General Officer Participation in 2005 USMC Birthday Balls

1. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES INFORMATION, GUIDANCE AND
PROCEDURES CONCERNING INVITATIONS FOR GENERAL OFFICERS (G.O.'S) TO
SERVE AS GUESTS OF HONOR (GOH) AT 2005 MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALLS.
2. THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL IS THE CORPS' PREMIER SOCIAL
FUNCTION. IT OFFERS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TELL THE
MARINE CORPS STORY TO INFLUENTIAL COMMUNITY LEADERS. MARINE CORPS
G.O. ATTENDANCE CAN HELP INCREASE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL CIVIC
LEADERS AND CONSEQUENTLY ENHANCE THE CORPS' STANDING IN THE
COMMUNITY. TO STAY WITHIN THE HQMC BUDGET, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT
HOST COMMANDS MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FIRST INVITE A LOCAL G.O. AS A
GOH BEFORE REACHING OUT TO NON-LOCAL G.O.'S. REFERENCES (A) AND (B)
PROVIDE AUTHORITY TO USE GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR TRAVEL WHEN G.O.'S ARE
NOT AVAILABLE LOCALLY.
3. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR SPEAKERS AND LIMITED TAD FUNDS,
ONLY THOSE BALLS THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH A BONAFIDE
COMMUNITY RELATIONS OR DIPLOMATIC BENEFIT WILL BE FUNDED. 
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVITE LOCAL COMMUNITY CIVIC
LEADERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CORPS.
4. TAD FUNDS FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE G.O.'S AND THEIR SPOUSES
ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH HQMC (PAC). HQMC FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR
THE G.O.'S AIDE-DE-CAMP, OR FOR RETIRED G.O.'S. COMMANDS MAY FUND
THEIR OWN TRAVEL, BUT ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT THEIR JA'S AND PA'S
FOR LEGAL AND COMREL BENEFIT REASONS. SPOUSAL TRAVEL MUST BE
APPROVED PER REFERENCE (C) REGARDLESS OF WHICH COMMAND IS FUNDING
THE TRAVEL.
5. OCONUS REQUESTS ARE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL COSTS
INCURRED. INVITATIONS FROM OCONUS ACTIVITIES WILL BE REVIEWED ON A
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
6. ALL REQUESTS FOR G.O.'S PARTICIPATION IN BIRTHDAY BALLS SHOULD
BE SUBMITTED TO HQMC, DIVPA COMMUNITY RELATIONS (PAC) NO LATER THAN
23 SEPTEMBER 2005. REQUESTS SUMBITTED AFTER THE 23 SEPTEMBER
DEADLINE WILL BE REFERRED TO ACMC FOR DECISION REGARDING FURTHER
PROCESSING.
7. ALL MSG DET BIRTHDAY BALL REQUESTS SHOULD INITIALLY BE SUBMITTED
TO MSG BN, QUANTICO, VA. MSG BN IS ENCOURAGED TO SUMBIT A
CONSOLIDATED AND PRIORITIZED REQUEST FOR FUNDING TO HQMC PA (PAC). 
APPROVAL WILL BE BASED UPON A CLEARLY DEFINED COMMUNITY RELATIONS
BENEFIT AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BENEFIT AS A COMPLEMENT TO COMMUNITY RELATIONS
BENEFIT. 
8. TAD FUND REQUEST PROCEDURES:
A. HOST COMMAND INVITES THE PROSPECTIVE G.O.
B. THE FORMAL INVITATION IS FAXED TO HQMC (PAC), AT (703) 614-2358
OR DSN 224-2358, ATTN: MRS. HATTIE POWELL-RAY. 
C. THE AIDE/SECRETARY IS TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, VIA THE
MARINE CORPS WEB SITE HYPERLINK ENTITLED "GENERAL OFFICER BIRTHDAY BALL REQUEST FORM" - or direct - http://www.usmc.mil/comrel/120day.nsf/gobirthdayballrequest 
(1) DATE AND LOCATION OF THE BALL.
(2) WHETHER THE SPOUSE IS INVITED, AND IF SO, WILL HE/SHE ATTEND. 
SPOUSES DO NOT RATE PER DIEM, THEREFORE, THEY ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED
COMAIR EXPENSES.
(3) ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ATTENDEES.
(4) A COMMUNITY RELATIONS/DIPLOMATIC BENEFIT MUST BE
IDENTIFIED/DEMONSTRATED.
(5) LIST OF CIVIC LEADERS LIKELY TO ATTEND.
(6) OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS IN WHICH THE GENERAL PLANS TO PARTICIPATE.
(7) IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER G.O.'S PARTICIPATING IN THE BALL.
(8) THE GENERAL AND SPOUSE'S (IF PARTICIPATING) FULL NAME AND SSN.
(9) MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (MILAIR, COMAIR OR RAIL). 
(10) ESTIMATED TOTAL TAD COSTS.
(11) DATES OF DEPARTURE AND RETURN.
D. PLEASE ENSURE THE REQUEST FORM IS COMPLETE. INCOMPLETE REQUESTS
WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO ACMC FOR CONSIDERATION.
E. PER REFERENCE (B), SPOUSAL TRAVEL WILL ONLY BE APPROVED WHEN
THERE IS A COMMUNITY RELATIONS OR DIPLOMATIC BENEFIT DEMONSTRATED.
F. REQUESTS WILL BE FORWARDED TO ACMC FOR APPROVAL. IF ACMC
APPROVES THE REQUEST, HQMC PAC WILL NOTIFY THE AIDE/SECRETARY AND
REQUEST ACTUAL COSTS FOR TRAVEL. NO RSVPS SHOULD BE MADE UNTIL ACMC
HAS RENDERED A DECISION.
G. HQMC (PAC) WILL ISSUE TAD ORDERS TO G.O.'S LOCATED AT HQMC ONLY,
ACCOUNTING DATA FOR G.O.'S OUTSIDE OF HQMC, AND ALL INVITATIONAL
TRAVEL ORDERS (ITOS) FOR THE G.O.'S SPOUSE (REGARDLESS OF G.O.'S
DUTY ASSIGMENT).
H. UPON COMPLETION OF TRAVEL AND TRAVEL CLAIM(S) SETTLEMENT, PLEASE
PROVIDE MRS. POWELL-RAY WITH COPIES OF THE TAD ORDERS AND TRAVEL
VOUCHER EXPENSE SUMMARY SHEET FROM DISBURSING. THE FAX NUMBER IS
COMM (703) 614-2358 OR DSN 224-2358.
9. FUNDED G.O. BIRTHDAY BALL ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED; EARLY REQUESTS
HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SUPPORT.
10. HQMC (PAC) POC IS MRS. HATTIE POWELL-RAY AT COMM (703) 692-1528,
DSN 222-1528, FAX COMM (703) 614-2358, FAX DSN 224-2358, OR E-MAIL 
POWELL-RAYH@HQMC.USMC.MIL.
11. THIS MARADMIN IS CANCELLED 30 NOVEMBER 2005.