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.
Major General Walter Gaskin was frocked to his current rank in ceremonies on 7 October aboard Quantico, Virginia. The Commandant of the Marine Corps conducted the ceremony. Many General Officers and dignitaries were in attendance. Major General retired Clifford Stanley, Major General Willie Williams, Brigadier General retired Jerome Cooper, Brigadier General Ronald Coleman was in attendance as well as Original Montford Pointers Reuben McNair and Lieutenant Colonel retired Joe Carpenter. Also 2005 James Calendar Award recipient and retired Master Sergeant Donna Coursey was in attendance. General Gaskin spoke warmly of the Montford Pointers paving the way for him and others.
After the ceremony, it was my great pleasure to re-stand up the Quantico Chapter of the MPMA! Chapter President Appointee Chief Warrant Officer-3 James Averhart turned in 14 applications with dues to get the chapter restarted. The gunner was a former drill instructor who supported the Beaufort Chapter while stationed at Parris Island and is moving very fast to learn the by-laws and make Quantico a viable part of the Association. They will be working in concert with DC-6 Chapter as they continue to grow.
Also after the ceremony I met with Lieutenant Colonel Rickie Childs. Colonel Childs is the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The Colonel was instrumental in the Montford Point Marine Association being nominated for and receiving the Secretary of the Defense’s “Citizens Patriot Award”. I will travel to Arlington on the 25th of October with members from DC-6 Chapter to receive this great honor.
Congratulations and very special thanks to Major General Cornell Wilson and his wife Mary on the occasion of their 25th Wedding Anniversary. The Wilson’s asked their guests to consider a donation to the Montford Point Marine Association Scholarship Fund. To date we have received over $500.00 in donations! Donations were received from; Flora Hollard, Syeeda Wilkens, Arlean Hallums, Robert and Gretel James, William and Margaret Scurry, Mae White Little, Walter T. and Dawn Chesley, N. H. and Hestella B. Primus and Anthony and Sandra Fox. Thank you General Wilson for your continued support of the Montford Point Marine Associations programs!!
Chapter Happenings
New York Metropolitan Chapter; recently held elections and their new President is Master Gunnery Sergeant retired James Carr, Vice President Charles Smith, Financial Secretary James Maillard, Secretary Lillian Braxton, Sergeant-at-Arms Terry Salley and Chaplain Reverend Steve King. Additional congratulations to the newly elected President who recently wed the former Vickie Stokes of Anderson, Indiana. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness!!!
St Louis #13 held their elections on 21 September and elected Anthony Chestang as their Chapter President.
Los Angeles Chapter #8 also recently held elections and National Vie President Mike Johnson is the new Chapter President.
230th Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations: The ball season is now officially upon us and these chapters have celebrations planned;
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 person. Brigadier General Ronald S. Coleman will be the guest speaker. 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 Sunday, November 13th at 4:00 pm at Antuns, 9643 Springfield Boulevard-Queens Village NY 11429. Major General Cornell Wilson will be the honored guest. 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, and a lifetime Association member. The cost is $45.00 and tickets must be purchased no later than 1 November 2005. DC 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. Please notify National Public Relations Officer, Carmen Cordoba of these and any chapter events. Carmen may be reached at; cordobac@aol.com or (703) 497-3598.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Thank you to those who donated money for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita families. I have received approval for a donation of $500.00 to retired Master Sergeant Jacqueline Bazile to assist her efforts in relocating many family members.
I have spoken with our Parliamentarian, Aaron German and he and his family has returned home to New Orleans and they are putting their home and lives back together. Aaron and his family thank all for their prayers and calls.
I have also recently spoken to our Credentials Director, Gus Willis. Gus has returned to his home in San Diego and is fast recovering. Gus also thanks all for their concern during his recovery.
Fall Council was held telephonically on Saturday 22 October 2005. The National Office has received all the pertinent reports to close out the Association’s books for our Association year. Thanks to all the National Officers who submitted timely detailed reports. Copies of the report will be sent to National Executive Committee members and to those Chapter Presidents who request copies.
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 26th through the 30th with the 26th and 30th 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. Please note that the incorrect dates have been printed in previous updates, these are the correct dates.
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: Our membership year runs from 1 September to 31 August. Annual and Chapter membership are due for all members. 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.
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. Mr. Abram wants all Chapters to use our preferred vendors when ordering MPMA Uniform Items. Chapter Presidents and members are requested to order these items through the National Quartermaster.
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 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
Search Panel How does it work? When a vistor goes to our site they will see our "search panel" and use it to specify word(s) they are looking for. When they do this the request is sent directly to the FreeFind Servers which determine which pages of our site contain the desired words. We then display a list of those page so the user can choose one.
