CLICK HERE to view the 2026 Southern Division Conference Program

Conference Attendees from the Schwab Detachment

Rus Anderson
Marcus Flores
Chris Campbell
Bob Pittman
Vanessa Shackelford
Brenda Baker
Keith Wiesman

Thursday 12 Mar 2026

Pictured below are Keith Wiesman of Oklahoma (left), Tina Harvey of Texas (center), and Ken Summers Jr of Arkansas (right) of the Southern Division PR Team. The team arrived early to discuss strategy for the Conference.

Friday 13 Mar 2026

THE MAN in Charge of the Conference

Mark Oldmixon

Sgt JR Tijerina Detachment #1295

Department of Texas

National Vice Commandant

Southern Division

Bob Borka (Bob is camera-shy)

Bob 'Just Bob' Borka. Bob is the MCL National Executive Director / COO, who traveled to Paris from his home in Virginia, kicked off the conference Friday morning.

His presentation included information on:

The MCL mobile app - the app should be downloaded and used by more MCL Members.

Go to App Store and download it today!

Users get information on events, news, and alerts that every MCL Member needs to know about what's going on in both the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps League.

MCL Membership. Member retention is a concern. We recruit approx 4,000 new Members each year, but lose 5,000. Bob noted that, to help maintain our non-profit status, each Member and Associate Member's status as a Veteran needs to be included on Membership reports. If needed, request updated forms from JD Foster. Going forward, Veteran Member #s will now start with a 'V', especially on Associate Members.

JD Foster - MCL National Membership / Merchandise

Manager email: jfoster@mcleague.org.

Legislative affairs discussion
House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) - The Chairman of the committee is a MCL Member who lives in Illinois
The MCL 'went to bat' for Major Capers to help get his Congressional Medal of Honor approved by Congress - waiting for POTUS signature

James Capers Jr

MCL National Headquarters will move to Quantico, VA in 2027 - the new address: 300 Potomac Ave., Quantico, VA 22134. The Marine Shop is operating there now, and will move from that location in approx 1 year

To maintain the MCL's non-profit status, the IRS requires a Veteran Membership level of 75%. The MCL is a 501c4 organization
26 US Code 170 (c)(6) allows tax deductible donations to Veteran Service Organizations
To verify an organization is a nonprofit: search the IRS Exempt Organization Business Master File (EOBMF). CLICK HERE for the web page, select state, and search the excel spreadsheet by EIN (leave out '0' at the start and leave out the dash '-'). Deductibility shows as a '1'
Heightened security for all military-related organizations, including the MCL, which is a legitimate soft target

Tony Poletti, the Department of Texas Commandant, facilitated a presentation and discussion on MCL Bylaws & Admin Procedures.

Tony's presentation was followed by Paula Land, the Southern Division Assistant National Vice Commandant, who spoke about ways to make your Detachment stand out.

The afternoon was started with Rus Anderson receiving a certificate from Mark Oldmixon, MCL National Vice Commandant- Southern Division, for completing his Veteran Service Officer accreditation.

Keith Wiesman made a presentation on Newsletters and encouraged every unit at the Detachment, Department, and Division level to create and distribute.

Newsletters are an important tool for Membership recruitment and retention.

CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoint presentation

Note: Military Order of the Devil Dogs uses Constant Contact.

MODD: The Fun and Honor Society

At the end of the MODD growl that took place in the afternoon, a donation was made to Baby Gunn's Animal Rescue in Hugo, OK (see photo below). $3,260 plus 120 lbs of dog food and dog care items was made by the Texas Pack, as well as money collected from growl attendees.

CLICK HERE for the Baby Gunn's website

CLICK HERE to view the MODD brochure

Beer Tower Bros

Marcus Flores (left)

Keith Wiesman (right)

The Schwab Detachment Beer Towers were unveiled during supper, with Miller Lite being the adult beverage of choice (each Tower holds 96+ ounces). Both Towers had to be refilled twice.

Supper time: The Conference Host, Sgt Jay M Hoskins Det 1364, set up a grill in the parking lot to cook and then served the group complimentary hamburgers and hot dogs in the conference room. Yum!

Saturday 14 Mar 2026:

Morning Colors

Table Supplies

Coloring supplies were placed on all conference tables to provide the Marines in attendance with a way to express themselves.

What's the deal with crayons?

The crayon-eating Marine emerged online in the early 2010s as a humorous trope/meme associated with the Corps. It is meant to depict Marines as unintelligent by suggesting we frequently eat crayons and drink glue.

Memorial Service

Department of Oklahoma Commandant Dave Hull read the names of the MCL Members from the State of Oklahoma who have passed away since last year's Southern Division Conference.

The Honor Bell tolled after each name was announced, symbolizing respect and remembrance for each Veteran.

Det 438 Indian Nation

Charles A Foster Sr.

Johnny L. Nix

Det 669 Osage

Jim Warehimer

Carl Clark

Det 857 Albert E. Schwab

Stephen Gifford

James Holman

Val Peterson

Det 1355 Clevenger

Robert Alexander

Tony Booth

Business Meeting

Marita Wolfe read the meeting minutes from the 2025 Southern Division Conference in Oklahoma City, OK. The minutes were approved by the attendees.

Mark Oldmixon read aloud the advisory letter received last night from MCL National Commandant TJ Morgan about heightened security precautions recommended during this period of time in our country.

A copy of the letter was also emailed by the Dept of Oklahoma PAO to each Oklahoma Detachment for distribution to their Members, as well as distributed to all Schwab Detachment Members.

Ken Summers Jr volunteered the Texarkana Detachment #1149 in Texarkana, Arkansas to host the 2027 Southern Division Conference. The conference will take place in May 2027, and will be an election year for Southern Division elected Officers.

CLICK HERE for the Southern Division website and watch for next year's conference details as they become available

6 Members of the Schwab Detachment at the

Paris Eiffel Tower & Veterans Memorial

Dinner Banquet

Detachment Commandant Richard McIntire, Sgt Jay M Hoskins Det #1364, receiving a Certificate from Mark Oldmixon for the Detachment's excellent work organizing and hosting the 2026 Southern Division Conference in Paris, TX.

It was a tasty Texas BBQ dinner, smoked by Richard in the parking lot, with cake served as desert.

Vanessa Shackelford receiving the Distinguished Service Award

Guest Speaker: Amy Burton-Eaves

Marine of the Year and Associate Member of the Year

Committee Presentation

Southern Division - Marine of the Year

Joe Menninger, Jr

Albert E. Schwab Detachment #857

Southern Division - Associate Member of the Year

Leigh Ann Willis

Albert E. Schwab Detachment #857

Sunday 15 May 2026:

Breakfast at the hotel, then most attendees traveled home.

Challenge Coins

Bob Borka Challenge Coin

Mark Oldmison Challenge Coin

If you had attended the Southern Division Conference and carried one of our Schwab Detachment challenge coins, perhaps you too would now have a challenge coin from Bob Borka and Mark Oldmixon!