The Standing Committee on Constitution and Bylaws met at State Headquarters in Watertown on Monday, May 13. The committee was provided with copies of two resolutions originated by Piedmont Valley Post #311 which had also been adopted by District 12 during the recently completed District 12 Spring Convention. One resolution seeks to change the dates for eligibility in The American Legion and the other would modify the wording in the Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion.

The Department Judge Advocate, John Dewell, provided an opinion that both of the proposed resolutions were directed at amending or changing the National Constitution and Bylaws of The American Legion, not the Department's Constitution and Bylaws. He reported that although the Department can process both resolutions and adopt them for the purpose of forwarding them on to the National Convention, the Department cannot make the proposed changes; they must be changed by the national organization first. If the resolutions are adopted by the national organization at the National Convention, then the changes would have to be required, automatically, in the Department's Constitution and Bylaws. Therefore, it was determined that the two resolutions would not require the normal handling associated with a proposed change to the Department's Constitution and Bylaws ─ that copies would not have to be sent to all Posts within the Department prior to the Department's Annual Convention.

It is the recommendation of the Committee that the two resolutions submitted by Piedmont Valley Post #311 and District 12 be forwarded to the Convention Resolutions Committee of the 84^th Annual State Convention of The American Legion, Department of South Dakota, to be held in Rapid City, SD, June 13-16, 2002. It is further recommended that the Convention Resolutions Committee forward the resolutions to the Convention Committee on Internal Organization for disposition.

The SD Veterans Cemeteries Support Council (SDVCSC) is requesting support from The American Legion and other organizations to erect an "Avenue of Flags" at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

The Council is soliciting support from Veterans Service Organizations and Auxiliaries. All contributions are tax deductible. Any single donation of $1,200, or more, is considered to have purchased one flagpole for this "Avenue of Flags". Any donation, however, will be appreciated.

Pole donors that donate $1,200, or more, will have their names (or organization's name) inscribed on a plaque to be mounted in the Interment Shelter at the Black Hills National Cemetery. Letters recognizing these contributions to the "Avenue of Flags" will also be sent to department commanders for suitable convention recognition.

Individuals or Posts wishing to make a contribution or donation to the Black Hills National Cemetery "Avenue of Flags" project can send their donations to the secretary/treasurer of the SDVCSC with a note that it is to be used for the Black Hills National Cemetery "Avenue of Flags". The address is SD Veterans Cemeteries Support Council, PO Box 1932, Rapid City, SD 57709-1932.

The American Legion, Department of South Dakota, has provided a contribution of $1,250 toward the construction of this Avenue of Flags project. The contribution was authorized by the Department Executive Committee during the 2002 Midwinter Conference.

The 60^th Anniversary Session of South Dakota American Legion Boys State commences Monday, May 27, when the 60-member staff of advisors and counselors gather on the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen. 511 boys from across the width and breadth of South Dakota, all high school juniors, will arrive in Aberdeen mid-day on Memorial Day. The event will continue through Saturday, June 1.

South Dakota American Legion Boys State was founded at Aberdeen in 1940 and subsequent meetings were held in 1941 and 1942. World War II made it necessary to drop the activity, but in 1946, South Dakota American Legion Boys State resumed.

State Commander Vernon Sip of Wagner will address the delegates, Monday, May 27, during their initial First General Assembly.

The 2001-2002 South Dakota American Legion Post Adjutant's Administrative and Awards Manual contains a form for the certification of Post Officers to State Headquarters. This should be one of the last official acts of the outgoing Post Adjutant.

The form is green in color and is located immediately after page 10 in the manual. If you cannot locate a copy of the form, please contact State Headquarters and we will provide you with a copy.

Newly elected Post Officers will NOT be placed on mailing lists at State or National Headquarters, nor will they be recognized as Post Officials by either headquarters until they have been certified. Additionally, Posts will NOT receive their 2003 membership cards until this certification process is completed.

COMPLETED means just that - completed. DO NOT send in forms, which are missing information. If the form indicates that we NEED the member's dates of service - WE NEED the member's dates of service. The certification process is not completed if the form is missing information. If it is necessary to contact the individual officers for complete information prior to filing the form with State Headquarters, then please do so.

At the time of this Up To Now, 140 Posts had still not certified their 2003 officers to State Headquarters. The assistance of Post, County, District and Department Officers is requested to ensure that the certification of Post officers is expedited.

Although the deadline for resolutions proposing amendments to the South Dakota American Legion's Constitution and Bylaws has passed, general resolutions are still being accepted by State Headquarters.

General resolutions should be into State Headquarters by Monday, June 10^th in order to be transported by the headquarters staff to Rapid City. General resolutions can also be accepted at the site of the 84^th Annual State Convention in Rapid City. Resolutions brought to the convention city should be filed with the Department Adjutant prior to the initial meeting of the Convention Resolutions Committee. That meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 14.

Two typewritten, double-spaced copies of the resolution should be submitted. Post officials must certify that each resolution was adopted during a regular Post meeting and the certification must include the meeting date.

A total of 59 American Legion baseball teams are registered this year in South Dakota. By comparison, the Department had 57 teams registered last year and 56 teams registered the year before that. As usual, there are some new teams this year and some that have withdrawn from the program.

All teams have an eye on a state tournament berth. The State "B" Tournament will be July 31 - August 4 in Groton and the State Championship Tournament will be August 7-11 in Rapid City. Regional elimination tournaments will start in July.

The State Athletic Commission will make the final team alignments and classifications during its state convention meeting in Rapid City on Friday, June 14.

May 15^th was the deadline for registering teams for the $70.00 fee with State Headquarters. The fee for teams registering late between May 16 and May 31 will be $110.00 and teams registering late between June 1 and June 15 will be charged $160.00.

No teams will be permitted to participate in American Legion baseball tournament competition whose state entry form, proof of insurance, and accompanying registration fee is not on file with State Headquarters by June 15, 2002.

An organization calling itself "Minuteman 2002" of Elida, Ohio has been sending a document they call "Operation Freedom Special Fax" to Department Headquarters of most veterans and community organizations in the United States.

This organization is attempting to conduct a march on Washington and is seeking the addresses and telephone numbers of Post Commanders to enlist them in the march. Department Headquarters will not provide your names, addresses or phone numbers to any such organization when they request that information.

The American Legion has no resolution concerning such a march nor are we in a position to release the names and addresses of Posts to any group not sanctioned by the delegates to our National Convention or the National Executive Committee.

If your Post should receive this request, you should ignore it. If you become aware of this request through your connection with other veterans service or community organizations, you should also ignore it.

This is a reminder that Posts need to send new and renewal memberships to State Headquarters in a timely manner.

If memberships are not sent regularly, members will continue to receive renewal notices from National Headquarters. Members can also lose their subscriptions to the South Dakota Legion News, The American Legion Magazine, cannot obtain their American Legion discount of prescription drugs and are not covered by the free $1,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance until after their dues reach State Headquarters, despite the Legionnaire having paid his/her dues in a timely manner.

In addition, the Post is at odds with that section of the National Constitution and Bylaws requiring dues payment to reach Indianapolis within 30 days of receipt by the local Post.

On May 6, The House Committee on Appropriations approved a final version of the FY 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations request that contains an increase of $417 million for VA Health Care. This much-needed increase will bring funding for VA health care to a level that will help guarantee America's veterans continue to receive quality health care in a timely and efficient manner.

In testimony submitted to the House Budget Committee, The American Legion expressed concern over the shortfall in the FY 2002 VA health care budget and recommended a significant increase be included in the supplemental appropriations request. This $417 million increase, approved by the House Appropriations Committee will help ensure that the VA health care system does not fall short of fulfilling the promises made by a grateful nation to care for America's veterans.

Congressman John Thune's office has informed SD American Legion State Headquarters that the congressman will be hosting three veteran's town hall meetings during the last part of May.

The purpose of the meetings is to allow Congressman Thune to update those in attendance on various legislative initiatives, such as funding for veterans health care and concurrent receipt, and allow him to hear veterans' thoughts and views on a wide variety of issues impacting veterans.

The meetings will be held in accordance with the following schedule:

Rapid City - Sat., May 24, 3:00 p.m. MDT at the VFW - 420 Main Street.

Aberdeen - Tues., May 28, 8:45 a.m. CDT at the VFW - 821 Circle Drive.

Sioux Falls - Tues., May 28, 3:00 p.m. CDT at the VA Hospital (4^th floor auditorium), 2501 W. 22^nd St.

Brief ceremonies to present Korean War Service Medals to area veterans will precede the meetings in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.

2002 membership stands at 26,377, or 94.83 percent of goal.