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. 2927 July 12, 2006
ADMIN COMMITTEE FRAMES BUDGET
The Department Administrative Committee met Saturday, June 24, 2006, one week after the closing of the 88th Annual Department Convention, and framed a proposed balanced budget for the 2006-2007 American Legion year.
Among the recommendations from the Administrative Committee, which proposes a budget that will be reduced by 1.21% from the previous year, were the following:
v Rehabilitation would be increased by $855 to cover a 3% salary raise for the Department Service Officer taking his salary from $28,500 to $29,355.
v Americanism would be reduced by $950 overall –
· Dist Americanism Chairman expenses would decrease from $1,800 to $1,500
· Dist Americanism expenses would decrease from $1,400 to $1,000
· C&Y Chairman expenses would decrease from $500 to $250.
v Public Relations would increase by $200 because of a proposed increase in the amount budgeted for the Legislative Reception which would go from $1,000 to $1,200.
v The largest proposed changes would be in the Administrative section of the budget which would reflect an overall decrease of $8,400. This decrease includes:
· Decrease the Vice Commander Expenses from $4,000 to $3,500.
· Decrease the District Commander Expenses from $5,500 to $5,000.
· Decrease District Commander Seminar back to $0 and charge expenses to the District Commander Expenses.
· Decrease the Chaplains Expenses from $500 to $350.
· Decrease the National Legion College from $2,000 to $1,000.
· Increase Dept. Legion College from $2,000 to $3,500.
· Decrease Executive Committee and Administrative Committee Expenses from $17,000 to $12,000.
· Decrease NEC Expenses from $700 to $600 and Alt NEC Expenses from $600 to $500.
· Budget $50 for dues to the National Cemetery Support Council and fund the National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance from the Music and Parade Fund.
· Decrease the Constitution and Bylaws Committee Expenses from $500 to $300.
· Decrease the National Convention Expenses from $1,200 to $1,000.
· Increase the Department Convention Proceedings from $900 to $950.
· Decrease the National Convention Stipend from $3,000 to $1,500.
· Decrease the National Events Assistance from $1,500 to $1,000.
v Proposed changes to the Headquarters section of the budget are as follows:
· Increase Workers’ Compensation from $1,250 to $1,300.
· Increase Postage from $12,500 to $13,000.
· 3% salary increase for employees at State Headquarters
o Adjutant from $37,000 to $38,110.
o Secretary and Bookkeeper from $27,540 to $28,366.
Overall, the proposed changes to the Department Budget would result in a reduction from $328,880 to $324,897. This means an overall reduction of $3,983 from the 2005-2006 Department Budget.
ADJUTANT ON NATIONAL AD-HOC COMMITTEE
Department Adjutant Ron Boyd recently returned from a two-day trip to National Headquarters in Indianapolis on July 8 following his participation in the first of two meetings of an Ad-Hoc Committee on Membership. The Ad-Hoc Committee was appointed by National Commander Thomas Bock.
The Ad-Hoc Committee was convened to examine the current membership system from Post to National and to develop a plan to overcome our slight down turn in retention and to recommend a course of action to rebuild our membership base. Adjutant Boyd will return to Indianapolis for the second meeting of the Ad-Hoc Committee July 24-26 at which time the committee will finalize its report to the National Commander.
EIGHT TO TRAVEL TO INDIANAPOLIS
Department Commander Gunner Baatrup of Huron (member of the Virgil Legion Post), Membership Chairman Ron Kazmierczak of Rapid City (member of the Hill City Legion Post), Department Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown, Department Service Officer Warren Aas of Watertown, PDC Gerald Goetzinger of Martin, District 2 Commander Dennis Jager of Arlington, District 8 Commander Kenneth Van Kekerix of Witten and District 14 Commander Del Heupel of Aberdeen (member of the Eureka Legion Post) will travel to American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN at the end of July.
Department Service Officer Aas will be attending the annual Department Service Officer School administered by the National VA&R Division with other service officers from across the nation. Steve Oliva and Jon Gohn of the South Dakota Division of Veterans Affairs will also be attending this schooling.
All other members of the traveling party will be attending the 2006 National Membership Workshop. PDC Goetzinger, who serves as Vice Chairman of the National Membership and Post Activities Committee, will serve as one of the lead members of the group presenting the workshop.
COMMANDER’S HOMECOMING
Schmidt-Barnes American Legion Post 268 of Virgil has announced the selection of a date for newly elected Department Commander Gunner Baatrup’s Homecoming. The date selected is Saturday, August 19, 2006. Activities are planned for The American Legion Post 268 Home in Virgil.
The event is still in the planning stages and more detailed information will be released as soon as possible.
DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT’S HOMECOMING
The homecoming celebration honoring newly elected State American Legion Auxiliary President Doris Ann Werlinger will be held Saturday, July 15, 2006 in Piedmont, SD at American Legion Post 311, sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 147.
Events planned for the occasion are:
Social Hour – 1-3 p.m.
Program – 3-4 p.m.
Social and Meal – 4-6:30 p.m.
2007 MEMBERSHIP PACKETS MAILED
2007 Membership Cards/Packets were mailed last week to all Posts within the Department that have certified their 2006-2007 Post Officers. If your Post is one of the 34 Posts in the Department which HAVE NOT yet certified their 2006-2007 Post Officers, your membership cards and other membership materials are being held at State Headquarters.
The first Automatic Renewal Notices have been mailed and received by South Dakota Legionnaires and the renewal forms with dues are arriving at the local Posts. Without the new membership cards from Department Headquarters your Post cannot process these membership renewals. Your Post is being placed at a disadvantage for membership awards.
The certification of the new Post Officers is supposed to be the responsibility of last year’s Post Adjutant. If the outgoing Post Adjutant did not perform that task, someone in a leadership role in the Post should contact State Headquarters immediately and we will assist you in getting your new Post Officers certified. We want and need all Posts within the Department to be working membership as soon as possible.
AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL
American Legion Regional Baseball Tournaments will be taking place the next couple of weekends in South Dakota. “B” Regional Tournaments must be completed by Sunday, July 23 and “A” Regional Tournaments must be completed by Sunday, July 30.
For information on the Regional Tournament in your area contact the Regional Officer in your region or check with your local Post Athletic Officer or American Legion Post Baseball Team coach.
The State “B” Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday – Sunday, July 26-30 in Winner, SD.
The State Championship Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday – Sunday, August 2 – 6 in Brookings, SD.
The Department Athletic Commission changed procedures this year and has decided that first round pairings for the tournaments will not be made public until the completion of all Regional Tournaments.
Get out and enjoy America’s Favorite Activity and Support Your Local American Legion Baseball Team. Take in an American Legion Baseball Game Today!
COMMANDER BAATRUP ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS
Department Commander Gunner Baatrup has announced the following appointments:
· Phil Anderson of Piedmont to a one-year term as Chairman of the National Cemetery Committee.
· Bill Bielmaier of Wall to a five-year term as a member of the National Cemetery Committee.
· Dan Walsh of Piedmont to a one-year term as Aeronautics Chairman.
· Larry Madsen of Gettysburg to a three-year term as a member of the Americanism Commission and a one-year term as Department Americanism Chairman.
· Betty “Sam” Vaughn of Brookings to a one-year term as Children & Youth Chairman.
· Wolfgang Migge of Watertown to a one-year term as Children & Youth Vice Chairman.
· Charemon Dunham of Iroquois to a one-year term as Department Historian.
· Wendell Rye of Claremont to a one-year term as Chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
· Dennis Evenson of Clear Lake to a four-year term as a member of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
· Rich McBrayer of Ethan to a one-year term as Chairman of the Education Loan Committee.
· Hugh Holmes of Mitchell to a three-year term as a member of the Education Loan Committee.
· Donn Grandpre of Conde to a two-year term as a member of the Employment Committee and a one-year term as Chairman.
· Dick Sievert of Sioux Falls to a two-year term as a member of the Employment Committee.
· Gerald Goetzinger of Martin to a one-year term as Chairman of the Legislative Committee.
· Bill Dolan of Beresford to a one-year term as National Security Chairman.
· Clarence Blunck of Platte to a two-year term as a member of the VAVS Committee and a one-year term as Chairman.
· Don Smith of Clear Lake to a two-year term as a member of the VAVS Committee.
· Larry Roggenbuck of Big Stone City to a two-year term as a member of the VAVS Committee.
· LaVaun Holan of Chamberlain to a two-year term as a member of the VAVS Committee.
· Ollie Redden of Pierre to a two-year term as a member of the VAVS Committee.
· Kerwin P. “PeeWee” Douthit to a two-year term as a member of the VAVS Committee.
· Burdette Solum to a one-year term as Chairman of the Trust Fund Committee.
· Byron Callies of Watertown to a three-year term as a member of the Trust Fund Committee.
· Wayne “Red” Vetter of Cresbard to a one-year term as SAL Liaison.
· Gary Watts of White to a one-year term as a member of the SD Veterans Council.
· Warren Aas of Watertown to a one-year term as Chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee.
· Harry Huffman of Ethan to a five-year term as a member of the Rehabilitation Committee.
FOUND AT STATE CONVENTION
A money clip, which was found outside of Brookings High School during the recently completed State Convention, was turned in to State Headquarters.
The owner may claim by contacting State Headquarters in Watertown at 605-886-3604, and identifying the property.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2006 membership stands at 25,026, or 96.21 percent of goal.
The 2007 Membership Drive has commenced. Department Commander Gunner Baatrup’s slogan for this year is “Reaching for the Summit”. The American Legion Department of South Dakota has a proud heritage of being a front-runner in membership each year. Membership is a team activity and requires the participation of every member of the Legion Family to ensure success. Demonstrate your desire to be a member of the team and pay your dues early this year.
There is a resolution that will be considered at the 88th Annual National Convention in Salt Lake City to raise the annual National dues from $9.00 to $13.50. If this resolution is adopted by the convention, the dues increase will be effective on January 10, 2007. Paying your dues early this year can be financially rewarding. Additionally, if you have ever considered purchasing a Paid-Up-For-Life (PUFL) – this would be an opportune time to make that investment. PUFL rates will increase for every Legionnaire after the dues increase goes into effect.