A Message from the Commandant:

As we approach the celebration of Christmas and the completion of Chanukah I hope that all are able to find the comfort, joy, and light that this season offers.  The religious foundation of this season guides us to have faith, to be hopeful, and to have awareness of a power that is bigger than us.  The small amount of oil can last a seemingly impossible amount of time.  A baby born in the the most tenuous and inauspicious setting can go on to deliver a message that can change the world.  Faint whispers of hope can still be heard over the noise of fear and frustration. Glimmers of light can be seen in the darkness of despair.  Openness to hear and see is sometimes all that is needed.  At one point in our lives, something called us to choose to be Marines, Corpsmen, and Chaplains, although there may have been many others who questioned the choice.  For this season,  I hope that we will all be open to call to be the best the we can be and that we carry that spirit into the new year. 

December Meeting Notes:

The detachment met on December 16, as scheduled, at 7:00 PM with 14 members in attendance.  After the opening ceremonies, a motion was made and seconded to suspend the normal order of business so that attendees could enjoy dinner and desserts.  With the vote approved, dinner was enjoyed by those in attendance.  Cold weather clothing items were collected and prepared for deliver to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans.  Following dinner, the meeting resumed to address the following topics:

An announcement was made that member Jonathan  "Bing" Swain was gravely ill and receiving end of life care.  Bing served in the Marine Corps on active duty and in the reserves for nearly 30 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He was an active member of the Marine Corps League and a charter member of the detachment.  New of his death was received on 17 December.  Chaplain Mike Whalen will coordinate any detachment participation in services for Lt. Colonel Swain.

 Toys for Tots:
Committee Chair Richard Douglas provided an update on the Toys for Tots Program.  Although there have been challenges this year, collections have gone well and preparations to close down the pods are in place.  So far it appears that we have been on track to deliver about the same volume of toys as last year.  The detachment has stepped up to contribute to the success of this annual effort.  We are grateful to Marine Douglas for his efforts in coordinating and communicating throughout the drive.

Massachusetts State Meeting:
We will host the MCL Mass State Department meeting at the Natick Amvets on Sunday, 18 January.  We will need members to assist in setting up the room and assisting with the meeting,  With approximately 80 attendees from allover the state, this is a good sized event and your help will make it easier to conduct an effective meeting.  If you can give an hour or two, it will make a difference.

Ed Jolley Memorial:
Marine Warren Griffin discussed ongoing plans to install a memorial plaque at the Natick Community Center to recognize Ed Jolley's many years of service to the community.  Warren is working with the family to develop wording.

VA Visitation:
The detachment conducted Bingo at the Jamaica Plain VA Hospital on 4 Dec. This event is scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month and is greatly appreciated by the patients.  Members are encouraged to participate in this activity that takes about two hours.

Golf Tournament:
Marine Jim Hastings proposed that certificates for rounds of golf be purchased as raffle prizes for the tournament.  These certificates are available for a limited time.  Purchase was approved.  Jim announced that the tournament dates have been set and initial planning is ongoing.

Fundraising:
Warren Griffin announced that the detachment is again able to benefit from having runners in the BAA Marathon.  A second number has been designated to benefit our outreach and runners have been lined up for both numbers.

Detachment Attire:
Jim Hastings announced that detachment sweatshirts are in production and will be available in January.  These high quality shirts are available in red or green and can be purchased for $30.

Future Meetings:

Upcoming meetings will be held at the Natick Amvets at 7:30 PM on 20 January, 17 February and 17 March.  We look forward to your attendance and participation.

2014 Toys for Tots Kickoff

As we approach the peak of the holiday season, we are again working with the Marine Corps Reserve to support Toys for Tots. The program is in full swing.  The Pods are in place at the Holliston Police Station  and the State Police Building on Route 9. Delivery of the Natick Elks Pod is pending.  As a reminder, the program's official end date is 12 December.  Donations received after that point may not make it for delivery this year and will be stored for future use.  Marine Richard Douglas has been thorough in leading this effort for the detachment.

On Sunday, 30 November, Metrowest Detachment members and the Blackstone Valley Young Marines had a strong presence at the Town of Natick Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Throughout the afternoon, a large number of toys were collected and delivered to the Holliston pod.  A total of $375.00 in cash donations was collected and mailed off to the MA Toys for Tots Coordinator.  The Young Marines did an outstanding job of managing the refreshments and overseeing the toy collection point.  the local Marine recruiter was there with his well appointed Humvee.  All contributed to a successful event.
A special note of thanks and recognition goes out to Dunkin Donuts for their generous donation of coffee, hot chocolate , and donuts.  We encourage you to keep this donation in mind when you are buying coffee, donuts, or any of the fine dining options that are available at your local Dunkin Donuts.

As a reminder, we will meet at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 16 at the Amvets in Natick.  This will be a dinner meeting and a fine opportunity to relax with your comrades and friends.  We hope to have strong attendance to get re-acquainted with those whom we do not see regularly. Two action items exist for this meeting:

Please bring a donation of warm clothing items for the New England Center for Homeless Veterans.  Gloves, socks, scarves, hats, hooded sweatshirts and similar items are all very much needed.

Please bring a dessert to share with all.  This is your chance to show off your culinary skills or to showcase your personal favorites.