The Mike Spann Detachment #1272 will host the 2010 Department of Alabama Marine Corps League Convention from June 11th - 13th, 2010 in Tuscaloosa.  We invite all Department of Alabama Marines and their guests to join us here at the home of the Crimson Tide. We will make this a pleasurable and memorable trip to our town and all it has to offer!

We have partnered with the Hotel Capstone ( www.hotelcapstone.com, 1-800-477-2262) located on the University of Alabama campus at 320 Paul Bryant Drive ( http://tour.ua.edu ) to host this event.  When you book your rooms please be sure to tell them you are with the Marine Corps League for the Convention to receive their special rates with and without the breakfast buffet.

Rooms are $109.00 per night. (You must mention the Marine Corps League to get the convention rates.)

• Add $10.00 to include Legend’s Bistro Breakfast Buffet for single occupancy

• Add $20.00 to include Legend’s Bistro Breakfast Buffet for double occupancy

• Other upgrades are available upon request

Example: $129.00 per night gets a room and breakfast for two

Cut-off For Reservations: May 12, 2010
- Check in time: 3:00 PM.  We will be set up at Hotel Capstone and ready to register attendees at 1:00 PM on June 11th
- Check out time: 12:00 noon on Sunday the 13th

Hotel Registration: Individual call in: Call toll free at 1-800-477-2262 and request In-House Reservations.  Be sure to mention you are with the Marine Corps League Convention when making your hotel reservations.

Personal Attendance Registration: Click the link to open a PDF Convention Registration Form.  You may print this document while it is open or save it to your computer for later use.  Please complete the form and mail it to the Mike Spann Detachment with your payment to register your plan to attend and to make your Saturday dinner reservations during the convention.

For those arriving on Friday and who prefer finer dining over fast-food and standard chains, we have five (5) restaurants in Tuscaloosa that will guarantee a table for Friday night.  You may call as much as one (1) month to two (2) weeks ahead to reserve a table.  Those restaurants are:

• Wintzell’s Oyster House ( www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com/menu )

• Chuck’s Fish ( www.chucksfish.com )

• The Cypress Inn ( www.thecypressinnrestaurant.com )

• Desperados Steakhouse ( www.desperadossteaks.com )

• The Capstone's Legend's Bistro ( www.hotelcapstone.com ) When the site opens click on the link to dining.

We also have the world famous Dreamland Bar-B-Que ( www.dreamlandbbq.com ) but Dreamland cannot make sitting room guarantees on a Friday night.

Schedule of Events: Please click here: Convention Schedule of Events, to open a PDF of the convention schedule.  In addition to the convention proper, we will have a number of activities for everyone during the convention, including a reception just before the banquet to be held at the Bryant Museum (www.bryantmuseum.ua.edu/ ) where you can take in the history of the University, Bear Bryant's legend, and the story of Alabama football while enjoying your choice of beverage and light hors d' oeuvres.
 

There are activities for the spouses from shopping at our nearby malls and University stores, to visiting the Westervelt Warner Museum ( www.warnermuseum.org ), to relaxing on the River Walk with its winding paths along the river front.  You may find many other attractions in Tuscaloosa by visiting the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau website at ( www.tcvb.org/ ).
 

And to top off our convention with a coup de grace, the Mike Spann Detachment is proud to host and considers it an honor to bring to Tuscaloosa The Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall that Heals ( www.thevirtualwall.org/ )  The Wall will be located at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center (VAMC) grounds.  It is not advisable to attempt to drive and park near the VAMC as parking is extremely limited.  We will have shuttles running to and from the VA from the University Mall parking lot.  The Wall will be at the VA site from June 9-13 for those wishing to visit earlier.  A full printout of the 1,206 Alabamians whose names appear on the Wall will be available.

We look forward to having all Marines, and their families and friends at the convention.  We will also welcome anyone else who wants to visit the Wall for a moving, healing, once in a life-time experience.

Please use the links on this page to find additional information about the 2010 Marine Corps League Convention in Tuscaloosa, or to contact us if your questions are not answered here.  We hope to see you for all the events.

Commandant

Mike Spann Detachment #1272

William Harold Battles