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. 2914 January 11, 2006
ENCLOSED FOR COMMANDERS
Enclosed for Post Commanders is a letter and nominating form from State Employment Committee Chairman Donn Grandpre which should be used to nominate a business firm within your community for consideration for the Employer of the Disabled Award. This award is presented annually to a business in South Dakota by The American Legion Department of South Dakota.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Feb. 17, 2006.
ENCLOSED FOR ALL RECIPIENTS
Post by Post membership statistics are included with this Up To Now for all recipients. These statistics are as of Monday, January 9, 2006.
BOYS STATE PACKETS MAILED
Brochures, registration forms and other pertinent information related to the 2006 South Dakota American Legion Boys State was mailed last week to all high schools and Legion Posts in the state. Please be on the lookout for these packets.
Two important items to remember are the April 1 registration deadline and the $130 per boy registration fee. Fees and registration forms for boys selected to attend South Dakota American Legion Boys State must be sent to the Boys State Registrar, Gene Schumacher, 924 N. Main St., Aberdeen, SD 57401.
Journalism City applications are also being distributed by Registrar Gene Schumacher to all schools. Completed Journalism City applications must also be sent to Schumacher at the above-listed address. The deadline for Journalism City is Feb. 2, 2006.
Do Not send the $130 registration fee with the Journalism City applications. If the boy is selected, his registration fee will be collected later.
END OF YEAR MEMBERSHIP AWARDS
82 Posts, 24 less than last year, have qualified for the Continuous Goal Achievement Awards based on the attainment of advanced membership of at least 90% of the next years membership goal by the end of the current year. Congratulations to these 82 Posts for your dedicated and devoted work on membership.
Two Posts, Sinai and Lake Preston, have made advanced membership assignment every year since the award began 58 years ago. A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to those two Posts on this remarkable achievement.
Framed citations are given for each five-year increment of continuous achievement; attachments are given for intermediate years. These awards will be presented during the Spring District Meetings in April.
Three Posts have qualified for Certificates of Meritorious Service for having attained All-Time High Membership for 2006 by the December 31, 2005 Target Date. Those Posts are Dell Rapids Post 65, Ramona Post 216 and Piedmont Post 311. Each Post will receive a Certificate of Meritorious Service from the National Commander during the Spring District Meetings in April. Congratulations to those Posts and their membership teams.
Only one District Commander will be recognized at the MidWinter Conference this month for having enrolled at least 90% of his assigned 2006 membership by December 31, 2005 and having no goose egg Posts. The District Commander is Bob Hausmann of Bonesteel, District 8 Commander, with 91.40%. Congratulations District Commander Hausmann.
MIDWINTER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Printed below is the schedule for the 2006 Midwinter Conference, which will be held Friday-Sunday, January 20-22, 2006 at the Mitchell Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Mitchell.
Friday, Jan 20
10:00 a.m. Administrative Committee - Boardroom
12:00 noon Registration Desk Opens Pre-Function Area
1:00 p.m. Executive Committee Rooms A/B/C
6:00 p.m. Go-Getters Reception Mitchell Legion Post Home
6:30 p.m. Go-Getters Smorgasbord Mitchell Legion Post Home
7:00 p.m. PDC Social and Dinner - Boardroom
Saturday, Jan 21
8:00 a.m. Registration Desk Opens Pre-Function Area
8:30 a.m. Joint Opening Session Rooms G-H-I-J-K
VA&R and Children and Youth
10:30 a.m. SAL - Boardroom
10:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions
Session for Post Historians Room A
Americanism Room B
Session on Resolutions Room C
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Post Service Officers Session Room A
Adjutants Session Rooms B/C
3:00 p.m. Membership Panel Discussion Rooms A/B/C
and Membership Awards
6:00 p.m. Social Hour/No Host Cocktails Room C
7:00 p.m. Joint/Legion/Auxiliary/SAL Banquet Rooms G-H-I-J-K
Sunday, Jan 22
8:30 a.m. Non-denominational religious Service Rooms G-H-I-J-K
MIDWINTER JOINT BANQUET TICKETS
Advanced tickets are still available for the Joint Legion/ Auxiliary/SAL Banquet on Saturday, January 21, 2006 at the MidWinter Banquet. The banquet will be held at 7:00 p.m. in rooms G/H/I/J/K of the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center in Mitchell, SD.
The keynote speaker for the banquet is National Vice Commander Sebastin Seb Roll of the Department of North Dakota.
If you plan to attend, you should get your tickets in advance.
Forms for ordering your advanced tickets have been printed in the last two editions of the South Dakota Legion News. The menu includes, 8 oz. Steak, Baked Potato, Salad, Vegetable, Coffee/Tea and Dessert. The cost of the ticket is $20.00.
Ticket orders can be sent to: The American Legion, Post #18, 121 North Main, Mitchell, SD 57301.
DEPARTMENT ATHLETIC COMMISSION TO MEET
The SD American Legion Athletic Commission will hold its winter meeting on Sunday, January 22 in Mitchell. The meeting will commence at 12:00 noon after the conclusion of the MidWinter Conference.
Posts that have submitted bids for 2007 Department athletic tournaments and events are invited and encouraged to present additional information on their bids at this meeting.
Posts that are hosting the 2006 Department athletic tournaments and events are reminded of the requirement to provide reports on their preparation for those events. Representatives of Posts hosting the 2006 Department athletic tournaments and events are also expected to be present to sign the contracts for those events.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMMENCES
The 81st Session of the South Dakota State Legislature convened Tuesday, January 10 in Pierre.
Department Legislative Lobbyists Ron Boyd of Watertown, John Dewell of Pierre and Warren Aas of Watertown will be monitoring the session for legislation of interest to veterans and veterans organizations.
From Pierre reports will commence with the next edition of the Up To Now.
The 2006 American Legion Legislative Reception will be held at Pierre American Legion Post 8 on February 1, 2006.
VETERANS FORUM SCHEDULE
Veterans Forums are being conducted across South Dakota by The American Legion in conjunction with the VA, Department of Labor and the SD Division of Veterans Affairs. This month forums have already been conducted in Hoven, Winner and Woonsocket. There is one more forum scheduled for January and that will be conducted Thursday, January 12 at the Miller American Legion Post at 7 p.m.
The following is the schedule for the upcoming forums thru the end of January 2006:
* District 5 Thursday, Jan 12 Miller Legion Post at 7 p.m.
There will be additional Veterans Forums held in February in Dist 1, Dist 2, and Dist 7; plus a short forum in Dist 6 at the Wessington Springs Farm and Home Show. The schedule for these forums will be listed in the next Up To Now.
Forums will also be held in March in Dist 3, Dist 4, and Dist 14.
ORATORICAL CONTESTS
The following is the schedule for the completion of the District Oratorical Contests within the Department. Districts 3, 4, 9, 11, and 13 conducted their District Contests on January 8. Those listed below are scheduled for future dates.
District Contests which will be held in accordance with the following schedule:
· Dist 1 Jan 15 at the Beresford American Legion Post at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 2 Jan 15 at the Arlington American Legion Post at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 5 Jan 15 at Wolsey Elementary School at 2 p.m. Storm date- Jan 22.
· Dist 6 Jan 15 at Ethan American Legion Post at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 7 Jan 15 at Wagner American Legion Post at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 8 Jan 15 at Winner American Legion Post at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 10 Jan 15 at Gettysburg High School at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 12 Jan 15 at Spearfish High School at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
· Dist 14 Jan 15 at Hosmer American Legion Post at 2 p.m. Storm date Jan 22.
Area Contests will be held in accordance with the following schedule:
· Area 1 (Districts 1 & 7) Jan 29 at Irene American Legion at 2 p.m. Storm date - Feb 5.
· Area 2 (Districts 2, 5 & 6) Jan 29 at Brookings American Legion at 2 p.m. Storm date Feb 5.
· Area 3 (Districts 3, 4 & 14) Jan 29 at First United Methodist Church, 4 2nd Ave. SE, Watertown at 2 p.m. Storm date Feb 5.
· Area 4 (Districts 8, 9 and 13) Jan 29 at Bennett County High School (South Entrance), 101 1st St., in Martin at 1 p.m. MST. Storm date Feb 5.
· Area 5 (Districts 10, 11 and 12) Jan 29 at Sturgis Veterans Club at 1 p.m. Storm date Feb 5.
HATS IN THE RING
Edgar L. Herrick Post #42 of Arlington has endorsed Dennis Jager of Arlington for the Office of District 2 Commander.
Edgar L. Herrick Post #42 of Arlington has endorsed Terry Hanson of Arlington for the Office of District 2 Vice Commander.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2006 membership stands at 22,315 or 85.77 percent of the Departments 2006 membership goal.
Posts are requested to NOT HOLD MEMBERSHIP for turn-in at the MidWinter Conference but rather to forward all membership in a timely manner to State Headquarters in Watertown. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.