ASSOCIATION - Home - About Us - Mission - Executive Director - Officers - Board of Directors - Chapters - Retired Corner - Corporate Sponsors - Join Us - Contact Us NEWS - Events - e-Word - e-Word Archives - e-Newsletter - e-Newsletter Archives - Legislative News - VA News REPORTS - Guard/Reserve Report - Gulf War Syndrome - DOD TRICARE Proposals Marine Forces Reserve - Command Interest News - USMC Reserve Units - Reserve Billet Openings MISC LINKS - Headquarters Marine Corps - Marine Forces Reserve - Marine Corps Association - Marine Corps League - Marine Heritage Foundation - Marine Corps Engineer Association - USMC/Combat Helicopter Association - DFAS - RAPIDS - Reserve Officers Association - Military Officers Association of America - National Association of Uniformed Services - National Military Family Association - Naval Reserve Association - Naval Enlisted Reserve Association - Fleet Reserve Association - Navy League - Reserve Enlisted Association - National Guard Association of the United States - Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States - Air Force Association - Air Force Sergeants Association - AmVets - VFW F-35 STOVL Variant EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINES The following employment opportunity was received by the Association: We are a moving company located in Alexandria Virginia that conducts local moves in the DC area. We hire Marines and other military to work part time weekends as well as full time. Best Regards, Christy Gutmann-Baucom Business Development Two Marines and a Truck www.twomarinesandatruck.com 202-412-0800 ph The following has been requested to be posted on our Website: First Citizens Bank has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. It is the policy of the Bank to hire well-qualified people to perform the many tasks in providing high quality products and services at reasonable costs. An integral part of this policy is to provide equal employment oppurtunity to all persons in every aspect of recruiting and employment without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, special disabled veteran status, other protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We value the service provided by your organization and strongly encourage you to refer candidates for employment by directing interested individuals to view and apply online for open positions via the Bank's Website at www.firstcitizens.com, or call (877) 808-0298 for information. OTHER JOB SITES www.hireahero.org www.disabledperson.com MCRA Life Membership Trust Founders MajGen Dean Sangalis Colonel Mark Cancian Colonel Edward Collymore Colonel Robert Donaghue Colonel Robert Henderson Colonel Nick Hirsch Colonel Graham Kreiker Colonel David Leighton Colonel Mike Mitchell Colonel Norm Mueller Colonel James Wells, Esq Colonel Rex Williams LtCol Charles Allen LtCol James Craige LtCol Thomas Howlett Capt H D Rosenthal Ms Iris Pinchart Mr&Mrs Patrick O'Dell Mr Jack Robb Ms Catherine VandenAvond Mr Merlin Wallenfang Mr Philip Westenburg

The e-WORD July - September 2011 HEADLINES 2011 Golf Tournament The Jerabek Challenge Run MCRA Recognizes Reserve Academy Graduates Association Business MCRA Life Membership Trust News Member Feedback 2011 Golf Tournament MCRA’s Annual Golf Tournament Helps Support Wounded Warriors This year’s tournament was designed as a fundraiser to help support of the Wounded Warrior Regiment which is headquartered in Quantico. One could not have asked for better weather in which to play, especially considering what the D.C. area is usually like in August, nor a better cause. We had a very good turn out comprised of many long time tournament participants and numerous first time joiners. We were also honored to have several of our wounded warriors and their wives play with us and join us for the awards luncheon afterwards. The funds generated from the sale of mulligans and the 50/50 raffle totaled more than nine-hundred dollars and the winner of the 50/50 raffle, MCRA member Dan Coombes generously donated his prize to the Wounded Warriors. In addition, more that $3,300 was raised by LtCol Howlett from donors in the Green Bay area bringing the total amount raised to $4,465 which will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Regiment via the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. We cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity. As the festivities were winding down, MCRA President, Colonel Bob Donaghue, told the Wounded Warriors present that they and their fellow wounded Marines would not be forgotten by MCRA and that our future tournaments would continue to raise funds on their behalf. Special thanks go out to those members of the Board of Directors, and several of their family members, who helped arrange and/or provide support for this event. Tournament results: 1st Place Team: Bruce Bowen, Carl Showers, Tim Lindsay, and Josh Eure. 2nd Place Team: Dave Coombes, Brian Bender, Dave Mullan, and John Hartman 3rd Place Team: Matt Misiewicz, Jake Misiewicz, Rick Irvin, and Danny Wetterer Closest to Pin: Matt Misiewicz Longest Drive: Joe Williams Editor's additional note--Some members of the Board of Directors were invited to a garden party at the home of the Commandant following the golf tournament, which was followed by the Friday Evening Parade at Eighth and Eye streets which honored three of our retired wounded warriors. Pictured to the right are the three honored Marines with your vice-president of communications. The Jerabek Challenge Run The Jerabek Challenge took place at Four Season Park in Hobart on Saturday, August 13th, was once again a success. This year many runners participating in the 4-mile run choose the option of joining the "Boot Brigade" by running the event in boots including some who ran with a 30 pound pack as well. Among the runners was Sgt Opeka from Oceanside, CA. Sgt Opeka was PFC Ryan Jerabek's squad leader when Jerabek and eleven other Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt Opeka remarked, "It's an eerie feeling running the same path as Ryan, but it also allows me to reflect on his life. He was smart, strong and funny. He exemplified what it means to be a Marine." This annual non-profit event is to honor and thank all of our servicemen and women including veterans, and to honor and remember our Fallen Heroes. Military members and veterans participate for free. Money raised from entry fees for other runners were donated to the Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund. The inspiration and driving force behind this event came from Ryan himself. In his senior year at Pulaski High School, he gave a speech about the Marine Corps. At the end of the speech, he implored his fellow students with the following: "I’d like to ask of you to thank those who fought and are fighting in the battles to keep this country at the pinnacle of Freedom."                                       Taken from the Jerabek Challenge Run Website Ken Jerabek, father of Ryan, asked LtCol Howlett to drive his Z-3 in uniform as the pace car for the event. It was an honor to do so for the Jerabek family. LtCol Howlett with Sgt Opeka MCRA Recognizes Reserve NCO and SNCO Academy Graduates By Tom Green Part of MCRA’s efforts this year focused on updating and creating awards for deserving Marines within the Reserve community. We learned among other things that although swords were being presented to each active duty honor graduate from each class graduating from the Staff NCO Academy, no such award was being presented to the Reserve Honor Graduates attending the Reserve Course. Several members of MCRA’s board of directors, LtCol Gary Schroeder, Sgt Joe Staudt and SgtMaj Donnie Boyer met with the Staff Non-Commissioned Officers’ Sergeant Major and his staff do discuss this situation and ascertain how MCRA could help. To that end it was determined that commencing with the Reserve Classes graduating during August and September 2011 and all subsequent Reserve courses, each honor graduate would receive a sword and each Gung Ho Recipient would receive an engraved K-Bar. In addition, each Marine was offered a one-year free membership in MCRA. I was fortunate enough to accompany retired Sergeant Major Joe Staudt to the last Reserve Sergeant’s and Gunnery Sergeant’s Classes at Quantico, where we were invited to make a presentation before each group as well as attend both graduation ceremonies. Again, each honor graduate was presented a sword on behalf of the Marine Corps Reserve Association and each Gung Ho recipient was presented a K-Bar. The Academy Sergeant Major did an excellent job of the prepping the class and was immediately followed by Sergeant Major Staudt who also did a superb job of intertwining his MCRA presentation with his current knowledge of Reserve issues. He was once again in his element advising and counseling young Marines – all of whom who were most at attentive and receptive. I couldn’t help but be impressed by several things during this visit. One was the manner in which Sergeant Major Staudt could relate to these Marines; a number of whom he had previously served with prior to his retirement in 2010. He had eaten their same dust and fought in a few of the same battles. Another was the level of professionalism and esprit de Corps demonstrated by these individuals. When asked how many of them had been deployed overseas, almost every hand in the group went up followed by those who had served two, three or four tours. One even had five tours overseas. It’s always a good day to be a Marine and to be around Marines, but it was a particularly good day for me to be with a group of individuals who when they return to their civilian lives represent some of the best the Marine Corps has to offer. ASSOCIATION BUSINESS The recent conference calls of the Association Board of Directors have centered on preparations for the Association Annual Meeting. The meeting plan include a briefing by the Reserve Affairs Division and the presentation of a check to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund representing the money collected as a part of the Annual Golf Tournament. An examination of the year to date finances will be conducted as well as the development of a plan and budget for 2012. The election of officers for those positions which expire this year were also placed on the agenda. A report of the Annual Meeting will be made in the next issue of the e-WORD. MCRA Life Membership Trust News CURRENT STATUS: As of 30 September 2011 the Trust assets have increased to a total of $9,085.95. Balance as of 30 June 2011                           $7,907.25 Payment of 2nd quarter earnings to MCRA                 ( 2.25) Donation by Colonel Mark Cancian                        250.00 Unrealized Capital Gain                                 930.15 Interest earned in July                                   0.35 Interest earned in August                                 0.32 Interest earned in September                              0.13 Balance as of 30 September 2011                      $9,085.95 Fourth quarter earnings are estimated to be approximately $ 121.50. REMINDER Those who make donations to the Trust by the end of 2011 will be designated as "Founding Donors." If any members or friends of the Marine Corps wish to donate to the Trust and become Founding Donors this year, make checks payable to "MCRA Life Membership Trust" and send to: MCRA Life Membership Trust c/o LtCol Thomas M. Howlett, Trustee 1370 Fox River Drive De Pere, WI 54115-2403 Click here to read trust agreement LPM MEMBER FEEDBACK Thank you for the Electronic update of the Marine Corps Reserve Association - I do take exception though to the tone of the letter concerning "Life Memberships." At the time when "Life Memberships" were offered, I was unaware that the Association was severely lacking of funds. Now, many years later, the Association apparently with a new lease on life has maligned the original "Life Members" by stating we paid "pittance" for our membership. The original "Life Members" by following the motto of the Corps, stayed true to their Corps values and provided a valuable service when they were called upon. Semper Fidelis, LtCol. J. A Randall III USMCR-Ret LPM's reply--Back in the early 70's the life membership fee was $200.00. I presented a mathematical proof that the fee was financially unsustainable to the organization to the Resolutions Committee. My proof showed the required level of life membership fees based on the age of the application. The membership at that annual meeting adopted my proposed fee structure. At a later point in time a fee of only $99.00 was adopted for a number of years. Unfortunately I was unaware of this action because my new employer did not allow me to attend the Association annual meetings. Fortunately the situation was corrected later, but not until after the Association had taken on the burden of supporting so many life members without the necessary income from investment of the dues collected. The comment was not meant to malign those who only paid $99.00, the statement was meant to explain to the membership one of the many reasons that the Association has suffered serious financial problems. Keep in mind that $99.00 cannot be invested at a rate of return that replaces the annual dues no longer received by these life members. It is simple mathematics. -------------- Gentleman, thank you for the note. I will send a donation today. I do not think I can make the meeting but look forward to hearing about the results. PASS THE WORD! Major General Andrew B. Davis, USMCR(Ret'd) has been named to Executive Director of the Reserve Officers Association. My suggestion is to have Col. Donaghue contact him asap. Semper Fi!! Col Robert Hudon USMCR(Ret) -------------- Thanks for the info- I did not consider my contribution at the time a pittance. I trusted those running MCROA. As stated some time ago, if illegal actions took place, you should have held those guilty to legal action. I appreciate the work being done now. Major Daniel Alexander USMCR LPM's reply--See the above plus be aware that the Association did successfully file legal action and recover money embezzled from the Association. The only problem centered around the proof of the amount of money misappropriated. -------------- Well done, Thomas, I think your solution of a trust fund that only the interest for the capital can be used is the way to go! Accordingly, I'll send my contribution in as soon as the final bill for my wheelchair accessible front porch has been paid. I'm beginning to think that all Marine veteran associations have been infected by a virus, in that several that I belong to have suffered the same fate: an elected Executive Committee that solve immediate financial problems of the organization by a reckless, unsound fiscal action that leads to near collapse. Most recent example was the First Marine Division Association that used the same (low life membership offer) plan that lead to imminent bankruptcy just three years ago! Fortunately, the new President, Mike Carone of Chicago, was able to reign in expenses and increase revenue to save the day. My best wishes for a successful annual meeting in a few weeks. Wish I could be there with you, as I have fond memories of several year's duty as an adjunct faculty member of the MC Command and Staff College. Semper Fidelis, ----bob--- Robert A. Henderson, Professor Emeritus Dept. Special Education, Univ. of Illinois MEMBERS -- Give us your feedback by filling in the following boxes: Rank:     First Name:     Middle Initial:    Last Name: