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

Ron Boyd, Department Adjutant  Public Relations Officer

No. 2840 February 26, 2003

Enclosed for all recipients is the Official Call for 2003 Spring District Conventions that start Tuesday, April 1. All recipients are encouraged to provide the widest possible dissemination of this information to the members of their Post.

Enclosed for Post Commanders is a copy of the brochure from National Headquarters entitled April is Children and Youth Month. The American Legion and the Auxiliary have been actively involved in children's issues since the early 1900s. In 1938, April was formally designated as Child Welfare Month and has continued on an annual basis. During this special time, we urge each of you to show your community that The American Legion family is committed to Children.  Our Most Precious Resource!

Also enclosed is a letter from Wolfgang Migge, Department Children & Youth Vice Chairman and Special Olympics Representative requesting individual Posts to make a donation to Special Olympics at the Spring District Conventions.

The 2003 Spring District Conventions have been planned in accordance with the following schedule:

• District 1  April 24, Hartford
• District 2  April 23, Elkton
• District 3  April 1, Gary
• District 4  April 2, Big Stone City
• District 5  April 11, Cresbard
• District 6  April 10, Wessington Springs
• District 7  April 30, Wagner
• District 8  April 29, Presho
• District 9  April 4, Kadoka
• District 10  April 9, Pierre
• District 11  April 3, McLaughlin
• District 12  April 5, Sturgis
• District 13  April 6, Rapid City
• District 14  April 13, Eureka

Eight South Dakota Legionnaires leave this Saturday for Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2003 American Legion Washington Conference. Those traveling to our nation's capitol 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 Commission for Region 6; and Wayne Vetter of Cresbard, Member of the National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Executive Section, State Commander Walt Lindemann of Eureka and State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown.

The attendees will participate in various meetings of the committees and commissions to which assigned. Additionally, they will participate in a National Legion Legislative Rally on Tuesday, March 4 prior to visiting the offices of each member of the South Dakota Congressional Delegation.

Heather Haley of Colome, the District 8 and West River Oratory Champion, captured the state title Saturday, February 22 at the South Dakota American Legion High School Oratory Contest Finals in Pierre. Haley took home the First Place trophy, a plaque to be permanently displayed in Colome High School, where she is a senior, and a $1,000 scholarship. She also earned the right to represent South Dakota in The American Legion National High School Oratory Contest in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 12-13, 2003. At the national contest, Haley will be competing against students from across the country for scholarships worth $18,000 (first place), $16,000 (second place) and $14,000 (third place).

Second Place at the State Finals was awarded to Amanda Melham of Sioux Falls. Melham, a senior at Roosevelt High School, was awarded the Second Place trophy and a $500 scholarship.

In West River competition on Sunday, February 16^th, in Rapid City, Haley was named top orator from the West River Districts. Second Place in the West River contest was awarded to Chris Meyer of Sturgis. Meyer, a junior at Brown High School in Sturgis, was awarded a trophy and a $250 scholarship.

Amanda Melham had been named top orator in the East River competition on Monday, February 17^th in Chamberlain. Second Place in the East River contest was captured by Kerry Konda of New Effington. Konda, a senior at Sisseton High School, was awarded the East River Second Place trophy and a $250 scholarship.

William H. Crippen Post #62 in Humboldt has endorsed Douglas Meyer as a candidate for District 1 Vice Commander.

The 58^th Annual SD American Legion State Bowling Tournament will be held at the Winners Circle Lanes & Games in Hot Springs on the weekends of March 22-23, March 29-30 and April 5-6, 2003. Entry fee is $17.50 per person/per event. The breakdown on the entry fee is as follows: bowling - $7.15, expenses - $1.50, prizes - $8.85.

Team, doubles and singles may be scheduled at any shift time. The hours are: Saturdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. On Sundays: 10:00 am, 12:30 pm, or 3:00 pm.

The deadline for entries is April 6, 2003 at 3:00 p.m. For more information contact Winners Circle Lanes and Games at (605) 745-5414. Entry forms are available from State Headquarters.

Get out and support our Legion athletes.

This is your final reminder. 2003 Eagle Scout of the Year nomination packages must be received by State Headquarters in Watertown by March 1, 2003. Due to March 1 being on a weekend, nominations that arrive by close of business, Monday, March 3, 2003 will be accepted. Don't let these deserving Boys Scouts suffer because you did not get the package submitted on time.

Nomination forms are available from State Headquarters or can be downloaded from the The American Legion Webpage at,  http:\\www.legion.org/events/evt_eaglescout.htm

State Commander Walt Lindemann and State Membership Chairman Gene Schumacher want to extend a big "Thank You" to all the membership team workers, at all levels, who worked so diligently and gave of their time and efforts to help the Department make the Big Twelve pledge of 92.65% by February 12^th. Your hard work and determined efforts resulted in the Department being awarded $2,000 towards the purchase of computer/technology equipment. This is the 2^nd year in a row that South Dakota has come out on top in our category of the Big Twelve competition. It's a team effort and South Dakota continues to show that we have a "Winning Team".

Today is the 31^st Legislative Day of the 78^th Legislative Session of the South Dakota Legislature. Legislators have until next Wednesday, March 5^th to get individual bills and resolutions passed in both houses. Saturday, March 8^th will be the final day of the session prior to the legislature going into a 15-day recess. Legislators will then return to Pierre on Monday, March 24 to consider any gubernatorial vetoes.

Bills of interest to veterans and veterans organizations are:

HB 1020  would allow licensed hunters who are paraplegics or otherwise physically unable to walk with or without crutches, braces, or other mechanical support or who are otherwise considered to be limited or impaired in their ability to walk, and who have been issued a disabled hunter permit by GF&P to shoot in fields, woods, or from public roads from a stationary motor vehicle while hunting game animals or game bird in accordance with rules to be promulgated by GF&P. This bill has passed both the House and the Senate.

HB 1024  This bill establishes a new ending date for the Gulf War to qualify individuals as veterans under South Dakota statute. This bill has passed both the House and the Senate.

HB 1094  This bill requests an appropriation of $1,000,000 to fund real property tax refunds and relief for the low-income elderly and disabled. This bill has passed both the House and the Senate.

HB 1122  This bill was originally introduced to authorize no-cost hunting licenses for active duty servicemen and women in South Dakota has had numerous amendments. The bill, in its current form after being amended by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, provides that any person on active duty in the armed forces of the US and who is stationed at a location outside of the state may fish and hunt small game without payment of fees or the applicable hunting and fishing license authorizing the activity. However, migratory bird certification permit and federal migratory bird stamp is required. The resident must have in possession and display appropriate military orders indicating the resident is on active duty stationed outside of SD and a valid SD driver's license or SD identification card. This amended bill is now on the House Consent Calendar.

SB 57  This bill which originally provided for the temporary replacement of certain elected officials called for active duty in the armed forces has been amended so that it now provides that any member of a governing body of a county, municipality, school district, township, or special purpose district, who is also a member of the SD National Guard or another reserve component of the armed forces of the US, is called to active duty which causes the member to be unable to attend meetings of the governing body, the member may elect to temporarily resign from the governing body. A temporary replacement may then be made in accordance with the provisions of statute applying to the governing body. The temporary member shall serve until the member returns from active duty or until the expiration of the member's term, whichever occurs first. Bill has passed the Senate and the House Local Government Committee (as amended). It is currently on the House Consent Calendar.

SCR 4  This concurrent resolution urges the President, the US Congress and the Secretary of Defense to provide the best medical care for servicemen, servicewomen, veterans and their families. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives adopted this resolution.

Pierre Post #8 Commander Nancy Hannah and Pierre Post #8 Americanism Officer Greg Hall hosted the 2002 Boys State Governor, Dan English of Sioux Falls, the 2002 Girls State Governor, Krista Jankowski of Sioux Falls, their parents, State Commander Walt Lindemann, State Adjutant Ron Boyd, SD Girls State Director Cheryl Hovorka of Yankton, and Legislative Lobbyist John Dewell at a luncheon on Wednesday, February 19^th to recognize the two governors.

The group met briefly with Governor Mike Rounds in his office at the State Capitol and then proceeded to the Senate Chambers where Governor English and Governor Jankowski were introduced on the Senate floor and presented with copies of the Senate Commemoration (SC 7) which had been passed in recognition of their accomplishments and achievements. Following introductions in the House of Representatives, both governors returned to Sioux Falls.

Nomination forms for each Post Legionnaire of the Year in competition for District Legionnaire of the Year are to be submitted to the respective District Commander at least 15 days prior to the District's Spring Convention Meeting.

Nomination forms can be found in the 2002-2003 Post Adjutant's Administrative and Awards Manual, between pages 6 and 7.

Membership for 2003 stands at 25,029 or 93.66% of goal.

The next membership target date is the Legion Birthday, March 12, 2003. State Headquarters must receive all membership for this target date by close of business on Tuesday, March 11, 2003.

This March Target Date determines District Convention Hall Seating at the State Convention and winners of the coveted State Convention Parade Banners. Additionally it is the final opportunity for Posts to earn the Post Go-Getter Medallion.

An award that has not been claimed for a couple of years is also available. A $250 cash award will go to the District in each of two goal-size categories that has enrolled the highest percentage over that District's goal. (The District must be at 100% of goal or better