The Totem Pole Newsletters

The Totem Pole began in Region 7 (Now Region Ten, but also included Montana).  The exact date of Region's first publication is lost to history.  We can pin down the start of the newsletter under this name as sometime in 1985.  The Region Seven newsletter dated September-December 1984 was simply titled Region Seven Newsletter.

Here is a little background so that earlier newsletters will make sense.

Pre 2004
In those days MARS geographic zones, now referred to as states, were called areas.  Then, as now, they did not necessarily match the geographic states of the United States.  Some thinly populated areas had two geographic states combined into one MARS Area (e.g., Idaho and Montana).  Conversely, some geographic states, such as California, were split up into two or more MARS Areas.  Regions were much the same layout as today.  Each Region had a director who was an active duty chief Petty Officer.  The head of each Area was a volunteer MARS member with the staff title of Area Coordinator.

2004 to present
There was a realignment of MARS administration.  Areas were relabeled States.  Area Coordinators were renamed State Directors.  2004 saw the creation of a new administrative level called Areas.  There are four.  Each Area encompasses 2 or more Regions.  Now, as it was prior to 2004, there are 10 Regions.  Six of the Region active duty directors were reassigned other duties outside MARS.  The remaining four MARS billets moved to the position of Area Director.  The duties of Region Director were reassigned to volunteer members. 

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Here are a few past editions for your enjoyment

Spring-Summer 2005
Fall-Winter 2005-2006
Spring-Summer 2006
Fall-Winter 2006-2007

Someday there may be more to come.