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The appearance of The American Legion National Commander John Brieden III of Texas will highlight the 2004 Midwinter Conference.

Chamberlain Post #3 will host the event in nine days at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma. All events with the exception of Friday night’s Go-Getter Reception and Smorgasbord will be held at the resort.

A full schedule of events was published in the December 31^st edition of the Up To Now and the January edition of the SD Legion News carried the full schedule complete with room assignments for the various functions.

A copy of the Annual Post Americanism Report Form is enclosed for all Post Adjutants. These forms, which can also be found in the 2004 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual, are due to State Headquarters in Watertown, by the date of the Spring District Conferences. They can also be turned in at the Spring District Conference within each District.

Department Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter of Cresbard and Department Americanism Officer Bill Dolan of Beresford are shooting for 100% Report Turn-in this year.

Also enclosed for Post Adjutants is an information sheet from National Headquarters on AIM software that is available for purchase from National to help manage your membership information.

The name of National Executive Committeeman Paul Evenson of Renner (member of the Garretson American Legion Post) was inadvertently left off the list of South Dakota Legionnaires who will be attending the 2004 American Legion Washington Conference.

Fred Weller Post #186 in Eureka has endorsed Cal Neuharth of Eureka for the office of District 14 Vice Commander.

Members of the SD American Legion State Athletic Commission met in Pierre on Saturday, January 24. After considering all bids for the various athletic events, they will be making the following recommendations to the Department Executive Committee at the Midwinter Conference. Rapid City Post #22 to host the State Championship Baseball Tournament, Groton Post #39 to host the State "B" Baseball Tournament, Aberdeen Post #24 to host the State Bowling Tournament, and Parkston Post #194 to host the State Golf Tournament.

Commissioners also voted to have the registration fee for 2004 American Legion Baseball Teams to remain at $70. However, they recommended stricter enforcement of the rules that require each and every team sponsored by a Post to be registered and have proof of insurance. All teams are to be registered and have insurance – not just the "varsity team" that goes on to tournament play.

The State Championship for The American Legion High School Oratory Contest in South Dakota will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church, 314 S. Main, Chamberlain South Dakota at 12 o’clock noon CST on Saturday, February 28, 2004. The snow date will be Sunday, February 29, 2004.

All Area Champions should be instructed to be at the contest site in Chamberlain, at least 30 minutes prior to the start time.

136 Posts, 41 more than last year, have qualified for Continuous Goal Achievement Awards because of attaining advanced membership. The award is based on reaching 90%, or better, of the assigned goal by the year-end target date. Congratulations!

Two Posts, Sinai and Lake Preston, have made advance membership assignment every year since the award began 56 years ago. A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to these two Posts on this remarkable achievement.

Framed citations are given for each five-year increment of continuous achievement, attachments are given for intermediate years. Awards will be presented during the Spring District Meetings in April.

Four Posts have qualified for Certificates of Meritorious Service for having attained All-Time High Membeship for 2004 by the December 31, 2003 target date. Those Posts are Wolsey Post #59, Mellette Post #151, Iroquois Post #280 and Rapid City Foothills Post #320. Each Post will receive a Certificate of Meritorious Service from the National Commander during the Spring District Conferences in April. Congratulations to those Posts and their membership teams.

Five District Commanders will be recognized at the Midwinter Conference in February for having enrolled at least 90% of their assigned 2004 membership by December 31, 2003 and having no "goose egg" Posts. The District Commanders are: District 14 Commander Gerald Sanborn of Leola with 93.31%, District 8 Commander Jeff Hrabanek of Winner with 93.25%, District 7 Commander Merle Stone of Wagner with 92.83%, District 12 Commander Rod Martins of Piedmont with 91.82%, and District 2 Commander Warren Johnson of Chester with 90.71%. Congratulations to those District Commanders and their membership team across their Districts.

The following is a list of the bills that The American Legion is watching in the 79^th Session of the South Dakota State Legislature in Pierre.

HB 1060 - Would allow minor dependent children of persons in the armed services of the US who are absent from the state during the entire time for making application for a big game hunting licenses to apply for and receive deer and west river antelope licenses. The dependent child must also be absent from the state during the application period. The law currently allows the member and the spouse to apply and receive the licenses, but not the minor dependent children. This bill was passed by the House of Representatives on 01/26/04 (69-0).

HB 1090 - Would enable any employee of the State of SD who is a member of the SD National Guard or any other Reserve component of the armed forces of the US who is ordered into active federal service after January 1, 2002, other than for training purposes, to receive the difference between the employee's state salary or wage rate at the time the employee was activated and the employee's military salary and allowances for the time the employee is engaged in such active federal service. The bill requests a $150,000 appropriation to fund this salary augmentation program. This bill received a Do Pass recommendation(13-0) out of the House State Affairs Committee on 1/26/04.

HB 1091 - Would extend the program that provides for 50% tuition for state resident members of the SD National Guard at educational institutions under the control and management of the Board of Regents to include graduate studies as well as undergraduate studies. This bill is awaiting hearings in the House State Affairs Committee. It was scheduled to be heard on 01/26 but was deferred by the chair.

HB 1147 – Would allow non-resident members of the SD National Guard or any other unit of a reserve component of the US Armed Forces that are located in South Dakota to purchase a resident hunting license in South Dakota. The bill is waiting hearings in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

HB 1172 – This bill would extend the period of service that qualifies for veteran status in South Dakota from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2003. (See Senate Bill 6) This bill was deferred until the 36^th Legislative Day – thereby killing the bill by the House State Affairs Committee on 1/26/04.

HB 1200 – Would enable members of a unit of the SD National Guard who is not otherwise covered by a governmental health insurance plan or employer health insurance plan to be eligible for health insurance coverage under public employee health insurance plan that is available for employees of the state. This bill was scheduled for hearings in the House State Affairs Committee on 1/26/04 but was deferred by the chair.

HB 1217 – Would allow individuals under the age of 25, who is a resident of the state, and who is the child of a deceased veteran who was a resident of the state for at least 6 months prior to the veterans death, and who suffered death from any cause while in the service of the armed forces of the US, access to free tuition to attend and pursue any course or courses of study in any state educational institution under the control and management of the Board of Regents or any postsecondary technical institute without payment of any charges or costs therefor. These benefits would also be available to any person under the age of 25 who is a resident of the state and is the child of a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the armed forces who is not a veteran according to SD statute, so long as the member meets the other requirements and suffered death while performing or as the result of performing official National Guard or reserve military duties. This bill is scheduled for hearings in the House State Affairs Committee on 01-28-04.

SB 6 - Would modify the definition of a veteran under SD statute. The current statute includes those members of the active duty forces (to include National Guard and Reserve on fedaral active duty) who have served between August 2, 1990 and December 31, 2002. This bill would change the ending qualifying date to "until the end of hostilities as determined by the Legislature". This bill has passed the Senate (35-0 with 1 excused) on 1/20/04 and is in the House State Affairs Committee

SB 7 - Would open the 50% tuition program for the SD National Guard to those members of the SD National Guard who are not residents of the State of SD. The current program requires residency in the state. This bill has passed the Senate (34-0) on 1/21/04 and is in the House State Affairs Committee.

SB 8 - Would open the 50% tuition program for the SD National Guard to those members of the SD National Guard who are not residents of the State of SD but would place additional requirements on all participants in the program. The bill would require: 1) that they be a member of the SD National Guard throughout each semester or vocational program for which applying for benefits; 2) have completed required initial basic training; 3) have satisfactorily performed duty upon return from basic training, including a minimum 90% attendance on scheduled drill dates and at annual training with the member's parent unit; 4) maintain satisfactory academic progress; and 5) provide proper notice to the institution at the time of registration for the term in which the benefits are sought. This bill has passed the Senate (35-0) on 1/21/04 and is in the House State Affairs Committee.

SB 91 – Would appropriate $350,000 to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for a grant to the Ellsworth Air Force Base Task Force to promote and facilitate the retention and possible expansion of Ellsworth AFB. This bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 100 – Would establish a bonus for veterans of the global war on terrorism and other recent conflicts. This bill is in the Senate State Affairs Committee. Note: This is not the veterans bonus bill that will be introduced by the governor.

SB 101 – Would pay the difference in state and military salaries for state employees who are activated into federal military service as members of the SD National Guard. Requests an appropriation of $150,000 with $25,00 of that appropriation for administrative costs necessary to implement the provisions of the act. This bill is in Senate State Affairs. See HB 1090.

2004 membership stands at 24,626, or 92.52 percent of the Department 2004 goal.