST ANNUAL CONVENTION JUNE 10-12, 2016 Jointly Hosted by Jesse Andrews Jr. Detachment & P.L. Wilson Detachment Location: The Ashbury Hotel & Suites Address 600 West Interstate 65 Service Rd N, Mobile, AL 36608 Phone (251) 344-8030. Ask for Marine Corps League rate. REGISTER NOW!!! Room Rates: Regular Room $70+ tax; or motel type outside entrance (smoking available for these) $60+ tax per night, includes hot breakfast/parking. ***Open Bar Hospitality Suite*** Friday 3 Training Classes at 1430, Paymaster, Judge Advocate, and Commandant’s Training. Any member may attend. Commandants Counsel: Friday 1800 red polo or equivalent and cover Open Hospitality Room – 1500-2330 Raffle Room/Ship’s Store: 1300-1900 Saturday Open session (members and guests welcome): Saturday 0830 undress blues preferred, or red polo w/cover Business Meeting: 15 minutes after Open Session ends, undress blues/red polo w/cover Raffle Room/Ship’s Store: 0700-0815 Guest/spouse trip 0915 Lunch 1145+-, on your own Business Meeting re-convenes if needed 1300 – 1400 Devil Dog Growl at 1430 Raffle Room/Ship’s Store: end of business meeting until 1400 Cocktail Hour: 1700 – 1800 (Formal or red blazer uniform, suit/sport jacket, no cover) Banquet: 1800 (Formal or red blazer uniform, suit/sport jacket, no cover) Hospitality re-opens after Banquet. Music by guest DJ, dancing See you in Mobile! Semper Fidelis Jerry Cherne , 3 DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA MARINE CORPS LEAGUE 31ST ANNUAL CONVENTION 10 - 12 June 2016 ***Registration Form*** Name (print): _____________________________________________________________ Detachment: _______________________________________________________________ Department Office Currently Held: ______________________________________________ Detachment Office Currently Held: ______________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________State:____Zip_________Telephone_____________________ Email: ____________________________Spouse/Guest Name_________________________ Meals Friday: on your own or Hospitality Room will be serving free fried catfish, fried shrimp, sides and snacks from 1700 till gone. Open Bar Saturday: Free hot breakfast buffet with a room rental. Lunch is on your own. Banquet: Choices include salad, rolls, tea/coffee, dessert, greens beans and baked potatoes. Sunday: Free hot breakfast buffet with a room rental. Saturday Activity 9:00AM: Tour of Mardi Gras Museum, The Cathedral Basilica, and lunch at “Spot of Tea” restaurant downtown Mobile. $35 per person min 30 people Member Delegate Registration Fee ($10 per person): Qty:____ x $10 Total: $________ Guest Registration Fee ($5 per person): Qty:____ x $5 Total: $________ Saturday Activity (Mardi Gras museum & lunch) ($35 per person): Qty:____ x $35 Total: $________ Saturday Banquet Dinner New York Strip: ($40 per person): Qty:____ x $40 Total: $________ Grilled Grouper: ($40 per person): Qty:____ x $40 Total: $________ Total $______________ Check payable to: Jesse Andrews Jr. Det. MCL Mail to: Marine Corps League Committee Chair Contacts - questions: 6845 Hwy. 90 E A.B. Grantham, 251-680-0006, [email protected] Suite. 105-314 Carl M. Jozaitis, 251-753-1081, [email protected] Daphne, AL 36526 *******OPEN BAR HOSPITALITY ******* 4 Department of Alabama’s Detachments and Commandants Detachment Commandant Commandant’s Address P. L. Wilson Det. #447 Bryan Dewberry Mobile, AL [email protected] 251-533-4218 Meets 2nd Tues - 1800 (meal) & 1900 (meeting) hrs at American Legion Post 88 - 2663 Halls Mill Road, Mobile, AL Howlin' Mad Smith Det. Joe Findley Birmingham, AL [email protected] 205-680-1276 Meets 3rd Sat. - 0900 Hrs at American Legion Post 171 - 8325 1st Ave. N., Birmingham, AL Wiregrass Det. #752 Darrell Langford Dothan, AL [email protected] 334-805-7335 Meets 1st Thur. - 1800 hrs - Golden Corral - 3340 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL Brandon Wilborn Det. #820 James Samuelson Huntsville, AL [email protected] 256-509-0508 or 256-535-0857 Meets 2nd Tues. - 1900 hrs. - 725 Franklin St. S. E., Huntsville, AL 35801 Townsend Det. #920 Dan Newcomer Montgomery, AL [email protected] 334-462-2503 Meets 3rd Sat. - 0830 hrs at American Legion Hdqtrs., 120 N. Jackson St., Montgomery, AL Billy Stelpflug Det. #1064 Grady Jones Auburn, AL [email protected] 334-821-5486 Meets 3rd Sat. - 0730 hrs. for B'fast (0830 Meeting) at Chappy's Deli - 754 E. Gleen Ave., Auburn, AL McLaughlin Det. #1091 Mitchell Chastain Gadsden, AL [email protected] H 256-543-7196 C 256-490-3960 Meets 3rd Sat.at 1000 Hrs at Elliot Community Center, 2829 W. Meighan Blvd. Gadsden, AL Kenny E. Black Det. #1166 Bobby (Skip) Ferguson Athens, AL [email protected] 256-529-5907 Meets 3rd Sat. - 1200 Hrs at Alabama Veterans Museum, 100 Pryor Street West, Athens, AL Johnny M. Spann Det. #1272 Harold Battles comman- Tuscaloosa, AL [email protected] 205-331-9361 Meets @ 1800 hrs @ location noted @ www.