Committee Officers: All officers present and excused with the exceptions noted in the files of the Adjutant.

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1 DEPARTMENT OF MA MARINE CORPS LEAGUE Quarterly assembly of all 28 detachments, March 19, 2017, hosted by Det. #139, Pvt. Charles J. Shutt, Auburn Street, Watertown, MA ORDER OF BUSINESS Opening: Immediately before Commandant Fran Curnow opened the meeting, 1300 hours, he asked Chaplain Roger Hoffman to speak of the local firefighter, Joseph Toscano, who recently lost his life in the line of duty responding to a fire. We respectfully stood and honored this fallen fire fighter with a minute of silence. Following, Commandant Fran Curnow had asked that Sgt.-At-Arms Richard Broadnax lead the Marines in the Pledge of Allegiance and that the Chaplain read the opening prayers. Roll Call, Elected Officers: There were a total of 31 members present Commandant Fran Curnow Present Sr. Vice Commandant John Murray Excused Jr. Vice Commandant Dave Porter Present Judge Advocate Carlos Vieira Excused Financial Chairman Joe Messina Present Financial Officer Don Rivette Present Financial Officer Dan Bishop Excused Financial Officer Tony Garro Present Recognition of Dignitaries: Commandant Curnow respectfully acknowledged the VIPs--Past National Commandants Jim Laskey and Bernie Heaney; Division Paymaster John Rutovich; Multitasker Tony Garro; Past New England Division Vice Commandant Bob White; and himself, Asst. to the New England Commandant, Vice Commandant Fran Curnow; and, Past Marines-of-the-year Roger Hoffman, Tony Garro, Bernie Heaney, Jim Hastings, and also himself, Fran Curnow. Committee Officers: All officers present and excused with the exceptions noted in the files of the Adjutant. District Vice Commandants: Represented-Cape Cod District; Present-North Central District, North Middlesex District, North Shore District, South Middlesex District, South Shore District, Western District; Not assigned-south Central District.

2 Detachment Commandants: REPRESENTED-Burlington, Cape Cod, Greater New Bedford, Metro South, Pequoig, Ware, William R. Caddy, Worcester; ABSENT-Blackstone Valley, Boston Police, Capt Jennifer Harris, Kelly/Sullivan, Norfolk County, North Central, Pittsfield, Plymouth, South Central, Woburn Leathernecks; EXCUSED-LCpl Van Gyzen, Oak Ridge; PRE- SENT-Cape & Islands, Capt William Glynn, Essex County, Leo Fortier, Honorable Few, Metro West, Pvt Charles Shutt, Westville River Valley. Minutes of Previous Meeting: Commandant Curnow asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 15, 2017, meeting. Motion made by Roger Hoffman, 2d by Dave Porter and unanimously approved. Correspondence: The commandant read three letters as follows: 1. Letter of thanks from Ron Short, National Director of Marines Helping Marines and acknowledging our $1,000. donation. Jim Laskey commented that, presently, Bethesda only has a couple of out-patients and they will be transferring all donations to the MCL Foundation in a special account. Jim further commented that a local MCL detachment in South Maryland, on their own, started taking care of the wounded and, oftentimes, they used their own money. They do an excellent job and possibly will have access to donated funds. 2. We have contributed $1,000. to the Young Marines but have no acknowledgment as of yet. 3. A 3 rd letter of thanks from general Al Gray and that the Board of Directors for our donation of $1,000. in support of the Youth of America Physical Fitness Program. Paymaster Report: Paymaster Jim reviewed the statement that he has handed out to the members. Jim read each item and often commented on some. A motion was made by Bob White to accept, 2d by Roger Hoffman, and a number of others (inaudible,) and unanimously approved. NEW BUSINESS Sick and Distressed: This category is a lengthy report. It is with regret that I might overlook someone, but will readily correct in these minutes if requested. Some of the many medical issues are (1.) Art Enos wife is seriously ill (Fla.), (2.) Bruce Aldrich is recovering, (3.) Marty Tessio needs a kidney and is waiting for his daughter to reach a lower weight before an operation will be considered safe, (4.) Westfield River detachment, according to JR, has about 50% of the detachment with health issues and claims he could go on all day listing them, (5.) Jim Laskey s step-mother-in-law, Madeline Richards, passed away last week, (6.) Joe Moreau of

3 the Ware detachment has a knee infection, (7.) Jim Shannon of the Norfolk County detachment couldn t make it because he recently fell on the ice and is injured, (8.) Kevin Scarborough of Westfield detachment lost his mom a couple of weeks back, (9.) Paul Carew lost a toe, (10.) Tony Giaccomo of the Caddy detachment passed away, (11.) Burt Russell of the Essex detachment and his wife both have serious health issues, and (12.) Dan Murphy is a caretaker for his wife. Fran asked the members to keep all in their thoughts and hope for the best. Again, to repeat, if I missed anyone and you want a correction, please let me know. Report of Officers: Commandant Fran Curnow reported attending the Captain George A. Whitney memorial service, North Andover (1/22); PAC, Worcester (1/29); Game supper at the East Mountain Country Club, Westfield (2/11); and, Iwo Jima Day, Boston (2/22). Jr. Vice Commandant Dave Porter reported attending the State of the City Address from Mayor Marty Walsh, Boston (1/17); Memorial service for Captain George A. Whitney, North Andover (1/22); Honorable Few Meeting, Natick (2/5); Mid-winter National MCL Convention, Fredericksburg, VA (3/2-5); Boston Bruins Alumni vs MA Army REDLEGS Hockey game, Marlborough (3/18); and the MA MCL meeting, Watertown (3/19). Dave also reminded members of: (1.) the upcoming Department MCL convention at Cape Cod (6/8-10) and the election of officers for 2018 at that time. He also reminded members that Griff (Warren Griffin) is running for the position of National Judge Advocate; (2.) Marine of the Year applications have been sent out and the committee will be looking for recommendations prior to the Convention. Legislative Chairman/ N.E. Vice Commandant Warren C. Griffin s report was read by Jr. Vice, Dave Porter. Warren had asked to be excused from this meeting but his notes from the mid-winter conference are as follows: (1.) The continuous need for the detachments to be constantly reminded to be in compliance. The National Sr. Vice Commandant Wendell Webb will be notifying all concerned. FYI: CAN RECEIVE COPORATE DONATIONS, and CAN RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS; (2.) The move to our new Hq. is going well; (3.) The National web page will be completed in August, 2017; (4.) The Arlington National Cemetery is in the process of looking to expand the acreage and possibly build at another National Cemetery in the Baltimore region because in the not-too-distant future there will no longer be any room for further interments; (5.) Lt. General Peter Osmond reported that Toys4Tots is going well and emphasized that it is a Marine Corps Program and that the Marine Corps League provides support for this program and are not authorized to change the regulations governing its operation. The General emphasized that no Marine Corps League is permitted to run programs in conflict with the Marine Corps, otherwise the privilege of wearing and using the EGA can be revoked. For example; there cannot be any wording affiliation beginning with Toys for.. run by any detachment, nor the use of any other Marine Corps symbols (or wording) linking it to the Marine Corps; (6.) Marine Tim Toume will be undertaking a walk from the state of Washington to the Mexican border. He is seeking donations with a goal of $100,000 (98% goes to the SemperFi Fund.) His mission is one of honor and is asking for support. For information, contact the Semper Fi Fund website or google Operation Awakening II ; (7.) By-law proposals will be sent out to the departments. Expect major rewrites due to many of our current by-laws being reclassified as being National Hq.

4 procedures as they should have been; (8.) Presently, our membership stands at 54,581 which is down by 12,683 (-18.9%). It is expected that these losses can be attributed to the restructuring of our dues table and delinquent members who will be returning to our rolls very soon; (9.) And, a special guest appearance of the legendary retired, and 29 th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr. (active service ). The general spoke of his military experiences of many years and spoke to our need to focus our serious concern to the cyber world and the DOD. Chaplain Roger Hoffman reported six pages of activities. I will attempt to condense this Marine s exceptional dedication to our Department. Briefly, Roger either coordinates, participates in, attends, administrates, etc., etc. to include some of the following that he finds time to commit to his many responsibilities: Wakes-7, MCL rituals-4, Funerals-8, Interments-8, Escorts MC-9, Escorts MC KIA/MIA-1, Chaplain service-2, Certificates of remembrance-7, Deceased MCL-17, Department meeting-1, VAVS (Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service)-24 hours. Anyone wanting a summary of his League participation, contact me. As for myself, I ll not complain again that I m too busy SemperFi, Roger Paymaster Jim Laskey already had reported on our finances but Fran asked what he might tell us about the present disposition of the Wounded Warrior Project. Jim had spoke of an upper management shake up and that, apparently, the financial abuses have been corrected with the terminations of those at the top of the charity. FYI: This charity had shown as much as 60- million dollars on their Form 990 filing. This organization has/had justly received some bad press for misuse and embezzlement of funds; however, there has been a change in top management and they are in-the-process of gaining their reputation back. We also learned from Jim that we have two Wounded Warrior Battalions (Wounded Warrior Battalion East-Camp Lejeune, and Wounded Warrior Battalion West-Chicago)--both of which are committed to the welfare of the veteran s mind, body, economic empowerment and engagement. Marine Bob White commented, as he often has in the past, the need for members to focus and prioritize their need to file Form 990 for their detachments (Calendar-year-accounting detachments are due on the 15 th of May. Fiscal year would be 5 months later from their ending fiscal year and on that 5 th month, the 15 th day.) Bob emphasized that IF the detachment makes less than $50,000. gross income annually, the Form 990 requires only replying to simple 5-line questions. Presently, he s working with five detachments who had neglected to file for three years which, through neglect, has now required them to consider all moneys received to be declared as INCOME THAT IS TAXABLE. Bob further told the members that neglecting to file for three years has jeopardized their 501 status and will be revoked. To be reinstated, the IRS requires a 32-page filing at a minimum cost of approximately $700. Joe Messina, Chairman of the Convention reported that a review of the paymaster s records are in order. He also briefly reviewed the present progress of the convention and is confident everything is on track and, furthermore, also welcoming any comments or criticisms. Jim Hastings, coordinator of the MOY committee has commented that the MOY forms had been mailed to the detachments. FYI: The MOY Form is also on our website available for download.

5 Brian Dupee, VAVS reported on his service to the Department. Keeping in mind, too, that Brian coordinates six sites of volunteers helping veterans, his personal hands-on-involvement activities are as follows: (1.) Monday afternoons he is in the Nautilus Room; (2.) Tuesday Bingo with the American Legion; (3.) Wednesday PM in the Nautilus Room; (4.) Thursday Bingo in the Community Living Center; (5.) Attended four Chaplains ceremonies; (6.) Attended quarterly VAVS meeting; (7.) Drove a patient to an appointment and back again; (8.) Attended several benefits for Commandant Brian Brooks; (9.) Tim McCory logged several hours driving; (10.) Attended breakfast on the 3 rd Sunday at Oakridge detachment; and (11.) He has logged on many hours for both the Westfield River Valley and Oakridge detachments. Thanks to Brian! District Vice Commandants: Richard Broderick (North Middlesex District) reminded the members in attendance of the mobile Wall That Heals coming to Haverhill High School, Haverhill, June For further information, contact the hosting organization, Haverhill Veterans Council. Don Rivette (Western District)-- had a report he discussed with Commandant Fran, but we didn t get to hear of it (the commandant rode with Don to the meeting and apparently there was nothing to share with the rest of us.) No other District Vice Commandants reporting. Peter King, Photographer: Attended the mid-winter convention 3/2-5 in Fredericksburg, VA. Commandant Fran asked Peter to provide a collage of the activities of the Department and to display it at the annual convention. Marine Executive Detachment : Jim Laskey has been the one-man committee instrumental in pioneering our 29 th detachment for the Department (MA). He reported that he had sent a 15- man-membership application to National Hq., Tom Hazlett, establishing this new detachment. It is to be made up exclusively of executives and Jim will be the initial Commandant. We anticipate more to come on this GOOD OF THE LEAGUE Burger Burn: May 6 th will be a Family day at Shirley, MA, for a Burger Burn event. If need more information, contact Jim Hastings ( ). There has/had been a strained relationship between the MCL and the Active Marines. Presently, Jim is the liaison and we are looking to be more of a support with the actives and look forward to a better rapport. If this is inaccurate, please contact me--it was not clear on my voice recorder. Thanks Awards: Commandant Fran passed out two Certificates of Appreciation for membership achievements. They are: 3 rd place award to the Worcester detachment, and a 1 st Place award to the Shutt detachment. Applause and pictures were taken.

6 Announcement: Rhode Island will be hosting the New England Conference &Quad State Convention 2017, 4/21-23/2017. For reservations: Mainstay Inn, 151 Admiral Kalbfus Road, Newport, R. I., tel FYI of further interest relating to the National Cemetery: There are plans in the works for interments at the National cemetery to be minimized because the cemetery is filling to capacity. At the current rate of burials, it is expected-and-estimated that by 2054 the present National Cemetery (VA) will be filled and a new site will be in place and available. More to come on this (PS: Not to worry.) CLOSING There being nothing more, Commandant Curnow thanked the members of the Shutt detachment for the excellent preparation of the pasta meal and all the trimmings they provided for the Marines. He then followed up by asking the Sgt.-At-Arms to retire the colors. Chaplain Roger lead us in the closing prayers, and Jr. Vice (in his dual role acting as Sr. Vice) performed the last duties of the Post. SaA was asked to declare the meeting as closed and we adjourned at 1447 hours. The next meeting will be held May 7th at the 1 st Lt. Brian McPhillips/Metro South Detachment, 11 Roberta Road, Sharon, MA (1100 Officers mtg., 1200 chow, 1300 general meeting.) Semper Fi, Frank Serra, Department Adjutant NAVY SEAL TEAM 6 THAT TOOK OUT OSAMA BIN LADEN 5/2/2011, OPERATION NEPTUNE SPEAR

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