Marine Corps League 1426 East Fort Avenue (#17 Fire House) Baltimore, Maryland 21230-5247 Baltimore Detachment #565 Phone: 410-547-7699 http://www.mclbaltimore.org Earl Ruff, Jr.* Commandant July 2016 * Vol . 20, No. 7 * Stuart Blair, Editor MCL Mideast Division Conference 24-25 June * Hilton Wilmington/Christiana * Newark, Delaware Most MCL members representing North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the host Department of Delaware arrived Friday 24 June to register. Then socialized in the hospitality room, while others made their way to the hotel restaurant. Later that evening the Devil Dogs gathered for the MED Growl (report in MODD Article) On Saturday at 0900 the annual MED Meeting was opened by host Dept of DE Commandant - Raymond Snyder presiding, with opening ceremony conducted by the New Castle County Young Marines, New Castle County, DE and Delaware State Police Pipe & Drum. Mideast Div NVC Mike McLain gave welcome comments followed by Joint Memorial Service was conducted by Mideast Division Chaplain Lee Taylor. Dignitaries were recognized by the MVC McLain Joint Opening Guest Speaker –Theresa Hancock - Director Dept of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Veterans and Gave a talk on veteran Health Information Regular business followed with Staff Officers and Department officers’ reports Department Commandant’s Reports Awards were presented to MCL MED Leaders by NVC McLain, concluding with Good of the League and announcements. In the afternoon of the 25th: Professional Development Training: Nat JA Johnny Baker and Div Adjutant Roger Ware held a discussion of the 2016 Proposed National Bylaws and AP. Adjutant spoke about new 990N filing site, Nonprofit status, Required reports for detachments, division roster and need for email address for all detachments and departments for more communications, need for all activities to be approved by membership for coverage under corporate status and insurance policy. Including all admin reports into monthly meeting minutes for continuity and reference. Adjutant talked about voting by delegates for the bylaws and elections. All delegates must ensure they vote the wishes of their detachment. Ensure your National BL and AP are current with all changes. *Proposed Bylaw Changes _ page 3 The Conference Banquet was held later Saturday evening with the presentation of Division Marine of the Year NVC Mike McLain. Commandant’s Message Jr. Vice Commandant Message Greetings Marines, Greeting Marines, This past month has been somewhat of a quiet one, The Over the last weekend, I encountered a couple of former Mid East Conference was held in Delaware and was Marines and drew them into a conversation about the attended by some of our members. There will be info from Marine Corps League. That is something that happens that Conference in this issue of Gung Ho. There was a to most of us, weekly or more. I let them know about the monthly letter from the National Commandant stating some Detachment and meeting dates and times and of the changes in personal at National Hq and some new encouraged them to stop by. It happens often when you and improved services for the membership. Hopefully are least prepared, no pen, no paper, and no business everyone will get a chance to read this letter for more th card to pass out. It costs us in the way of membership details. In closing wish everyone a safe and enjoyable 4 of when we can’t make a solid connection. The July holiday. Detachment has blank applications available for the S/F asking but rarely do we remember to grab a few. We all Earl Ruff Jr may have the good intentions but it slips the mind. Commandant It brought to mind the old Boy Scout motto, of “Be Prepared” and it occurred to me that there is something Sr. Vice Commandant’s Message we all could do and don’t. As members of the Marine Corps League, we all receive our regular copies of the Greetings, magazine, ‘Semper Fi’. In each issue, there is page of membership applications. We rarely do anything with I would like to congratulate all of the parents and those forms, they never get used. Just how difficult grandparents who had young adults or adults in their would it be to snip those forms from the magazine and families who graduated from high school or college this slip a few in our wallets, glove compartments, desk year. I am sure that there was much pride and happiness drawers or lockers at work? Having them on hand for expressed at the graduation ceremonies. Also, we are someone to fill out gives us contact info and at least a proud of the students from Fort McHenry Elementary/Middle tacit commitment for a prospective new member. It also School who graduated this year and we hope that they shows that we are a group of serious fellows, enjoy their summer break. participating in an organization that is actively recruiting This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my first new members. Mideast Division Conference in Newark, Delaware. It was very interesting and there were eighteen people from With that in mind, I present a small challenge to Maryland in attendance. Many different topics were Detachment members. From now on, as soon as we get discussed and awards were given to the Young Marines, our issue of ‘Semper Fi’, pick up a pair of scissors and hotel staff and various Marines in the Mideast Division for clip them right then and there. Stick a few in your wallet the work they performed during the year. The banquet was or clip them to the visor in your car. Look through the enjoyable, the food was good and I had an opportunity to piles of past issues sitting around the house and clip network with the wives and Marines at our table. To my those, to keep handy at work, in your desk or your surprise, there were only three female Marines at the lockers. People tend to take your invitation and offer conference and two were from Maryland. There was a 50- more serious when you actually have a document in 50 drawing at the banquet and a silent auction of statues of your hands that carries the weight of the Marine Corps Marines which you could purchase at the winning bid price. League. Let’s give it a try and see if it helps us in recruiting prospective new members and associate By now, I hope that everyone has received a copy of the members for the Detachment. It would also help if we flyer announcing our proposed trip for a crab feast and trip actually knew the address and phone number of the to a Delaware Casino. So if you are interested you may call Detachment home. Put that info on a slip of paper and me (410-358-5727) or any member of the Detachment store it in the wallet or desk also. Telling someone to regarding this trip. We look forward to you helping make look out for the firehouse with the US and Marine Corps this a successful event and the funds will be used to support flags on Fort Avenue is not enough. our special projects. Before you know it, it will be time to start collecting toys for Semper Fi our Toys for Tots Program. I have some new ideas which I Ray Vaughn, JVC hope will help us collect more toys this year and with your help, we will make this year more successful than our past years. Respectfully Submitted Marian C. James, SVC - 2 - 2016 National Proposed Bylaws changes Chaplain’s Report Bylaws 1. Establishes terms where National staff can serve longer except NC - 2 years, NVC 2 and elected for 1 term, all others: SVC, JVC, JA and ANVC can be elected and then reelected without restriction. 2. Divisions that host the Nat Convention would purchase $1500 in challenge coins for the MCL Foundation for Quiet Time sole purpose of purchasing next set of coins. Our lives may be busy or hectic. Our days may seem 3. Would allow 1/3 of the Nat BOT to be a quorum for full of other people's needs and demands on us. But, we emergency or immediate meetings. can always find a few minutes to be quietly alone with 4. Such member shall not vote on any regular or associate ourselves. This time is important because it helps us membership applications; cannot participate in the maintain balance between our outer and inner worlds. It nomination process and/or elections of officers; or hold gives us a chance to remember our true beliefs, goals, an elective office. Would allow Associate members right and spirituality. It revives and refreshes us for the work to vote in internal affairs of detachment but not change we need to do. We can spend this time with our eyes what is current including BL and BL changes. closed, relaxing our bodies, and breathing deeply and 5. Listing for implementation of Honorary Active Duty slowly. Or we can just focus on watching the sun setting Member. Detachments may, issue free of charge or listening to birds singing. We can empty our minds of Honorary Membership. They do not count as delegates worry about the past and future, concentrating only on and cannot hold an elected office. Would not be issued a the present moment. Our Quiet Time is just for us. We printed publication but will be eligible to obtain free copy need and deserve it, and it's up to us to take it. of the official publication on line. 6. Would change to have all annual dues expire on Aug 31 Semper Fi Prayer and change membership fees for new members joining Please remember our sick in your thoughts and prayers between 1 Mar and Aug 30 to $10.00 plus $5.00 for George Adams (Hip Surgry), "Dapper"Dan Donnelly, initiation fees.