Issued Bi-Weekly from State Headquarters at Watertown, SD 57201
Ron Boyd – Department Adjutant – Public Relations Officer
www.sdlegion.org Email sdlegion@dailypost.com
No. 2889 January 26, 2005
ENCLOSED FOR ADJUTANTS
Enclosed for all Adjutants is a copy of the Proceedings for the 86th Annual South Dakota American Legion Department Convention. Copies of the Proceedings are also enclosed for all members of the Department Administrative and Executive Committees.
Also enclosed for Post Adjutants is a copy of the annual Post Americanism Report form that should be completed and submitted during Spring District Conventions. It can also be returned to State Headquarters.
The same form (green in color) may also be found in the 2004-2005 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual between pages 9 and 10.
MIDWINTER BANQUET TICKETS
Time is running out to reserve your tickets for the Legion/Auxiliary/SAL Joint Banquet at the Midwinter Conference at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma on Saturday, February 12, 2005.
This is a reminder – NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT CEDAR SHORE – ALL TICKET SALES ARE IN ADVANCE. The reason for the advanced sales is because the hotel needs a head count in advance of the function.
Major General Mike Gorman, South Dakota Adjutant General and Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
For tickets, send $20 for each ticket requested to: Gene Harmon, PO Box 53, Oacoma, SD 57365. His phone number is 605-734-5240.
Do yourself and the Chamberlain Post a favor and place your order now. If you are attending the Midwinter Conference, you will not want to miss this banquet.
PUFL WINNER
The winner of the Early Bird PUFL Drawing that was open to every SD Legionnaire who had his/her 2005 dues paid by December 31, 2004 is Michael G. Roseland of Avon. He is a member of Seneca Post #163.
HATS IN THE RING
Olson-Reid American Legion Post 250 in Castlewood has endorsed Robert Ching of Castlewood for the office of Area Vice Commander for Districts 3, 4 and 14.
ATHLETIC COMMISSION REPORT
Members of the SD American Legion State Athletic Commission met in Pierre on Saturday, January 22. After considering all bids for the various athletic events, the commission decided that they would be making the following recommendations to the Department Executive Committee at the Midwinter Conference in Oacoma on February 12, 2005. Brookings Post #74, will be recommended to host the 2006 State Championship Baseball Tournament, Winner Post #169 will be recommended to host the 2006 State “B” Baseball Tournament, Huron Post #7 will be recommended to host the 2006 State Bowling Tournament and Milbank Post #9 will be recommended to host the 2006 State Golf Tournament.
Commissioners voted to make no changes to the registration fees for 2005 American Legion Baseball teams. However, Posts are reminded that ALL TEAMS MUST be registered and the Post MUST have an insurance policy on each registered team.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ORATORY CONTEST
The State Championship for The American Legion High School Oratory Contest in South Dakota will be held at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma, SD following the closing of the SD American Legion Midwinter Conference on Sunday, February 13. The contest will commence at 10:30 a.m.
All Area Champions should be instructed to be at the contest site in Oacoma, at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the contest.
LEGIONNAIRE INSURANCE TRUST
FREE ACCIDENTAL DEATH POLICY
In an attempt to clear up some misunderstanding, the following information is being published in the Up To Now and will also run in the next edition of the South Dakota Legion News.
The free $1,000 Insurance Policy that is a benefit of membership for all members in good standing of The American Legion Department of South Dakota is a $1,000 policy that can be collected upon in case of an ACCIDENTAL death. The policy IS NOT a normal life insurance policy. There are no death benefits if the member dies from natural causes, heart attack, cancer, etc. The policy pays ONLY in the case of death as the result of an ACCIDENT.
Members MUST REQUEST the coverage. It is NOT automatic. Forms for enrollment are available from Department Headquarters and we will be bringing forms with us when we make the Spring Convention tours. Anyone who is currently signed up for the program is enrolled until August 31, 2006. At that time, everyone, I repeat, everyone, regular members and PUFLs will have to resubmit the form to be enrolled in the program. NOTHING and NO ONE IS AUTOMATIC.
The Legionnaire Insurance Trust (LIT) does offer other insurance products which can be purchased by individual Legionnaires. If you are unsure if you are currently enrolled in the program, you can contact LIT at 1-800-235-6943 or on the web at www.theLIT.com . When you provide them with your name, American Legion membership ID number and your date of birth, they will tell you whether or not you are currently covered under this insurance.
GO-GETTER CERTIFICATIONS
Department Headquarters has been receiving a lot of telephone calls from disgruntled Legionnaires who were concerned because their American Legion Post’s Go-Getters were not listed in the January edition of the South Dakota Legion News.
The established cutoff date for certification of Early Bird Go-Getters to State Headquarters is December 31 of each year. Early Bird Go-Getters are those Go-Getters who will be authorized to attend the Go-Getter’s function at the Midwinter Conference. The deadline of December 31 is used to allow Department Headquarters adequate time to process the certifications and prepare the materials for awarding at the Midwinter.
All certifications that were received prior to the December 31, 2004 cutoff were published in the January 2005 edition of the South Dakota Legion News. If your Post was not listed; your Post did not submit a certification form. The certification form that is required to be submitted can be found in the 2004-2005 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual. The program is explained on page 5 of that manual along with all of the other membership awards and incentives for the End of Year December 31st Target Date and the blue certification form is located between pages 5 and 6.
Due to the great number of Posts that did not submit their certification forms on time, Department Headquarters will continue to accept Early Bird Go-Getter Certifications until Friday, February 4. That will be the absolute deadline. No Early Bird Go-Getter Certifications will be accepted after that date.
The next Go-Getter certification deadline is the Legion Birthday Membership Target Date. This deadline is outlined on page 7 of the 2004-2005 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual. The certification form is located between pages 7 and 8. There are currently no plans to extend that deadline – so please mark your calendars now and have your certification forms in to Department Headquarters on time.
Copies of the 2004-2005 Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual are provided to the Post Adjutant and the Post Commander on an annual basis.
FROM PIERRE
The 80th Session of the South Dakota Legislature is underway in Pierre. Activity has been extremely moderate thus far in the session with very few bills of interest directly to veterans or veterans’ organizations. Those being monitored include:
HB 1008 – An act to revise certain provisions concerning absentee ballots. This bill would add a new section stating that “Any voter identified as being covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff-1) as of January 1, 2005, may submit an application or request for an absentee ballot by facsimile or emailed image to the person in charge of the election. The American Legion supports any laws that make the registration and voting process easier for members of our active duty armed forces. This bill has passed the House Local Government Committee and the full House of Representatives and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate Local Government Committee.
HB 1015 – An act to extend the period of time that members of the SD Retirement system who were mobilized into certain federal military service may acquire credited service at a prior cost. This bill is scheduled for hearings in the House Retirement System Committee on 1/27/05.
HB 1038 – An act to revise certain provisions regarding the responsibility of alcohol licensees that sell alcohol to underage people. This bill makes it appropriate that alcohol licensees making a prohibited sale of an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 has the burden of ensuring that their employees attend an approved training program before gaining any reduction in the penalty imposed for the violation. This bill is awaiting hearings in the House Local Government Committee.
HB 1075 – An act to repeal certain exceptions to the prohibition on smoking in certain public places. Under this bill, no person may smoke tobacco or carry any lighted tobacco product in any public place or place of employment except sleeping rooms in a lodging establishment. This bill has received a Do Pass recommendation from the House Health and Human Services Committee (9-4) and now moves to the full House for debate and vote. This bill is being monitored due to the impact it could have on Legion Posts, specifically those which operate bars or lounges.
HB 1088 – This bill is the General Appropriations Act for FY 2006 and appropriates the funds for the ordinary expenses of the legislative, judicial, and executive departments of the state. This includes the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (Division of Veterans Affairs and the State Veterans Home).
HB 1096 – An act to appropriate money for the design and construction of an armory. This bill calls for $1,100,000 in general funds and $3,300,000 in federal funds (from the federal funds available to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs) for the design and construction of an armory in Mobridge. This bill is awaiting hearings in the House Appropriations Committee.
HCR 1002 – Expressing legislative support for the preservation of the words, under God, in the Pledge of Allegiance. Passed the House 63-5 and passed the Senate 35-0.
SB 41 – An act to revise certain provisions regarding access to vital records. This bill is awaiting hearings in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
SB 91 – An act to provide free admission to state parks and recreation areas for certain military personnel. This bill would grant free admission to state parks and recreation areas for any member of the armed forces of the US and any member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the US, including reserves and National Guard, to obtain free admission to any SD state park or recreation area. This bill is awaiting hearings in the Senate State Affairs Committee.
LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION
The annual South Dakota American Legion Legislative Reception for members of the 80th Session of the South Dakota State Legislature will be held from 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2005 at the Pierre American Legion Post Home. Members of the Legion Family from across South Dakota are encouraged to participate in this annual event.
An official call has been issued for all members of the Department Executive Committee and for the members of the Department Legislative Committee for meetings earlier that day. The members of these two committees will hear presentations by the Department’s Legislative Lobbyists Ron Boyd of Watertown, John Dewell of Pierre and Warren Aas of Milbank.
THANK YOU
A very special “Thank You” to our Legion/Auxiliary Family for the many cards, notes, phone calls, e-mails, flowers, candy and gifts I received when I had my knee surgery. You truly touched my heart with your thoughtfulness and kindness and I will always appreciate each and every one of you... Karen
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2005 membership is 24,229, or 91.50 percent of Dept. goal.
Thanks to all the hard work of the many dedicated membership workers of the Department, we have once again met our Big Twelve Bid and will be the recipient of a $2,000 award from National. Keep going – we can take it over the top this y