Fellow members, friends, Welcome to the many new individuals on this update list. For the benefit of the first timers receiving this update, this email list is to be used exclusively for the passing of information concerning the Montford Point Marine Association. Please do not forward the names on this list for any other purpose. Please do forward this information to anyone you determine appropriate. Your passing of this information helps get the word out about our efforts.
Hurricane Katrina: has affected many of our lives and the lives of our family and friends. Chicago Chapter Norman Brown has suggested that we call on members to lend a hand to those in need. The below message comes from a dear friend and former Marine. Master Sergeant (retired) Jacqueline Bazile and I attended the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Course together 10 years ago and we both served as Equal Opportunity advisors in the Marine Corps. The Master Sergeant and her Church and Blood family are in dire need of monetary assistance. Please read her message and send what you can. This horrific event has touched many of us but few as directly as Master Sergeant Bazile and her family.
My name is Jacqueline J. Bazile, US Marine Corps Retired. The Bazile/Britton/O’Conner families have over 100 displaced family members who live in New Orleans. As you know these loved ones have lost EVERTHING. Through my church, we are raising funds to assist these family members in starting their life over. We currently have 8 new family members in our home and we have converted our garage. As I type, another 6 are on the way. We have immediate, as well as distant relatives still unaccounted for. ANY ASSISTANCE IS APPRECIATED. Some children have already been admitted to schools in my area of Houston (actually a suburb, Pearland). Anyone donating will receive a receipt from New Life Temple Church, Inc which has official and legal non-profit status. Anyone wishing to speak to any victims please call my home at 281-489-1943. The following information is provided: New Life Temple Church, INC My Name and address: ID: 742168508 Jacqueline Bazile (Attn: BZF) 3518 Whitestone Dr. 4828 Almeda Genoa Rd, Pearland, TX 77584 Houston, TX 77048 (281) 489 1943 (home) (713) 991-5972 (281) 627-3070 FAX (713) 991-2694
If members prefer to send a check via the Association please send to me and make check out to MPMA and put “Hurricane Relief” in the memo section. I will ensure monies received are routed through the National Financial Secretary and to our National Treasurer before dispensed. My contact information is at the bottom of this update.
I have spoken with our Parliamentarian, Aaron German and he and his family have evacuated from New Orleans and they are in good health in Mississippi. Aaron may be reached at 662-843-9300 Room 303. He expressed to tell all that he and his family appreciate all the prayers. Also, New Orleans Grandville Alexander Chapter member Ken Streeter has also evacuated and is in Alcorn, MS. Ken may be reached at 601-877-2836.
Many of you have been inquiring about the health of our Credentials Director, Gus Willis. I have spoken to Gus very recently and he is in great spirits. Gus is recuperating from his surgery at the home of his Daughter, Valerie, in Menifee California and expects to be back at his San Diego home by late September. Gus asked me to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers while he works hard to get his health back so he can continue his work with the San Diego Chapter and the National Office.
Fall Council: The National Office will be conducting a fall council this year. Council is for the National Executive Council members. Our tentative date is Saturday, 15 October. Our National Recording Secretary, Regina Lawrence, and I are working on the particulars. Please look for more detailed information via us Mail soon.
Spring Council: The dates for the Spring Council have been set. The Council will be held in Jacksonville, North Carolina April 6th-9th 2006 with the 6th and the 9th being travel days. Hotel information will be forthcoming. Please block these dates on your calendars now.
Convention 2006: Convention 2006 will also be in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Tentative dates are July 19th through the 23rd with the 19th and 23rd as travel days. Past President Nathaniel James and Chapter #10 are working hard to finalize dates and events. As soon as more information is received, it will be passed.
Convention 2007: We are still looking for a Convention site for Convention 2007. Chapters are asked to work together for a possible joint convention and to also look into non-chapter sites. As soon as all convention 2005 reports are received, a new Convention Director will be named to assist with Convention 2007.
MPMA Memorial Fund: Past National President, Dr. Herman Rhett, has sent out reminders to the members who made pledges for our National Monument Project. Members pledged over $14,000 in donations at this year’s Convention in Chicago!!! Many members wrote checks on the spot, others promised to make payment later. We are asking those members to follow through on their pledges. This is the most activity we have had with the monument project in years. A special thanks also to Past National President Nathaniel James, who called for the pledges and to National Recording Secretary Regina Lawrence and James Carr from our NY Chapter in capturing all the pledges. Proving yet again that working together works!!!
MEMBERSHIP: September is the beginning of our Association year and is also the time that membership dues are due. Please emphasize to your members/prospects that this is the perfect time to get maximum bang for their bucks. Having your existing members become current early in the year makes the process easier accounting for your members for delegate votes and will help facilitate a more accurate roster for our members. I encourage all to take advantage of having your members become current in your membership. For those of you who have been sitting on the sidelines for so long, it’s time to get the game (or back in the game). Five years ago we were nearly 5000 strong, now we can’t boost 1200. If we are to survive as an Organization we must replenish our ranks. I ask all of you to rededicate yourselves to help rebuild our Association. ‘Nuff said!
General Stanley’s Dining Out: I had the great honor to attend a Dining Out in honor of Major General retired Clifford Stanley at the Spates Club aboard Ft Myer on 27 August. The General was honored with an “Order of the Sword Award” from the SNCOs in the Capital Beltway. Also in attendance were Major General select Walt Gaskin, Commanding General Marine Recruiting Command and New York Chapter President Bert Ferrer. General Stanley was accompanied by his lovely wife, Roz and a host of friends and family members. General Stanley has time and time again supported both me and the Montford Point Marine Association, so on behalf of us all we say CONGRATULATIONS in receiving this great honor!!!
230th Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations: As we approach the Marine Corps Ball season, we have many chapters that are planning events to celebrate the 230th birthday of our Corps. I have been reminding members for months to request, in writing, your preference for a guest speaker. If you have not done so, please do immediately. The demand for General Officer presence is great at this time of the year so please do not delay any longer requesting the speaker of your choice. Please notify National Public Relations Officer, Carmen Cordoba of any chapter events. Carmen may be reached at; cordobac@aol.com or (703) 497-3598. Some events happening throughout the Association are;
Philadelphia Chapter #1: the Philly Chapter will celebrate their Marine Birthday Ball Saturday, 12 November at the Sheraton on 36th and Chestnut in Philadelphia. Cost is $55.00 per. Point of contact for tickets is Joe Geeter 610-495-3619. This event sold out last year with General Stanley speaking. We expect a similar crowd this year with a special memorial to Captain Frederick Branch.
Los Angeles Chapter #8: will celebrate its 40th Anniversary and the 230th Marine Corps Birthday, from 6:00 p.m. to midnight Saturday November 12, 2005. The celebration takes place at Los Angeles Air Force Base, 2400 El Segundo Blvd Building #120. Dress for the evening is After Five Attire. Please join us as we pay tribute to the United States Marine Corps. Ticket Donation $45.00. For ticket reservation and information contact: L. E. (Mike) Johnson President LA (909) 815-1972. New York Metropolitan Chapter: will conduct their Annual Dinner Dance on November 13th at 4:00 pm at Antuns, 9643 Springfield Boulevard-Queens Village NY 11429. For tickets and more information, contact the NY MPMA office at 212-267-3319 email mpma42@verizon.net Washington, DC Chapter #6: will celebrate their ball on Friday, November 18th beginning at 7:00 pm at La Fontaine Bleu Restaurant, 7963 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD. The Key Speaker is the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major John L. Estrada, a lifetime Association member. The cost is $45.00 and tickets must be purchased no later than 1 November 2005. Chapter #6 always puts on a first class event that sells out. For tickets and reservations, please contact Pernel Houston 908 Logwood Road, Capital Heights, MD 20743 or call at: 901-808-6012. Captain Frederick Branch Honor: The Philadelphia School district is currently in the process of renaming one of its schools the Captain Frederick Branch Military Academy. If all goes according to plan, we hope this will take place on 10 November 2005 at the school located at 13th and Susquehanna. We are encouraging those who can attend to be in MPMA Uniform (or your military uniform) at the ceremony which again is tentatively scheduled for 10:00 am that morning. More details will be passed as I receive them. I’d like to thank Lieutenant Colonel retired Russell Gallagher, Director of JROTC for the Philadelphia School District, for all his efforts in making this happen!
Kudos: Chicago Chapter Secretary and 2005 MPMA Woman of the Year Recipient, Rochelle Crump, was featured in the current American Legion Magazine article concerning Veteran Care Facilities in the Chicago Area. American Legion has a distribution of over TWO MILLION! Rochelle is the Deputy Director for Veteran Affairs for the State of Illinois. Keep fighting for Veterans Rights Rochelle!!!!
Sergeant-at-Arms: Master Sergeant retired Racine “Tree” Wilson is our interim Sergeant-at-Arms. Tree wants all Chapters to use our preferred vendors when ordering MPMA Uniform Items.
For Uniform Caps our Vendor is: For Pocket Badges our Vendor is” Keystone Uniform Cap CopShop.com 801 North Front Street 38240 Saba Way Philadelphia, PA 19123 Umatilla, FL 32784 Voice: 215-922-5493 Voice: 315-697-5100 Fax: 215-922-5161 Fax: 315-697-9919
Pocket Badges come in three colors; Gold for Original Montford Pointers; Silver for Lifetime members and Bronze for Annual Members. Please ensure you indicate which color background you want when ordering. Per our Chapter Guidelines, no other adornment (pins, medals or badges) should be affixed to your MPMA Cap. Members should adhere to this or be prepared to be fined at Chapter and/or National Meetings.
National Quartermaster: National Quartermaster, Elijah Abram still has the 40th MPMA Association Commemorative Coins for sale. Coins are only $8.00 plus shipping and handling. Abe also has the official MPMA patch that can be either worn or displayed. Patches are $10.00 each. Please contact Abe at 843-838-5475 or for more details.
National Recording Secretary: Regina Lawrence urgently needs your most up-to-date Chapter Rosters to include current phone numbers and email addresses. If we are to timely communicate with our members, we must have current information. Please get this information to Regina ASAP. You may contact Regina at reginab2@aol.com or 804-739-2885 Thanks!
As always, please continue to check our official website for more information through the Association at www.montfordpointmarines.com . Please also check chapter sites at: www.mpma28.com , http://www.mpmanyc.com and www.montfordpointchicagochapter2.org
Please continue to do all that you do to Preserve the Legacy of our heroes!
Semper Fidelis!
Joe Geeter Master Gunnery Sergeant (retired) National President Montford Point Marine Association 27 Red Tail Court Limerick, PA 19468 geeterj@yahoo.com 610-495-3619
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