2015 Febtx Marine Feb 2014S
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Robert “Bob” Ogg Department of TEXAS Commandant Marine Corps League February Edition 2014 The “Texas Marine” is a quarterly newsletter published by the Department of Texas Marine Corps League and posted to the Internet at web site www.texasmcl.org. Editor/Publisher - BERNIE & JUANITA O’DELL 515 Hall Street ~ Graham, TX 76450 ~ (940) 549-3944 ~ [email protected] Commandant Robert “Bob” Ogg [email protected] Robert “Bob” Ogg, Department of Texas Commandant Sr. Vice Commandant (903) 652-5601 (H) • [email protected] Amado Trevino [email protected] TIME FLIES WHEN you Jr. Vice Commandant are having fun. I have constructed my Charles Ynman [email protected] short timer’s calendar for the termination of my tour in June. Judge Advocate I look back with Dennis Bradford some satisfaction at [email protected] the things that we Adjutant/Paymaster have accomplished, Polly Weidenkopf and view with exasperation the same–o [email protected] same-o problems that we have been plagued Sergeant-At-Arms with for the last two years. I still cannot understand when I hear Ron Tomonelli someone state , “I just didn’t get the word.” I marvel at the [email protected] dedication and hard work of some Detachment Commandants Chaplain and District Vice Commandants, but hang my head in despair at Alex Azar the shady performance of some of the others. In the civilian [email protected] world, you strive to be a good manager. In the Marine Corps Jr. Past Commandant League, as in the Marine Corps, you need to strive to be a good R.J. “Bob” Quinn leader. There is a difference between management and [email protected] leadership. The finger pointing syndrome is all too prevalent with some – “I told my Paymaster he had to do that and he just didn’t do it.” I have news for that Commandant - he is Amado Trevino responsible for everything that Department of Texas happens or does not happen Sr. Vice Commandant in his Detachment. Lead, (361) 960-0143 (H) follow, or get out of the way. [email protected] National has finally come up with an incentive for our membership retention and I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD a recruiting problems. A $1,000 reward is offered to Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I would the winning Detachment. like to thank everybody who has been turning in Maybe it will encourage some Detachment their Activity Reports. I know that it’s something that takes some time to complete. There are still Commandants to find out some Detachments out there that are doing where the “not paid” activities and not reporting them. information is. The Jr. Vice We are still having some minor problem with Commandant has all of the details. the way some reports are being filled out, but nothing that we can’t fix. Some of you that are Texas is a big state; subsequently we have the reporting Memorial Team activities are putting Department divided into eight (8) Districts, with a them on one line. Example: 6 funerals, 6 members District Vice Commandant for each who is a very for a total of 36 members and when important link to the Detachments. When elections are held in June, I implore each member to select a you write them in at 36 the web site will give you 41 points, Vice Commandant who is up to the responsibilities whereas if you were to put it as and requirements of the office. If the District Vice 6 members for each funeral Commandant does not do what he is supposed to on one line 6 times you would do, all the Detachments in the District will suffer. get 66 points. Same thing The Southern Division Conference will be held th th happens when you combine activities like March 14 – 16 , 2014, in Paris. The attending convention days: some of you will put last conference was held in Tulsa attended convention 4 days x 6 members on the sponsored by Oklahoma and was an line you put 24 members it will give you 34 points elaborate affair. This conference is sponsored by the Auxiliary - their first whereas if you were to put in 4 lines at 6 members per line you would get 64 points. time to sponsor a conference. Although I received an e-mail from not as elaborate as Tulsa, the Auxiliary, our Commandant where and the city of Paris, are gearing up to Marine Bill Hamby wants to show everyone a good time. Registration forms, schedule and hotel information is on the make changes to the Department activity awards Department web site. Detachments should try to by adding other things to the get their ads in as quickly as possible. reports. I personally think that what he wants to add should be a separate report that the Detachment Adjutant or Paymaster should fill out and then award the Detachment that submitted them. As it is now, some Detachments are not even submitting Activity Reports. Hope to see you at the Southern Division th March 14 . Don’t forget that in June I will need your support when I run for Commandant. TEXAS MARINE WINTER Edition - 2 - February 2014 your suggestion on how we can overcome the decrease in membership and also increase the Charles Ynman retention of our present members. I assure you that Department of Texas all suggestions will be presented to the Board of Jr. Vice Commandant Trustees, placed into discussion, and implemented (281) 496-7424 (H) where possible. [email protected] Your Department Officers believe that the most important members are those who wear the red cover. Please join us to show all Marines what IN COMBAT, SUCCESS is not the Marine Corps League is all about. achieved by one single member of a team, but by the strength of the Marines who surround that member. It is the same in the Marine Corps League, which is made up of single members, Detachments and the Department of Texas. I have contacted many of you for your suggestions about how we can recruit new members into the Marine Corps League. Your ideas are varied and Dennis Bradford come not only from Department of Texas Detachment Judge Advocate Commandants and District (936) 569-8789 (H) Vice Commandants, but also from [email protected] individual members. These members see the necessity to make efforts to HAPPY NEW YEAR and greetings recruit and are looking toward the League from Deep East Texas! We are just a few days into leadership to create programs. 2014. As we enter a period when some National has recently announced that a Detachment will receive $1,000 if they are the Detachments are preparing to elect officers for the coming year, and with the Department Convention Detachment in the Nation that recruits the most just around the corner, it is a good time to think new members. How can we enhance that about the position of Judge promotion? Many Marines that we try Advocate (JA), what the to recruit tell us that they did not know the Marine Corps League Judge Advocate does, and what is expected of the existed. Why is the MCL the best person elected to the office. kept secret? We need your help to In a nutshell, the Judge come up with a program to not only Advocate is the keeper, protector, and counselor of increase the membership of a few Detachments, but also to develop a the bylaws, policies, and procedures that govern a Detachment. program that will help all our Texas Detachments. So, what does all that mean? The person who The Marine Corps does a super job of holds the office must be familiar with all Bylaws, advertising. The Marine Corps Administrative Procedures, and Robert’s Rules of recruiting program is the most successful of all the services. Order, as well as any policies established by the League. It is not necessary to memorize them, but Where have we failed in the it should be possible to find specific information Detachments to match the success within a reasonable time. When called upon, the JA of the National recruiting program? renders opinions and clarifications upon portions I challenge each Marine Corps League Officer and individual that come into question. It is the responsibility of the Judge Advocate to insure that the Detachment member to send me an e-mail with TEXAS MARINE WINTER Edition - 3 - February 2014 abides by its own bylaws, as well as those of the Department and National. Members are often surprised to Polly Weidenkopf find that each Detachment of the Department of Texas Marine Corps League is a business Adjutant/Paymaster (remember the incorporation when (972) 480-0309 (H) the Detachment was first chartered?), [email protected] and, therefore, is governed by both state and federal laws and regulations that apply. The Judge Advocate must also be knowledgeable of and guard that the Detachment abides by the I DO NOT HAVE an article for this laws governing operation of not-for-profit issue, but thought this fact might be of interest: corporations within the state. The JA also audits the W.T. White High School MCJROTC has a new procedures, signatures, and finances of the drill hall on the school campus. The building has Detachment. been named the Master Gunnery Sergeant Polly So, as you see, the Judge Advocate is an Weidenkopf Drill Hall. It was dedicated on 14 important part of every Detachment – one part November. To say the least, I was very surprised referee, one part lawyer, and most honored. one part accountant, one part high-stakes As many of you know, Polly is Executive negotiator.