The completed form, $60 entry fee and certificate of insurance must be sent so they reach State Headquarters by Tuesday, May 15. The fee will be $110 for registrations received May 16-31 and $150 for registrations received June 1-15. Teams not registered by June 15 will be ineligible for post-season tournament competition.

Teams will not be allowed to register until they prove they have insurance, which is mandated by state and national rules.

Once a team is registered, State Headquarters will send a copy of the national and state rule books, a plastic-wrapped packet containing various forms from National Headquarters, plus pertinent information to the person named as the Post Athletic Officer.

Enclosed for all recipients is a copy of the listing of South Dakota American Legion 2000-2001 Department appointments to Committees and Commissions.

This listing should serve as a resource for Post officials. These appointees can be contacted and requested to come to your Post meetings to report on the specific programs that fall within their areas of responsibility.

The American Legion is 82 years old. It was in 1919 that World War I veterans were assembled in Paris to create what is now the world's largest veteran's organization, The American Legion. The meeting began March 15 and ended March 17.

The founders, all military men serving in Europe, were trying to organize a fraternity of veterans following World War I. Congress incorporated The American Legion on September 16, 1919, and the organization held its first convention November 10-12, of that year in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A past National Commander of The American Legion once stated that the Legion was formed "by an inspired group of Americans who decided to join with their fellow wartime veterans so they could ‘stick together’ upon returning home to the states."

After eight decades, "the idea seems to have stuck," the Commander continued. "We are upholding those principles (upon which the Legion was founded) and carrying forth the programs that reflect ‘America Learns, America Loves, and America Lives Through The American Legion."

From its first membership of 843,013, the Legion has grown to include 2.9 million veterans who served in all seven American wartime eras from World War I to the Gulf War.

Today, there are more than 19 million American military veterans eligible to join our organization. Since August 2, 1990, every man and woman serving on active duty is eligible for membership. More than 60 percent of reserve and National Guard members are eligible. New members can always find opportunities for service in this many faceted organization.

We bridge racial and religious differences and cross all economic and social barriers in building a force of 2.8 million American men and women for the good of our society. We are men and women who simply want to make our wartime service and sacrifice count for something positive for America.

This year as we celebrate 82 years of comradeship, let us take pride in continuing the legacy. We are American Legionnaires.

We are "Still Serving America."

In hopes of getting a larger donation to give to Special Olympics South Dakota, Wolfgang Migge, Vice Chairman of the Department Children & Youth Committee is asking all Post Commanders to please pass the hat at their next Post meeting. In so doing we will eliminate the customary collection at all the District meetings. This will also allow a greater portion of the Legion membership to make a contribution to a very worthwhile organization.

Please have a representative from you Post bring the donations to your District meeting, or send them to State Headquarters if your are not able to attend. Please earmark your donation to "Special Olympics".

Just a note to let you know that our yearly donation to Special Olympics has been decreasing every year and maybe this will help to turn it around.

Special Olympics South Dakota serves thousands of athletes in many sporting events throughout the year.

Spring District Conventions will commence Friday, March 30 when Legionnaires from District 13 meet in Hot Springs. Outgoing District 13 Commander LaVerne Tech of Rapid City will conduct the meeting. District 13 includes Legionnaires from Custer, Fall River, Shannon and Pennington counties.

The business session will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Hot Springs Legion Post Home. A social at 5:00 p.m. and a banquet at 5:30 p.m. will precede the business meeting.

Local arrangements will be made by Hot Springs Post Commander J.R. Huddleston.

The District 13 Auxiliary will also meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Hot Springs Legion Post Home.

A Mobridge business, Chaffin Acquisitions / d.b.a. Gibsons, has earned the South Dakota American Legion's Employer of the Older Workers Award for 2001.

Donn Grandpre of Aberdeen, Chairman of the State American Legion Employment Committee, made the announcement as part of the Legion's Employ the Older Worker Week.

Gibsons, a mass merchandising company, has 34 employees, 9 of whom are older than 55. David L. Baumann is the stores Assistant Manager.

District 14 Vice Commander and Mobridge Post Commander Tom Jurek, the person who nominated the company, said in part, "Gibsons works with their senior employees to make sure their work schedules fit into the hours they can work. They also are generous for the people that are snow birds, allowing them to take time spring and resume work."

"Gibsons also makes sure the seniors are not lifting merchandise that would be too heavy or awkward for any older person to move around and therefore get hurt. Employees may also take vacation time and be paid for this even if they were only part-time employees."

"Gibsons treats their senior employees with respect and greatly appreciates the job they do for the Gibsons corporation," Jurek added.

Gibsons will receive its award during the State Convention in June in Aberdeen.

April 1 is the deadline for all fees and registrations for delegates to the 2001 session of South Dakota American Legion Boys State to be in the hands of Registrar Wyland Borth.

The fees and registrations should be sent to Borth at 110 W. Prospect, Apt. E, Pierre, SD 57501. The fee is $105 per boy.

Boys selected for Journalism City at the 2001 Boys State session have been selected and notified. Remember, Journalism City boys do not count against the regular quota system, which is based upon enrollment figures sent in January with information and registration cards to all schools.

The 56^th Annual South Dakota American Legion Bowling Tournament will begin the weekend of March 24-25 at the Winners Circle Lanes & Games in Hot Springs, SD. Entry blanks were sent to Post Adjutants with the January 17^th Up To Now and appeared in the January issue of the S.D. Legion News.

The teams, doubles and singles competition will continue the weekends of March 31-April 1, and conclude the weekend of April 7-8.

The event is hosted by Hot Springs American Legion Post #71.

The Army needs three retired officers and three retired NCO's to staff JROTC units to be activated this summer at Eagle Butte, Pine Ridge, and Flandreau High Schools. A fourth sergeant is needed now at Stephans High School on the Crow Creek Reservation.

Five years ago the Army established a JROTC unit in the high school on the Lower Brule Reservation. This pilot project, and a second one established a year ago on the Crow Creek Reservation have: helped the cadets learn, change, and grow to become citizens of good character; enhanced high school retention of cadets; improved the teaching and learning environment of the school as overall discipline of the school has improved; brought pride to reservation communities with the color guards that the cadets provide at pow wows, rodeos, and funerals, and by the respectful demeanor of the cadets towards their elders.

To serve as a JROTC instructor, individuals must be retired fewer than five years, be receiving Army or National Guard retired pay, be in pay grades E7-E9, W1-W5, O3-O6. They must be of good moral character, pass background checks, meet the Army's standards for soldierly appearance, and have instructional ability. The US Army Cadet Command must certify all individuals before the local school can hire them.

Army retirees interested in servicing in these JROTC units on Sioux reservations may contact:

USA Cdt Cmd: (800) 347-6641

Internet: www-rotc.monroe.army.mil/jrotc

For Stephans NCO position: CWO Meade Roberts--USA, Retired (605) 852-2455x203 (605) 853-0069

For all other positions: Major Mike Iwen--USA, Retired (605) 473-5659 / (605) 473-0069 or

Col. Joe Wallace--USA, Retired (605) 348-9384

 FROM PIERRE

The 39th day of the 76th Legislative Session concluded on Saturday, March 3. Legislators will return to Pierre on Wednesday, March 21, for one day following the two week recess, for the purpose of dealing with those bills which have been vetoed by the Governor.

HB 1233 – The General Appropriations Bill which appropriates the funds to operate the Division of Veterans Affairs and the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The FY-2002 budget was approved for both entities at the levels which had been requested.

SB 233 – This bill, introduced at the request of the Governor, provides an appropriation of $1,000,000 for real property tax relief for the elderly and disabled. The bill unanimously passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

SB 244 – This bill requested a $130,000 appropriation to help fund the memorials for persons awarded the Medal of Honor and for the 50th Anniversary celebration commemorating the Korean War. The bill was passed unanimously by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Membership totals to date show that 25322 members have been turned into State Headquarters for the Department’s 2001 membership drive. Of the assigned goal to the 256 Posts in South Dakota, this represents 91.64 percent.

There is still a lot of work to be accomplished if we are to make our goal for 2001. WE NEED EVERYONE’S HELP in this endeavor. After all, membership is everyone’s business.

If you have not yet paid your 2001 dues, or donated some of your time and effort to assist in our quest to make sure that every eligible veteran has the opportunity to belong — Won’t you take the time and DO IT TODAY!