Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

 BOOSTER CLUB

Meeting Minutes

9/13/06

Meeting called to order by Col. Watson at 7:00 PM.

There are currently 76 cadets enrolled in the program.

Col. Watson expressed the following concerns:

•  Lack of parental involvement both in the MCJROTC program and at the school as a whole.  He encouraged the MCJROTC parent group to take a leadership role among parents here at Ribault and become active in PTSA, etc.
• Lack of commitment and follow-through by the cadets to drill team practice after school and participation in community color guards, etc.  Discussion ensued re: transportation (confirmed that an activity bus is available for after school practice; practice currently scheduled for Mon. through Thurs. from 2:30-4:30.)  Also, parents expressed concern that they were unaware of scheduled practice/events; improved communication should help. Col. Watson asked that parents encourage their cadets to participate.
• Lack of insurance information and physical examination forms on many cadets (required for participation.)  The St. Vincent’s van will be on campus on 9/29 to provide free physicals (the school nurse will forward permission paperwork to parents for signature prior to this date;) Solantic will do physicals for $25.  School insurance is available at very reasonable cost; contact Col. Watson for information.

Col. Watson asked the group to let him know (via phone: 924-3092 ext. 7 or email: watsonj3@educationcentral.org or landruma@educationalcentral.org) what we as parents need from him and 1^st Sgt. Landrum.  He stated that the concern he hears the most about is the lack of communication.  Following are ideas discussed:

•  Col. Watson is developing a website (parent Lisa Bell offered to assist)
•  Forward information via email (email addresses of those in attendance were collected; other parents interested in email updates should forward their email addresses to Lisa Bell at bell_lisa@comcast.net
• Post weekly duty roster (suggestion made to forward to parents as well as cadets)
•  Forward information to parents via U.S. mail

Col. Watson will begin meeting with junior and senior cadets (focusing on seniors first) to discuss their future plans and provide scholarship information.

The Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held on November 10^th at the Prime Osborne Convention Center.  This is a formal event to include dinner and dancing; all cadets are expected to attend.  The ball is being held in conjunction with the area chapter of the Montford Point Retired Marines, a group that honors the first African-American Marines who trained at

Montford Point, NC in 1942 (1^st Sgt. Landrum is an active member.)  Cadets will wear dress uniforms (decision pending on whether female cadets will be allowed to wear gowns instead.)  Parents are encouraged to attend. Cost: $35 per cadet; $50 per adult.  A candle sale will be held; hopefully enough money will be raised defray the entire cost for the cadets.  Money should be turned in by October 15^th.

The MCJROTC will march in the Veteran’s Day Parade on November 11^th.  The parade will start at 11:00; a bus will transport the cadets to the parade site from Ribault (time to be determined), returning to school after the parade. Parents can march with the cadets; Ribault MCJROTC tee-shirts will be ordered for parents to purchase and wear.

Cadets have been requested to serve in a wedding detail on October 20^th and to serve as escorts for a sorority ball on October 21^st.

Col. Watson recommended that the booster club to move from being an “outside organization” (prohibiting donations from being tax-deductible unless switched to IRS 501C(3) status) to an “inside organization” (tax-free.)  As an inside organization, all money would be funneled through the school bookkeeper and relieve much of the bookkeeping burden.  The group agreed to pursue this option.

Col. Watson turned the floor over to Marilyn Fears.  Ms. Fears chaired the election of booster club officers:

        President: Amanda Osenbaugh (alfmandy@peoplepc.com)

        Vice President:  Hazel Morningstor (amorningstor05@yahoo.com)

        Treasurer: Marilyn Fears (myfears11@aol.com)

        Secretary: Lisa Bell (bell_lisa@comcast.net)

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Lisa Bell, Secretary