2003 membership cards are being mailed out this week from State Headquarters in Watertown to most Posts in the state. However, 17 Posts will not be sent their cards because they have not certified their 2002-2003 officers to State Headquarters.

Except for those 17 Posts, Post Adjutants should receive a 12 by 15½-inch envelope containing all membership data and materials. In most cases, the envelope is marked "Membership Cards Enclosed". Also included in the mailing were the Post Officers Guide and Ceremonies Manual and the 2002-2003 Post Adjutant's Administrative and Awards Manual.

Post Adjutants are again reminded to immediately return all unused 2002 membership cards to State Headquarters, or your District Commander and/or County Commander will be visiting you.

Post Adjutants and Finance Officers are also reminded that each 2003 membership card transmitted to State Headquarters must be accompanied by $19.00, which is the Post's financial obligation to State and National Headquarters. Payment should be made by Post check; money order or bank cashier checks – no personal checks, please.

The Department American Legion Executive Committee met in Watertown last weekend, adopting the 2002-2003 budget, hearing about Commander Lindemann's program for the coming year and getting a look at the 2003 membership plans from State Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen.

The Committee received an update on the 2002 National Convention and the 2003 Midwinter Conference. Commander Lindemann announced the 2003 Midwinter Conference will be held in Pierre at the Ramkota Inn Hotel and Convention Center, Friday through Sunday, January 24-26. This marks a significant change from the past four years when the conference has been held in Oacoma. Pierre Post #8 will relieve Chamberlain Post #3 as the host Post for the event.

More details appear in the meeting minutes, a copy of which is included with this issue of the Up To Now to Post Adjutants, the Executive Committee and the State Administrative Committee.

Class "B" regional baseball tournaments must be completed by Sunday, July 28. The tournaments will decide which teams get to participate in the State "B" Tournament in Groton, July 31-August 4.

First round pairings Wednesday, July 31, at Groton will be:

1. Region 5B Champ vs. Region 2B Champ

2. Region 3B Champ vs. Region 1B Champ

3. Region 7B Champ vs. Region 6B Champ

4. Region 4B Champ vs. Host Groton Post #39

The Class "B" Tournament will continue through Sunday, August 4. This year the winner will have the choice of continuing on to the State Championship Tournament in Rapid City, Wednesday-Sunday, August 7-11, or to participate in The American Legion Central Plains Division II National Tournament at Ottawa, Kansas. Each team will be required to notify the Athletic Commission of their choice, prior to the start of the "B" Tournament. Whichever choice the "B" Champion team has elected, the runner-up will participate in the other event.

Class "A" regional baseball tournaments must be completed by Sunday, August 4. Each regional champion and runner-up will advance to the State Tournament. Host Rapid City is an automatic qualifier for the championship tournament.

First round pairings for Wednesday, August 7, at Rapid City will be:

1. Region 1A Champ vs. Region 3A Runner-up

2. Region 3A Champ vs. Region 1A Runner-up

3. Region 2A Champ vs. Class "B" Champ*

4. Region 2A Runner-up vs. Host Rapid City Post #22

The winner at Rapid City will advance to the Central Plains National Region 6 Tournament, August 15-19, 2002 in Williston, North Dakota and the winner of the National Region 6 Tournament will compete August 23-27, 2002 in Danville, Virginia.

The following Posts, 17 in all, have not yet certified their 2002-2003 officers to State Legion Headquarters in Watertown:

Dist 1 - Alcester Post #86 and Garretson Post #23

Dist 2 - Completed

Dist 3 - Completed

Dist 4 - Roslyn Post #253

Dist 5 - Doland Post #322*

Dist 6 - Emery Post #166*, and Mitchell Post #18*

Dist 7 - Volin Post #192

Dist 8 - Completed

Dist 9 - Allen Post #317, Mission Post #287, and Parmelee Post #295

Dist 10 - Gettysburg Post #135*

Dist 11 - Bullhead Post #82, and McLaughlin Post #121

Dist 12 - Completed

Dist 13 - Kyle Post #265*, and Manderson Post #302

Dist 14 - Warner Post #137, and Hecla Post #68

Some officer certifications sent to State Headquarters have been incomplete. Those Posts, which are marked with an asterisk, have been notified of their individual discrepancies.

Three South Dakotans - Commander Walt Lindemann of Eureka, State Adjutant and Membership Director Ron Boyd of Watertown, and State Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen are scheduled to leave Sioux Falls on Thursday, July 25, to attend the 39^th Annual National American Legion Membership Workshop in Indianapolis. The event will be July 26-28 at the Radisson Hotel City Center, located six blocks south of The American Legion National Headquarters.

The State Educational Loan Committee will have its summer meeting on Friday, July 26, at State Headquarters in Watertown. The three-member committee, comprised of Chairman Jim Kurtz of Garretson, B.J. Gottsleben of Brookings and Bruce Herman of Conde, is scheduled to consider 10 loan applications. One of the applications is for a second loan, while the other 9 are the initial applications submitted by the applicants.

South Dakota American Legion State Commander, Walt Lindemann of Eureka, has announced his homecoming will be Saturday, August 3, 2002, in Eureka, SD. The event will be hosted by Fred Weller American Legion Post #186 of Eureka.

The guest speaker for the celebration will be Al Neuharth, founder of the USA Today newspaper. Neuharth is a native of Eureka.

Registration will commence at 9:00 a.m. in the Eureka American Legion Post home. All attendees should register during the morning hours.

There will be a distinguished visitor's brunch in the Post home at 10:00 a.m.; attendance will be by invitation only.

A food service tent will be set up behind the American Legion Post home starting at 11:30 a.m., food will be served throughout the day. Good will offerings will be accepted. Beverage service will also be available in this same area for a nominal charge.

The parade will line up starting at 12:30 p.m. and commence at 1:00 p.m. Del Heupel has been appointed as the Parade Chairman and those Posts, Units or individuals wishing to get an entry in the parade should contact Del Heupel at 605-229-1234. Late entries will be allowed. The parade will line up on H Avenue, on the north side of The Avera Eureka Healthcare Center that is located on US Highway 10 and 1^st Street on the east side of Eureka. The parade route is approximately 10 blocks.

The Homecoming Program will be held in the School Auditorium on 9^th Street at G Avenue. The auditorium is approximately three blocks from the Legion Post home.

There is limited lodging available in Eureka. Reservations can be made at the Lakeview Motel at 605-284-2400. There are also a limited number of homes and rooms that are rented to hunters which will be made available. Milbert Schick is in charge of handling reservations for those accommodations. He can be reached at 605-284-5155 or 1-800-738-5155.

Full hook-ups are available for campers and RVs on the north side of the lake. These are available on a first come, first served basis for $10.00 per night.

Additional lodging is available in Aberdeen and those persons planning on attending both, the Commander’s Homecoming in Eureka, and the Auxiliary President’s Homecoming the following day in Aberdeen, may want to give consideration to seeking their lodging in Aberdeen for both events. Eureka is approximately 90 minutes from Aberdeen.

Tours will be available during the day to the information center, museum, veteran's memorial and other points of interest.

The event will also be the first 2003 membership target date. All Posts are encouraged to bring your initial membership turn-in to the program. Show your support for newly elected Department Commander Walt Lindemann and his Department Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher. Let’s have a record turnout of Legionnaires in attendance for this gala event and a record turn-in of membership.

The Homecoming celebration honoring State American Legion Auxiliary President Marcella Lepp will be Sunday, August 4^th in Aberdeen, SD. The event will be hosted by the Aberdeen American Legion Auxiliary Unit #24 at the Aberdeen VFW Post home.

The program will commence at 2:00 p.m. in the VFW Post home. Registration will precede the program. Legionnaires and Auxiliary members are encouraged to attend.

Lepp was elected President near the close of the Auxiliary’s annual convention last month in Rapid City.

2002 membership stands at 26,505, or 95.40 percent of goal.

Don't stop asking for 2002 membership if you still have Legionnaires who have not yet paid their 2002 membership dues.

If you collect 2003 dues without collecting 2002 dues, the member will lose whatever continuous membership he/she currently has. Continuous membership years are important to many of our Legionnaires.

Starting with the next issue of the Up To Now, the 2003 membership statistics will be reported.