The Official Newsletter of the Department of Alabama Marine Corps League Volume III September 2016 www.alabamamcl.org Dianna Grantham Editor 93rd National Convention in Tulsa, OK 1240 Palmetto Ct Mobile, AL 36695 251-377-9818 [email protected] Commandant Jerry Cherne 251-554-7676 [email protected] Sr Vice Commandant AB Grantham 251-680-0006 [email protected] Jr Vice Commandant Mike Walton 344-712-6843 [email protected] Judge Advocate Don Fisher 334-221-3175 [email protected] Adjutant Ed Mason 256-90-6729 Summary of Highlights [email protected] August 7 – 13, 2016 Tulsa, OK Paymaster Darrell Langford 334-805-7335 Department of Alabama was represented by 7 Detachments [email protected] Budget – Much discussion – and approved Chaplain Reports to National are online – Use them John Burks, Jr. 205-587-8634 Microsoft users: Must use Internet Explorer; Edge does not work with reports [email protected] After filling in report. Save it and email it to National No Transmittals may be sent via email but one copy must be mailed with payment Sergeant at Arms Headquarters is moving to Quantico area about October 2016 John Reid 251– 404-492 About 4 miles from main gate of Quantico on Jefferson Davis Highway [email protected] Heavy Marine Corps traffic Current building “falling apart” and in “very bad area” Jr. Past Commandant Some of the new office employees were introduced. Jack Hopping 205-983-3138 [email protected] Semper Fi magazine Current Publisher has been fired! Continued on page 3 & 4 1 Commandant’s Corner Another Department Convention is behind us. I thank Jesse Andrews Jr and P.L. Wilson Detachment’s for jointly hosting the convention. I heard nothing but com- pliments from attendees. From registration, auction room, hospitality room, meeting facility and finally to the banquet with our outstanding guest speaker SgtMaj Bryan Battaglia; your teams planned and executed as Marines do. Job well done to both Detachments! We all had a good time and I hope learned some things. Special recognition goes to Carl Jozaitis and A.B. Grantham for their hard work and diligence. See you all in Dothan next year. I also want to thank the membership for re-electing me as your Department Com- mandant, an honor I do not deserve. I pledge to do my very best for the next year and to always keep in mind the good of the League, the Department and our members. If you would like me to attend a specific event or meeting at your De- tachment, let me know and I’ll make every effort to attend. The earlier the re- quest the better. The National Convention is also behind us. Representation by the Detachments was very good. According to my informal tally, Alabama is 20th in the Nation as far as current election voting members, however like last year; we had the 5th most votes. Next year the National Convention is in Overland Park Kansas. If you are thinking about attending, make your reservations soon. Be aware that once you make reservations, your credit card will be immediately charges for one night’s stay. Should you cancel your reservation later, it will be refunded to your credit card if cancelled within the hotel’s cancellation policy. National Headquarters will be moving from their current location in D.C. to about a mile from Quantico’s gate. They will have a much better facility and in the long run, save money. Our national staff is getting things on track. There have been quite a few necessary personnel changes. My personal opinion is that things are moving in the right direction. For example, transmittals are now processed within one work day. We have quality leadership and many are putting in many, many hours trying to make things better, but it takes time. Some significant bylaw changes were approved at the convention. For the most part these changes were unanimously ap- proved by the membership. We’ll talk more about this at our quarterly meeting. One change is that we are transitioning to new membership due dates. Everyone will be due 31 Aug each year. The National website is more responsive in that staff can make changes as needed and when needed. Remember, all forms are available on the National website. I recall Past Department Commandant Johnny Baker mentioning this several times when he was Department Commandant, Jack Hopping did the same and I have followed their example. If a member represents your Detachment at any convention, they should always submit a written report to the Detachment Staff Officers if not the whole Detachment. This is especially true if the Detachment is paying the expenses of the attendee. Get your money’s worth, learn something and pass it on. I rec- ommend including this in your admin procedures or bylaws, or at least vote on it so it is entered into the record. As always, recruiting is important but recruit smart! Retention is even more important. We have several Detachments that should be embarrassed in regards to retention. You know who you are. If the shoe fits… get with it while you still have a De- tachment. OORAH and Semper Fidelis Alabama Marines! Jerry Cherne Commandant, Department of Alabama "Marines don't know how to spell the word defeat" (General James Mattis) 2 93 rd National Convention .. Continued New publisher (Las Vegas, NV) begins early next year. New publisher of family owned and operated business introduced, she took Conven- tion notes and asked that we “send her MCL sto- ries” Working on an electronic magazine but use paper magazine to leave in barbershops and other areas for others to see. Recruitment/Membership New younger Marines: “Give me two hours a month” may include meeting. Must have fun activ- ities that younger Marines will be attracted to. “New” Website pages Making good progress and higher security level Locator page now active – ensure National has Gen. Robert B Neller Commandant of the Marine Corps guest speaker at Nati;l Convention. Spoke about importance of “once a Marine, Always a Marine”. Detachments’ current officers, email and physical ad- dress. Locator Page divided by annual hits, each De- tachment receives average of 100 hits so if infor- mation is incorrect you are shooting yourself in foot. Descriptions of the proposed changes below can be found at: http://mclnational.org/Documents/ NationalByLaws/2016ProposedChanges/tabid/1017/ Default.aspx Bylaw Changes (proposed) see national website At the meeting, Representing the great Department of Alabama Jerry Cherne, AB Grantham, Dianna Grantham, Don Fischer and of course Johnny Baker. Nat’l Judge Advocate for details of proposed changes Change #1 – Rejected Change #2 – Rejected Change #3 – Adopted New Paragraph (5) passed Change #4 – Adopted Johnny Baker’s Associate Member lan- guage passed Change #5 – Tabled Discusses Active Duty Marine Honorary membership. Reserve personnel are not included in Honorary Membership classification. Proposal needs work; will be resub- Nat’l Commandant Richard Gore Presenting Johnny Baker mitted. with 1st for the McLaughlin Detachment Scrapbook 3 93 rd National Convention .. Continued Change #6 – Adopted with minor changes from that published. VERY IMPORTANT! Common renewal date See article in this newsletter for details No renewal notices from National: Detachment must handle Change #7 – Rejected Unused life member fees will remain at National Change #8 (not on scheduled amendments) – Adopted Section 645 (c) New formula for distribution of PLM funds: Use 3-year average Change #8 (not on scheduled amendments) – Adopted Suspension for this convention only requiring Colors to be physically present to receive streamer. Must have at least one Regular member present at Convention Administrative Changes (proposed) Change #1 – Adopted Concerning Section 805, Subsidiary Organizations Change #2 Rejected (Section 912) Enclosure changes proposed Change #1 Rejected – Cover emblem for Navy Corpsmen Change #2 Enclosure 3 – Rejected Change #3 Enclosure 3 – Adopted (with amendment) Wearing American Flag pin on left side jacket lapels Change #4 Enclosure 3 – Rejected Change #1 Enclosure 4 – Rejected Associate of the Year medallion Change #2 Enclosure 4 – Adopted with amendment Pennsylvania ribbon Change #3 Enclosure 4 –Adopted Backdating to 1/1/2010 Ceremonial Guard ribbon i.e. Color Guard Convention Committee Approved 2017 Convention in Overland Park (Kansas City), Kansas August 13 – 18, 2017 Rejected 2018 Convention in Charleston, WV No additional proposals Service Dogs – Must notify Convention Director in advance of meeting (Serious dog bite occurred at this Conven- tion– was not a credentialed service dog) PNC Council Report: As a cost savings measure, consider changing Life Membership metal card to plastics. National Controller Bill Miller: Detachments must perform Life Member audits in order to get reimbursement from National or “you don’t get your money” Alabama Awards – Some of the awards given out included: Americanism (Category 1) – McLaughlin Detachment, 1st Place Americanism (Category 3) – PL Wilson Detachment, 2nd Place Department Newsletter, 3rd Place (thank you Dianna Grantham) Nomination and voting on National Officers for 2016 – 2017 year All prior year officers were nominated and elected National Commandant: Richard Gore National Senior Vice Commandant: Wendell Webb National Junior Vice Commandant: Dennis Tobin National Judge Advocate: Johnny Baker Guest speaker at banquet was Commandant of the Marines Corps, General Robert Neller 4 2017 Southeast Division Conference Marine Corps League 30 March –