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. 2905 September 7, 2005
ENCLOSED
Enclosed for all recipients is a copy of the 2006 Post-by-Post Membership Statistics reflecting membership received by State Headquarters as of Tuesday, September 6, 2005.
FALL DISTRICT MEETINGS COMMENCE
The 2005 Fall District Conference schedule commences Thursday, September 8 when Legionnaires from District 9 meet in Rosebud. Following is the schedule for the meetings. One District still has not reported their selected site and time schedule to State Headquarters.
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 – Arlington Legion Post Home. Social 6-7 p.m. Meetings at 7:00 p.m. Legion meets at Legion Post Home, Auxiliary meets at the Bunker Room across the street from the Post Home. Refreshments will be served after the meetings.
Dist 3 – Mon, Sept 26 – Estelline American Legion Post Home. Social 7-8 p.m. Meetings at 8 p.m. – Legion at the Legion Post Home, Auxiliary at the Senior Citizens Center. The Auxiliary will serve a lunch after the meetings.
Dist 4 – Tues, Sept 27 – Webster American Legion Post Home. Social 5-6 p.m. Banquet at 6 p.m. Meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Legion will meet in the Post Home, Auxiliary will meet at the Day County Art Center, across the street from the Legion Post Home.
Dist 5 – Sun, Sept 18 – Faulkton American Legion Post Home. Social 6-7 p.m. Meetings for Legion and Auxiliary both at the Legion Post Home at 7 p.m.
Dist 6 – Thur, Sept 15 – Specific details not available at press time.
Dist 7 – Fri, Sept 23 – Gayville Community Center (Washington St. downtown next to bank). Social 6-7 p.m. Meetings at 7 p.m. Legion to meet at Community Center, Auxiliary to meet at the Gayville Lutheran Church (1/2 block from the Community Center). Refreshments will be served after the meetings.
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. Meetings at 7:00 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 – Bowdle American Legion Post Home. Social 6:30-8 p.m. Meetings will be at 8 p.m. – both Legion and Auxiliary will meet in the Post Home.
COMMANDER ANDERSON ANNOUNCES MIDWINTER
State Commander Phil Anderson of Piedmont has announced that the 2006 Midwinter Conference will be held January 20-22, 2006 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Mitchell, SD.
The Holiday Inn Convention Center is located at 1525 W. Havens in Mitchell. The facility can be easily reached by taking Exit 330 off of Interstate 90. The room rate for the event is $64.95 for a standard double or king room and $79.95 for a poolside room. Individuals are responsible for making their own reservations and no one will be allowed to reserve more than 2 rooms.
Reservations can be made by contacting the Holiday Inn at 605-996-6501 or 1-800-888-4702 and ask for the group rate for the American Legion Midwinter Conference. The deadline for reservations at the discounted rate is January 4, 2006.
Commander Anderson has announced that the conference will return to the format with individual breakout sessions. The Go-Getter functions will be held on Friday evening and the Joint Banquet will be held on Saturday evening.
Information on ticket sales for the Joint Banquet will be forthcoming in a later edition of the Up To Now and in the next edition of the South Dakota Legion News.
Mark your calendars now so that you don’t miss this important Legion Family event.
2006 MEMBERSHIP AWARDS
District 12 Commander Bob Kusser of Sturgis will be the recipient of the District Commander’s Membership Award for the State Commander’s Homecoming Target Date. Commander Kusser had the highest percentage of 2006 assigned membership goal sent in to State Headquarters by the target date. Commander Kusser had 64.81% of the District’s membership by the target date. District 7 Commander Gary Coleman comes in second place with 59.06% of goal.
Post Awards will be presented to eight Posts for their membership efforts this far. The Commanders Homecoming Target Date Award for Posts was revamped this year to reflect varying percentage requirements based on the Post Goal-Size-Groups. The new requirements as reported in the Post Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual are as follows: 15-74 Goal-Size – 100%, 75-124 Goal-Size – 90%, 125-199 Goal-Size – 80%, 200-299 Goal-Size – 70%, 300 and Larger – 60%.
The winners are :
· In the 15-74 Goal-Size Group – Badger Post 260, Carpenter Post 153, Witten Post 167 and Claremont Post 262.
· In the 75-124 Goal-Size Group – no Posts qualified.
· In the 125-199 Goal-Size Group – Arlington Post 42 and Piedmont Post 311.
· In the 200-299 Goal-Size Group – Gary Post 109 and Sturgis Post 33.
· No Posts qualified in the 300 and larger Goal-Size Group.
COMMANDER MAKES APPOINTMENTS
State Commander Phil Anderson has announced the following appointments:
· Roger Klos of Sioux Falls to a three-year appointment as the District 1-7 representative to the Department Americanism Commission.
· Ron Kazmierczak of Rapid City (member of the Hill City American Legion Post) to a three-year appointment as the District 8-9-13 representative to the Department Americanism Commission.
· Darwin Wahlert of Sioux Falls as the Sioux Falls VA Hospital Representative.
· Leroy Fogle of Box Elder to a five-year appointment on the National Cemetery Committee.
· Jim Huls of Salem to a four-year term on the Department Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
· Don List to a one-year term as National Security Chairman.
· Verle Whipple of Martin to a one-year term as Sons of The American Legion Advisor.
Correction – In a previous Up To Now it was reported that Dan Walsh of Piedmont had been appointed to a one-year appointment as Aeronautics Chairman. This should have been Dave Walsh of Rapid City (member of the Piedmont American Legion Post).
NATIONAL DISASTER/NEF
Members of the nation’s largest veterans organization impacted by Hurricane Katrina can now apply directly to national headquarters for immediate relief cash grants from The American Legion’s National Emergency Fund (NEF).
Legionnaires can apply to receive up to $1500 to cover costs of food, shelter and clothing needed as the result of devastation created by the nation’s largest natural disaster that affected several Gulf Coast states.
A cash grant will be immediately placed in the members credit card account upon approval to cover costs created by displacement from the storm. If the individual does not have a credit card, funds can be transferred direct to a hotel/motel to cover the cost of lodging.
“We want all Legionnaires to know that help is just a toll free call away,” said National Commander Thomas L. Bock. “Our goal is rapid processing of each application to get money into the hands of our members and their families within a matter of hours.”
Legionnaires can call toll-free 1-800-433-3318 to apply by phone. Another option for those with computer access is secure online application at www.legion.org <http://www.legion.org>.
The American Legion National Emergency Fund was established in 1969 in the wake of Hurricane Camille. Established by Legionnaires to provide relief to Legionnaires impacted by natural disasters, the fund has provided assistance to thousands of members.
“Given the massive scale of this disaster, I ask that all Legionnaires who have not been affected by Katrina consider donating now to the NEF,” Bock said. “Our thoughts
and prayers go out to all Americans suffering in the aftermath of this devastating hurricane. It is imperative that we contribute whatever we can to help them through this very difficult time.”
Donations can be made to The American Legion National Emergency Fund through Department Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201.
Department Headquarters has been contacted by The American Legion Post at Conde and were informed that the Conde Post had authorized a donation of $1,000 to the NEF. The Conde Post challenges other Posts in South Dakota to match their generous donation.
Department Commander Anderson encourages all Posts to donate whatever they feel their Post can afford to this charitable cause for our Legion Family members who are truly in need as a result of this natural disaster. Another option is for a Post to obligate a certain amount per member from their individual Post.
HOMECOMING FOR NW DIVISION VICE PRESIDENT
Kathryn Young was elected as NW Division National Vice President of The American Legion Auxiliary at the 2005 National Convention. The Herrick American Legion Family is inviting all Legion Family members to join in the celebration on Saturday, October 29 in Burke, SD for the Homecoming Reception for Kathryn Young. Festivities will start at 1:00 p.m. at the Burke Civic Center on Main St.
MEMBERSHIP
See enclosed Post-by-Post membership statistics.