04/03/2023
Many of you have just received your first copy of the regular one-sided rant from Paul Smith, a member who is currently under suspension from the League. Others get daily, or at least weekly missives which started when he was suspended from the League. Those of us who have been the subjects of his ramblings have chosen to ignore him in the past, but at some point, he needs to be exposed for what he is. Mr. Smith is a self-proclaimed oracle who proclaims that everything is wrong with the League and its leadership, and that only he can provide our salvation through his profound knowledge and leadership skills. He is constantly advising fellow Ohio Marines that their Department and the National organization is wreaking havoc, but not to worry, because he has their back.
Just today, I returned from a trip to Mentor, Ohio, where I was part of a team following up on some Chapter Nine grievances. At the outset, it seemed that the issue had nothing to do with Mr. Smith. But, oh how that changed. Our investigation provided some interesting revelations. Let me describe….
The Marine Corps League Detachment in Mentor was incorporated in 1996. Four years later, they created a separate incorporated Foundation whose primary purpose was to acquire a building which would house the Detachment and provide facilities for other peripheral activities. The Articles of Incorporation for this Foundation provided that all members of the Detachment were automatically members of the Foundation and the Foundation was for the benefit of the members.
In 2002, the Foundation did acquire a building at a cost of $165,000. Unfortunately, after a few years, the Foundation ceased filing required periodic reports with the Ohio Secretary of State, so the State revoked their Articles of Incorporation in 2010. Detachment members, unaware of the change in status of the Foundation continued to support, maintain and use the facility.
Apparently sensing an opportunity, in January of this year, Mr. Smith incorporated his own “non-profit” foundation, (Gunnys Hall Foundation), with its official address as that of the building where the Detachment is located, which incidentally is 134 miles from Mr. Smith’s home. It’s interesting to note that in his newly created foundation, Detachment members, unlike in the original Foundation, are not automatically included as members; and the directors of this new incorporation are entitled to compensation for their services, and its Board of Directors will decide whether, and to what extent its books, accounts and other records will be open to inspection.
Within days of creating this new entity, Mr. Smith managed to acquire title to the Detachment’s building for the grand total price of $10, which is less that the cost of a hamburger and a beer in the facility. The County Assessor’s website indicates that the market value of the property is $198,840. There are links to these key documents below, and if you look at this Quit Claim Deed, you’ll see that the buyer and new owner is Gunnys Hall Foundation, Paul Smith, Incorporator and the Grantor (seller) is Frank Gron, as Trustee. Until last night’s Detachment meeting, few of the Detachment’s regular members were aware that their building had been given away at this token price.
Under Mr. Smith’s new ownership, it’s entirely possible that the Detachment members could show up at next month’s Detachment meeting and find a padlock on the door, or a For Sale sign in front. That would be quite a windfall for Mr. Smith and there seems to be nothing in the terms of the sale that preclude him from taking these actions.
Mr. Smith is frequently reassuring the Ohio Marines that he has their back. If he has your back and is behind you, you might want to worry about what he has in his hands. If you are wondering about the merits of Mr. Smith’s disgruntled comments, and you want a gauge of his integrity, consider these recent actions.
References: (and links)
The original Col. Justice M. Chambers Foundation Articles of Incorporation
https://businesssearch.ohiosos.gov/
Search for Entity # 1178420; then download image (Domestic Non-Profit)
Gunnys Hall Foundation Articles of Incorporation
https://businesssearch.ohiosos.gov/
Search for Entity # 4991909; then download image (Domestic Non-Profit)
Quit Claim Deed transferring ownership from Col. Justice M. Chambers Foundation to Gunnys Hall Foundation
https://www.lakecountyohiorecorder.com/services/search-document-options/
Click on “Search Online” then on the next screen, enter Document # 2023R001380
Property record indicating new ownership and market value of property
https://auditor.lakecountyohio.gov/search/commonsearch.aspx?mode=realprop
Under Basic Property Search / Owner: type Gunnys Hall
Jerry L Holt
Marine Corps League
National Vice Commandant
Southeast Division
(973) 897-9251
Ohio Secretary of State Business Search Portal
To preserve the traditions and to promote the interests of the United States Marine Corps League. Lejeune. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. S. Marine Corps.
