Year End Report: The State of the USMCCCA
As we close another successful calendar year we offer the following accomplishments from 2008 and where we hope to be in 2009.
First, our finances. Borrowing from the late Bob “Mo” Morrisey and, more recently from our own national Treasurer, Tom Kerr: “We ain’t broke.” Yes, we are definitely concerned with the sad state of the national economy and will be working diligently with our new Foundation Board to see that we survive. Fortunately, we run a bare-bones operation so major cutbacks are not as necessary as they are with some veterans organizations. Here are some 2008 highlights:
• Since 2005 we have seen the number of Merit Awards sponsorships increase from single digits to 35 in 2008. Obviously, this helps our financial picture. In 2009 we hope to add 10 more sponsorships. A word about the Merit Awards Program itself. No one has worked harder to streamline this program than our Association VP Don Knight. To somewhat alter an old adage: He shows that an “old dog” can teach some new tricks. The program is sound and getting healthier with HQMC cooperation.
• The Booster Club has 17 members at this writing. We need more.
• Advertising increased in the 2008 Annual Conference Journal thanks to the great work of Art Director Chuck Beveridge. Both our members and corporate partners recognize the Journal as a professional “book.” Our membership is supporting it with their quarter-page (and larger) ads but, even with a profit in 2008, we need more corporate support.
• While we had to cut some unresponsive memberships, we managed to bring on board 40 new members in 2008. We end 2008 at 483 members. The concern is that our Honorary and Life members represent approximately 55% of our membership. We have a ready source at the website www.togetherweserved.com. There are more than 500 present and former CCs listed as well as 400+members of the 4600 field. If you have not visited the site we encourage you to use it as a recruiting tool. Our realistic goal for 2009 is 75 new members.
• Through the efforts of many at DINFOS, we are seeing graduates now accepting the complimentary memberships we offer. We use the word “accept” as we now require the graduate to activate his or her membership by contacting CCHQ.
• Thanks to the top-down encouragement from Division of Public Affairs to field commands, we now are seeing many repeat registrations at our annual Conference. This means we now can place faces with names with these new breed CCs. Likewise, they are able to get better exposure to us. This has to pay future dividends from a membership standpoint.
• Our relationship with DivPA at HQMC has never been better. The Public Affairs Chief, MGySgt. Phil Mehringer is a Life Member and one of our most ardent boosters. Unlike Macy not talking to Gimble, CCHQ speaks to the DivPA staff at least once per week.
• In 2009 we are going to attempt a re-write of Gary Cameron’s “Last to Know, First to Go”. We have a willing editor and will be asking all CCs for their remembrances of events from the 1970’s onward. More on this in the 1st Quarter Now Hear This.
• Our newly-launched national website www.usmccca.org is certainly one of the year-end highlights. Kate Stark has done a fantastic job in a short time! In 2009 we look for the site to be more interactive with members being able to have dialogue with one another and with members able to use the site for conference registration and the paying of dues.
• In December, right on new Foundation President Don O’Neal’s target, we split the Foundation from the Association, re-wrote the bylaws, elected new officers and now expect big things. We did this to protect the Association from violations that could affect our non-profit status. Our concern was/is that we keep the Foundation under the control of our membership. All current Association Directors automatically become Directors in the Foundation although none of the present officers can hold dual offices. Tom Kerr, National Treasurer, remains Association Treasurer. John Dodd was elected Treasurer of the Foundation. You can read about the new Foundation in Now Hear This which will come out in early February.
Finally, with the leadership duo of Fred “Flash” Lash at the Association and new Foundation President, Don O’Neal, we look forward to a prosperous (and happy) New Year.
Semper Fidelis
Jack T. Paxton
Executive Director