Phone (605) 886-3604 - Fax (605) 886-2870 - eMail sdlegion@dailypost.com

A memorandum has been forwarded to selected Posts within the Department reminding them of the upcoming dues increase for South Dakota Legionnaires. Last year at our State Convention a resolution was adopted which raises the dues which are required to be paid to State Headquarters for every 2003 membership. The dues change increases the amount payable to State Headquarters from the current $17.25 to $19.00.

If your Post Commander receives this memorandum, it means that the current records at State Headquarters indicate that your Post's current dues will not cover this increase. You will lose money on every membership.

A "Post Data Form" was mailed to every Post Adjutant on February 20^th of this year. This form is to be used to report changes in dues. These forms must be returned to State Headquarters in Watertown by April 15. (The due date is printed at the bottom of the form). If your Post is charging less than $19.00 for dues, your Post Commander will receive a copy of the memorandum, and you must act immediately to report your change in Post dues.

2002 Spring District Conventions commenced on April 2 when the first of the 14 District Conventions was held in Estelline. By the end of this week, the Spring District Conventions will have been held in 9 of the Department's 14 Districts.

Reported in the next article are the election results from those 5 Districts which have already held their Spring District Conventions. Additional results will be published in the next edition of the Up To Now.

Additional meetings to be held this week include: District 11 in McIntosh tonight, Wednesday, April 10; District 10 in Gettysburg on Thursday, April 11; District 5 in Cresbard on Friday, April 12; and District 4 in Big Stone City on Saturday, April 13.

The following week will find Legionnaires meeting for: District 8 in Reliance on Thursday, April 18; District 9 in Philip on Friday, April 19; District 12 in Lead on Saturday, April 20 and District 13 in Rapid City on Sunday, April 21. The final meeting of the Spring District Conventions will occur on Saturday, April 27 when Legionnaires from District 14 meet in Leola.

This year at the Spring District Conventions, District Commanders and Vice Commanders are being elected in the even-numbered Districts. Additionally, County Commanders are being elected to one-year terms in all districts unless those leaders have already been named by an established county council.

Warren Johnson of Chester Post #136 and David Owens of Iroquois Post #280, were elected to two-year terms as District 2 Commander and District 2 Vice Commander, respectively, April 3 during the annual District 2 Convention in Arlington.

Harry Huffman of Ethan Post #261 and Bob Miller of Kimball Post #130 were elected to two-year terms as District 6 Commander and District 6 Vice Commander, respectively, April 4 during the annual District 6 Convention in Ethan.

Bob Bender of Hartford Post #118 was elected as District 1 Vice Commander in a special election to fill the unexpired term of District 1 Commander Mark Weinmann who was elevated to that position following the unexpected resignation of the previous District 1 Commander earlier this spring.

Elected as County Commanders were the following individuals:

April 2 (District 3 in Estelline) - Jim Arthur of Clark, Clark County; Carl Killion of Kranzburg, member of the Watertown Legion Post, Codington County; Mike Smith of Clear Lake, Deuel County; and LeRoy Noem of Bryant, Hamlin County.

April 3 (District 2 in Arlington) - Edward Timm of Elkton, Brookings County; Bill Scholl of Madison, Lake County; James Rentschler of Howard, Miner County; and Harlyn Bokker of Trent, Moody County. Kingsbury County Commander will be elected at the next meeting of the Kingsbury County organization.

April 4 (District 6 in Ethan) - Marvin Steffen of White Lake, Aurora County; James Soulek of Kimball, Brule County; Joe Puetz of Ethan, Davison County; Gene Gaspar of Alexandria, Hanson County; Ervin Fuerst of Wessington Springs, Jerauld County; Charles Eich of Salem, McCook County; and Donald Moe, Letcher, Sanborn County. Buffalo County was not represented and the results of that election will be reported later.

April 5 (District 7 in Tyndall) - Roy Jelsma of Springfield, Bon Homme County; James Cournoyer, Jr. of Pickstown, Charles Mix County; Wesley C. Rye of Yankton, Clay County; Roy King of Armour, Douglas County; Roger Mensch of Menno, Hutchinson County; and Craig Jepsen of Gayville, Yankton County.

April 6 (District 1 in Centerville) - Fred Wood of Hudson, Lincoln County; Doug Meyer of Humboldt, Minnehaha County; Darold Hintz of Hurley, Turner County; and Bill Merrill of North Sioux City, Union County.

District 1 - Elk Point

District 2 - Elkton

District 3 - Gary

District 6 - Wessington Springs

District 7 - Wagner

Those Legionnaires who have been chosen by their Post for providing outstanding support to the programs and projects of The American Legion are being recognized by Department Commander Vernon Sip as he travels the state of South Dakota conducting the Spring District Conventions. In addition to recognizing the Post Legionnaires during the District Conventions, one Legionnaire is selected by the District leadership to be recognized as the District Legionnaire of the Year. Those selected thus far during the Spring District Conventions are:

District 1 - Ernest Kroeger of Hartford

District 2 - Don Stevens of Lake Preston

District 3 - Dean Steever of Bryant

District 6 - James Brewer of Ethan

District 7 - Clayton Rados of Wagner

Enclosed for Post Adjutants is a copy of the flyer advertising the 2002 State American Legion Golf Tournament which will be hosted by Unger-Fergen Post #194 in Parkston. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23 at the Parkston Country Club. The reverse side of the flyer is an official entry form for the tournament.

The entry fee is $50.00 per golfer; motorized cart fee is $15.00 per cart, per day; and a trail fee of $5.00 per cart, per day.

The South Dakota American Legion State Bowling Tournament was held in Winner and reported the following results.

Team Winner - Mitchell Post #118 with 2578

Doubles - LoDean Kleinsasser and Bob Brodkorb of Wolsey - 1320

Singles - Jack Gardner - 713

Special Scratch - Marty Barrington - 976

All Events - Marty Barrington - 2120

Sharon Klein of Colome, a Colome High School senior, will represent the South Dakota American Legion this weekend in the National High School Oratorical Contest in Indianapolis, IN.

Klein captured the state championship, a $1,000 college scholarship and the chance to compete at the national level when she placed first in the State Legion High School Oratorical Contest at Oacoma during the Midwinter Conference on February 9.

The 84^th Annual South Dakota American Legion State Convention will be held in Rapid City during the period of Thursday-Sunday, June 13-16, 2002. The headquarters hotel will be the Ramkota Hotel located at 2111 N. LaCrosse Street, Rapid City. (This is the old Howard Johnson's motel.)

The guaranteed room rate for persons attending the convention has been set at $79.00 per night, plus tax, for standard sleeping rooms. Reservations for sleeping rooms must be made directly with the hotel at (605) 343-8550 or by faxing (605) 343-9107. Please mention The American Legion to get the contracted rate. Deadline for reservations is May 23, 2002.

2002 membership totals 26,026, or 93.57% of the Departments 2002 membership goal.

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