UP TO NOW!

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. 2919                      March 22, 2006

ENCLOSED FOR COMMANDERS

Enclosed for Commanders is a copy of the entry form for the 2006 American Legion Baseball season. If your Post will field a baseball team this year, the yellow-colored entry form must be completed with the name, address and phone number of the Post Athletic Officer.

The completed form, $70 entry fee and certificate of insurance must be sent so that they reach State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201, by May 15, 2006. The fee will be $110 for registrations received May 16-31, 2006, and $160 for registrations received June 1-155, 2006. Teams not registered by June 15, 2006 will be ineligible for post-season tournament competition.

Teams will not be allowed to register until they provide proof that they have insurance, which is mandated by Department and National Rules. As a reminder – your team(s) should not even commence practice until they have obtained the required insurance. All teams sponsored by the Post must be registered.

Once a team is registered, State Headquarters will send a copy of the National and Department Rule Books, plus pertinent information to the person named as the Post Athletic Officer.

ENCLOSED FOR ALL RECIPIENTS

All recipients are receiving a letter from the SD Vietnam War Memorial Fund soliciting donations to support the creation of this memorial to our Vietnam era veterans.

The Vietnam War Memorial Committee has asked the various Veteran Service Organizations in South Dakota to each contribute $25,000 to the Vietnam War Memorial Fund. Several American Legion Post and Auxiliary Units have already made contributions, but the total donations thus far from the Legion Family total approximately $2,500 – one tenth of what we have been asked for. We are asking all Posts to consider making a donation to this worthwhile fund.

LEGION BIRTHDAY MEMBERSHIP AWARDS

Bullhead Post 82 would lead the state convention parade for 2006 in Brookings; b,ut the decision has been made that there will not be a parade. Therefore, State Headquarters will have plaques made for those Posts which would have had positions of honor in the Convention Parade and those plaques will be presented at the State Convention in lieu of the normal parade banners and placards that have been awarded in previous years.

Bullhead qualified for the honor by having the highest percentage of its 2006 membership goal by March 8. The Bullhead Post had 24 members or 133.33% of its assigned 18 membership goal. The figure topped the 15-74 goal-size group, as well as the entire Department.

Other Posts, tops in their respective goal-size groups, will also receive plaques. These Posts are:

Corsica Post 274, 75-124 goal-size group, 110.71% of goal.

Arlington Post 42, 125-199 goal-size group, 103.65% of goal.

Garretson Post 23, 200-299 goal-size group, 102.38% of goal.

Winner Post 169, 300 and larger goal-size group, 100% of goal.

District 8, commanded by Robert Hausmann of Bonesteel, will have the best convention hall seating arrangements during the 2006 State American Legion Convention in Brookings. District 8 had signed 96.92% of its 2006 membership goal by the March 8, Legion Birthday, membership target date. The closest competition for District 8, which wins the front seats for the second year in a row, was District 12 with 96.84% of goal.

The remainder of the convention hall seating will be Districts 12, 7, 2, 14, 13, 11, 1, 3, 10, 6, 4, 5, and 9.

Eighty-five (85) of the Department’s 253 Posts have received a Go-Getter’s Medallion because of their membership by the Legion’s Birthday. To qualify, each Post had to be at or beyond 95% of their assigned 2006 membership goal by the March 8 target date. This total is 25 less than one year ago.

Vice Commander Bob Bender, whose Area includes Districts 1 and 7, will receive an award at the State Convention in Brookings for being the Area Vice Commander whose Area had the highest percentage of 2006 membership by the Legion Birthday Target Date.

One membership award that has gone unclaimed again this year is: The District Membership Award of $250 cash to the District in each of two goal-size categories that had enrolled the highest percentage over that District’s goal. Since no District was over 100% – there was no winner.

EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR

Congratulations to Christopher P. Weisser of Wagner, SD. Christopher has been selected as The American Legion Department of South Dakota Eagle Scout of the Year for 2006. Weisser, a junior at Wagner Community High School, has been involved in scouting for 10 years. He plays football and basketball, participates in Track and Field and is an A Honor Roll student. He is a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Wagner, involved in Lutheran Youth Fellowship and serves as an usher.

Weisser’s Eagle Scout project was the construction and placement of a sign for Chapman Park at Wagner Lake.

Weisser and his parents will be invited to attend the State Convention in Brookings in June of this year where he will be recognized and receive an award for his selection as Eagle Scout of the Year.

Weisser’s nomination now goes to National Headquarters for higher competition and he could ultimately receive up to $10,000 in scholarship funds from The American Legion.

HATS IN THE RING

Meade American Legion Post 33 of Sturgis has endorsed Bob Kusser of Sturgis for the office of Area Vice Commander for the Area comprised of Districts 10, 11 and 12.

Roy S. Hickman American Legion Post 78 of Leola has endorsed David Yost of Leola for the office of District Vice Commander for District 14.

BOYS STATE DEADLINE RAPIDLY APPROACHING

April 1 is the deadline for all fees and registrations for delegates to the 2006 session of The South Dakota American Legion Boys State to be in the hands of the Registrar, Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen.

The fees and registration forms should be sent to Schumacher at 924 N. Main St., Aberdeen, SD 57401. The registration fee of $130 is required with the registration of each boy this year.

Boys selected for Journalism City at the 2006 Boys State session do not count against the regular quota system, which is base upon enrollment figures sent in January with information and registration forms to all schools and directly to those American Legion Posts which are located in a community that does not have a local high school.

RESOLUTION DEADLINES

Deadlines are also approaching for resolutions that are to be considered during the 2006 State American Legion Convention in Brookings, June 15-18.

Resolutions proposing amendments to the South Dakota American Legion Constitution and By-Laws must reach State Headquarters at least six (6) weeks prior to the convention. To meet this deadline, those resolutions must reach Watertown by Friday, May 5, 2006. This will allow adequate time for the Department Standing Committee on Constitution and By-Laws to consider any proposed changes and transmit that committee’s recommendations to the local Posts via State Headquarters.

The Constitution and By-Laws Committee will be scheduled to meet at State Headquarters during the week of May 15-19 to consider any resolutions that are submitted.

General resolutions should be submitted to State Headquarters by Monday, June 12, 2006. All general resolutions will be reviewed by the Convention Resolutions Committee, which will then assign the resolutions to the appropriate convention committee. The Convention Resolutions Committee will meet during the morning of Friday, June 16, 2006, during the convention in Brookings.

All resolutions must be typewritten, double-spaced and two copies must be submitted to State Headquarters. Post officials must certify that each resolution was adopted during a regular Post meeting, with the date of the meeting in the resolved clause of the resolution, and the resolution must be signed by the Post Commander and attested to by the Post Adjutant.

INVITATION TO HOST STATE CONVENTION

Invitations are being accepted from Posts wishing to host the 2009, 2010 and 2011 South Dakota American Legion State Conventions.

The offers must be submitted in writing by the prospective host Post, signed by the Post Commander and attested to by the Post Adjutant. Invitations must reach State Headquarters in Watertown by Monday, June 12, 2006.

Invitations should consider all available facilities and accommodations. The Convention Next Meeting Place Committee will consider the invitations when it meets during the State Convention in Brookings on Friday, June 16, 2006.

Invitations should be submitted to the State Adjutant, American Legion State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201.

VETERANS FORUM UPDATE

Department Service Officer Warren Aas reports that thus far the Department has conducted 14 of the 15 scheduled Veterans Forum Outreach Briefings. The final forum will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2006 in Belle Fourche.

DSO Aas reports that the support from the local District Commanders and local American Legion Post officers has been superb and wishes to extend a sincere Thank You to all the Legion Family members who have been involved in making this year’s program a success. Without the local support of the Legion Family members this program would not work.

DSO Aas reports that during the course of the past several months as the Department conducted these professional informational briefings on VA benefits that the traveling team has provided the briefing to 570 veterans and their families. During the past two years the Department has conducted a total of 30 Veterans Forums and has provided this valuable information to 1,290 veterans and their families.

SPRING DISTRICT CONVENTIONS START MARCH 29

Spring District Conventions are scheduled to commence on Wednesday, March 29 when Legionnaires from District 8 assemble in Reliance. The first segment of the District Convention tour will continue through Monday, April 3. Other District Conventions scheduled during the first segment include: District 9 in Philip on Thursday, March 30; District 10 in Pierre on Friday, March 31; District 12 in Piedmont on Saturday, April 1; District 13 in Wall on Sunday, April 2; and District 11 in Lemmon on Monday, April 3. For a detailed schedule, please refer to the March edition of the SD Legion News or the March 8, 2006 edition of the Up To Now.

Legionnaires are reminded that this year there will be elections for District Commanders and District Vice Commanders for two-year terms in all even-numbered Districts. County Commanders and County Vice Commanders will be elected for one-year terms in all Districts.

Attendees at the Spring District Conventions will hear reports of new and unusual activities from the Post Commanders of all Posts in the District. Additionally, there will be reports from the District Chairmen in each District on Americanism, Children and Youth, Membership, VA&R, and the Department’s Educational Loan Program.

The selection of the District Legionnaire of the Year will be announced at each District Convention. Those selected as District Legionnaires of the Year will continue on to the next level of competition in their quest to be selected as the Department Legionnaire of the Year at the 2006 Department Convention in Brookings in June 2006.

CERTIFICATION OF 2007 POST OFFICERS

Post Adjutants are reminded that they have a responsibility to certify the Post’s 2007 officers to Department Headquarters in Watertown. This certification process is one of the last official duties of the outgoing Post Adjutant. The form for certifying your 2007 Post Officers can be found in the 2005-2006 South Dakota American Legion Adjutant’s Administrative and Awards Manual. Immediately after page 11 in that manual there is a white-colored page that explains the certification process and the next page is the green-colored Post Officer Certification Form.

Newly elected Post Officers WILL NOT be placed on mailing lists at State or National Headquarters, nor will they be recognized as Post Officers by either headquarters until they have been certified. Additionally, Posts WILL NOT receive their 2007 membership cards until this certification process is completed.

Complete information requested on the Officer Certification form is required. All blanks must be filled in. We cannot certify Post Officers without their dates of service (enlistment and discharge dates). We must have complete mailing addresses, phone numbers, Legion ID #,  and would certainly appreciate having the officer’s email address if one is available. All Post Officers who are being certified must be members in good standing – this means they must have already paid their 2006 membership dues. If any of this information is missing, including the payment of the 2006 membership dues, your officers WILL NOT be certified.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

2006 membership stands at 24,143 or 92.81% of goal.

The Department’s membership on this date last year was 24,971. That equates to a decrease of 828 members. This Department cannot continue to lose members at this rate. We must stop the exodus of our members – we must reverse this trend.

The key to a successful completion of the membership campaign this year and stopping the exodus is RENEWALS. Renewals are where our increased efforts are needed. Commander Phil Anderson is asking every Post to break out the 2006 membership roster and have your membership team make personal (face-to-face or telephone) contact with every member on your Post roster who has not yet paid their 2006 membership dues. Explain to them why their membership is important to The American Legion. Ask them why they have not yet renewed their membership in this great organization? Many of these non-renewals have been dedicated members of our organization for years. We need to know why they are not renewing their membership now. And most importantly, ask the member if you can collect their membership dues today?