employee newsletterJANUARY – JUNE 2016

A few words of trust from your Assistant Chief of Staff

I trust that everyone survived the holidays with a minimum of damage to their sanity and

their bank accounts. With the conclusion of 2015, we have much to assess in order to

ensure we adequately prepare for 2016 and I challenge you all to set goals and objectives

with action plans for the upcoming year. The year of 2015 has been a year of organizational

restructuring, significant headquarters-driven transformation and the unfortunate reduction

in overall MCCS funding. Much was asked from all of you during this last year and I would

like to thank all those who went the extra mile to support the many requests or those that

patiently and respectfully communicated where support wasn’t appropriate or possible.

Please continue to remain loyal to the organization and share your crucial trust in one another.

I trust that our inclusion of a real judge this year eliminated the controversy of the

Holiday Decorating Contest winner? Either way, I want to thank all those that participated.

You brightened some of the dark corners of the base with the holiday spirit. We’re all smarter

for the educational journey of the CYP’s Christmas around the world. The TLF staff didn’t miss

an elf beat checking in smiling patrons while determining that the Staff Judge Advocate does

not dance. The HR guided tour created a full Wizard of OZ experience that included some

exceptional acting and terrific wardrobe. Finance once again did not disappoint by turning

a page in their accounting ledger to a classic tale of the Polar Express, complete with real

Hot Chocolate. Camp Wilson MCX created exceptional works of art from some discarded

pallets that were truly E-bay worthy. The Library created a miracle by making it snow indoors,

with snowflakes hanging everywhere. The main side MCX went all commercial and even

remembered the lactose-free eggnog. Janitorial transformed their spaces to the wonderful

world of Dr. Seuss’ Whoville and generously provided the judges with gifts/bribes. The Theater

embraced their dark side, including a Darth Vader Christmas Tree. Finally, the Community

Center reindeer stables shamelessly played Brent Norquist’s University alma matter, which had

him break out spontaneously in song and dance!

I trust that Karaoke isn’t for everyone, but hope you still enjoyed yourselves at our annual

Employee Appreciation Luncheon. Many thanks to you all for attending and much thanks to the

Community Center, Planning Committee and our Food and Hospitality Catering and Club staff

for making the event happen.

Thank you for your trust this last year and I look forward to a wonderful 2016!

Thank you, Frank FRANK Q. MARILAO | LIEUTENANT COLONEL, USMC ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES

MCCS employees were treated to a mid-day break full of festive surprises at the annual MCCS Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Friday, 18 December. In addition to sharing a delicious holiday meal together, MCCS got the opportunity to recognize employees with length of service awards (with Major General Craparotta presenting the awards for 20+ years). LtCol Frank Marilao and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Brent Norquist led everyone in many karaoke favorites throughout the day. The sweet aroma of sugar filled the air thanks to all of the creative entries to the Gingerbread House Contest. The halls were decked with festive décor and a big thank you was given to all divisions who showed their holiday spirit and participated in the facility decorating contest. MCCS thanks each and every person whose hard work allows us to provide great service to our Marines, Sailors and their families.

A special thank you to the Planning Committee members for putting together a festive event.

Courtney Chambers Felicia Crosson

Melissa GlastetterShane Green Katie HoweJasper Key

Chelsea KiefVirginia Korotenko

Celina LasernaDavina Lira

Tiffany PesciniLiz Sperbeck

Jennifer Voytko

Thanks to planning committee for a great event!

Length of Service Awards

25 Years 30 Years 40 Years

Jimmy Pruitt Rosalina Jones and Loretta GrahamGeorge Schadegg (top)

and Rosalinda Trevino (bottom)

5 Years 10 Years

L-R: Robin Ashkenasy, Peggy Bunnell, Melody Milburn, John Lebda, Sharon Piersol, Harold Davis, Tanya Randolph, Kenneth Hoskins,

Robert Putnam, Lalonnie Johnson,Frances Morrissey, Robert Johnson, Bonnie Williams, Jennifer Peterson, Jolene Patton

L-R: Robert Henry, Asslefch Bante, William Schroeder-Cox, James Muse

15 Years 20 Years

L-R: Beverly Miller, Alan Friedman, Sharon Altemoos, Steven Aguirre,

Amos Belcarris, Edmundo Rangel Jr.

Paul D’Amico and Motusia Teo

5 YRSNeva Baker

Jessica Baker

Odessa Baldwin

Deanna Barker

Pam Cadwallader

Genara Camat

Cody Chapman

Margarita Chatfield

Jennifer Cornell

Kevin Cox

Catherine DeBlieck

Penelope Etimani

Celia Gaston

Michele Godfrey

Isabel Grajales

Vicki Hathaway

Colleen Holth

Gail Jacobs

Sharon Krueger

Harold Larkin III

Kelly Mallory

Facundo Mitchell-Fuentez

Edward Montanaro

Penny Moore

Jacqueline Powell

Sylvia Sanchez

Lovetta Scipio

Jacqueline Seals

Tena Simmering

Deborah Taylor

Estela Thompson

Melody Thrasher

Carl Vanderzee

Joseph Viernes Jr.

Jean Walker

Danny Wells

Patrice Wheeler

Carol Winter

David Wright

10 YRSSarah Barry

Delores Johnson

Nita Naral

Cheryl Popielarz

Tera Popielarz

Juan Rodriguez

Remmington Stewart

Rahnna Sullivan

Janis Williams

15 YRSJohn Beaty

Daniel Campese

Josephine Edwards

Maria Levering

Terrence Mayes

Jacqueline Reimers

Crystylle Simmons

Patricia Swaba

20 YRSJose Garcia

Thomas Linton

Juan Mejia

Michelle

Minatrea-Teo

Nelson Muniz

Heriberto Ornelas

Alicia Stubbs

Motusia eo

Rockell

Whitehurst

Gingerbread House Decorating Contest

MCCS departments were invited to decorate a gingerbread house with the caveat that the whole piece must be edible. The entries were displayed

at the Employee Luncheon and here are the 2015 winners.

Marketing

1st

Additional Length of Service Awards recipients:

Food and Hospitality

Additional Participants

Marine & Family ProgramsFinance Human Resources

Semper Fit

2nd

3rd

HolidayDecorating Contest

Each year, the hard-working departments of MCCS are invited to transform their facilities into a holiday wonderland. The team spirit shown by everyone coming together and

making things so festive is appreciated by all.

Human Resources

Christmas in OZ

Star WarsSunset Cinema

1st

2ndtie

Child & Youth Programs

Finance

Community Center

The Polar Express

Honorable Mention

MCCS

Christmas Around the World

3rd

2ndtie

Camp Wilson

Do you have something you’d like to see in Team MCCS: a topic you’d like to know more about,a recipe to share or any big news you think your fellow employees would be happy to hear? Email us at andrewssa@usmc-mccs.org or call 830-5051, we’d love to hear from you!

View ALL the images from the holidays; visit MCCS29Palms.com

and select the Flickr icon at the bottom of the home page.

Commanding GeneralMCAGCCMarine Corps Community ServicesP.O. Box 788150Twentynine Palms, CA 92278

PRST STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAID29 PALMS, CA

PERMIT NO.101

MCX

Inns of the Corps

Janitorial

Combat Center Library

10% off one item at the MCX**One coupon per employee | Valid 1/1/16 – 6/30/16 | Not to be combined with other specials, discounts and coupons. Valid MCCS ID required.

Additional Holiday Decorating