The 76^th Session of the South Dakota Legislature convened at noon on Tuesday, January 9, 2001 in Pierre. Governor Bill Janklow opened the session with his State of the State Address and it appears that there will be significant emphasis on education during this session. The Legion's representatives in Pierre for this session will be Ron Boyd of Watertown and John Dewell of Pierre.

The first day of the session saw 14 new members in the Senate (11 of whom served last term in the House of Representatives) and 35 new members in the House (5 of whom served last term in the Senate). The Republican Party has maintained its majority in both chambers with the Senate being 24 Republicans and 11 Democrats while the House of Representatives is comprised of 50 Republicans and 20 Democrats.

At the conclusion of the first week of session there had been a total of 153 bills introduced into the Legislature, 80 in the House and 73 in the Senate. Each chamber had had 1 commemoration introduced and there had been 3 concurrent resolutions introduced in the Senate.

A review of the bills introduced thus far indicates nothing of significance related to veterans or veterans organizations.

The South Dakota American Legion's Legislative Reception is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24 at the Pierre American Legion Post. Pierre Post #8 is located in the Log Cabin at the south end of Pierre Street. All members of the Executive Committee will receive an official call for the meeting in Pierre on that day. The schedule of events for Wednesday, January 24 is as follows:

8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - be visible in the halls of the capitol

and visit with your delegation

11:00 a.m. - Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs Budget Hearing - LRC Conf. Room

Lunch - Pierre Post #8

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - visit the galleries of the House and Senate Chambers

2:30 p.m. - Briefing on Legislative issues at Pierre Post #8

Major General Philip Killey, Adj. Gen. Of South Dakota.

5:00 p.m. - Legislative Reception commences at Pierre Post

Although the Executive Committee will receive an official call for Wednesday, January 24, all events on that day are open to any Legionnaire who wishes to attend.

A visit and appearance by National Vice Commander James Koutz of Boonville, IN will highlight the 2001 Midwinter Conference.

Chamberlain Post #3 will again host the event in three weeks on both sides of the Missouri River -- in Oacoma and Chamberlain. All events, with the exception of the Friday night Go-Getter's Reception will be at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma.

The Conference will open Friday, February 9, with meetings of the State American Legion Administrative Committee at 10:00 a.m. and the State Executive Committee at 1:00 p.m. The State Athletic Commission will go into session at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. All Legionnaires are welcome to attend any of these meetings.

The State Registration desk will open at noon on Friday.

A reception for more than 600 eligible Early Bird Go-Getters will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the City Auditorium in downtown Chamberlain. An attitude adjustment session will start at 6:00 p.m. Admission will be only by Early-Bird Go-Getter card. These cards will be available for pick-up at the registration desk upon arrival at the conference or at the entrance to the reception.

Registration will resume at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, February 10. The opening session, which will be a joint session involving the Legion and Auxiliary, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The joint session will feature VA&R and Children and Youth issues. Ron Porzio, Chief Operating Officer of the Sioux Falls VAMC and Regional Office will be the featured speaker for VA&R. Dennis Brenden of DeSmet, Chairman of the Department Children and Youth Committee, will present the issues on Children & Youth.

Following this joint opening session, the Legion and Auxiliary will hold separate sessions for the remainder of the day. There will be two sets of concurrent sessions on Americanism and Membership. The first set of sessions will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and the second set of sessions will be from 1:30- 2:30 p.m. Legionnaires are encouraged to attend one of each of the sessions.

The Department Americanism Officer, Les Quam of Toronto, will conduct the sessions on Americanism. The Americanism sessions will also feature the 2000 South Dakota Boys State Governor, Spencer Crawford of Rapid City.

The Department Membership Chairman, Leon Josephsen of Arlington, will conduct the sessions on membership. Assisting Membership Chairman Josephsen will be David Elmore from National Headquarters in Indianapolis. Mr. Elmore is an Assistant Membership Director and is the Headquarters Liaison Officer for the Central Region.

Saturday will also see a significant change as the Final Round of the South Dakota High School Oratorical Contest is incorporated into the Midwinter Conference. Starting at 3:00 p.m., those individuals who have progressed through the semi-final rounds will give their orations at the Cedar Shore Resort. The finals of the Oratory Contest will be open to anyone attending the Midwinter Conference. Cell phone, pagers and cameras will not be allowed in the contest area. Those persons electing to attend must understand that they will not be allowed to enter or exit the contest area after the orations have commenced.

The State Athletic Commission is expected to complete their business on Friday, however if necessary, they will continue their work into Saturday. The State Educational Loan Committee will also meet on Saturday afternoon.

The Conference Legion/Auxiliary Joint Banquet will start at 7:00 p.m., Saturday in the resort hotel. National Vice Commander James Koutz of Boonville, IN, will be the keynote speaker. Banquet tickets will be on sale at the registration desk.

A non-denominational worship service will highlight the schedule on Sunday, February 11, at 8:30 a.m. The service will be under the direction of State Chaplain, Rev. Stanley Gruneich of Flandreau.

Those who have attended the Midwinter Conferences in Oacoma the past couple of years have continued to speak highly of the Cedar Shore Resort and the Chamberlain Post's outstanding performance in hosting the conference. Good food, good training and good fellowship with your fellow Legionnaires.

Commander Tolrud, along with his State Membership Chairman Leon Josephsen have indicated that there will be a major membership turn-in during the membership sessions and encourage every Post to be a part of it.

Enclosed to Post Adjutants is a flyer detailing plans for the 56th annual South Dakota American Legion State Bowling Tournament. The flyer includes an entry blank.

The event will start the weekend of March 24-25, continue the weekend of March 31-April 1, and conclude the weekend of April 7-8. The event is hosted by Hot Springs American Legion Post 71 at the Winners Circle Lanes & Games in Hot Springs, SD.

Henry G. Fix Post #23 in Garretson, SD has endorsed Paul Evenson for the office of National Executive Committeeman for the South Dakota American Legion.

Ellen Dempsey, wife of SAL Detachment Adjutant James Dempsey, spent most of the holiday season in Sioux Valley Hospital having a tumor removed from her brain. Now they have found her to have cancer in the lungs.

It is the type that non-smokers get, she has never smoked. She is presently undergoing chemo and is in the process of preparing for radiation.

Cards can be sent to: Ellen Dempsey

1104 Vine St.

Brookings, SD 57006

The semi-finals for the South Dakota High School Oratory Contest will be held at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma on Saturday, January 27. There will be a short reception for contestants, contest officials and Legionnaires on Friday evening, January 26th. The semi-finals is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 27.

An early reminder that the 12th Annual South Dakota Vietnam Veterans Reunion will be held February 16-18, 2001. All events will be held in the Mitchell Holiday Inn, 1525 West Havens. The phone # for the Holiday Inn is 605-996-6501.

Registration is $35.00 per person before 2-9-01 or $40.00 per person for registration after 2-9-01. For additional information, please contact SD Vietnam Veterans Reunion, PO Box 355, Mitchell, SD 57301.

2001 membership stands at 24,106, or 87.24 percent of goal.