March, 2011 Newsletter
 

Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to Spring – time for another update on the Coordinating Council’s activities.

As you already know out birthday luncheons have become an exceptional annual opportunity for Oklahoma Marines to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday and reconnect with old friends and make new ones.  We continue to marvel at the attendance from our supported units and organizations.   

Our coin donors stepped up to the plate again and provided the coins that were distributed at the luncheon – thanks to Jack Skaggs, Bob Lukeman, Rusty Johnson, Phil Norton, Bob O’Bannon, Homer Paul, William G. Paul, Leigh Ann Hardin, Lloyd Hardin, Gary Lumpkin, Mike McIntosh, John Oldfield, Roy Sherry, Floyd Gilreath, and Glenn Reagan.  Many thanks for your contributions in continuing this valued tradition.   

Our door prize donors continue to provide outstanding prizes and kudos to Larry Lane for the coasters, Sgt Grit’s for the Chesty Puller bust, and Ed & Connie Beesley for the USMC blanket and book.  We’d also like to recognize Keith Myers for once again providing the uniform display in the foyer that received a lot of attention and many favorable comments.  Also of note were the financial contributions from Dan Cheatham, Charles Mayo, and Lou Ferracane which were directed towards financing attendance by Marines from our supported units.  Mark Elgin (long time Council friend and supporter) continued his long standing tradition of providing beer and cigars for our after luncheon get together.  Many thanks to the Marines from the NROTCU at OU for their outstanding support on the narration, cake escort, and check-in tables.  Finally, we deeply appreciate the continued sponsorship from BancFirst.  

For this year’s luncheon we are going back to the Northwest Expressway Marriott at 3233 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112.  While we don’t yet have a committed Guest of Honor I assure you that we will have a great speaker.  We have scheduled the luncheon this year for Friday the 4th of November 2011.  More details to follow as we get closer to the luncheon, but I can assure you that “Traditions and Lore” will continue to be part of our program.   

This year the Council has provided more than $11,000 in support of our Marine Units and Organizations – examples include: 

·         Continued funding of the Community Service awards for both the AntiTank Training Unit in Broken Arrow and Fox Battery, 2d Battalion, 14th Marines in Oklahoma City , which are presented to both a reserve and active duty Marine in each unit.

·         Assisted Fox 2/14 finance their OKC Zoo family day and Marine Corps Ball.

·         Provided funding for a significant number of Marines from supported units to attend the luncheon.  We continue to believe this is one of most valuable programs we provide to allow as many active duty Marines as possible to attend the luncheons and meet the guest speakers. 

·         Supported Fort Sill’s Devil Dog run by funding the medallions awarded following the race.  This allows more of the detachment’s funds to be used for support of their Birthday Ball. 

·         Continued to provide a .45 caliber Ruger pistol to the Marine Corps League for presentation to their Marine of the Year.

·         We continue to provide Oklahoma City Thunder basketball tickets to Marines from the Recruiting Station, AT Company, F/2/14, Fort Sill, Vance, and OU’s NROTC.  These tickets are by far and away the most positively received program that we have created to recognize outstanding Marines.   

As you know one of our Council goals is to grow our membership each year.  If you know of someone who would like to join our ranks please get in touch with us.  It is important to our long term goals to continue to bring in new members.   Since our annual meeting last April the Council has added the following new members:     

         * Allen Smallwood
         * Bill Bradley
         * Rocklin Lyons
         * Richard Santelli
         * Kevin Cameron
         * Matthew Baxter
         * LtGen George Flynn (Honorary)   

We also had a number of individuals who indicated a desire to join but for one reason or another did not return the paperwork.  We hope they will eventually decide to finish the process.

A reminder that the Albert E. Schwab Detachment 857 Marine Corps League’s 2011 Medal of Honor Day Ceremony in Tulsa will be on 30 April 2011 at Veterans Park, 21st and Boulder in Tulsa.   

The financial support which allowed us to provide the assistance noted above is only possible because of your continued support of the Council.  Of particular interest regarding the Council’s finances – while our membership numbers continue to grow the percentage of members donating continues to decline.  For 2010 the percentage was just below 70% and this has an impact on our ability to continue the level of support that we have historically provided to our supported units and organizations.  I would encourage you to please make an effort to send an annual donation to the Council in whatever amount you feel comfortable.   Thanks again to all of you -- we deeply appreciate your trust and support.

The Council’s annual meeting is scheduled for Thursday 14 April 2011 at the Petroleum Club North – this is the same location we have had it the past.  Please put this date and event down on your calendars and plan on joining us for this great chance to enjoy your fellow Marines.     

The Council Board would like each of you to know that while we work very hard to accomplish the Council’s objectives, we never forget that whatever success we have is without question due to your generous and continued support.  Once a Marine, always a Marine

Semper Fidelis,

Phil E. Hughes
President

 

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