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. 2904 August 24, 2005
LEGION WORLD SERIES
The 2005 American Legion World Series Baseball Tournament is being hosted by Rapid City Post 22 in Rapid City, SD. Rapid City Post 22 is South Dakota’s entry in the series.
Rapid City Post 22 lost their first game to Branford, CT, 14-2 and suffered their second loss in their second game with Las Vegas, NV, 14-2 thereby being eliminated from the double-elimination tournament.
NATIONAL CONVENTION UPDATE
It took a while, but all of South Dakota’s Delegates to the 87th Annual National Convention finally arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii. Because of the impending strike by the mechanics for Northwest Airlines, some of the Delegates experienced a less that expeditious flight to the island paradise.
NEC Paul Evenson of Sioux Falls, PDC Gerald Goetzinger of Martin, Paul Jensen of Wakonda, and Greg Hall of Pierre were all on a flight out of Minneapolis which was cancelled. After an overnight in the Twin Cities, they all managed to get booked on later flights to Honolulu the following day. By late evening on Saturday, August 20, all of the Delegates had arrived in the convention city.
Convention activities commenced on Saturday with the meetings of most Standing Committees and Commissions. Sunday, Convention Delegates attended the scheduled meetings of the individual Convention Committees to which they had been assigned. The assignments were as follows:
Americanism – Darwin Wahlert of Sioux Falls, Children and Youth – Betty “Sam” Vaughn of Brookings, Constitutional Amendments – Merle Stone of Wagner, Credentials & Internal Affairs – Credentials & Other Internal Matters – Richard Sievert of Sioux Falls, Credentials & Internal Affairs – Membership – Gerald Goetzinger, Economics – Employment and Veterans Preference – Vern Sip of Wagner, Economics – Other Economic Matters – Genes Schumacher of Aberdeen, Finance – Ron Tolrud of White, Foreign Relations – Gunner Baatrup, Legislation and Rules – Robert Miller of Kimball, Security – Aerospace – Hoot Gibson of Sioux Falls, Security – Homeland Security and Civil Preparedness – Warren “Buck” Sealey of Colome, Security – Law and Order – John Dewell of Pierre, Security – Merchant Marine – Bill Dolan of Beresford, Security – Military – Nancy Hannah of Pierre, Security + Naval – Verle Whipple, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation – Claims and Ratings – Warren Aas of Watertown, and Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation – Hospitals and Medical Services – Larry Lindhorst of Cresbard.
Sunday afternoon, the delegates assembled and participated in the 87th Annual National Convention Parade down Kalakaua Avenue on Waikiki. Due to the large number of tourists in Honolulu, many of the delegates commented that this was the largest crowd that they had seen watching a convention parade in many, many years. The following morning, the South Dakota Delegation was on KHNL TV in Honolulu during their coverage of the convention parade.
The South Dakota Caucus was held on Monday morning, August 22 in the Hilton Hawaiian Village convention hotel. Immediate Past Department Commander Gene Schumacher, who serves as the Delegation Chairman, was in charge of the caucus. In addition to hearing reports from all members of the Delegation who had attended Convention Committee Meetings, the delegates were visited by representatives from Colorado who spoke on behalf of National Commander Candidate Tom Bock of Colorado who is the leading candidate for National Commander for 2005-2006. Past National Commander Jake Comer of the Department of Massachusetts and a small delegation from that department also made an appearance to campaign on behalf of Paul Morin of Massachusetts who is the leading candidate for National Commander for 2006-2007.
Monday, August 22, at noon, 17 members of the South Dakota Delegation were the guests of the Legionnaires Insurance Trust at a very nice luncheon. Past Department Commander Gene Schumacher, who serves as the Department’s Trustee, led the delegation at the luncheon.
Tuesday morning, August 23, found the Delegation attending the opening ceremonies of the 87th Annual National Convention of The American Legion at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
Wednesday morning, August 24, 13 members of the South Dakota Delegation attended the Central States Caucus breakfast meeting. Other members of the Central States Caucus include Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Thursday, August 25, will be the final session of the general assembly of the National Convention. At noon on that day the delegates will elect a new National Commander and five National Vice Commanders. Tom Bock of Colorado, the leading candidate is expected to be elected as the new commander. Bock has served as Department Commander of Colorado, Alt. NEC, NEC. On the national level he has served on the NEC Subcommittee on Resolutions and was the NEC Liaison to the VA&R, Internal Affairs and Foreign Relations Commission. He was a member of the “21st Century Committee” and served two years as the National Commander’s Representative to the Membership and Post Activities Committee. He served as the chairman of the National Foreign Relations Commission for 2002-2003.
Thursday afternoon and evening members of the South Dakota Delegation will be packing their bags and hoping for no-hassle air travel back to South Dakota.
COMMANDER ANDERSON’S HOMECOMING
The Homecoming celebration for South Dakota American Legion Department Commander Phil Anderson will be held this Saturday, August 27 in Piedmont.
The day’s festivities will start with breakfast at the Piedmont Valley Post Home at 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. There will be a parade at 11:00 a.m. and lunch will be served from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. in the Post Home.
The Homecoming Program will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Piedmont School Gymnasium. Major General Mike Gorman is the keynote speaker.
Guests will then gather at the Piedmont Valley American Legion Post Home for another meal after the program, until 5:00 p.m.
The Homecoming event is open to the public and all American Legion Family members are encouraged to attend. Commander Anderson’s theme for his year in office is “It’s A Family Affair”. Come out and help us show him that The American Legion Family supports him.
FALL DISTRICT CONFERENCES
Fall District Conferences are just around the corner – shortly after the leadership of the Department returns from the 87th Annual National Convention of The American Legion, they will commence their travels across the state to attend the Fall District Conferences in the 14 Districts of the Department.
The schedule thus far is as follows:
Dist 1 – Sat, Sept 24 – Dell Rapids Legion Post Home. Social 6-7 p.m. Meetings at 7:00 p.m. Legion meets at Legion Post Home, Auxiliary meets at Methodist Church. Lunch will be served after the meetings.
Dist 2 – Sun, Sept 25
Dist 3 – Mon, Sept 26
Dist 4 – Tues, Sept 27
Dist 5 – Sun, Sept 18
Dist 6 – Thur, Sept 15
Dist 7 – Fri, Sept 23
Dist 8 – Thur, Sept 22 – Bonesteel Legion Post Home. Social 7-8 p.m. Meetings at 8:00 p.m. Legion meets at the Legion Post Home, Auxiliary meets at the Community Center Hall.
Dist 9 – Thur, Sept 8 – Todd County Elementary School in Rosebud. Social at 6:00 p.m. Meetings at 7:00 p.m. CST. Legion and Auxiliary both hold meetings at the school.
Dist 10 – Fri, Sept 16 – Highmore City Hall. Social 6-7 p.m. Meetings at 7:00 p.m. Legion and Auxiliary both meet at City Hall. Lunch served after the meetings.
Dist 11 – Fri, Sept 9 – Lemmon American Legion Post Home. 5 p.m. social, Supper served at 5:45 p.m. Legion to meet at the American Legion Post Home. Auxiliary meeting place to be announced.
Dist 12 – Sun, Sept 11 - Spearfish Senior Citizens Center, 1306 N. 10th St.. Center will open at 1:00 p.m. Meetings for both Legion and Auxiliary at the center at 2:00 p.m.
Dist 13 – Sat, Sept 10 – Rapid City American Legion Post 22 Home, 818 E. St. Patrick St. Meetings for both Legion and Auxiliary at the Post Home at 2:00 p.m.
Dist 14 – Sat, Sept 17.
Additional information on Fall District Conferences will be released as soon as it is available.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2006 membership stands at 12,270 or 47.16 percent of goal. The Commanders Homecoming will be the first Membership Target Date for the Department for the purpose of membership awards. Awards include:
District Commander’s Award - An appropriate award will be presented to the District Commander whose District has the highest percentage of 2006 assigned membership goal enrolled by State Commander Anderson's Homecoming, Saturday, August 27, or mailed to State Headquarters, to arrive no later than the Monday following the homecoming - August 29, 2005.
Post Awards - A special award will be presented to all Posts that have met the requirements for a percent of the assigned 2006 membership for their respective goal-size to State Headquarters by State Commander Anderson's Homecoming. Cards must be submitted at the Homecoming program (August 27, 2005) or transmitted to arrive in State Headquarters by Monday, August 29, 2005.
15-74 Goal-Size Posts – 100%
75-124 Goal-Size Posts – 90%
125-199 Goal-Size Posts – 80%
200-299 Goal-Size Posts – 70%
300 and larger Goal-Size Posts – 60%