UP TO NOW!

FALL CONFERENCES ARE COMPLETE

State Commander Phil Anderson of Piedmont, State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown and State Membership Chairman Mark Weinmann of Canton (member of the Hudson American Legion Post) completed the final six 2005 Fall District Conferences when they met with Legionnaires from District 4 in Webster on Tuesday, September 27.

The final Six District Conferences were all held subsequent to the last issue of the Up To Now. Those conferences were District 8 in Bonesteel on Thursday, September 22; District 7 in Gayville on Friday, September 23; District 1 in Dell Rapids on Saturday, September 24; District 2 in Arlington on Sunday, September 25; District 3 in Estelline on Monday, September 26; and District 4 in Webster on Tuesday, September 27.

Commander Anderson and the traveling team have now presented the “It's A Family Affair” and “Dakota Dream Post” programs to all Districts within the Department. Posts are encouraged to heed the Commander's advice and start planning and working early in their attempts to attain the status of “Dakota Dream Post”. Commander Anderson stressed that if you procrastinate on this endeavor - you probably will miss one of the deadlines in your quest to be one of the elite Posts that will capture this designation during this year.

POST LEADERS RECOGNIZED FOR MEMBERSHIP

During the Fall District Conferences, State Commander Phil Anderson is presenting 100% Post Commander, Post Adjutant and Post Membership Chairman cap pins to those Commanders, Adjutants and Membership Chairpersons who lead their Posts to attainment of 100% membership during the 2005 American Legion Membership Year. Cap pins were also presented to those County Commanders who attained 100% of 2005 membership within their respective counties. 

Cap pins were presented to the following additional Post leaders during this most recently completed portion of the Fall District Conferences:

District 8: Bonesteel Post 36, Burke Post 28, Dallas Post 91, Gregory Post 6, Kennebec-Reliance Post 179, Winner Post 169 and Witten Post 167.

District 7: Geddes Post 56, Pickstown Post 282, Wagner Post 11, Alsen Post 44, Irene Post 193, Wakonda Post 13, Corsica Post 274, Tripp Post 142, Gayville Post 237 and Yankton Post 12.

District 1: Lennox Post 174, Tea Post 266, Brandon Post 318, Dell Rapids Post 65, Garretson Post 23, Humboldt Post 62, Sioux Falls Post 15, Chancellor Post 283, Marion Post 235, Viborg Post 117, Alcester Post 86 and North Sioux City Post 319.

District 2: Sinai Post 133, Volga Post 114, Badger Post 260, Erwin Post 241, Iroquois Post 280, Lake Preston Post 63, Chester Post 136, Ramona Post 216, Wentworth Post 161, Howard Post 145 and Colman Post 278.

District 3: Carpenter Post 153, Willow Lake Post 113, Clear Lake Post 49, Bryant Post 37 and Hayti Post 217.

District 4: Greenville Post 267, Waubay Post 129, Webster Post 40, Britton Post 80, New Effington Post 180, Old Agency Post 314, Sisseton Post 50, Wilmot Post 64 and the Roberts County Commander.

BOYS STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MEET

The annual meeting of the South Dakota American Legion Boys State Corporation and Board of Directors will be held in Rapid City on Friday, October 7. The meeting will be held in downtown Rapid City at the Higher Education Center West River offices of Brad Henrich (Boys State Dean of Counselors).

The building which houses the offices of the Higher Education Center West River was the old Children's Science Museum, and was also formerly known as the Native American Museum. It is an old stone building on the block between Main and St. Joe streets.

LEGIONNAIRES LEAVE FOR INDIANAPOLIS

State Commander Phil Anderson of Piedmont, State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown, NEC Paul Evenson of Sioux Falls (member of the Garretson American Legion Post), PDC Glenn Green of Pierre (member of the Lake Preston American Legion Post), PDC Don Mason of Platte, and PDC Ron Tolrud of White will be departing late this week for National Headquarters of The American Legion in Indianapolis, IN.

Commander Anderson and Adjutant Boyd will be attending the Annual Commanders' and Adjutants' Conference. NEC Evenson will be attending the Fall Meeting of the National Executive Committee as well as meetings of the Child Welfare Foundation. Evenson also serves as Vice Chairman of the NEC's Subcommittee on Committees and as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission Liaison Committee. PDC Green will participate in the meeting of the National Convention Commission; PDC Mason will participate in the meeting of the National Security Commission; PDC Tolrud will participate as the Region 6 representative to the National Commission on Children and Youth.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND

In August 1969 the National Executive Committee established the National Emergency Fund. The decision to approve the establishing resolution was brought about in the wake of Hurricane Camille, which came ashore in the southeastern costal area, causing damage estimated in the billions of dollars. After a lengthy period of time lapsed without any significant disasters, the NEC dissolved the National Emergency Fund. And then in October 1989, the NEC reestablished the NEF to meet the most urgent needs of its members stricken by declared natural disasters.

Eligibility requirements are very simple. Any current year paid member of The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion is eligible. However, the member (applicant) must be a member in good standing with their Post, Unit, or Squadron and must have been a member prior to the date of the disaster. Only one grant per household will be considered.

The National Emergency Fund was designed as a temporary means to get Posts, Legion family members and their families back on their feet. It was not designed to replace insurance or provide support for an extended period of time. The NEF does not cover damages to businesses, outbuildings or automobiles. It is only meant to assist our members in their loss, or are displaced from their homes due to a declared natural disaster.

Additionally, Legion Posts are eligible to receive grants from this fund, providing they meet the established criteria.

Legion family members and Legion Posts affected by disasters can receive NEF grants within hours by filling out grant applications which are available from Department Headquarters. Grants can be up to $1,500 for individuals and $5,000 for Posts.

Since October 1989, the NEF has provided over $3,000,000 in direct financial assistance to Legion family members and Posts. The words “…devotion to mutual helpfulness” in the Preamble to The American Legion Constitution are more than just mere words on paper; it is our pledge of support to our distressed comrades. We have an obligation to assist those less fortunate members when need arises, and we can and do - through our donations to the National Emergency Fund.

The following contributions/donations to The American Legion's National Emergency Fund have been received by Department Headquarters and forwarded on to National Headquarters since the last edition of the Up To Now. These generous contributions were made in response to the special call for donations to the fund to assist our fellow Legionnaires who have suffered losses due to the devastation from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

$1000 from Brethorst-Burma American Legion Post 174 of Lennox

$200 from Ft. Randall-Castle American Legion Post 282 of Pickstown

$500 from Brattvet-Green American Legion Post 66 of Lemmon

$100 from Otterman American Legion Post 94 of White River

$150 from Campbell-Timmerman American Legion Post 115 of Platte

$100 from Urban-Hanson American Legion Post 118 of Hartford

POSSIBLE SCAM AGAINST VETERANS

A VA Medical Center has reported that the wife of a veteran recently received a call from a company telling her that her husband's prescriptions were now being dispensed through their company and if she wanted to continue to receive the medications that they needed her credit card number. She wisely called the VA pharmacy who confirmed that the VA had not changed their procedures or transferred the responsibility for filling her husband's medications.

Please give widest possible dissemination of this information - Under no circumstances should you give your credit card number over the phone to someone who calls you unless you are absolutely certain who the caller is. Always check with a reliable source prior to taking this type of action.

VETERANS DAY TARGET DATE

Time is running short to qualify to be eligible for one of the service swords that will be given away on the Veterans Day Membership Target Date of November 16^th. To qualify for these awards you must have done one of the following:

Paid your own dues for 2006

Recruited a new or reinstated member for 2006

“Every Legionnaire who has paid his/her 2006 dues and those dues are in the hands of the Department Adjutant by November 16^th” and “Every Legionnaire who has recruited a new member for 2006 or reinstated an old member who was not a member in 2005” will be entered into the two separate drawings for a service sword.

Make sure that your Post transmits your membership or the membership of your new member(s) along with your name as the recruiter early enough that it will be in the hands of the Department Adjutant no later than November 16^th. If the memberships have not been received by State Headquarters by that date - your name will not be in the barrel for the drawings.

ENCLOSED FOR ALL COMMANDERS

Enclosed for all Post Commanders with this edition of the Up To Now is a letter from Donn Grandpre, State Employment Committee Chairman, which explains the Employer of the Year for Hiring Veterans program and a nomination form.

There are three award levels for this award:

1) Small - 50 or fewer employees

2) Medium - 51-200 employees

3) Large - over 200 employees

The deadline for submitting nominations is Nov. 4, 2005.

Take time to look around your community and help The American Legion provide this valuable recognition to an employer in your community who is providing jobs for our fellow veterans.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

2006 membership stands at 15,758 or 60.58 percent of the Department's 2006 membership goal.