Montford Point Marine Association Inc. National Update July/August 2006
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. Because it is so late in the month, this update will serve as the July and August update.
Convention 2006 Convention 2006 was a huge success! Special thanks go to National Convention Director and Camp Lejeune Chapter #10 President, Nathaniel James and his members!! Organizing a convention that utilizes three hotels and three different venues for meetings and events is no small task. Couple that with taking the responsibility of coordinating transportation for members and dignitaries alike and the task can be monumental to most folks, but not Chapter#10. The five ticketed events and the preview of our Documentary Film were all Homeruns!
Academy Award Winner Actor Lou Gossett Jr. was the highlight of both the Documentary Preview and the National Banquet. Mr. Gossett graciously talked to, took pictures with and signed many autographs for hundreds of members and fans. Mr. Gossett is committed to seeing the story of the Men of Montford Point is widely told to the American people. Special thanks to Dr Melton McLaurin, retired Lieutenant Colonel Clarence Willie, Finney Greggs and his wife Louise for their untiring devotion to this project! Other highlights of Convention 2006 are:
Our Documentary preview was a standing room only event! The documentary was well received by all. As mentioned by Dr McClaurin during the presentation, we could not possibly fit all 60 original Montford Point interviewees into the film. However we expect a webpage to be up and running in the coming weeks that will have a 60 second clip and additional information from all interviewees. More information will be passed as soon as it is available.
The President’s Reception was greatly enhanced with the presence of many General and Senior Officers and the Mayor of Jacksonville, who presented us with a proclamation proclaiming Montford Point Week in Jacksonville for our Convention.
We had a few special guest talk to our members about Veteran’s Affairs. Dr. Eugene Oddone of the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Raleigh, NC gave us a comprehensive talk about health care issues that peaked the interest of many members and Clarice Joynes, the Mayor of New York City’s Executive Director of Veteran Affairs and a Marine Corps Veteran, discussed a variety of issues to include benefits that was also well received by our members. We also had Dr. Reuben L. Wright, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs address us. Thank you to the entire special guests who took the time to travel to Jacksonville and present to our members!!! Special Thanks to retired Colonel Aaron Butler in the Health Diversity Department among veterans department for seeking us out.
An impressive Ladies Auxiliary Fashion show coordinate by the Ladies with help from Oletha Sloan and Showtime Productions.
A group picture of the convention group at the Camp Lejeune Clubhouse (The Point). Picture is available for $12.00 which includes shipping and handling. Please contact me or Past national Public Relations Officer Gilbert Taylor with your picture requests.
A spectacular banquet in which nearly 60 Original Montford Pointers were in attendance. Lou Gossett was our guest speaker. Also, Major Generals Walter Gaskin and Ron Coleman gave opening remarks along with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Commander Colonel Adele Hodges and the MCSSS/Camp Johnson Commanding Officer, Colonel Grover C. Lewis.
Re-election of Leo Taylor as Veterans Officer, George Herring as Special Projects Officer, Gene Doughty as our Scholarship Director and newly elected Eric Lindsay as our National Public Relations Officer defeating the incumbent Carmen Cordoba. Gene Doughty has informed us that he will not seek nor will he accept re-election of his office. Gene’s term is two years so we are actively looking for a person to succeed Gene because no one can replace him.
There were two resolutions to our National By-Laws introduced at the business meetings; the first was to allow non-veteran supporters run for office at the chapter level.
This was voted down. The Association supports non-veterans assisting us in our goals however, the body did not want a non-veteran making decisions or representing veterans. The second resolution for a defined uniform for our group was tabled because of the lack of time for a meaningful discussion and to detail how this uniform would affect the Ladies of the Association.
Our National Vice President plans to refine and reintroduce this Resolution at Convention 2007. Special thanks to our Resolution Chair, Alexandria Johnson, for putting these resolutions in the proper format and mailing them to Chapter Presidents.
The Chicago Chapter recaptured the Queen’s title from New York. Our new Queen, Sontrese Williams, rose over $7100.00 for our Scholarship and Operating Expense funds!!!! Camp Lejeune’s was second with $4,229.00 and New York’s 2005 National Queen Mayrin Anton Joneita Carroll was 3rd, she raised over $2,600.00. This year’s Queens Contest grossed nearly $30,000.00 for the Association! Thanks to all who assisted in reaching this milestone!
The raffle winners were; 1st place ($2,500.00) Roderick Jewell Jr. of Louisville, ticket sold by Markita Jones. 2d place ($500.00) Dorethea White of Randallstown, Maryland. 3rd Place ($300.00) James W. Baldwin of Washington, DC ticket sold by James McBryde. Congratulations to all the winners!
Camp Lejeune Chapter #10 received Chapter of the Year honors.
Man of the Year went to Ernest Richardson of the NY Chapter
The Semper Fidelis Award went to Finney Greggs of Camp Lejeune Chapter #10 and 1stSgt Anthony Landrum of Jacksonville, FL Chapter
2006 Hall of Fame inductees were: John “Zeke” Clouser, James Jackson, Kenneth Rollock, George Taylor, and Herman Darden (Posthumously) and John Warner Hagan also posthumously.
Membership:Our Association Year runs from 1 September to 31 August. Accordingly, all Annual National and Chapter dues are due. A late charge of $2.00 will be imposed for those failing to renew their membership by 30 September.
Those paying installments of Life Membership are also reminded that their membership is required to be paid in full two years after you begin the installments. Chapter Presidents, please mail all membership monies to David Fortune our National Financial Secretary.
Miscellaneous:Please see your local Chapter President for copies of all the reports that were submitted during the convention.
The site of Convention 2007 will be Jacksonville, Florida. Detailed information about Spring Council 2007 & Convention 2007 will be passed as soon as it is available. We also received three notifications of interests for Convention 2008 and we look forward to receiving additional information at the 2007 Spring Council.
Hubert Potter has provided the following link of Sergeant Major deceased Louis Roundtree. This video was shot by the Today Show after the Sergeant Major escaped from a NVA unit in Vietnam that annihilated his entire unit. http://www.ascotwoods.com/music/roundtree.avi
A Legacy of Passion Salute To Montford Point Marine James E. (Jimmy) Stewart’s life (1912 - 1997) Aug 18, 2006 Time 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Location Chesapeake Event Center at the Oklahoma Historical Society 2401 North Laird Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105 For more information, please contact Maryland #28 Chapter President James Stewart at 301-877-7610.
Museum of Black WWII History: For those who may be visiting in the Vermont area, there is a Museum of Black WWII History in Pownal, VT. Museum is run by a 63 year old non veteran who simply saw that African American World War II veterans were not getting their just due. Bruce W. Bird, who is the founder and Curator, decided to start his own museum. I have talked with Mr. Bird and he is sincere in letting folks know the contributions of African Americans. In support of his museum I sent him a box of publications and articles about the Montford Pointers. Bruce may be reached at 802-823-5519 for those planning a trip to the New England area.
In Search of: Gail Chatfield, who is writing a book about Iwo Jima, is looking to interview any Black Marines who served on Iwo Jima. She will be attending the 4th Marine Division reunion in Atlanta, GA August 23-28. Please contact Gail at 858-205-2600 or by email at; gchatfield@san.rr.com
Marine Corps Ball Celebrations: Chapters are reminded to submit request for guest speakers for their annual balls/banquets and events early to ensure you get your speaker of choice. Requests should be submitted to the speaker in writing, detailing all the particulars about the event. Request for National Officers should include whether the Chapter is reimbursing travel, lodging, etc… Again, the Ball Season is an excellent opportunity to educate Marines and others about the Montford Pointers.
For those located near Marine Commands, request special recognition be given to the Montford Pointers during these events. Please inform both the National Public Relations Officer, Eric Lindsay, 703-432-9035 or lindsayem@marines.usmc.mil,and National Recording Secretary, Regina Lawrence, reginab@aol.com 804-279-3589, the particulars of birthday celebrations and any other activities in your area.
Chapter Events:
Philadelphia #1 will hold their third annual Marine Corps Birthday celebration on Saturday, 11 November beginning at 8:00 PM. Event will be at the Holiday Inn City Line Avenue and the Cost is $50.00 per person. For tickets and additional Information please call Joe Geeter at 610-495-3619
New York Chapter #3: will hold their Annual Dinner Dance on Sunday, November 12th beginning with a Social Hour at 6:30PM. Event will be at Antun’s Caterer’s and the cost is $55.00 per person. The guest speaker will be the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael. For tickets contact the NY Chapter at 212-267-3318.
Mobile Alabama Chapter #33 will hold their first Mobile Chapter of the Montford Point Marine Association Ball on Saturday, 4 November 2006 at the Country Club of Mobile, AL. The guest speaker will be Lieutenant General retired Frank E. Petersen Jr. For tickets and additional information, please call or email Chapter President Rodney Lee at work 251-478-1222, cell 251-554-6238 or by email at;
Rodneyleecnb@aol.com
Quantico Chapter #32 will hold their 1st Annual Commemorative Ball on Friday, 25 August 2006 beginning with a Social hour at 6:30PM. Event will be at The Clubs at Quantico and the Cost is $55.00 per person. The guest speaker will be the 14th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael. For tickets and additional information please call Teffron Riley at 571-225-3224 or Parisa Fetherson at 540-446-6231
Los Angeles Chapter #8: Will celebrate the 231st Marine Corps Birthday on Saturday, 11 November 2006 beginning at 7:00 PM. Event will be at the Los Angeles Air Force Club and the cost is $50.00 per person. For tickets call the LA Chapter President Mike Johnson at 909-815-1972.
Kudos: Past National Public Relation Officer, Master Gunnery Sergeant Gilbert Taylor. During the entire convention the Masterguns was lending a hand when he could be it helping out the National Quartermaster, taking pictures, including the official group shop, or designing the program for the Documentary Film Preview, the Masterguns is always available and responsive when I call. Thanks “T”!
To the convention registration helpers who, not knowing who I was, volunteered to help correlate and staple, the agenda, Documentary Program, The State of the Association and mounds of paperwork that I travel with. Proving again our motto of “Working Together Works”.
As always, please continue to check our official website for more information through the Association at www.montfordpointmarines.com or www.mpma28.com http://www.mpmalejeune10.org or http://www.mpmanyc.com or 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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