DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Ladies

    The March Staff Meeting is coming upon us quickly.  It will be held at headquarters building on March 17th beginning at 9:00 am for the Presidents Council session.  Hotel information can be found on the league's site if needed. Information is also there for the Northeast Division meeting in April and the Department Convention in June. Hope to see you in March. 

Carol Corley, Department President

---

Mid Winter Conference – 2007

February 9 – 10, 2007

Fairfax, VA 

President’s Council meeting was held on Friday, February 9, 2007 at 7:45 am and was lead by National Senior Vice President Caroline Ruhmshottel.  The brochure explaining the auxiliary and the application for membership page were handed out for copying at the unit level.  A brainstorming session of all members present, having been divided into small groups, on fund raising was held with reports being given by each group. 

Auxiliary members were in attendance at the joint opening session.  The auxiliary session was called to order at 11:30 am by National President Karen Washabaugh.  The roll call of officers by Secretary Lynn LaBarge was taken.  There were 2 corrections made to the minutes from the 2006 national convention.  The post convention minutes were approved as read.  The pre-staff meeting minutes were approved as corrected. 

Reports of the elected officers were read and accepted into record. Tracey Killinger presented Junior Past President Ruth Moyse with her memory book.   Many division vice presidents’ reports were placed on the back table for anyone interested.  National Chaplain Barbara Nobile reported that certificates were continuing to be sent to the family of deceased members.  She also noted that due to health issues, both Deborah Evans and Juanita Chaisson were absent from this meeting and we were encouraged to send cards to each.  

Ways and Means Chairman Anne Zakian reported she is returning the $850 as the seed money for the headquarters project and that the fund raiser is $3000 in the black. 

The meeting was adjourned for lunch. 

Mary Hazelton of the ship’s store reported a total of $1900 in sales for Thursday and Friday.  Ponchos were being sold for $1 each and the crystal jewelry at buy one get one free.  

There were no communications to be read.  No report from Chief of Staff Gloria Howard. 

PNP Mary Ellen Burling reported that the protocol books are now printed and will be sold at national for $3.00 each and sent out free with each new charter. 

Comptroller Virginia Hanson reported everything is in good order.  There was a discussion on placing $9000 in a local account but this was referred to the appropriate committee for a decision. 

There was no report from the contributions committee. 

VAVS has a meeting on May 2,2007 in Pittsburgh. 

Budget Committee – there are no new figures. 

Ways and Means – there are still tickets and other items for sale in the hallway.  They have received $364 so far today. 

Girl Scout Committee Chairman Sydney Minchin and Advisor Barbara Nobile have worked on a Girl Scout Gold certificate and were approved their request to have 1000 made. 

Insurance Committee – If you are having an event, you should call either headquarters or the Rust Company for a form outlining your event. 

Ritual Committee - no report. 

Scholarship Committee – all 2006 scholarships have been awarded and the 2007 form is available at the web site. 

Workshop Committee – received suggestions for topics such as: bylaw change submission; transmittals for life members and correct math; duties of division vice presidents.  They will take these under advisement. 

Resolution Committee – no report. 

Bylaw Committee – 2008 is the next year they can be voted upon. 

POW/MIA – report placed on the table. 

Child Welfare – no report. 

Civics – No report 

Rehabilitation – no report. 

100% Membership – Tracey Killinger gave the report of 17 for the Northeast Division with four from Pennsylvania

It was announced there will not be a Chapel of Four Chaplains but the Memorial Service will be held at 5:00pm.  The Operation Little Angel’s shower will be held this evening at 7:00 pm and the President’s breakfast is tomorrow morning at 7:45 am. 

The meeting was closed according to ritual at 3:00 pm. 

The meeting was opened according to ritual at 9:30 am, Saturday, February 10, 2007.

Roll call of officers was taken by the secretary.

Dick Booth spoke to the assembly regarding the 2008 National Convention which will be held in Orlando, Florida from August 10-16, 2008.  All information is on the national web site. The phone number of the hotel is 407-966-9840.  Room rate with breakfast is $89.00 per night.  Hotel address is 9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 92819-8122. 

Ships store sales amounted to $2682 so far.  Mary Hazelton would like to see it go over $3000 today. 

Ron Short of Marines Helping Marines reported they now have incorporated and have a total of five facilities throughout the country.  Donations are helpful for catered meals for family members visiting the wounded at the hospitals.  Donations can be sent to: Marines Helping Marines, P.O. Box 141, Westminster, MD 21158.  

The minutes of the previous day were approved as corrected. 

Senior Vice President Ruhmshottel gave her report on the Presidents Council held yesterday. 

Commandant Jack Ryan spoke to the group and commented the auxiliary is doing a great job in supporting the league. 

Chief Devil Dog Don Garland thanked the auxiliary for all they do and presented a check for $1000 to Operation Little Angel and a check for $1000 to the Fleas. 

Laurel Hull and Leanna Dietrich entered the room to address the assembly.  Laurel stated that the 2007 national convention information is on the web site.  If you plan on attending make sure you drink plenty of water and bring a supply of lotion with you as the air is dry and you will notice the difference.  Leanna thanked all for remembering her with cards, notes, calls and e-mails.  It has helped her through a difficult time. 

Operation Little Angels – At the 2006 convention in Quincy, MA, we donated $3400 to the Cradles to Crayons facility and Fairfax County, VA Family Services received well over $5000 in gift cards and gifts at last night’s tea. The site for receiving donations in Albuquerque in August is All Faiths Receiving Home.  There web site is allfaiths.org. A slogan has been accepted for the program – “Protecting our future, one angel at a time”.

The collection baskets were placed in the back of the room for Operation Little Angels, Scholarships, and Marines Helping Marines.  If you aren’t sure about donating to an organization, you can search them out at “philanthropic” on your computer. 

Chapel of Four Chaplains – no applications were received. 

The winning ticket for the bear/flower light arrangement was 569278.

The ships store final sales total was $3258.51 

Life membership totaled 1306 as reported by Tracey Killinger. 

Technical Computer Committee – the new computer is running well. 

Tom Herran presented the Trykes to the assembly.  It is a bicycle made especially for handicapped children. 

Lou Loeven from the MCL Foundation gave his report.  The new foundation president will be PNC Helen Hicks. 

Legislative Committee Chairman Cindy Marshall urged everyone to contact there congressmen in your state to have HR346 passed in congress.  This would change the title of Dept of Navy to Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.  The house switchboard is 202-226-4101 and the senate switchboard is 202-224-3121. 

Uniform Committee Chairman Alice Balckford modeled a navy blue tunic sweater that can be worn with a shirt and slacks.  It should not be worn with the skirt.  The division vice presidents were given updated packets about the CINTAS uniforms. 

Ways and Means – we have exceeded $3500 for the headquarters project. 

Forms Committee – Inda Adams – suggestions will be voted on at convention. 

Fleas – Merveena Wing for Madame Big Flea – no report. 

Convention Liaison Peggy Touhy stated for the 2009 convention, a letter of intent has been received for the St. Charles, MO area and a proposal for Rochester, MN 

Past Presidents Club – the minutes will be in the newsletter and Clementina Cardow is the new regent. 

There was no unfinished business.

There was no new business. 

Good of the Order -  All national officers were seeking re-election.  For the division vice presidents seats: in the Southern Division, Marie Williams is not continuing and the Assistant Mid East Division Vice President is not continuing.

The meeting was closed according to ritual to reopen at the national convention in Albuquerque, NM in August. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Carol Corley, President

Dept of PA, MCLA