Issued Bi-Weekly from State Headquarters at Watertown, SD 57201

Ron Boyd - Department Adjutant - Public Relations Officer

Issue 2837 - January 15, 2003

The appearance of The American Legion National Commander Ron Conley of Pennsylvania will highlight the 2003 Midwinter Conference.

Pierre Post #8 will host the event in nine days in Pierre. All events, with the exception of the Friday night Go-Getter's Reception and Smorgasbord will be held at the Ramkota River Centre Hotel and Convention Center in Pierre.

The conference will open on Friday, January 24, with meetings of the State American Legion Administrative Committee at 10:00 a.m. and the State Executive Committee at 1:00 p.m. The State Athletic Commission will go into session at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. These meetings are open to all Legionnaires who would like to attend. Friday evening, Post #8 will host the Go-Getters' Reception and Smorgasbord at the Pierre Post #8 Log Cabin.

The State Registration Desk will open at noon on Friday and will be open again at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Saturday opens with a Joint Legion/Auxiliary/SAL session at 8:30 a.m. Subsequent to the joint session, Legionnaires, SAL members and Auxiliary will hold separate sessions. For Legionnaires there will be a general meeting to cover the Legion College and other topics followed by breakout sessions on Membership and Americanism, along with training/information sessions for Post Service Officers and Post Historians.

The Annual Midwinter Joint Legion/Auxiliary Banquet will be held Saturday evening starting with no-host cocktails at 6:00 p.m. and the banquet at 7:00 p.m. National Commander Ron Conley will be the banquet keynote speaker.

Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., Department Chaplain Stan Gruneich of Flandreau will provide the traditional Four Chaplains Service.

A full schedule of events was published in the December 18 edition of the Up To Now. The full schedule of events, complete with room assignments for the various functions, is in the January edition of the South Dakota Legion News. 

The 14^th Annual SD Vietnam Veterans Reunion will be held in Mitchell Friday, February 14 - Sunday, February 16^th at the Mitchell Holiday Inn, 1525 W. Havens, Mitchell, SD.

Registration cost is $35.00 per person before February 7, $40.00 per person after February 7. Cost for Friday evening and Saturday only is $15.00 - this reduced price does not include the Saturday banquet. Registrations received by February 7 are eligible for a $100.00 savings bond drawing sponsored by CorTrust Bank.

Special speakers are Ray Rauenhorst and James Talbot Lawrence.

Deadline for reservations at the Mitchell Holiday Inn is January 27, 2003. To receive contract rate, please identify yourself as being with the SD Vietnam Veterans. Reservations can be made at (605) 996-6501 or 1-800-888-4702. For additional information contact Lance Carson at (605) 996-8299 or (605) 996-3662 or mail to PO Box 355, Mitchell, SD 57301. 

Six South Dakota Legionnaires have been called to Washington, DC to participate in the 2003 American Legion Washington Conference. Those receiving official calls include: William Dolan of Beresford, Member of the National Public Relations Commission; Gerald Goetzinger of Martin, Member of the National Membership and Post Activities Committee; Darrel Haskell of Conde, Member of the National VA&R Commission for Region 6; Larry Price of Redfield, Vice Chairman of the National Americanism Commission; Ronald Tolrud of White, Member of the Children and Youth Committee for Region 6; and Wayne Vetter of Cresbard, Member of the National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Executive Section. Also attending the Washington Conference will be Department Commander Walt Lindemann of Eureka and Department Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown.

In addition to attending various meetings of the committees and commissions to which assigned, the attendees will participate in Hill Day on Tuesday, March 4. They will attend a National Legion Rally at 9:00 a.m. and then along with other Legionnaires from across the nation, depart for Capitol Hill to visit with the South Dakota Congressional Delegation. Tuesday evening they will participate in the National Commander's Reception Honoring Members of Congress. 

The following endorsements have been received by South Dakota American Legion State Headquarters in Watertown for individuals who are running for District and Department Offices:

Henry G. Fix Post #23 of Garretson has endorsed Paul Evenson of Renner for re-election to the office of National Executive Committeeman for The American Legion, Department of South Dakota.

Gertje-Van Lith Post #229 of Big Stone City has endorsed Roger Barnhardt for the office of Area Vice Commander for Districts 3, 4 and 14.

Foothills Post #320 of Rapid City has endorsed Rick MacDonald for the office of Area Vice Commander for Districts 8, 9 and 13.

De Smet Post #138 has endorsed Gary Wolkow for the office of Area Vice Commander for Districts 2, 5 and 6.

Sioux Falls Post #15 has endorsed G. D. "Hoot" Gibson for re-election to the office of Department Master at Arms. 

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has announced the reappointment of Don Clarke of Wessington to a second 6-year term as a member of the South Dakota Veterans Commission. Clarke was initially appointed to the commission in 1996. At that time he replaced Wilbur Saukerson of Chamberlain who had served on the commission from 1986-1996. Saukerson announced that he was not seeking reappointment in 1996 due to ill health.

The South Dakota Veterans Commission consists of six members, appointed by the Governor. Historically, three of the members have been representatives of The American Legion; two have been representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and one has been a representative of the VFW. The other two members currently serving as representatives of The American Legion are Paul Evenson of Renner and Don Loudner of Mitchell.

The three remaining commission appointments are currently held by Gene Murphy of Sioux Falls, Keith Goodhope of Winner and Bill Locken of Spearfish. 

In the November 2002 issue of the South Dakota Legion News, on the back page, there was a statement by the South Dakota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame Corporation requesting financial support by Legion members. Of the approximately 25,000 members who receive the paper, the response has been rather disappointing.

To the 15 individuals who responded, a very sincere "Thank You." We received $400.00 and from one Post, a memorial of $150.00 for a total of $550.00.

If the South Dakota Baseball Hall of Fame is to become a reality, we need financial support and the word spread from every Legion member across the entire state. We encourage all recipients of this Up To Now to make sure that this topic is discussed at your next Post meeting and that you endeavor to help spread the word that this solicitation is for a worthwhile project of The American Legion, Department of South Dakota. 

Enclosed for Post Adjutants is the annual Post Americanism Report form, which must be completed and submitted during the Spring District Conventions. It can also be returned by mail to State Headquarters in Watertown.

The same form may be found in the 2002-2003 Post Adjutant's Administrative and Awards Manual between pages 8 and 9. 

In order to purchase a Paid-Up-For-Life Membership, a Legionnaire must first be a "member in good standing". This means that the Legionnaire's dues must be paid for the current membership year.

Up until December 31, 2002 - if a Legionnaire had paid his/her membership dues for the 2002 membership year, that Legionnaire was a "member in good standing". Up until December 31, 2002 if that member who had already paid his/her 2003 dues decided that they wanted to purchase a PUFL, that member would receive a reduction of the amount of the 2003 dues from the total cost of the PUFL - because the PUFL membership would have become active with the 2003 membership year.

Effective January 1, 2003 - "member in good standing" means that the Legionnaire must have paid his/her 2003 dues. Effective January 1, 2003 a Legionnaire who has not paid his/her 2003 dues is no longer a "member in good standing". Subsequent to January 1, 2003 Legionnaires who have not yet paid their 2003 dues must pay their regular dues for 2003 before they can become a PUFL.

This means if someone approaches you and wants to purchase a PUFL - since we are now into the 2003 calendar year - you must collect their 2003 dues first. Then they can purchase a PUFL anytime prior to the end of the 2003 calendar year for the full amount shown on the PUFL computation chart. 

Your subscription to the National American Legion Magazine is based on your membership dues. Each Legionnaire is entitled to 12 issues of the magazine for his/her annual dues.

Often times State Headquarters will receive a phone call from an irate Legionnaire who has not received his/her Legion Magazine when everyone else they know has already received theirs. In checking with National Headquarters the State Headquarters Staff often discover that the Legionnaire has already received his/her twelve issues. This happens because a Legionnaire waits more than 12 months between the time they pay dues for one year and the time they pay their dues for the following year.

For example: If I paid my 2003 dues in January, 2003, I will probably start receiving the magazine in March, 2003. The last issue of the magazine to which I am entitled will be February, 2004. The American Legion National Headquarters will print the address labels for the March, 2004 issue of the magazine sometime in mid-late January, 2004. If my 2004 dues are not paid by that time, I will not be included on the March, 2004 mailing label list. My magazine subscription will be interrupted by how many ever months I wait to renew my membership.

Those members who are PUFLs are ensured that their names will continually be on the mailing list and should never experience an interruption to the magazine subscription.

Thus you have another benefit of the PUFL membership. 

The 78^th Session of the South Dakota Legislature convened at noon on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 in Pierre. This is the first legislative session for newly elected Governor Mike Rounds. The Legion's representatives in Pierre again this year will be Ron Boyd of Watertown and John Dewell of Pierre.

The South Dakota American Legion's Legislative Reception is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4 at the Pierre American Legion Post. Pierre Post #8 is located in the Log Cabin at the south end of Pierre Street. Get a group together from your Post and make the trip to Pierre to visit with the legislators from your district about your concerns and the issues affecting your community. Arrive early and visit the Capitol to see your legislators in action.

The Legislative Reception will commence at 5:00 p.m. Food and drink will be served. Each Legionnaire attending the reception will receive a ticket for one free drink. Subsequent beverages will be at the expense of each individual Legionnaire. Complimentary beverages will be served to all invited legislators and other guests during the entire course of the evening. 

If your small business has been adversely affected by the federal Title 10 call-up of members of the National Guard or Reserves during a period of conflict, the U.S. Small Business Administration can help.

The SBA has programs for Disaster Loans (for eligible small business suffering economic injury because an owner or an essential employee was called to active duty), Debt Relief (your small business can ask for repayment deferrals if you have an SBA direct or guaranteed loan), Business Counseling and Training (receive business development help and business counseling and training to help your business while you or your employees are on active duty with the National Guard or Reserves), and Basic 7(a) Loan Guaranty (helps qualified small business obtain financing when they might not be eligible for business loans through normal channels).

For more information on these and other programs contact your nearest SBA district office listed in the telephone directory under "U.S. Government." You can also contact them at 1-800-U ASK SBA, or visit their Web site at www.sba/gov/reservists, or call the Office of Veterans Business Development at 202-205-6773. 

2003 membership stands at 24,136 paid up members or 86.77% of the Department 2003 membership goal.

There will be a membership turn-in at the Midwinter Conference in Pierre. The next major membership target date is February 11^th - this is for the Big Twelve Competition. Department Commander Walt Lindemann bid that by that date the Department of South Dakota would have 24,678 members turned in to National Headquarters. As you can see if you do the math, we still need 542 members to reach that target goal. WE NEED YOUR HELP! If your Post is holding any membership - FORWARD IT TO DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IMMEDIATELY.