Marine Corps Disbursing Association Newsletter

NOTE: In an attempt to "Go Green" and reduce the ever-rising postage costs associated with our mailing of the newsletter, we are offering you the opportunity to help. If you would prefer to read the newsletter online and not receive a hard copy in the mail, please send an email to the webmaster at Reunion@usmcdisbursers.com with your name and address.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

This letter comes with the warmest of wishes to all Marines hoping each of you had a very happy Marine Corps Birthday!! 234 years and none of you look a day over 100!! As we all have much to be thankful for, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a very Merry Christmas - right around the corner.

If you are not currently a member of the Marine Corps Disbursing Association (MCDA), please sign up now - simply send Mike Thiry a quick email and he'll help you get the ball rolling or go to here to print a membership form. If you already are a member and know of some folks that should be members, ask them to join and assist them in doing so...they'll thank you for it later!

I was very honored to participate in this year's MCDA Kansas City Golf Tournament so I could witness first hand an awesome fund raiser for our scholarship fund. Later, I was pleased to sign the letters to this year's scholarship winners on your behalf. Please read on to learn more about the scholarship fund and accept a challenge to get active in this endeavor!

As you probably already know, our next reunion is being planned as this letter arrives at your home. The committee members are already hard at work to make sure we all have a great time. Mark your calendar and make your plans to attend......as we all know, time flies!

Finally, please remember that we currently have a vacancy on our executive committee. If you would like to volunteer to serve and represent the membership as Vice President, please let me know!

Semper Fi!
Greg Bucholtz, President
gmbucholtz@everestkc.net

2011 REUNION UPDATE

The Reunion committee has been working diligently to plan another great reunion in Las Vegas, NV, June 5-9, 2011. We would like to hear from you. Tell us your thoughts and suggestions. Is there something special we should be considering? Is there a particular event or show you think that we should attend as a group? Most importantly we would like to know if you plan to participate. In order to estimate attendance and gauge room requirements, please let us know one of the following:

I am definitely attending.
I/we plan to attend.
I definitely cannot attend at this time.

Please provide your response to:
Dick Lagle (816)331-5213 or email Lagle1@sbcglobal.net or
Mike Thiry (816)765-1059 or email mthiry1@kc.rr.com.

MCDA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

High school graduations are just around the corner. If you have a child or grandchild continuing his or her education, they may qualify for financial assistance from our association. Eligibility includes Marines, Marine Veterans, their children and grandchildren. Application details and forms are found here on our web site. Funds are limited so get your application in as soon as possible. Awards will be announced in June, 2010.

Having presented our first scholarships in 2009, the Marine Corps Disbursing Association Scholarship Fund is continuing to grow through the hard work of its members. In support of that effort, the Association is asking our members to donate funds directly to help us reach a goal of presenting additional scholarships. Checks can be sent directly to: MCDA; Michael Thiry, Treasurer; 7600 E. 130th Ct.; Grandview, MO 64030 with “Scholarship Fund” in the memo area of the check. Note: Until our group reaches 90% combat veteran membership, the donation is NOT tax deductible. On behalf of all fellow Marine Corps Disbursers, thank you for your support!

A CHALLENGE TO ALL GOLFERS

For the past two years, a group of Kansas City folks have organized golf tournaments to raise funds for the Marine Corps Disbursing Association Scholarship Fund. So far, we have raised over $3600. The “Kansas City Duffers Corps”, as we like to call ourselves, would like to challenge our Association’s membership to a contest to see which group can raise the most money for the Scholarship Fund. The group with the largest donation to the fund for two consecutive years will be the proud owners of a traveling trophy to be presented at the biennial reunion. And of course you’ll be rewarded with your group’s name prominently mentioned in the newsletter following the reunion. So, come on all you duffers out there...Let’s see your Marine Corps spirit! For information on how to get started complete with a timetable of what to do and when, contact Bruce Van Kirk at TheeGunny3@hotmail.com or Mike Thiry at Mthiry1@kc.rr.com.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

If you’re a Facebook member, we’ve now got a way that you can chat with other disbursers and post messages and photos for others to see. Search for “Marine Corps Disbursing” under “Find Friends”, then click on the “Groups” link on the left in the results page. Click on the Marine Corps Disbursing Association link and then click on the Join button. Then bookmark it so you’ll always have easy access to it. It’s that easy! We’ve got 28 members so far, and would like to have more people posting their thoughts and sharing their pictures. If you have any questions, contact the webmaster, Chip Van Kirk. (Webmaster's note: Since the mailing of the newsletter, we now have 42 members on board.)

SILENT AUCTION ITEM FOR GOLF TOURNAMENT

Our webmaster was quick enough on Twitter to snag an Ian Poulter signed golf glove as a silent auction item for our next golf tournament. Hopefully it will seriously help increase funds for the scholarship fund. (Webmaster's note: There's a TwitVid of Ian signing the golf gloves on our Facebook page. If you're already a Facebook member, you can follow this link.)