Ron Boyd, Department Adjutant  Public Relations Officer

Phone 605-886-3604 Fax 605-886-2870

If Congress can meet the president's request for an additional $87 billion to fund the ongoing war in Iraq, then Congress also can raise an additional $1.8 billion next year, and a $3 billion increase the following year, to meet the health care needs of veterans from the war on terror and earlier periods of service. That is the position of John A. Brieden III, National Commander of the 2.8 million-member American Legion, who testified September 16, 2003 before a joint session of House and Senate Veteran's Affairs Committees.

Department Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter of Cresbard and Gerald Goetzinger of Martin attended the National Commander's testimony on September 16^th. National Commander Brieden stated, "A grateful nation does not commit its own to battle, then retreat from its moral obligation to them. The founders of The American Legion made it their civic duty to remind America of that fact. That's the reason they successfully fought, after WWI, for the creation of a federal agency to address the unique needs of veterans. Today, my American Legion family and I come before Congress bearing the torch of our founders. We want Congress and the President of the United States to continue to 'provide for the common defense,' as the Constitution requires. And we want them to provide the just benefits that a grateful nation owes those who return from Iraq as well as others who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces. They earned it. There are good people in Congress, in both major political parties, who know we speak the truth. If the ever-present courage of our men and women in the armed forces exists also in Congress and in the White House, then our nation will do the right thing for America's veterans."

Although Brieden's testimony focused on the 2005 fiscal year, The American Legion continues to fight, alongside other veteran service organizations, to close a $1.8 billion funding gap in the proposed Department of Veterans Affairs FY-2004 health care budget.

The American Legion is also fighting to switch the VA health care budget from discretionary funding, which Congress must approve each fiscal year, to mandatory funding, just like Social Security and Medicare, whereby federal dollars are allocated by a fixed formula to meet the system's demand. Additionally, The American Legion wants to end the restriction that keeps veterans from using their Medicare benefits to pay for treatment at VA. Yet another staple of the Legion's "GI Bill of Health" entails allowing funds derived from veterans who pay for their own VA health care, either by a third-party or by a premium-based plan, to supplement rather than to remain subtracted from federal funding.

Department Commander Vetter and Gerald Goetzinger also met with staff personnel from the offices of the three members of the South Dakota Congressional Delegation while in Washington, and were pleased with the voices of support they heard for the Legion's agenda for veterans' issues.

The list of remaining 2003 Fall District Conferences continues to get shorter. Since the last issue of the Up To Now, District Conferences have been held in District 8 in Witten on Thursday, Sept 11; District 9 in Philip on Friday, Sept 12; District 10 in Highmore on Saturday, Sept 13; District 4 in Wilmot on Thursday, Sept 18; District 14 in Frederick on Friday, Sept 19; District 5 in Redfield on Saturday, Sept 20; and District 6 in Artesian on Sunday, Sept 21.

The remaining four district meetings will be held this week, according to the following schedule: District 3 in Raymond on Thursday, September 25; District 1 in Garretson on Friday, September 26; District 2 in Lake Preston on Saturday, September 26; and District 7 in Avon on Sunday, September 28.

Attendees are hearing the details of State Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter's "You - The Veteran" program. The Area Membership Chairman from each area is providing an informative briefing on this year's membership program for the Department of South Dakota. Information is also being provided on this year's Americanism program, the VAVS program, and The SD American Legion Educational Loan program by the District Chairpersons for those programs.

The SD Division of Veterans Affairs and SD Department of Labor, Veterans Employment and Training Services, have also had representatives at all District Conferences to present up-to-date information on veterans benefits and services provided by their agencies.

Congratulations to Mike Pelly of Rapid City Post #22 on his selection to attend the 2003 American Legion National College. Pelly will attend the college November 2-7, 2003 in Indianapolis, IN.

Applications are solicited from the Department on an annual basis for the college. At the Department level, the Department's nominee to attend is chosen from the applicants by a panel of Past Department Commanders. The Department then sends the application to National Headquarters where they are reviewed by a panel of Past National Commanders who make the final decision on who will attend.

Tom Jurek of Mobridge Post #4 has resigned as District 14 Commander. His resignation becomes effective October 1, 2003. Gerald Sanborn of Leola Post #78, the current District 14 Vice Commander, becomes the District 14 Commander effective on that date.

Commander Jurek stated that his employment will be taking him outside of South Dakota.

The Midwinter Conference of the South Dakota American Legion will be held Friday-Sunday, February 6,7 and 8, 2004 in Chamberlain/Oacoma at the Cedar Shore Resort, 102 George S. Mickelson Shoreline Dr. The phone numbers for reservations are toll free at 1-888-697-6363 or 605-734-6376.

State Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter and State Adjutant Ron Boyd will attend the Annual Commanders and Adjutants Conference, plus other meetings at National Headquarters of The American Legion in Indianapolis, IN on October 6-7.

Also being called into National Headquarters in Indianapolis are NEC Paul Evenson of Renner who will be attending the Fall NEC meeting and serving as the Vice Chairman of the National Subcommittee on Committees.

Other SD Legionnaires being called into National Headquarters for the Fall Meetings of the various national committees and commissions on which they serve include: Glenn R. Green of Pierre, member of the National Convention Commission; Alt NEC Larry L. Price of Redfield, Vice Chairman of the National Americanism Commission; and Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen, member of the National Employment Committee.

Other department officers, to include Department Americanism Officer Bill Dolan of Beresford, Department Chaplain Stan Gruneich of Flandreau, Boys State Dean of Counselors Brad Henrich of Rapid City and Assistant Dean of Counselors Travis Vlasman of Yankton, and Chairman of the SD American Legion Athletic Commission Dale Kurth of Claremont will all be traveling to Indianapolis later in October for the Annual National Americanism Conference.

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 their 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 Older Worker" award. Please note the October 5^th deadline.

The Department was fortunate last year to have nominations for all categories in the Employment Awards program. This is an important opportunity to ensure that those employers in your local communities are recognized for the jobs that they provide. Help ensure that the employers in your community are given the opportunity to participate in the program.

One of the important programs that The American Legion is involved with today is the National Emergency Fund (NEF) - assisting our members during a time of need. You should all be aware of how vitally important it is that the NEF be consistently plentiful at all times. A natural disaster can deplete the NEF in mere weeks. These funds are generated from members and Posts. They have done a great job in building the fund to the amount it contains today. A challenge we always have is continually replenishing this fund.

Since the reestablishment of the National Emergency Fund in 1989, following Hurricane Hugo, the fund has provided almost 4,000 grants totaling more than $3.6 million. National Commander John Brieden III of Texas has set a goal to raise $500,000 for the NEF this year. Currently we have just over $1 million in the national fund. We annually grant approximately $300,000 to our members. Therefore, we need to replace that amount to ensure that the fund stays over $1 million. Our long-term goal is to have $5 million in the fund. A $5 million principle will permit grants solely on the annual interest.

National Commander Brieden has challenged each and every Department to assist in this fund-raising effort. In order to meet this $500,000 goal, he is asking each department to raise funds based on their 2003 delegate strength membership achievement and a pro rata of the NEF goal. The goal for the Department of South Dakota is $4,914.

Each and every dollar contributed to this fund is used for the express purpose of rendering immediate financial assistance to our members who have incurred devastation from wind, rain, fire and earthquakes. All administrative costs to maintain this fund and to conduct fundraising are absorbed through existing budget accounts.

Posts and/or individuals wishing to donate to this worthy cause can send their contributions to SD American Legion State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201. Contributions mailed to State Headquarters should be flagged as being designated for "NEF". National Commander Brieden will be a guest at our Midwinter Conference at Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma, February 6-8, 2004. State Headquarters will also make arrangements for contributions to be handed directly to National Commander Brieden at that event.

State Commander Vetter's recruiter incentive program is off and running. Four winners were named in the last edition of the Up To Now. Two additional winners have been drawn since then, they are:

• John North of Iroquois Post #280
• Rod Fortune of Aberdeen Post #24

Through this program, all recruiters of new members (persons who were not Legionnaires in 2003) are eligible for participation in a weekly drawing for a $50 US Savings Bond. The membership and dues must be received by State Headquarters in Watertown, prior to the drawing each Friday. When Post Adjutants forward membership cards to State Headquarters they should enclose a listing of the new members and the names of the Legionnaires who recruited them. This will ensure that the recruiters names are included in the weekly drawings.

Recruiters of new members are also eligible for a unique cap pin, specifically for recruiters of new members. The unique cap pins will be awarded, commencing shortly after Veterans Day.

State Commander Wayne Vetter has scheduled periodic drawings for $200 US Savings Bonds for Legionnaires who pay their 2004 dues early. One drawing has already been held; four more are scheduled through the end of the year. Every Legionnaire, including PUFLs, who have paid their 2004 membership dues and those dues have been received by State Headquarters in Watertown, is eligible for these drawings. Once the Legionniare's dues are received by State Headquarters, he/she remains eligible for all subsequent drawings.

Next drawing will be held Monday, Sept. 29. The final three drawings will be held November 13, December 8 and January 2.

2004 membership stands at 16,759 or 62.96 percent of goal.