No. 2793 May 9, 2001

The 2001 State American Legion Convention is just slightly over a month away. The event will be Thursday through Sunday, June 14-17, at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center located at 1400 8^th Ave. NW in Aberdeen. The Ramkota Hotel will be the convention headquarters.

The official call for the 83^rd annual convention was sent earlier to all Up to Now recipients.

Post Adjutants also received both delegate and alternate delegate credential documents. These completed credentials must be mailed so they arrive at State Headquarters by June 13 or handed to the personnel at the State Headquarters desk in the convention registration area upon arrival in Aberdeen.

The delegate registration fee of $5 per delegate must accompany delegate forms when they are mailed to State Headquarters in Watertown or submitted at the registration area in Aberdeen. Details are listed on forms and the official call. In addition, each Post must pay the entire delegate strength registration fee, whether or not all delegates attend the convention. A resolution passed two year's ago states that each Post's delegate strength, REGARDLESS OF ATTENDANCE, must be paid. For example, a Post with three delegates must pay $15, a Post with four delegates must pay $20, etc.

The convention will follow this basic agenda:

1 p.m. Registration desk opens

Administrative Committee meets

3 p.m. Executive Committee meets

9 a.m. Registration desk opens

10 a.m. Athletic Commission meets

Resolution Committee initial meeting

11:30 a.m. SDALPA meeting/luncheon

2 p.m. Convention committee chairs meet

2:30 p.m. Convention committees in session

5 p.m. Memorial Service

7 p.m. Joint Legion/Auxiliary Banquet

8 a.m. Registration desk opens

8:30 a.m. Band Concert

9 a.m. Convention business session convenes

4 p.m. Convention parade kicks off

6 p.m. Go-Getters' Cocktail Party

6:30 p.m. Go-Getters' Smorgasbord

7 p.m. Past Dept. Commanders' Banquet

8 a.m. Registration desk opens

8:30 a.m. Band Concert

9 a.m. Convention business session convenes

12 noon Elections

1 p.m. Post-convention Exec. Comm. Meeting

Enclosed to all Post Adjutants with this edition of the Up To Now is the certification form for the Post/Department/National Top Recruiter Awards. Each Post Adjutant should complete the form to report the Top Recruiter within their individual Post.

Forms should report all membership enrolled for the 2001 Membership Year by the Top Recruiter from your Post. The report should include all membership enrolled by the individual through May 9, 2001.

Forms must be mailed to reach Department Headquarters by May 16, 2001. Post Adjutants must sign and date the form to attest to the information reported. Mail completed forms to State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201-0067.

Certification forms received will be reviewed by those personnel participating in the Department Membership Meeting in Watertown and the Department’s Top Recruiter’s certification form will be forwarded to National Headquarters for the national level competition.

The 2001 Spring District tour continued following the last issue of the Up To Now with meetings at Wessington Springs in District 6, Redfield in District 5, Eureka in District 14, and Lemmon in District 11.

Spring District Conventions this year elected District Commanders and Vice Commanders in odd numbered Districts for two-year terms of office, while County Commanders and County Vice Commanders were elected to one-year terms in each County.

Gunner Baatrup of Huron (member of the Virgil Post) and Paul Norton of Mellette were elected to two-year terms as District Commander and District Vice Commander, respectively, April 26 during the annual District 5 Convention in Redfield.

Donald Dean Vance of Spearfish (member of the Dupree Post) and Del Campbell of Thunder Hawk were elected to two-year terms as District Commander and District Vice Commander, respectively, April 28 during the annual District 11 Convention in Lemmon.

Elected as County Commanders were the following individuals:

April 25 (District 6 at Wessington Springs) - Marvin Steffen of White Lake, Aurora County; Bob Miller of Kimball, BruleCounty; Vilas Kurtenbach of Dimock, Davison County; Gene Gaspar of Alexandria, Hanson County; Ervin Fuerst of Wessington Springs, Jerauld County; Joe Christensen of Salem; McCook County; and Keith Senska of Woonsocket, Sanborn County.

April 26 (District 5 at Redfield) - Robert Brodkorb of Wolsey, Beadle County; Robert Morse of Seneca, Faulk County; Dave Nichols of Miller, Hand County; and David Gates of Redfield, Spink County.

April 27 (District 14 at Eureka) - Robert E. Schuelke of Groton, Brown County; Mervin Mittleider of Herreid, Campbell County; Kenneth Vilhauer of Hosmer, Edmunds County; Merle Meier of Long Lake, McPherson County and Art Jung of Selby, Walworth County.

April 28 (District 11 at Lemmon) - Jim Jameson of McIntosh, Corson County; Brandon Rich of Faith, Meade and Ziebach Counties; and Bill Erhart of Lemmon, Perkins County. The County Commander for Dewey County will be elected at a later date.

During the recently concluded Spring District Conventions, the sites were chosen within each District to host the annual meetings for the year 2002. Chosen as the 2002 sites were:

District 5 - Cresbard, District 6 - Ethan, District 11 - McIntosh, and District 14 - Leola.

Those Legionnaires who have been chosen by their Posts for providing outstanding support to the programs of The American Legion have been recognized by Department Commander Ron Tolrud as he traveled the state conducting the Spring District Conventions. One Legionnaire was selected by the leadership of each District to be recognized as the District Legionnaire of the Year. Those selected during the final four conventions were:

District 5 - James Cunningham of Cresbard

District 6 - Donald Tjaden of Salem

District 11 - Francis J. "Skip" Connolly of Thunder Hawk

District 14 - Orville Baer of Roscoe

The Department’s District Commanders met this past weekend in Watertown for the annual District Commanders’ Seminar. Codington County American Legion Post #17 of Watertown hosted the event which was rated as highly successful.

Topics of study included duties and leadership, responsibilities and obligations, budgeting and finances, membership, public relations (print and electronic), as well as becoming acquainted with other District Commanders and Department leaders.

This year spouses were encouraged to attend and there was a luncheon and special event for them at the Redlin Art Center in Watertown for their enjoyment. Saturday evening the Watertown Legion Post hosted a steak fry for all participants and their spouses.

Assisting with the seminar were NEC Don Mason, Alt NEC Paul Evenson, State Membership Chairman Leon Josephsen, C&Y Chairman Dennis Brenden, Vice Commander Vernon Sip, Vice Commander Gary Watts, Codington County VSO Al Janzen, Adjutant Ron Boyd, Gordon Garnos (Editor of the Watertown Public Opinion), and Commander Ron Tolrud.

The State Constitution and Bylaws Committee will meet Saturday, May 12 at State Headquarters to consider proposed resolutions and constitutional amendments that will be acted upon during the state convention. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee consists of Chairman Wendell Rye of Claremont, Dennis Vogel of Montrose, G. D. "Hoot" Gibson of Sioux Falls, Maynard Heib of Mitchell, and State Judge Advocate John Dewell of Pierre.

The State Membership Committee, consisting of Commander Ron Tolrud of White, State Membership Chairman Leon Josephsen of Arlington, and State Adjutant and Membership Director Ron Boyd of Watertown will meet at State Headquarters next week. Joining them will be State Commander candidate Vernon Sip of Wagner and his chosen State Membership Chairman Gene Opbroek of Wagner.

Most of the day-long agenda will include reviewing the 2001 membership year and establishing 2002 Post goals.

Several awards this year will be unclaimed because the obligations were not met.

First of all, no State Vice Commander has achieved a higher percentage of increase from the area’s 2000 total membership – no award.

Secondly, no District Commander has a membership equaling or exceeding the 2000 convention delegate strength – no award.

Thirdly, no District Commander’s District had exceeded its 2000 membership total by at least one per Post. This award also included a District honor ribbon – no award.

Receiving special awards will be the century Go-Getters as follows:

Gene Schumacher - Aberdeen

Kerwin "PeeWee" Douthit - Hot Springs

Eugene Saarie - Huron

Hoot Gibson - Sioux Falls

Milt Simmons - Sioux Falls

Elwood Wilson - Sioux Falls

Ozzie Zender - Sioux Falls

State Vice Commander Vernon Sip (Districts 1 and 7) will receive a special award for having the highest percentage of membership goal by May 1.

All Post Adjutants are reminded that certifications of 2001-2002 officers are due to State Headquarters. The form for certifying Post officers can be found in the 2000-2001 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual. If you need a duplicate form, contact State Headquarters and we will send one to you immediately.

2001 membership totals 25,931, or 93.85 percent of the Departments 2001 membership goal.

The next membership target date is Convention Cutoff Target date May 31.