The Straight Skinny
Detachment #482
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February 2015
Vol. 13 #11
Olympia, WA
Commandant: Ev Brown (360) 754-7946, Sr. Vice Commandant: Jim Sims (360) 432-8195, Jr. Vice Commandant
and Quartermaster: Gary Waer (360)705-1049, Sergeant At Arms: Eric Rathke Detachment Armorer: position
vacant, Paymaster: John Britcher (360) 888-4475, Judge Advocate: Bill Watkins, Adjutant: Bryson Langel (360)
352-9912, Chaplain: Dave Grundl (360) 786-8052, PAO/Editor: Ken Clark (253) 964-8326. COMMITTEE
CHAIRMEN: BOY SCOUTS – John Sager, COLOR GUARD – Jim Deacon and Gilman Pelkey, PARADE MARSHAL:
position vacant, ROSE PROGRAM– Shanin Brennan and Tracey Lundquist, AWARDS COMMITTEE – Tim Collins,
FUNERAL COMMITTEE - Jim McCallum, Dept. of WA Representatives to the WA Veterans Legislative Coalition:
Primary – Dick Marcelynas, Secondary – Ev Brown, Toys For Tots – John Moysiuk, Web Sergeant – David Ball.
Website: www.olympiamarines.org
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Letter from the Commandant
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the January muster the Detachment voted to raise the cost of breakfast at the VFW to $10.00. Since
that time I have negotiated a cost reduction to $7.00 and the minimum number of diners from 25 to 20.
I would propose that we pay $10.00 with $3.00 going to our Detachment. At our February muster we
had 22 diners, which put $80.00 into our coffers. This is a far cry better than losing money every time
we eat together, which was the case in most previous musters.
Also, a reminder that we will have nominations for new officers at our March muster, so I urge all of you
to be thinking about who you would like to nominate and if you would be willing to serve as an officer
for our Detachment.
Stay safe, stay strong, and Semper Fi,
Commandant Ev Brown
Muster Minutes
Minutes of February 7, 2015:
We mustered at the VFW Post in Lacey. Before the official meeting began we welcomed two Veterans
representatives who came to speak to us about what they do and how we can help. Gary Walker, the
chair of the Thurston County Commissioners Veterans Advisory Board, spoke first. Gary is also a
member of American Legion Post 94 in Lacey and an Army Veteran. Gary talked about how all of the
region’s Veterans groups are working hard, but they aren’t communicating well with each other. He felt
that by working together we may better be able to fund our programs. Two activities have been
planned to address funding needs.
1) On June 16th there will be a conference aimed at getting all of the local Veterans organizations
together to focus on two things: First is to provide “one stop shopping”, i.e., help for combat Vets or
those who suffered sexual assault while in the service. Second, to find a way to get help to Vets who
face some immediate crisis like homelessness, addiction, suicide prevention.
2) The second effort will be to develop funding for the Veterans Assistance Fund. Currently it is funded
by property tax, taking 1 1/8 cents/$1000 of property tax. In the past this has provided >$400,000, but
because of the reduced property values following the housing crash there is now a shortfall of more
than $100,000 each year. Because of this shortfall, they will now only serve first or second time users.
To address longer-term needs the Thurston County Veterans Board has created a nonprofit tax-exempt
fund to supplement the Veterans Assistance Fund, and they want to partner with local Veterans
organizations to help raise these supplemental funds. Gary will send letters to the local Vet
organizations seeking their help.
Gary asked what needs should be addressed for Vets. Responses included transportation to medical
and dental centers, vehicle repair, childcare, and service dogs.
Our second guest speaker was Lou McElroy, the chair of Pierce County Veterans. Lou pointed out that
the Thurston County Assistance Fund now has a resource guide on the Thurston County website. At a
recent conference Lou found out that it takes more than 2 hours to get Vets to American Lake using the
public bus system, but that there is a rural tribal transportation service that will take people to
anywhere in the county for as little as $1 or $2. John Moysiuk added that in his job he works on
eliminating barriers, and people should talk with him about their needs. Lou hopes to have the new
nonprofit group up and running in the next few months; information will be found on the county
website.
Lou also said that the Pierce County Veterans puts on the following 4 events each year:
1) Waterside Memorial at Percival Landing the Sunday of Memorial Weekend 1300
2) Memorial Day at the Capitol Rotunda 1100
3) Flag Day June 14 at South Sound Mall Flag Plaza 1600
4) Veterans Day November 11 at the Capitol Rotunda 1100
They also sponsor a luncheon on the second Wednesday each month at 1100 at Izzy’s. They have a
speaker and use the event to connect people with problems to people with solutions. They ask that
attendees buy a meal to help pay for the room.
Following the presentation, Commandant Ev Brown opened the meeting at 0910. Sergeant At Arms
Eric Rathke secured the quarters and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Chaplain Dave Grundl offered
an opening prayer, including a request for prayers for Paymaster John Britcher who is recovering from
shoulder surgery.
Previous Minutes. John Moysiuk moved that we accept the minutes of January 3rd. Bill Watkins
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Guests. Dick Marcelynas introduced his guests, Corey Frantz and Alexis Stephens. They are both
Marines who left active duty 5 months ago having served 5 years in intelligence as Indonesian and
Chinese linguists. They coped with the challenges of being based in Hawaii for much of their
enlistments. John Moysiuk introduced his guest Billy Smith, who served 16 years in the Corps and is
currently in his 15th year in the Army. Billy is now Sergeant Major of the Support Battalion on Fort Lewis.
OFFICER REPORTS:
Report of the Paymaster. Shanin Britcher, substituting for John Britcher, reported that we currently
have $157.10 in the uniform account, $1255.55 in savings, and a grand total of $2177.99. Ken Clark
moved that we accept the report of the Paymaster. Ward Harden seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Report of the Senior Vice Commandant. Jim Sims had nothing new to report.
Report of the Junior Vice Commandant. Gary Waer asked how many of us run into Marines in the
course of our daily activities, and how many of us carry an application? He urged everyone to do all they
can to find new members for the Detachment.
Report of the Judge Advocate. Bill Watkins had nothing new to report.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Report of the Rose Sales Director. Shanin Brennan plans to meet with Russ Russell, the former Rose
Sales Director, so that they and Tracey Lundquist can make plans for scheduling Rose Sales for the
coming year. Alan Hoover thanked Shanin and Tracey for stepping up to this position, and there was a
round of applause.
Honor Guard Report. The Honor Guard was conducting a funeral ceremony today.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business to conduct.
NEW BUSINESS:
Tribal Funding. Cecil Cheeka said that he knows Shanin is working hard of securing funding from tribes,
and he reminded her that she will need to submit a request on Detachment letterhead. Shanin called
the Pierce County Marine Corps League detachment and spoke with George Hilldish (sp?), who
explained that they didn’t get $250,000. That money went to Toys-For-Tots and their detachment
simply administered the funds. Shanin will try to get money to cover rental space for T4T and insurance;
she plans to solicit the 3 local tribes and will bring Cecil along. They will begin in March.
Military Order of the Purple Heart. Commandant Brown announced that the MOPH has gotten a sign
installed at the northern and southern ends of I-5 with a Purple Heart designation on them; the
Legislature and Veterans organizations have made I-5 a Purple Heart trail. They plan to have signs at
rest area exits too. Their next meeting will be held later today at La Center, exit 16, at 1130.
Officer Nominations. Past Commandant John Moysiuk reminded the Detachment that we will need to
nominate officers at our March Muster since elections must be held in April.
GOOD OF THE ORDER:
Funding Idea. Past Commandant Steve Ostrander announced an idea he had that could help us raise
funds. Steve was in a yogurt store where he saw this being done, and estimated we could earn several
hundred dollars each quarter with little effort or time commitment. He suggested we find some local
mom & pop stores and put a canister on the counter for donations. We would come up with a slogan
and advertise what our Detachment does and put that information on a sign that would be hung on the
wall. We would also need brochures. We would need to show the store that we do things like fund the
golf course hole for wounded Veterans for example. He asked everyone to think about it look around
their neighborhood for likely venues.
Following a prayer from Chaplain John Britcher and a rousing verse of the Marines Hymn, the
Commandant closed the meeting at 0945. Our next Breakfast/Muster will be held at 0800 at the VFW
at 2902 Martin Way East on March 7, 2015.
Marines and Associates, please feel free to contact me with any short articles or items of interest that
you think would be a worthy addition to the Straight Skinny. Also, if you would like me to include a
story from your time on active duty let me know and we will work out a way to get your story posted
here. Cheers! PAO Ken Clark
SEMPER FI!