The Up To Now is produced bi-weekly by the State Headquarters of The American Legion, Department of South Dakota. It is one of the primary methods of distributing breaking news and information important to Legionnaires in the Department. The Up To Now is mailed to all commanders and adjutants as well as Department Officers and other persons assigned to various Department committees and commissions.

Everyone who receives the Up To Now is encouraged to share the information it contains with other Legionnaires. Commanders and adjutants should ensure that the document receives maximum distribution and dissemination to other Legionnaires within their Posts.

A U.S. Air Force Vietnam era veteran from Pittsburgh was elected national commander of the 2.8-million member American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization during the closing session of the 84^th National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 29^th.

Delegates to The American Legion 84^th National Convention chose Ronald F. Conley to lead the national organization for a one-year term. A career union member of Steamfitters Local #449, Conley served on active duty in the Air Force from 1963 - 1966 as an air policeman at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Anderson Air Force Base and Strategic Air Command.

Prior to becoming the Legion’s top officer, Conley held numerous leadership positions at the organization’s post, state and national levels. He also served on advisory boards to the late Sen. John Heinz; Sen. Rick Santorum; and former Congressman Doug Walgren. He was an Allegheny County Commissioner for eight years.

In 1988 Conley founded and still serves as president of The American Legion for Homeless Veterans Corp., Inc., which operates eight veterans homes in Pennsylvania. He was appointed by Gov. Thornburgh and Gov. Casey to the Vietnam Veterans Herbicide Commission.

Conley testified Sept 10 before a joint session of House and Senate veterans-affairs committees in Washington D.C. He focused on funding and improving health care and benefits for America’s veterans.

He and his wife of 39 years, Barbara Lou Dilgen, have five children and ten grandchildren.

Conley took the oath of office along with five other newly elected national officers. Serving as Conley’s regional vice commanders will be Jefferson P. Luginbuel, Jr. of Colo.; Roy L. Kirkham of La.; Robert M. Johnson of Md.; Donavon R. Mason of S.D.; and Robert G. Bournival of N.H. Other officers appointed by Commander Conley are: National Historian Donald F. Simons of Texas; National Sergeant at Arms Michael D. Murphy, III of Pa.; and National Chaplain Norris A. Keirn of Ind.

Past National Commander Daniel F. Foley died Saturday, Aug. 17, 2002, of a heart attack just two weeks after his second marriage. Foley was at a hotel in Nashville, Tenn., as he and his new wife, Jean, were taking a leisurely cross-country trip to the 84^th National Convention of The American Legion to be held in Charlotte, NC.

Foley served as National Commander of the nation’s largest wartime veterans organization from 1963 - 1964. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army with service in World War II. His first wife, Ellen, was also a World War II veteran.

A native of Wabasha, Minn., Foley served in every leadership position within The American Legion from Post Commander to National Commander. At the time of his death he was serving on the Advisory Committee to the National Commander and had served for many years as President of ANAVICUS, an organization promoting good will with Canadian veterans.

Foley received his bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minn., and his Law degree from Fordham University in New York City. He joined the family law firm in 1948. In 1966 he was appointed District Judge. For the next three terms he was re-elected without opposition.

During his term as National Commander, Foley received the Lantern Award from the Massachusetts Knights of Columbus and an Honorary Doctorate from the Mexican Academy of International Law.

The 2002 South Dakota American Legion Fall District Conferences commenced last Friday, September 6 with the District 14 Fall Conference in Aberdeen. The traveling party for the Legion consists of State Commander Walt Lindemann of Eureka, State Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen and State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown.

In addition to hearing Commander Lindemann’s "Keep the Pride" program, Legionnaires are hearing from State Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher, and receiving information on the South Dakota American Legion Educational Loan Program, the Americanism and VAVS programs and receiving updates on information on VA benefits. Briefings are also being conducted by representatives from the Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS).

Wednesday, September 11, the District 10 Fall Conference in Onida was the last meeting of the first half of the 14 District Conferences.

Thus far, the traveling team has presented the outline of Commander Lindemann’s "Keep the Pride" program in District 14 in Aberdeen, District 11 in Eagle Butte, District 12 in Box Elder, District 13 in Hermosa, District 9 in Martin and District 10 in Onida.

The Fall District Conference schedule will reconvene on Friday, September 13 when Legionnaires from District 5 gather in Redfield. Two other Fall District Conferences follow immediately on Saturday, September 14 with District 6 in Mitchell and Sunday, September 15 with District 8 in Dallas.

The final five Fall District Conferences will be District 7 in Platte on Tuesday, September 24; District 1 in Tea on Wednesday, September 25; District 2 in Madison on Thursday, September 26; District 3 in Clark on Friday, September 27; and District 4 in Britton on Saturday, September 28.

The annual meeting of the South Dakota American Legion Boys State Corporation and Board of Directors will be held in Sioux Falls on Wednesday, September 18 at the Center for Western Studies on the campus of Augustana College. Business will include election of officers for the coming year, reviewing the past Boys State session, study of the By-Laws, as well as any other pertinent business.

During the Fall District Conferences, State Commander Walt Lindemann is presenting "Ric’s Retrievers" certificates from Past National Commander Ric Santos of Maryland to those Post Commanders who met or exceeded their Post membership goals for the 2002 membership year.

Certificates have been presented to the following 2002 Post Commanders:

• District 9: Melvin J. Young, Post 317, Allen; Kayo Smith, Post 295, Parmelee; and Jim LaPointe, Post 125, Rosebud.
• District 10: Ross Sperry, Post 77, Blunt; Ed Duffy, Post 20, Fort Pierre; Robert Joachim, Post 271, Agar; and Dennis Pullman, Post 73, Onida.
• District 11: Milbert Mutchler, Post 82, Bullhead; James Jameson, Post 139, McIntosh; Francis J. Connolly, Post 279, Thunder Hawk; Darrel Burke, Post 120, Isabel.
• District 12: Beverly Hink, Post 31, Lead; David Bertch, Post 311, Piedmont; and Leonard Cottrill, Post 33, Sturgis.
• District 13: James Preston, Post 303, Hermosa; Dean Pelofske , Post 320, Rapid City; and Woodrow Respects Nothing, Post 302, Manderson.
• District 14: Terry Haaland, Post 262, Claremont; Michael Hansen, Post 207, Stratford; Boyd Bruse, Post 137, Warner; Tina Feyereisen, Post 189, Hosmer; Melroy Job, Post 186, Eureka; Gary Hoffman, Post 276, Long Lake; Tom Jurek, Post 4, Mobridge; and Oscar Prasek, Post 100, Selby.

5 POSTS STILL NOT CERTIFIED

The following Posts, 5 in all, still have not certified their 2003 officers to State Headquarters in Watertown:

Dist. 5 -- Doland Post #322*

Dist. 7 -- Volin Post #192

Dist. 9 -- Mission Post #287 and Parmelee Post #295

Dist. 13 -- Kyle Post #265*.

The above listed Posts are encouraged to provide the information to certify their 2003 officers to State Headquarters immediately. Membership materials for the 2003 membership year cannot be released to these Posts until the above requirement is satisfied.

2003 membership stands at 14,112, or 50.72 percent of the Department 2003 membership goal.

Last year at this time, 2002 membership was at 14,814.