Issued Bi-Weekly from State Headquarters at Watertown, S.D. 57201-0067

Ron Boyd, Department Adjutant - Public Relations Officer

No. 2829 September 25, 2002

If the 2.8-million member American Legion had its way, the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget would swell to $24.5 billion in FY 2004, and veterans on Medicare would be allowed to use those benefits to pay for VA’s treatment of their non-service connected disabilities. Those are two of the recommendations American Legion National Commander Ronald F. Conley made September 10^th to a joint session of House and Senate Veterans’Affairs committees on Capitol Hill.

"The American Legion has always fought hard for adequate funding for VA health care," Conley said. "There are 7 million veterans either enrolled or waiting to enroll to make VA their primary health care provider – quality care has a lot to do with that. But in order for a growing number of veterans to access VA health care, additional revenue streams must be generated to supplement, not offset, annual discretionary appropriations. A laudable first step would be passage of "Medicare Subvention" legislation that would allow Medicare to reimburse VA for its treatment of conditions not related to the veteran’s military service. VA would benefit from Medicare funding; Medicare-eligible veterans would be well-served by the health care system of their choosing; and VA would provide treatment at a lower cost than a private-sector provider, thus saving taxpayers money.

Conley put forth additional American Legion proposals:

Congress must address VA’s shortage of nurses, specialty doctors and psychologists;

VA and the Department of Defense should seek additional cost-saving joint ventures;

VA’s Capital Assets Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) program must reflect the input of veterans’ service organizations and not undermine vital services under the guise of austerity;

Congress must adequately fund community-based initiatives that assist homeless veterans;

Congress must pass legislation mandating compensation and health care to Gulf War veterans who will contract amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease in the future; and

As VA continues to reform its backlogged veterans’ claims system, Congress must fund VA’s request for additional claims personnel. Ideally, the number of appeals, as well as the overall processing time, will be cut.

Fall Conferences re-commenced this week following an 8-day break. The traveling party, consisting of State Commander Walt Lindemann of Eureka, State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown and State Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen finished the previous leg of the tour by meeting with Legionnaires at the fall meetings for District 5 in Redfield on Friday, September 13; District 6 in Mitchell on Saturday, September 14; and District 8 in Dallas on Sunday, September 15.

This week commenced with the District 7 Fall Conference in Platte on Tuesday, September 24 followed by 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.

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State Commander Walt Lindemann and State Adjutant Ron Boyd will attend the Annual Commanders and Adjutants Conference, plus other meetings at National Headquarters for The American Legion in Indianapolis, IN on October 7-8.

Also being called into National Headquarters in Indianapolis are National Vice Commander D.R. "Don" Mason of Platte and NEC Paul Evenson of Renner who will be attending the Fall NEC meeting. R.C. "Bob" Gabrielson of Hoven, Chairman of the National Aerospace Committee; Alternate NEC Larry Price of Redfield, Vice Chairman of the National Americanism Commission; and Glenn R. Green of Pierre, member of the National Convention Commission, have also been called into National Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN for fall meetings of the various national committees and commissions during the first full week of October.

Other department officers, to include Department Americanism Officer Bill Dolan of Beresford, Department Chaplain Stan Gruneich of Flandreau, Boys State Director Darrell Salter of Parker, and members of the Department Athletic Commission will be traveling to Indianapolis later in October for the Annual National Americanism Conference.

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.

Since the last Up To Now, the following certificates have been presented:

District 5: Steven Meyer, Virgil Post 268; Ron Graves Cresbard Post 213; Harold Schaefer, Orient Post 178; Robert Morse, Seneca Post 163; Eldon Bouren, Ree Heights Post 101; Kenneth Fortin, Doland Post 322; Robert Haselhorst, Mansfield Post 289; Paul Norton, Mellette Post 151; and Daryl Ames, Tulare Post 292.

District 6: Lloyd Priebe, Pukwana Post 201; Raymond Olson, Gann Valley Post 16; Donald Garvis, Ethan Post 261; and Allen Stekl, Letcher Post 93.

District 8: Victor Hoffart, Dallas Post 91; Edward Biggers, Kennebec-Reliance Post 179; Kay Ducheneaux, Winner Post 169; and Kenneth Van Kekerix, Witten Post 167.

District 7: James Hornstra, Springfield Post 132; Ardell Horst, Geddes Post 56; Almon Adam, Pickstown Post 282; Merle Stone, Wagner Post 11; Marvin Walz, Alsen Post 44; Jerry Anderson, Armour Post 52; Charles Kunstle, Corsica Post 274; and Chuck Tienken, Yankton Post 12.

District 1: Clifford Crawford, Canton Post 53; Allen Kirkpatrick, Brandon Post 318; Virgil Fiegen, Dell Rapids Post 65; Francis O’Neal, Garretson Post 23; Lawrence (Dean) Austin, Centerville Post 43; Mark Eitreim, Chancellor Post 283; and John Cole, North Sioux City Post 319. 

Correction to the list of commanders who were recognized from District 12 in the last Up To Now: District 12: Beverly Hink, Post 31, Lead; David Bertch, Post 164, Spearfish; Gerald Teachout, Post 311, Piedmont; and Leonard Cottrill, Post 33, Lead.

Enclosed with this mailing to all Post Commanders is a copy of the brochure "Make Halloween a Safe and Fun Night". These brochures can be reproduced locally. Post Children and Youth Committee members should give consideration to reproducing the brochure and coordinating with your local elementary schools to distribute them to children in your community who will be out Trick-or-Treating on Halloween.

All Post Commanders are reminded of the rapidly approaching deadline for the submission of nominations for the annual "Employer of the Disabled" award.

All Post Commanders received the application information in the August 29^th edition of the Up To Now.

The deadline for nominations is October 5^th. 

Darrell Salter of Parker was re-elected as Director of the South Dakota American Legion Boys State during the annual

meeting of the South Dakota American Legion Boys State Corporation and Board of Directors in Sioux Falls on September 18.

Corporation members elected Pat Leary of Volga as president for the coming year. Also chosen were Maurice Reiner of Mitchell, vice president; Ron Boyd of Watertown as secretary; and Don Meyer of Aberdeen as treasurer.

Jim Sondgeroth of Canton was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of directors. Also elected to a three-year term was Maurice Reiner of Mitchell. Brad Henrich of Rapid City was elected to serve out the remainder (one-year) of a three-year term left by the resignation of B.J. Gottsleben of Brookings.

Mike Mutziger of Aberdeen will serve as camp director for the ensuing year. Others appointed to positions by Director Salter were Rich Hanson of Sioux Falls as Dean of Counselors, Jim Sondgeroth of Canton as Executive Officer, Wyland Borth of Pierre as Registrar and Dean Schueler of Sioux Falls as Assistant Dean of Counselors.

Letters of intent to resign were regrettably accepted from Darrell Salter, Rich Hanson and Dean Schueler, all of whom intend to resign following completion of the 2003 Boys State session.

The board of directors agreed to meet in Sioux Falls again on October 16^th to formulate plans for the 2003 Boys State session, which will be held Monday through Saturday, June 2-7, 2003 at Northern State University in Aberdeen. 

2003 membership for The American Legion, Department of South Dakota stands at 15,467, or 55.61 percent of goal. 

The next Department Target Date is Veterans Day. To qualify for awards, membership cards and certifications must be in State Headquarters on or before November 12, 2002.

STATE COMMANDER’S SPECIAL AWARD – A special cap ornament will go to all Legionnaires who have enrolled the required number of members based on the five goal-size groups listed below. Post Adjutant certification is required. Post Goal 15-74, enroll 5 members; Post Goal 75-124, enroll 6 members; Post Goal 125-199, enroll 10 members; Post Goal 200-299, enroll 12 members; and Post Goal 300 and larger, enroll 15 members. 

Also available for the Veterans Day Target Date: A Legion belt buckle to each District Membership Chairman with at least 75% of goal and no "goose egg" Posts. A special award to the Post in each of the five goal-size groups that has met its 2003 membership goal and has the largest percentage of that goal submitted to State Headquarters. And, a specially designed cap to each Post Commander who achieves 100 percent of the Post’s 2003 membership goal and has that membership turned into State Headquarters by the Target Date.

The American Legion Post #43 in Centerville, South Dakota will dedicate their new American Legion Building on October 12th at 4:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be Governor Wm. Janklow. A catered meal will be served at 5:00 p.m. All Legion, Auxiliary, SAL members and friends are invited to attend. Advance tickets will be sold ($10.00). For further information you may call Commander Lanney Nelson at 605-563-2230.