Enclosed to Post Adjutants are the minutes of the State Legion Administrative and Executive Committee meetings held during the Midwinter Conference in Oacoma. Copies of the minutes are also being sent to members of those committees.

Despite the weather, the turnout at the 30^th Annual Midwinter Conference this past weekend was good. An estimated 350 Legionnaires and Auxiliary members attended the event.

State Commander Ron Tolrud of White declared the event a success. He commended Chamberlain Post #3 and its Auxiliary Unit for their great efforts. 2001 marks the third consecutive year that Chamberlain Post #3 has been the host for this annual event.

Commander Tolrud was especially pleased with the outstanding attendance at the final round of the High School Oratory Contest. He said, " My intent was to make sure that those Legionnaires and Auxiliary members in attendance at the conference, who had never witnessed these young orators in action, were given an opportunity to hear the outstanding orations that come from these young citizens. I am so pleased with the positive comments that I have heard about the Oratory Contest and the appearance of our 2000 Boys State Governor, Spencer Crawford of Rapid City. Weekends like this one help to restore our faith in the future of our country."

National Vice Commander James Koutz of Boonville, Indiana made the rounds of the various training sessions and commended the Department on its membership work. Vice Commander Koutz was also the keynote speaker at the Joint Legion/Auxiliary Banquet on Saturday night.

David Elmore from the Internal Affairs and Membership Division at National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana gave outstanding presentations on membership recruitment. He also provided a valuable explanation to those in attendance on how to determine the eligibility of guardsmen and reservists.

The State Athletic Commission recommended that 2002 state tournaments be played in Parkston (golf), Winner (bowling), Groton (State "B" Baseball) and Rapid City Post #22 (Championship Baseball).

During its meeting, the State Educational Loan Committee approved 3 loans. Two of the three were applicants for a second loan. Applicants are eligible for two loans of $1,000 each.

Commander Ron Tolrud appointed Ronald D. (Ron) Boyd of Watertown as the new Department Adjutant for the South Dakota American Legion during the meeting of the Executive Committee at the Midwinter Conference in Oacoma. The Executive Committee unanimously approved the appointment.

Boyd, a Paid-Up-For-Life member of Pierre Post #8, is a past Post Commander, past District Commander, has served as the Department Assistant Adjutant since September of 1999 and has been Acting Department Adjutant since July of 2000.

Posts that did not sponsor an American Legion baseball team last year, but are planning to sponsor one this year, should contact State Headquarters for an insurance packet. Posts that sponsored teams last year should have received a packet.

A resolution approved in 1994 by the National Executive Committee mandates that insurance be purchased for the Legion's agent of record, S.A. Van Dyk, Inc. After setting the minimum requirements, the national organization obtains the lowest price by competitive bidding and has Van Dyk administer the policies.

The accident insurance policy, issued by Sentry Insurance, costs $160 per team for the 2001 season. There is also an optional, year round coverage, available to teams that play fall schedules - the year round coverage for accident insurance is $235.

The liability insurance policy, issued by TIG Insurance, costs $120 per team. To protect Posts from liability, practices should not begin until the policies are in effect.

Bobbi Van Genderen of Corsica emerged victorious for the second year in a row at the SD American Legion High School Oratorical Contest this past weekend in Oacoma. Van Genderen was one of four orators who had been selected for the final round when they competed in the semi-finals on January 27^th.

Also competing in the final round on Saturday, February 10, were Elizabeth Gallenberg of Bruce, Creighton Fraker of Brandon and Abby Turnquist of Colome.

Bobbi Van Genderen was awarded a trophy and a $600 scholarship for capturing first place in the competition. Additionally, a championship plaque bearing her name will be provided to the Corsica High School.

Second place and a $400 scholarship were awarded to Abby Turnquist of Colome, third place and a $300 scholarship went to Elizabeth Gallenberg, and a $200 scholarship was awarded to fourth place Creighton Fraker.

Van Genderen will now represent South Dakota in the National Oratorical Contest in April in Indianapolis, Indiana where she will be eligible for an additional $18,000 in scholarship awards.

State Commander Ron Tolrud urged the Administrative and Executive Committees, during the recently concluded Midwinter Conference, to help the South Dakota American Legion better prepare for the future. On his recommendation, the committees approved action to ensure that members of the South Dakota American Legion would have the opportunity to participate in The American Legion College. Commander Tolrud told the committees that he envisioned a program by which candidates for the college would be nominated by the District Commanders and the selection would be made by the Past Department Commanders. He said, "This program has been in existence for a couple of years now, and for whatever reason, our Department is missing the boat by not participating. This is an opportunity for us to avail ourselves of a superb training opportunity that can only help our Department in the future. We must do this for the future of our organization."

The Legion College is a week-long course designed for Grenada/Lebanon/Panama/Gulf War era veterans. The mission is to increase the knowledge and develop an appreciation of our future leaders for The American Legion in the American way of life and our Constitutional government as well as the core values and contributions of The American Legion programs. Prepare these future leaders to hold offices at the Department and National level.

Nominees must have been in the Legion for at least two years and have held office at the Post or higher level. They must have completed The American Legion Extension Institute prior to submitting the application. They must be recommended by the District/County and Department Commanders.

The program is set up to be funded in partnership between National and the Department with National funding approximately 75% and the Department paying tuition of $600 per attendee.

A limited number of The American Legion Extension Institute, the correspondence course mentioned in the previous article, is available from Department Headquarters. The materials are available for $6.95 plus shipping and handling ($8.00 total). The course materials are also available through the National Emblem Sales Catalog.

Legislative action remains slow as the 76^th Session of the South Dakota Legislature moves into its 6^th week.

HB 1017 - this bill would make an appropriation to reimburse certain family physicians and certain physician assistants who have complied with the requirements of the SD physician tuition reimbursement program or the SD midlevel tuition reimbursement program - continues to wait for a hearing in the Appropriations Committee.

HB 1102 - this bill would increase the tax (the increase would be an additional 12%) on the sale of certain alcoholic beverages and to distribute the revenue to the counties - this bill was defeated.

HB 1107 - this bill would create the SD senior citizen pharmaceutical assistance program to provide an appropriation therefor - this bill and its companion bill HB 1175 (low income pharmaceutical assistance program) continue to be scheduled for additional hearings in the Health and Human Services Committee.

HB 1115 and HB 1155 - these two bills would prohibit or restrict smoking of tobacco products in public places - both bills have been assigned to committee for hearings.

HB 1175 - this bill would create a low-income pharmaceutical assistance program and to provide an appropriation therefor - continues to be heard and researched in the House Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 110 - this bill would exempt certain funeral services and expenses from sales and use taxes - this bill has been deferred to the 41^st Legislative day, thereby being defeated..

The annual budgets for the Division of Veterans Affairs and the Michael Fitzmaurice South Dakota State Veterans Home at Hot Springs are both included in HB 1233 which was introduced by the Committee on Appropriations. This bill appropriates the money for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state, the expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt and for common schools. The bill is commonly referred to as the General Appropriations Bill.

This particular bill normally does not see final action until the last hours of the legislative session.

The U.S. Army should not issue to the entire force the hard-earned black beret worn by its Rangers, the leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization concluded.

American Legion National Commander Ray Smith said he has received input from the veterans’ community, including all levels of his 2.8 million member organization. The overwhelming response to the Army’s proposal reinforced his own gut reaction, he said.

"The American Legion stands for a strong national defense; the welfare, well-being and morale of the troops is a part of that," Smith said. "The Army cannot support morale by undermining cherished traditions, and that is why the Rangers must exclusively wear their historic — and I might add hard-earned — black beret. They earned it, just as Special Forces troops earned the Green Beret and airborne troops earned the maroon beret. If Army brass insists that the total force must wear the black beret, then the Rangers should be authorized a distinctive color of their own.

"If Army leaders want to improve morale and build team-spirit, then they should take The American Legion’s advice. Demonstrate the courage inside the Beltway that the entire Army displays around the world and in the annals of history. Fight for the quality of life of the troops and their families. Demand the White House and Congress provide the Army with the forces necessary to do the job, functional equipment, training funds, competitive wages and benefits, quality base housing, clarity of missions, an operational tempo consistent with force strength, and a supportive military culture that builds esprit de corps."

On behalf of all 2.1 million active-duty, Guard and Reserve troops, The American Legion will fight on Capitol Hill for all of those "imperatives to morale and good order," Smith said.

2001 membership stands at 24, 879 or 90.04 percent of goal.