Michael Clark , NVC SouthEast Division

Marines, FMF Corpsmen and Associates of the Southeast Division. It was my honor to take the oath of office to lead the Magnificent Seven at the National Convention. The job of leadership is dependent on support from the membership, as we all know the Red Hats rule. I will be asking for your support on a wide variety of objectives.

We are fortunate that we have the tools at our disposal to grow in membership as well as become a more Professional Organization. Our command structure has provided us with an arsenal of training and guide material. Starting with our Charter, this gives us our mission, this is further defined in our Mission Statement .We also have the bylaws and administrative procedures which are a living document that can be improved as required. Our Ritual spells out how to conduct our meetings, oath of membership, as well as all other ceremonies. The Guidebook for Detachment Officers covers what and how to get started and grow new detachments and is a great reference for old detachments; this gives a breakdown of job requirement and much much more. The Mentoring program works, if you use it, and is a great tool for retention.

Last but certainly not least THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE! We must concentrate on communication, growth and training.

Semper Fidelis,
Michael Clark
NVC Southeast Division

Why Join The League

Marines have always been looked up to as leading the assault. Recent violent weather in the South Eastern United States with some 151 tornados hitting the ground has brought the Marines forward once again, in helping their neighbors.

Southern states, such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia suffered huge losses in both life and property this during the week of April 26th. The latest report is that there are over 341 situations in which people lost their lives. The majority of these occurred in Alabama. Marines are helping in taking action to work with their local disaster relief organizations to search and recovery and support for others doing the same thing, currently. A good example of Marines working to help their neighbors is one individual by the name of Carl Jones in Birmingham, Alabama. After the storms, he immediately mobilized a bunch of his friends and began reaching out to neighborhoods in both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, two of the hardest hit areas in the state. They started by contacting other Marines in the hard hit areas to find out who needed immediate help with their situations. Communications were tough, but Carl found a way to keep in touch with those working out in the field to gather information and pass it along to others who are in a position to help. One person his friends came in contact with had lost literally everything, including his car and his house. There was another person who lost everything, with a pregnant wife about to deliver twins. In these situations and many more, Carl Jones began making arrangements for delivery of goods to help these people out, set up donation focal point for distribution of goods, contact veteran support groups. Support has come from Marines in the state of Alabama, but also from neighboring states and places as far away as California. He has begun co-coordinating support organizations to assist with temporary housing and clothing. Carl Jones is a former two terms Marine Corps League Detachment Commandant in Birmingham, and is effectively using this line of communication through the Department of Alabama Commandant. In turn, National Vice Commandant for the South Eastern Division of the Marine Corps, Dave Gardner, is opening more and more lines of communication to assist those in need in the states hardest hit by this disaster.

More information will be forthcoming as received. Please pray for those hardest hit in this major weather event, and keep your ears open for any way the Marines can help in your area.