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Spring Meeting - March 17, 2003:

To: LtGen William R. Maloney, USMC (Ret)
From: Col J. Walt Davis, USMC (Ret)
Subj: NMCC Minutes
Date: May 19, 2003


On May 17, 2003, the National Marine Corps Council Semi-annual meeting was held at the Marine Corps Association, 715 Broadway, Quantico, VA 22134.

At 0830, LtGen Maloney opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the guest speaker, MajGen K. B. Kuklok, Plans, Policies and Operations. MajGen Kuklok provided an inspiring briefing and operational update on the current disposition of U. S. Marine Corps forces and participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At 0945, BGen Margaret Brewer provided an overview of the NMCC Member Survey. (Can you put the link to her briefing right here on web?) (if not, attachments for all briefs at the end) The survey results illustrated that there is a wide range of opinion as to the effectiveness of the NMCC both in its primary and additional purposes. With 60% of the organizations responding, the average rating for the question of "How effective is the council in fulfilling each of its purposes?" was as follows: (Rating Scale: 1 Low to 7 High).

Primary Purpose: " ...to assist in the preservation of a strong Marine Corps and
support the aims of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in satisfying this objective."
Average rating 4.0.
Additional Purpose: "...exchanging information of common interest to members." Average rating 3.8.
Additional Purpose: "...to serve as a forum for the Commandant of the Marine Corps to disseminate information to the membership of the affiliated organizations and associations
to further Marine Corps objectives." Average rating 3.6.

One trend response that was pervasive throughout the survey was the need for more and better communication, upward, downward and laterally within the NMCC and between and among the NMCC and HQMC and other organizations.

At approximately 1010 Col Joel Eissinger, Head, Special Projects Directorate, HQMC, provided a briefing on "Communication." Col Eissinger reviewed with the attendees the numerous ways that information is available on the Marine Corps web site and actually briefed the web site real time. His major point was that a vast array of material is available in a timely manner to interested organizations. He also passed out copies of official quarterly Marines Magazine for review and asked each organization representative to reply as to how many copies were desired.

At 1050 Major General Arnold L. Punaro, Deputy for Reserve Affairs, provided a briefing and update on "Marine For Life." (link to brief or Marine For Life site?). General Punaro briefly touched on the background of the program which supports transitioning Marines of all grades and MOS's. The General indicated that the program is funded and fully operational with over 50 hometown links and needs the support of each and every organization. The General provided a Marine For Life coin to all attendees.

At approximately 1135 Col Ray Hord provided an update on the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and the National Museum of the Marine Corps. (Link to brief?) The ground breaking on the Dumfries Rt1. I-95 site will go 26 Sep 2003 and the next event will be a Black tie Gala on 25 Sep 2003. For more information call 703-640-7965.

At 1235 introductions of each attendee was accomplished. The meeting then moved to New and Old business.

Old business: Col Jerry Brown, representing both 1st and 3d MarDiv Associations, stated that if we wanted to transform the NMCC, one of the things that would help is continuity. It is time to consider the Marine Corps Association's proposal that MCA supply a full-time Chairman that acts on day-to-day matters and shares duties with a rotating chairman elected as we do today. For that the MCA would provide administrative, communication and logistic support for NMCC. Ray Hord, Heritage Foundation stated that we might want to look at the Air Force Association (AFA), their headquarters supplies an umbrella association oriented to visions and issues and the local groups get together once a year.

George Hoffman, MEA, stated that MCA, unlike most of the other not for profits represented at the meeting, had active duty members on its Board of Governors. Somebody would just need to check out if this would be a legal problem for NMCC if Gen Palm became the day-to-day chairman. Col Warren Wiedhan, representing the US Korea 2000 Foundation, indicated that he supported the idea but would like to know if MCA can do it. LtCol Brooks Corley, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.) representing the Marine Corps League, stated that the League is a 501(c) (4) organization. Before NMCC decides on structure, what does the Commandant want us (NMCC) to do? LtGen Maloney responded that he would find that out on 27 May when he briefed the Commandant on NMCC.

LtCol Joe Hennegan, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.), stated that he thought acting on MCA's proposal was too hasty and he didn't have enough information. He suggested LtGen Maloney to bring back information and ideas from his briefing before deciding. Also, he felt that we would both be overburdening MCA and also putting NMCC's independence at risk. Col Walt Davis, VP, MCA was asked about the administrative support burden. He stated that MCA is basically doing it now and MCA possesses the personnel strength and technology to handle the support as it presently stands. Major Joe Fetherston U. S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.) and past Chairman of NMCC stated that the administrative support is too much for an individual and we need MCA’s support. Mr. Phil Beckerick, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, stated that it made sense to ask MCA to do it. Col Jerry Brown closed the discussion by saying that he desired the benefits of the discussion to help he and LtGen Maloney in their discussions with the Commandant.

LtCol Brooks Corley made the point that Chairman, LtGen Maloney and Vice Chairman, Col Jerry Brown had not been officially voted on by the full counsel as required by the by laws to assume the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman having been thrust into the positions due to the sickness of Sam Saxton. LtCol Corley made the motion for their election and it carried unamiously. He also made the point that NMCC needs to decide whether it wants to be an organization that meets twice a year and that is it, or whether it needs a mechanism to handle time sensitive issues. Herb Newman from the 4th Marine Division Association of WWII made the point that, in the past, the Executive Committee met quarterly to handle business or issues. The Chairman answered that the Executive Committee had been meeting frequently. Herb asked who was on the Committee and was told: LtGen Maloney, Sam Saxton, Joel Eissinger, George Hoffman, Will Donaldson, Jerry Brown, Margaret Brewer, Brooks Corley and Walt Davis.

George Hoffman stated that everyone needed to come to the fall meeting prepared to discuss governance and leadership and to vote on the MCA proposal. Alan Hammer, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, stated that his board chairman makes it a requirement for all motions on changes to the by laws be written and provided ahead of time so members can review and vote. He opined that maybe NMCC should adopt this method. Col Joel Eissinger made the observation that NMCC needed an interim meeting this year to facilitate discussion at the fall meeting. Several people agreed with him and the Chairman indicated that after the Commandant's brief the Executive Committee would meet and set a summer date to prepare for the fall meeting.

New Business. Col Jerry Brown introduced LtCol Ken Beasock, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.), representing the Marine Corps Motor Transport Association. Ken Beasock briefed the data on this new but rapidly growing organization. After the briefing it was realized that the Marine Corps Motor Transport Association met all criteria for membership in the NMCC and were desirous of joining. Col Davis received a written request. Motion was made, seconded for membership. Motion carried unanimously.

LtCol Hennigan asked why don't we hold the meetings at HQMC or Ft Meyer? Several folks responded the cost and the security made it too difficult to do so. Plan would be to continue to use MCA for the short term. Motion was made to adjourn at 1:13pm.

Col Davis received briefs, letters for notes from the following: Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Marine Corps Engineer Association, China Marine Association, and the First Marine Raider Battalion.

Walt Davis

Col J. Walt Davis, USMC (Ret)
Marine Corps Association
Vice President, COO