COMMANDER MAKES APPOINTMENTS

Commander Wayne “Red” Vetter of Cresbard has announced the following appointments for the Department of South Dakota:

· Dorothy Erhart of Deadwood to a three-year appointment on the Americanism Commission as the representative for Districts 10, 11 and 12.

· Bill Dolan of Beresford to another one-year term as Department Americanism Officer/Chairman of the Americanism Commission.

· Jerry Lolley of Sturgis to a five-year appointment as a member of the National Cemetery Committee and a one-year term as Chairman of that committee.

· Betty “Sam” Vaughn of Brookings to a one-year term on the Children & Youth Committee and a one-year term as Chairman of that committee.

· Wolfgang Migge of Watertown to another one-year term as Children & Youth Vice Chairman in charge of Special Olympics.

· Dennis Vogel of Montrose to a four-year term on the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

· Wendell Rye to another one-year term as Chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

· Jim Kurtz of Garretson to another one-year term as Chairman of the Educational Loan Committee.

· Donn Grandpre of Aberdeen (member of the Conde Post) to another one-year term as Chairman of the Employment Committee.

· Charemon Dunham of Iroquois to another one-year term as Department Historian.

· Curt Halverson of Rapid City (member of the Custer Post) to a five-year term on the Legislative Committee.

· Gerald Goetzinger of Martin to another one-year term as Chairman of the Legislative Committee.

· Wayne Monson of Reliance to a one-year term as Chairman of the National Security Committee.

· Kay Ducheneaux of Winner to another five-year term as a member of the Rehabilitation Committee.

· Ron Hoffer of Roscoe to fill the unexpired term of Commander Vetter on the Rehabilitation Committee. This appointment will expire in 2007.

· Burdette Solum of Watertown to an additional three-year term on the Trust Fund Committee and to another one-year term as Chairman of that committee.

· Clarence Blunck of Platte to an additional one-year term as Chairman of the V.A.V.S. Committee.

· Ron Tolrud of White to an additional one-year term as Sons of The American Legion Liaison Officer.

All appointments are effective immediately.

COMMITTEES APPROVE BUDGET

The Department Administrative Committee met Monday, July 1, 2003 at State Headquarters in Watertown to discuss the operating budget for the 2003-2004 Legion year. After several hours of intense work, the committee formulated its recommendations to the Executive Committee.

The Department Executive Committee met Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13, 2003 in Watertown at Watertown American Legion Post #17. Department Finance Officer Gary Watts of Brookings presented the Administrative Committee’s budget recommendations to the Executive Committee during its two-day meeting. After much discussion and debate, the 2003-2004 Department Budget was balanced. A copy of the 2003-2004 Department Budget will be included when the minutes of those committee meetings are mailed to Post Adjutants and the members of those committees.

CONVENTION DELEGATES/ALTERNATES

Those Legionnaires who were elected at the State Convention in Spearfish as Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention in St. Louis are reminded that the packets you received from State Headquarters must be completed and returned to State Headquarters in Watertown by July 18.

The packets contained information on hotel reservations, tickets to the National Commander’s Banquet, National Chaplain’s Breakfast and Religious Service and also for indicating your preference for membership on a national convention committee.

COMMANDER ANNOUNCES HOMECOMING

South Dakota American Legion State Commander Wayne “Red” Vetter of Cresbard, has announced his homecoming will be Saturday, August 9, 2003, in Cresbard, SD. The event will be hosted by Hunt-Newell American Legion Post #213 in Cresbard.

The guest speaker for the celebration will be Lt. Col. John Spangler, USAF Reserve. Lt. Col. Spangler is a former pilot of Air Force Two and was on duty, in the Pentagon, on September 11, 2001, when the Pentagon was attacked by terrorists.

Registration will commence at 9:00 a.m. in the Cresbard Community Center/American Legion Post Home. All attendees are encouraged to register so that Commander Vetter has a record of those in attendance.

There will be a breakfast served from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Community Center/American Legion Post Home. The breakfast is open to everyone.

After breakfast service is stopped, a local Methodist Church Youth Group will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers in the general vicinity of the Community Center/Legion Post Home. They will be using this as a fund raiser for some of their programs and projects.

Parade line-up will start around 12:15 p.m. at the Cresbard School. If you go to the north end of the street that brought you into town, and turn right, you will find the school on the north side of the street. Everyone is encouraged to bring Post Colors and any other entries that they would like to have in the parade. The parade chairman will be at the school to assist in the line-up. The parade will start at 1:00 p.m.

The Homecoming Program will start at 2:30 p.m. in the Cresbard School. There is limited lodging in Cresbard. Reservations can be made at the Fest Inn hotel in Cresbard (605-324-3300). (Note: Rooms at the Fest Inn hotel has only one room with a private bath, all other rooms share a common bathroom.) The Fest Inn also has several cabins used for visiting hunters that are available. Additional lodging is available in Faulkton at the Super 8 Motel (1-800-800-8000) and at the Westside Motel (605-598-4340). Campers and RVs sites are available at the Faulton City Park on a first come, first served basis. Additional camps sites are available in Cresbard – contact Steve Benning at Bennings Auto (605-324-3656).

Additional lodging is also available in Aberdeen.

After the program, Commander Vetter is roasting 2 hogs and there will be plenty of good pork sandwiches to eat. There will be a good will offering. Beverage service will also be available for a nominal fee.

The event will also be the first 2004 membership target date. All Posts are encouraged to bring your initial turn-in to the program. Show your support for newly elected Department Commander Wayne “Red” Vetter and his five Area Membership Chairmen: Hoot Gibson, Leon Josephsen, Gene Schumacher, Ron Millage and Guy Virkula. Let’s have a record turn-out of Legionnaires in attendance for this gala event and a record turn-in of membership.

PRESIDENT’S HOMECOMING

The Homecoming celebration honoring State American Legion Auxiliary President Irene Sears will be Sunday, July 20, 2003 in Rapid City, SD. The event will be hosted by Rapid City Auxiliary Unit #22. The program will commence at 2:00 p.m. at Rapid City Post #22. Registration will precede the program. Legionnaires and Auxiliary members are encouraged to attend.

This event was erroneously reported as being on Saturday, July 20 in the last edition of the Up To Now. The date was correct, but the day was incorrect. It is to be held on Sunday, July 20. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

34 POSTS HAVE NOT YET CERTIFIED

34 Posts within the Department have still not certified their officers for 2003-2004 with State Headquarters. The certification of officers should be accomplished prior to the installation of new officers – it should be the last official act of the outgoing Adjutant.

The distribution of membership cards for the 2004 membership year has already taken place. Those Posts that have still not certified their new officers have not and will not receive their membership cards for the new year until all of the required officer certifications are received by State Headquarters.

Don’t postpone your Post’s start on the new membership year. The sooner you get working on your 2004 membership drive the sooner you can devote more of your time and effort to the important programs of The American Legion. Delaying the start of your membership drive and other programs will only make the tasks more difficult. Get your officers certified immediately if you have not already done so. Even if you have the same officers as last year, or for the past 15 years, you must still certify them to State Headquarters on an annual basis.

Posts which have not yet certified their officers or who have filed an incomplete certification include:

District 1 – Harrisburg, Renner and Parker

District 2 – Aurora*, Oldham and Flandreau

District 3 – Completed

District 4 – Bristol, and Roslyn

District 5 – Completed

District 6 – Plankinton and Emery

District 7 – Lake Andes

District 8 – Winner

District 9 – Midland, Rosebud, Draper*, St. Francis, Norris, Parmelee, and Mission

District 10 – Blunt

District 11 – Bullhead, Eagle Butte #308, Dupree, Little Eagle*, Eagle Butte #191

District 12 – Nisland and Box Elder

District 13 – Batesland, Pine Ridge, New Underwood, Kyle, Manderson and Oglala

District 14 - Completed

* These Posts have sent in their officers list, but the certification is incomplete due to missing data.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

2003 membership stands at 26,027 or 97.40 percent of goal.