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. 2922 May 3, 2006
VISIT OF THE NATIONAL COMMANDER
Thomas Bock of the Department of Colorado, National Commander of The American Legion, will be visiting the Department of South Dakota in June. Commander Bock will arrive in Aberdeen during the evening hours of Wednesday, May 31 and will visit SD Boys State on the campus of Northern State University on Thursday, June 1. On Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3, Department Commander Phil Anderson of Piedmont will accompany National Commander Bock as they visit various American Legion facilities in Northeastern South Dakota. The schedule will be announced as soon as possible.
ENCLOSED FOR ADJUTANTS
Enclosed with this Up To Now for all Adjutants are forms for listing the Department Convention Delegates and Alternates. The colored forms, signed by the officers of the Post, are to be mailed to reach State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201 by June 14, or turned in to the State Headquarters Desk at Brookings.
Also enclosed is a copy of the Uniform Code of Procedures for the Organization of Department Conventions in The American Legion Department of South Dakota. Additional copies of this document will be available at the Department Headquarters Desk at the Department Convention in Brookings.
ENCLOSED FOR ALL RECIPIENTS
Enclosed for all recipients of this Up To Now is a copy of the Official Call for the 88th Annual Convention of The American Legion Department of South Dakota.
Also enclosed for all recipients of this Up To Now is a sheet with two forms for ordering advance tickets for the Joint Legion, Auxiliary, SAL Banquet at the 88th Annual Department Convention in Brookings on Friday, June 16, 2006. Reproduce this form as necessary for the use of the Post membership. The deadline for ordering advance tickets is June 5, 2006. Tickets are $20.00 each and all tickets will be held for the purchaser at the registration desk at the Department Convention.
DISTRICT AND COUNTY ELECTIONS
The following individual Legionnaires were elected as District Commanders and District Vice Commanders at Spring District Conventions conducted since the last edition of the Up To Now:
Dennis Jager of Arlington and Charemon Dunham of Iroquois were elected to two-year terms as District 2 Commander and District 2 Vice Commander, resepectively, on Wednesday, April 19 at the District 2 Spring Convention in Iroquois.
Robert Miller of Kimball was re-elected to an additional two–year term as the District 6 Commander and Alan Stekl of Letcher was elected to a two-year term as the District 6 Vice Commander at the District 6 Spring Convention in Mitchell on Wednesday, April 26.
Elected as County Commanders and County Vice Commanders are the following individuals:
April 19 (District 2 at Iroquois) – County Commanders - Roger Telkamp of Bruce, Brookings County; and Bill Scholl of Madison, Lake County. County Vice Commanders - Gary Watts of White, Brookings County and Frances Bahr of Madison, Lake County. Kingsbury, Miner and Moody counties will elect their new officers at separate meeting and those will be reported later.
April 20 (District 3 at Clark) – County Commanders - Mike McGillivray of Clark, Clark County; Jerry Blais of Watertown, Codington County; Harlan Berndt of Canby, MN (member of the Gary Legion Post), Deuel County; and Dean Steever of Bryant, Hamlin County. County Vice Commanders - Roger Hurlbert of Clark, Clark County; Byron Snyder of Watertown, Codington County; Bob Quail of Toronto, Deuel County; and Roger Turbak of Castlewood, Hamlin County.
April 24 (District 1 at Sioux Falls) – County Commanders - Richard Loe of Canton (member of the Hudson American Legion Post), Lincoln County; Morris Kranz of Sioux Falls (member of the Baltic American Legion Post), Minnehaha County; Dean Austin of Centerville, Turner County; and William Merrill of North Sioux City, Union County. County Vice Commanders - Richard Ekle of Canton (member of the Hudson American Legion Post), Lincoln County; Don Branson of Brandon, Minnehaha County; and Patrick Toley of Beresford, Union County.
April 25 (District 7 at Pickstown) – County Commanders - Leonard Cimpl of Tabor, Bon Homme County; Tom Jaeger of Platte, Charles Mix County; Ray Hofman of Vermillion, Clay County; Herb Bultje of Corsica, Douglas County; Clarence Lehr of Tripp, Hutchinson County and Don List of Yankton, Yankton County. County Vice Commanders - Paul Weidenbach of Lesterville (member of the Scotland Legion Post), Bon Homme County; Jay Youngbluth of Wagner, Charles Mix County; Roger Kozak of Vermillion, Clay County; Junior Noteboom of Corsica, Douglas County; Roger Smith of Tripp, Hutchinson County; and Eugene List of Yankton, Yankton County.
April 26 (District 6 at Mitchell) – County Commanders - Roy Kluth of Mt. Vernon, Aurora County; Eugene Hamilton of Mitchell, Brule County; Charles Summers of Mitchell, Davison County; Ed Roster of Alexandria, Hanson County; Russ Hanson of Wessington Springs (member of the Alpena Legion Post), Jerauld County; Joe Christensen of Spencer (member of the Bridgewater Legion Post), McCook County; and Joel Rassel of Woonsocket, Sanborn County. County Vice Commanders - Marvin Steffen of White Lake, Aurora County; Kenneth Anderson of Chamberlain, Brule County; Dale Magnuson of Mitchell, Davison County; Nick Schleich of Emery, Hanson County; Melvin Fuerst of Wessington Springs, Jerauld County; Myron Eich of Salem, McCook County; and Keith Senska of Woonsocket; Sanborn County.
April 27 (District 5 at Wessington) – County Commanders - Bob Brodkorb of Wolsey, Beadle County; Harold Schaefer of Orient, Faulk County; Dave Johnson of Miller, Hand County; and Dan McNeil of Redfield (member of the Tulare Legion Post), Spink County. County Vice Commanders - Gunner Baatrup of Huron (member of the Virgil Legion Post), Beadle County; Wayne Haberling of Faulkton, Faulk County, Leo Istas of Miller, Hand County; and Cyril Dangel of Redfield; Spink County.
DISTRICT LEGIONNAIRES OF THE YEAR
Department Commander Phil Anderson of Piedmont is recognizing those Legionnaires who have been chosen by their Posts for providing outstanding support to the programs and projects of The American Legion during the past year as he travels the state of South Dakota conducting the Spring District Conventions.
One Legionnaire is selected by the leadership of each District to be recognized as the District Legionnaire of the Year. Those selected during the most recently completed Spring District Conventions include:
District 1 - Mark Williamson of Henry G. Fix Post 23, Garretson
District 2 - Myron Zeeck of Bensley-Rounds Post 280, Iroquois
District 3 - Lennis Baumiller of Peden-Cole Post 109, Gary
District 5 - Dave Durfee of Clay Kiser Post 92, Redfield
District 6 - Donald Moe of Tormey-Stach Post 93, Letcher
District 7 – Herbert Bultje of Everson-Beukelman Post 274, Corsica.
These individuals, along with the other 8 individual Legionnaires who have been selected and previously reported as District Legionnaires of the Year will be in contention for selection as the Department Legionnaire of the Year for The American Legion Department of South Dakota at the Annual Department Convention in Brookings, June 15-18 of this year.
STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT
There is still time to register and participate in The South Dakota American Legion State Golf Tournament! All golfers who are members of The American Legion or The Sons of The American Legion are welcome.
The South Dakota American Legion Golf Tournament, hosted by Milbank American Legion Post #9 will be held at the Pine Hills Golf Course, 2 ˝ miles north of Milbank on Highway 15. The tournament is being played the weekend of June 3 and 4.
Golfers can select tee times between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 31, 2006. Entries shoulde sent to Pine Hills Golf Course, PO Box 46, Milbank, SD.
Entry fee is $50.00, includes green fees and meal at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. Hand carts can be rented for $3.00 per day per person. Riding golf carts can be rented for $10.00 per day per person.
Lodging available in the Milbank area is listed below:
Super 8 – 605-432-9288
Lantern Inn 605-432-4591
Manor Motel 605-432-4527
For more information on the South Dakota American Legion Golf Tournament please call Pine Hills Golf Course at 605-432-4124.
RESOLUTIONS 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 on Tuesday, May 16 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. This means you CANNOT hand-carry your invitation/bid into the Convention Next Meeting Place Committee at the Convention. Invitations/bids MUST be submitted to State Headquarters by the above listed deadline to be considered. Walk-in, verbal invitations/ WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED by the Convention Next Meeting Place Committee. No Exceptions.
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. In accordance with the Constitution of The American Legion Department of South Dakota Article IV, Section 1, if the Convention Next Meeting Place Committee fails to reach a decision from the invitations received for consideration, the task of determining the site and making the decision will be turned over to the Department Executive Committee.
Invitations should be submitted to the State Adjutant, American Legion State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201.
CERTIFICATION OF 2007 POST OFFICERS
Post Adjutants are reminded that they have the responsibility of certifying 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 Officers 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 is REQUIRED on the Officer Certification Form. 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, 609 or 94.61% of the Department’s 2006 membership goal.