Gene Rivers' 2007 Message

First, I can not overstate how proud, and humbled, I feel by your confidence to make me your Department Commandant. Thank you one and all!

Secondly, I wish to thank our Department Convention hosts, San Diego Bulldog Detachment #835, with their Commandant John Vorhies and Staff, for a great CONVENTION. It was so enjoyable, from MCRD Graduation to the Banquet, seeing Marine friends and making new ones, and most of all the comraderie enjoyed with all that attended  I also wish extend my gratitude to outgoing Dept. Commandant Sennett and his Staff, SW Division National Vice Commandant Bob Canright, SW Division Assistant National Vice Commandant Meade Phillips, and Past Dept. Commandant Wes Pennewell (Wes, thanks for the copy MCL Dept. CA Admin. Procedures, etc.). In addition, I wish to thank our Dept. Chaplain, Ted Corbett, for the many things he does, but also his great "TAPS" presentation for our departed Marines that have passed this past year. Lastly, I wish to thank our MCL Auxillary with all their efforts and hard work. We will work at "expanding/increasing the MCL Auxilliary", but this message goes particularly to those I previously spoke with, President Jean Tanner, Sr. Vice President Mary Pitts, and Judge Advocate Geri Phillips.

Oh, I wish to thank our Dept. Webmaster, Glenn Fiery, for his devotion with his never ending work on our behalf. Also Glenn, please thank Brittanie for us. In addition, I wish to thank Dennis Sutton and Don McMullen from Region 7, for going that extra mile in being our Dept. Training Officers.

We (Sr. & Jr. Vice Cmdts., Region Coordinators, and I), look forward to visiting with you at Detachment Monthly meetings during the course of the year. Our desire is to continue to expand our Marine numbers with new membership and detachments throughout the Department of California. With all of your help (Marine Team Work) we will accomplish great things, and by increasing our numbers we will advance our Marine Corps League Programs and our comradship. Bottom line is we will all work hard to achieve these goals...  In conjunction with this it is imperative that all officers at detachment and department levels review their respective by-laws, as well as reviewing the national by-laws, "Ritual" book, admin. procedures and protocol.

In conclusion, I look forward to seeing many of you during the course of the year at your detachments, and as well as I invite you one and all to our Fall (October 06) and Spring (March 07) Conferences- to be announced, Marine West Expo at Camp Pendleton (to be announced-sometime in Jan. 07?), as well as our next Department and National Conventions. Visit our Department Website often for updates (link to National Website), and read our California Leaguer.

God Bless all Marines, past, present, and particularly those currently serving in harms way.