2005 Third Quarter Message

MARINES;

We are mounting our attack on the demographics of the Marine population in California, with heavy emphasis on greater Los Angeles police and fire safety troops to generate more involvement for Department growth in numbers and enthusiasm.

Much of the service connected population in Law Enforcement, Corrections and Public Safety, though Marines, prefer to remain independent of the rest of us. I see that as an opportunity to form detachments in these jurisdictions that will compete among themselves and yes compete and assist with the Leagues goals and objectives, simply stated, to support Marines and their families.

You get an incomplete message about a person or an event and immediately conjure up all possible negative thoughts when in reality the situation might readily develop into a positive conclusion. Even though we believe that for the most part there is good in all that happens, or feel what happens, happens for the best, sometimes it is difficult to assume a possible positive outcome. Because of our inherent desire to be helpful especially to our Marine counterparts we look for the worst case scenario in order to ensure that any outcome is gratefully accepted.

Let’s be optimistic, there has been too much negativity in life today, it’s time we turned this positive and put the new energy to good use. We have many stories of Marines needing help but been overlooked by our membership because they cannot possibly do anything for us, I ask, “why must they do anything for us”? We need more Marines in the league that can evaluate the above statement and buy into the process. Our rewards are based on our ability to look for and to those needing help and accepting the legitimacy of the situation. We can grow in numbers with dignity by applying this simple approach when we ask new Marines to join our ranks.

Marines don’t give up on one another no matter the complexity of the situation and I for one am not giving up any ground to impede my quest for more detachments and membership growth. To those who have differences of opinion within the detachment with respect to protocol, ritual and community, I say stop for a minute and think hard….. Protocol is exact and does not lend itself to interpretation … Ritual is control … community is what we make of it…., therefore, it behooves all to look closely at ourselves and look for the simple positive aspects of this scenario.

• Hold a special skull session void of protocol and set down your interests for the detachment.
• Hold a special guest nights if necessary for Marines in the community to encourage younger membership involvement. What is especially true is that many of your community leaders are Marines, call them to duty.
• Remember the preamble to, and the Oath of Office make very clear the reason we are MARINE CORPS LEAGUE is because of our Marines and their families, not the community, are our most important commodity.

I have come to the dubious conclusion that almost ALL conversations and discussions starts with a negative comment, although some recent contacts acknowledge a good and successful 2005 Department convention.

Semper Fidelis

Robert W. (Bob) Sennett
Commandant 2005-2006
MCL, Department of California