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DEPARTMENT OF ARIZONA 2011 FALL
CONFERENCE
OPENED W/PROPER CEREMONIES (DEPT. CMNDT. /Lake Havasu).
Color Guard posted colors; Cmndt. Watts welcomed attendees and
introduced Mayor Mark Nexsen who expressed his appreciation to
veterans of every branch of the service. After his remarks,
Marine Watts made the mayor an honorary member of the Lake
Havasu City Detachment.
10 Minute Recess
INTRODUCTION OF DIGNITARIES (SGT-AT-ARMS) :
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS (ADJUTANT Reese):
On File / SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
Motion made by Marine Walker to dispense with the reading of the
minutes, seconded by Marine Sekardi - approved unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE: Project underway in Tucson to arrange
for military burial for veterans whose remains have been
abandoned at funeral homes; donations to defray costs needed;
dinner for injured, current and former military members is being
planned for 11/3 at Jimbo’s Goodtime Grill in Mesa – time TBD;
League endorsed Veteran’s Treatment Courts at the National
Convention with a resolution.
REPORT OF PAYMASTER (AM Bellard):
I want to thank the Detachment Paymasters who attended the
training session at the Department Convention. As a result of
this training, there are fewer errors on the transmittals.
Now on to a very important subject; the Paid Life Member Audit.
In order to receive your Paid Life Membership interest payment,
each detachment needs to conduct an audit of their Paid Life
Members. To complete your audit, send me a copy of your June 30th
National Roster with the signatures of your Detachment
Commandant and Detachment Paymaster and a statement saying that
the Paid Life Member Audit was completed on (provide the date).
Then note on the roster which Paid Life Members are deceased or
are no longer a member of your detachment. I will forward your
audit report to National in the same way I forward your
transmittals. Please note that all Paid Life Member Audits must
be received by National no later than Dec. 31, 2011 in order to
receive your interest disbursement.
NO AUDIT – NO
DISBURSEMENT.
Additionally,
at the Department Convention I was requested to make changes to
our CDS so our funds are more accessible and to look into
finding a checking account with lower fees. Unfortunately, in
the short time since the convention, interest rates and bank
fees have changed for the worse as we all know. Therefore I was
advised by our banks to keep our accounts as they are until the
financial situation improves. That is what we are going to do.
As for accessibility to our funds, we can easily make
withdrawals from a balance of over $9,000 in the Scholarship
Money Market Account (which currently earns more interest than a
two year CD having a balance of over $14,000!)
He also files the tax returns for the Department, trains
Paymasters, prepares the draft of the budget and works on the
Life Member audit. He has the audit letter from last year. For
the Paymasters that didn’t attend the training at the last
meeting, please pick up the training materials after this
meaning.
In closing, to help your Department Paymaster project the
availability of funds, please send me an estimate of your
projected expenses as soon as you can.
BUDGET REPORT (Marine Amorose):
He introduced the committee members and then turned the report
back to AM Bellard who went over the proposed budget. Copies
of the proposed budget were sent out to all Detachments prior to
the meeting and were available to all attendees. After going
over the income, expenses and items that are not part of the
budget, and an opportunity for discussion from the floor, the
following motion was made: Motion
made by Marine Walker to accept the budget report, and Paymaster
report,as presented and submitted to the Detachments prior to
the meeting, seconded by Marine Bohach and approved unanimously.
Paymaster Bellard requested a motion to pay the Commandant’s
expenses submitted since the 2011 convention to date. Motion
made by Marine Reese to pay Commandant Romero’s expenses
submitted from the 2011 state convention to date, seconded by
Marine Silvera and approved unanimously.
Cmndt. Romero thanked the attendees for their support and
approval of the budget.
REPORT OF ELECTED OFFICERS
SR. VICE Cruver:
Commandant’s Council Overview:
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Provided copies of reports received at National for the
Commandant’s review/information
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Bylaw changes summary – in
Semper Fi
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Membership problems which are found throughout the League,
primarily retention. Nearly 400 delinquent members in
Arizona. For some, finances are part of the problem. Some
may forget to renew; others may not renew because of
personality conflicts within the Detachment. If you can
help get them back into not only meetings, but to be active
in supporting League programs – do it.
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Legal issues – every Detachment Cmndt. and JA needs to be
very familiar with Chapter 9 of the Administrative
Procedures. Remember – we are adults and need to act
like it. Bringing problems to the Department should be a
last resort. If things are heading towards a Department
action, give a heads up to the Department Cmndt. and JA.
They may be able to give you some ideas to get the problem
solved before it goes any further.
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Detachments shared problems, successes, lack of success and
stories. East Valley Marines donated musical instruments to
Camp Pendleton Wounded Warriors. As a fundraiser, the
Payson Detachment flies flags for local businesses on
holidays for $50 a year.
Marine Expo West sees the largest group of Marine League members
from Arizona helping every year. For those who haven’t been
before, the dates are February 1-2, 2012. We try to attend a
recruit graduation while there.
Cmndt. Romero mentioned that the Semper Fi is a good
source for convention wrap up information.
JR. VICE Ebright:
No Report
JUDGE ADVOCATE Connell:
This is my first report as the newly elected Judge Advocate for
the Department of Arizona having been installed at the State
Convention in June. The Cmndt. has appointed ADC’s. If there
is a problem in your Detachment, go to the ADC before you go to
the Department.
Since that time, I have become involved in 2 new cases that have
been brought to my attention and also am dealing with a case
that has been in the pipeline for a period of time. I hope that
both of the new cases can be remedied in a relatively short
period of time and that the older case can be resolved as soon
as possible.
I would like to see all Judge Advocates of each Detachment make
every effort to resolve problems that arise within their
Detachment prior to submitting it to me for my review and
possible solutions. If, however, the Detachment JA does forward
something to the Department JA for review, then I will expect to
see a chronological order of actions taken and resolutions made
to solve the problems at the local level, before kicking it up
to the Department. If this information is not provided, the
report will be sent back to the Detachment for follow up and
possible resolution before being resubmitted to the Department
Level.
REMEMBER:
Check your personality at the door and come into the door as
a Marine. We take care of each other. Marines don’t start
fights, we finish them.
National Legislative Officer Williams:
We have three subjects to concentrate on:
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House Bill 277: Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans –
Contaminated water act. Waiting for Senate Majority Leader
to put on calendar. Please contact your Senators to ask
that it gets put on the calendar so Marines and their
families can be taken care of. The VFW is opposing the bill
because part of the bill calls for the 3 service
commissaries to be combined into one. Passage of the bill
would allow the VA to provide these service members with
health care.
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Health Issues of woman Marines – Asking VA to do a better
job in providing health care for them.
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Concurrent Receipt – Only pay you your years of service.
When you retire you should have 2.5 years of base pay OR
percentage of disability at time of retirement. The current
law does not allow for the option. For disabled veterans
who rate 100% disability, not in the line of duty, only
receive 50% pay. Trying to get percentile of disability for
veterans.
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National Guard members are not classified as veterans. Bill
has passed all committees to get on the calendar to
hopefully get the bill passed into law and get National
Guard members VA benefits.
REPORT OF APPOINTED OFFICERS
VAVS (Marine Connell):
As
of the 8th of September 2011, the Marine Corps League
– Department of Arizona, minus updated reports from Prescott and
Tucson, had a total of approximately 115 volunteers on the
Regularly Scheduled Volunteer Rolls at the 3 Arizona VA Health
Care Systems. The total number of hours for the period 1
October 2010 to 8 September 2011 reflects that volunteers from
all 3 VAs have volunteered a total of 14,352 hours. We are
falling behind the numbers we projected to exceed from last year
but we might be able to rebound if we can retain our current
volunteer rolls and everyone continues to strive to serve our
Nation’s finest at the various medical centers and outlying
clinics. We need to get the August hours in and then have a
strong showing for the remaining part of September to make a
chase for the goal that we set last September. I want to thank
the VAVS Reps from Prescott and Tucson for submitting most of
their reports on a timely basis. With the continued cooperation
of our volunteers, the Department of Arizona can remain in the
forefront of the national VAVS Program.
We are blowing away the East coast VAVS programs. Keep up the
good work that you all do.
Cmndt. Romero presented a DSA award from National for our VAVS
program. All members in good standing can wear the Meritorious
Service Ribbon if a member from 8/20/10 and 8/20/11. Marine
Dalton will place the certificate onto the website so
Detachments can download a copy.
LEGISLATIVE
(Marine Bohach): (Printed at end of minutes)
15 Minute Recess
PR REPORT (AM Bellard):
Written report provided.
HOMELESS VETERAN’S (Marine Roy):
Information update on Vetraplex on back table. Marine Corps
League Department of Arizona has provided a letter of support of
the concept.
Now that the summer is leaving us we must continue to remember
to diligently with a fiery gung-ho and zestful spirit and deep
hearted aspiration to work with all Veterans and Associated
Local, City, County, State and Federal Agencies on getting our
HOMELESS VETERANS off the streets and into some form of
respectable housing, job training, drugs and alcohol rehab,
psychological medical help etc. I am asking through a separate
e-mail to all Detachment Commandants to review their appointed
coordinators assigned for Homeless Veterans and evaluate if the
job is getting done, is the Detachment involved in anything and
if not WHY. Also they are ask to make sure they
update their coordinator information and supply me with all the
necessary updated contact information so that all Detachments
will have that information to share so when an emergency arises
in their area which may need contacts in others parts of the
State, they will have the necessary point of contact . The
Coordinator is a Mandatory Position and each Department must
have an assigned individual, one who will work the position not
just hold a title. The listing of coordinators should be shared
with all Commandants and their Staff; I will personally e-mail
this list to all Coordinators and the Commandants, where it will
be their responsibility to disperse the information.
The coordinators job is to represent the Detachment in their
local area, be the go to contact person to assist any Homeless
Veterans from any Branch of Service and includes Female and Male
Veterans and their Families. They should have a local listing of
all pertinent agencies (including Police and Fire Dept.),
shelters, transitional and affordable housing facilities, food
banks, charities, clothing/housing items essentials (ex.
Furniture, Dishes, Bedding). Be on all of these above resources
e-mail list, receiving pertinent information, attending some of
their meetings, assisting with their project etc. etc. etc., all
along passing this information to their Detachment and getting
Volunteers to assist also in this endeavor. Finding out and
work with the StandDowns that are annual events in Tucson,
Prescott and the Phoenix area (February 2nd – 5th)
and possibly one in the works for Yuma.
With a buddy or more, visit these Homeless where they live and
hang out on the streets, shelters, soup kitchen – talk to them,
listen to them, bond with them and help them. That’s where the
resources you collected comes in handy. The Police and Fire
Dept. know where they are, they are involved with them every
day. Work with their office and they will assist you. You must
go out to them; they will not come to you.
Yes there is a lot of hatred, distrust and repugnant attitudes
out there from these Homeless Veterans toward the Veterans
Administration treatment of them. You yourself are
knowledgeable about this. Today’s Veterans are the majority
from the Korean War area (forgotten war/police action) and
Vietnam War (unpopular/agent orange/baby killers), don’t forget
how we were treated and untreated in our PTSD issues etc. Let
us NOT, yes NOT let our current Veterans, homeless or not be
allowed to be treated the same way.
At the Conference I will also have packages of pamphlets etc.
from the Social Security Department. They have help for the
Wounded Warriors even if they are already receiving some form of
Military Disability and or Tricare. Don’t know all the
specifics but I have the information for you to research more to
help our Veterans. There will be one for each
Coordinator/Detachment and will be distributed during the
Commandants Council. Remember to sometimes help our Veterans
from getting Homeless is to help them before they do.
That’s why Mary Ellen’s Place was so important and the next
project Sallie’s Place for Female Veterans and Children will be
just as much a priority. What is your local area or
Detachment Priority? I ask you, let us know your activities.
Go out there, get involved, remember our pains and be there to
assist in healing theirs. For we are ONE NATION UNDER GOD and
WHERE ALL MEN AND YES!!! WOMEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. Uncle Sam
once needed us now our Homeless Veterans need You and Your
Detachment.
Suicide Hotline Open 24/7: 1-877-4AIDVET.
Marine Hensley suggested getting key chains made with this
number. Marine Connell said there is a suicide prevention
office at the Prescott VA that has various types of media with
the number. You can get key chains, magnets and other things
there.
Cmndt. reminded attendees the importance of passing information
along when received from the Adjutant and/or WebSgt.
Commandants – this is your responsibility!!!
Sedona Detachment won 1st Place for their scrapbook
in the Americanism competition at National. OOORAH!
MARINES HELPING MARINES (Marine Dellacort): Two
donations have been received as of 18 August:
Ira Hayes Detachment $250
Wild West Detachment $250 Thanks Ira Hayes and Wild West.
Donations made at National Convention-Boise:
Marines Helping Marines Raffle:
Ticket Sales $12,685
Prize Money $ 3,950
Operation Cost-Mailing/printing $ 2,575
Total Operations Cost $ 6,525
Proceeds-for MHM $
6,160
Arizona bought $645 of the tickets.
Barbara Frushion sold raffle tickets for her husband's Stilleto.
He was a Carlson's Raider. She found it in an old chest. Bob
was a member of Copper State Detachment and Thumb Butte Pound
310. She sold $2,285 and donated all of it to Marines Helping
Marines.
Marines in the various facilities still total around 400. There
is a constant turnover of Marines and FMF Corpsmen. They still
need our help. We hope that all Detachments will step up during
this year with a donation.
MARINE- 4-LIFE (AM Bellard):
With the departure of my contact in California and the slow
activity here in Arizona there has been little progress since my
report at the convention.
However, the good news is that I met some of the Marine for Life
Program personnel at the National Convention where we discussed
getting our department web page to be a part of the official
Marine for Life Program.
In the mean time, I will continue to post any new information as
it comes in while waiting for renewed activity with our Home
Town Links.
He met some good contacts while in Boise who will help him to
officially become part of the MFL program and be able to more
information. They are impressed with our Program here in
Arizona.
Please take a look at our M4L web page which can be easily
accessed from the Links page on the Department Website and let
me know how I can better serve you and our Transitioning Marines
wanting to find employment.
CHAPLAIN (Marine Harris):
Twelve members have passed away since June convention; sympathy
cards have been sent.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE (Marine Vogler):
Scholarship Committee report which covers the period of June
2011 until present.
Committee Members
Bill Ebright, Warren Quirk, Keith Vogler (Chair)
Status
The scholarship is now named “Frank
Weinke/David Robinson DEPARTMENT OF ARIZONA Marine Corps League
SCHOLARSHIP” and it will be available on the Department
website before the end of the calendar year. A note will be
sent to all Detachments when it is available.
FINANCIAL
The Scholarship fund balance is available from the Department
Paymaster and will be a part of his Fall Conference Report.
No solicitation letters have been written lately because of the
economic situation. My reasoning is that by writing now it
might be inappropriate to write again when the economy turns
around.
He reminded that there were only three applicants last year.
Please go to your local schools and let them know about this
scholarship so we can get more applicants.
WEB/SGT.
REPORT (Marine Dalton):
Some good
news and some bad news…I
will start with the bad. As
most of you know the Dept. uses Verizon to maintain the website.
Some time ago,
I established an
auto withdrawal from the National Bank of Arizona
to Verizon. The way Mike Bellard
and I have
set it up is we pay quarterly. Every
four months,
Mike sends me a check and I put my check with it,
and then
deposit it in the bank which gives us four months ahead of the
withdrawal from Verizon. Well
with no notification from Verizon,
someone there stopped the auto
withdrawal. Not
knowing that it was stopped and thinking Verizon was taking the
payment out each month, one day I get a bill for $148.00 dollars
in arrears. I
called Verizon and asked
what was going on. No one would fess
up so
I reopened the auto payment account, and paid what was owed
over the phone. We
are now
back
on track as of 1
August 2011.
The good news...We went from $60.00 a month to $50.00 a month.
Mike
and I decided to keep the payments the same to give us a buffer.
So
each month we are gaining on our account, with a small surplus.
Send me your Detachment MC Birthday ball info and I will
put it on the website for you.
QUARTERMASTER (Marine Sekardi): No
Report
HISTORIAN/YOUNG MARINES (Marine Alger, Jr.):
Absent
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
BYLAWS CHANGE (Marine Walker): Adding
to Section 300B of our Administrative Procedures as discussed at
the June state convention specific procedure on how the
Commandant, or his designee, will be reimbursed for
travel-related expenses.
Marine Roy made a motion to add to the Department of Arizona
Administrative Procedures a paragraph allowing reimbursement for
the Commandant, or his designee, for travel expenses in specific
amounts to National, Quin, Expo and travel within the state of
Arizona, seconded by Marine Reese; approved unanimously.
DEPARTMENT FUND RAISERS (Marine Ebright):
Sixty tickets left to sell. Winning detachment gets $250.
Proceeds from this raffle are included in the budget. We hope
to raffle the ring in December. Money and the ticket stubs
should be sent to the Department Paymaster.
He showed some bracelets that they use for fundraisers. If you
want some, let him or his Paymaster know. They cost .20 each.
An order will be placed in October.
A department golf tournament fundraiser is being planned for May
2012. Marine Herrera provided details. He sent a letter to ten
golf courses asking a variety of questions about what they allow
and provide. Once he has all the details, he will forward it to
the Cmndt. and the Detachments. Each Detachment will be asked
to sponsor a hole or get a sponsor for one.
DESERT YOUNG MARINE PRESENTATION –
Shannon Orick, Regimental Commander, and two Young Marines
provided information on the program and their roles in it. The
Lake Havasu Detachment is forming a unit.
NEW BUSINESS
BYLAWS CHANGE (Marine MacIntyre):
Arizona Veteran’s Hall of Fame – Marine Sahno will be inducted,
bringing us to a total of 17 inductees.
He made a motion that the Department
of Arizona pay for the meals of the Department Commandant and
his/her guest at the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Induction
Ceremony Luncheon at which one or more MCL member(s) is/are
among the inductees; seconded by Marine Roy and approved
unanimously.
Marine MacIntyre is going to propose a uniform change to Uniform
Code, Chapter 13-07, X(10) Medallions that would add the
following sentence, “The wearing of a medallion other than
those listed in the Marine Corps League uniform Code can only be
authorized by submitting a written request to and receiving
approval from the Marine Corps League National Board of Trustees”.
Motion made by Marine MacIntyre that the Department of Arizona
support the proposed change to Uniform Code, Chapter13-07, X(10)
Medallions; seconded by Marine Stephenson and approved
unanimously.
NATIONAL CONVENTION UPDATES (Cmndt. Romero):
Still discussion on what’s appropriate dress at meetings. The
only required article of clothing is the cover. You are
then considered “under arms” and can salute indoors. The white
duty belt can only be worn with the undress white shirt
or l/s white shirt and only by Color/Honor Guards. Only ten
bylaws changes were proposed. Next year’s convention will be in
Mobile, AL. Information will be in the Semper Fi and on
the National website. In 2013, the convention will be in Grand
Rapids, MI.
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA (Marine Stephenson)
– Discussed the Wreaths across America program
that takes place in December each year. As part of the
program, a moment of silence is held on the day of the
ceremonies. The Tucson Chapter of Gold Star Mothers will
be a sponsoring organization for ceremonies on December 10 at
1000. Donations will be needed to make this event
succeed, as well as volunteers. Please contact Marine
Stephenson for other fundraising events.
GOOD OF THE LEAGUE
MEMBERS BUSINESS DIRECTORY (AM Bellard):
At the national convention, he discovered that there is a need
and strong desire for a Marine’s business directory. He has
received support from his Detachment, the Department and
Division. He has now created a directory for businesses that
are owned or operated by Marines, FMF Corpsmen, their families,
or Associate Members. He has launched a website with
information on how to get started, application, advertising
rates and other helpful information. The directory is called
the Scarlet and Gold Business Directory. Please support this
website and post information about this website on your own
websites. AM Bellard intends to spread the word about this
directory to other Veterans’ groups and to the media. The
intent is to encourage the public to do business with businesses
that are owned by Marines. The website is
www.scarletandgoldbusinessdirectory.com
He knows there are risks of fraudulent users and is taking steps
to prevent it. Please help him by providing information or
suggestions on keeping the information safe. He has also
created a separate but similar website to serve all
veterans and to include the other branches of the military.
Part of the proceeds from this service will be donated to
Marines Helping Marines.
MARINES HELPING MARINES:
Sedona donated $1,000 to the Marines Helping Marines.
FUNDING – NOT:
Marine Roy did not ask for any funding.
MARINE CORPS FOUNDATION:
Marine Cruver asked who was familiar with the Marine Corps
Foundation. The foundation has a contingency fund for
emergencies that could help homeless veterans. Contact a board
member for assistance.
AWARDS:
Streamers for Colors at National: Old
Breed/Department/Sedona/Copper State.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SPRING STAFF CONFERENCE: Territorial
Detachment is hosting the spring staff conference but did not
provide dates and hotel information for this meeting. They will
be contacted to determine why the information was not provided.
2012 Meetings: State – Lake Havasu- Fall – Saguaro.
We need hosts for 2013 – please let us know by Spring staff
conference.
MEETING ADJOURNED with proper ceremonies.
Respectfully
submitted,
Kathy L. Reese
Kathy L. Reese, Adjutant
Department of Arizona and Southwest Division
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