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. 2931 September 6, 2006
MORIN ELECTED NATIONAL COMMANDER
Paul A. Morin, a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran from Chicopee, MA was elected National Commander of the nation’s largest veteran’s organization on Thursday, August 31 during the closing moments of the 88th National Convention of The American Legion in Salt Lake City, UT.
Commander Morin is a 33-year member of Aldenville American Legion Post 337 in Massachusetts. He has served as State Commander in Massachusetts, a member of national commissions including Children and Youth, Foreign Relations, Public Relations and Convention. He chaired the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, as well as the Legislative and Employment Commissions and served on the Legislative Council and Commission.
He serves as the Superintendent of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, responsible for fulfilling the Home’s mission of providing quality medical, surgical and skilled nursing, domiciliary and outpatient care for its veterans. He will be on a one-year leave of absence during his year as national commander.
SOUTH DAKOTAN NAMED NATIONAL CHAPLAIN
The Reverend Stanley (Stan) Gruneich of Flandreau, SD was named National Chaplain of The American Legion by newly elected National Commander Paul Morin of Massachusetts.
Chaplain Gruneich is well known in The American Legion Family of South Dakota for his many, many years as Department Chaplain for The American Legion Department of South Dakota.
Chaplain Gruneich was appointed by National Commander Morin at the Post-Convention meeting of the National Executive Committee.
CONGRATULATIONS – National Chaplain Stan!
NATIONAL OFFICERS
The delegates to the 88th Annual National Convention of The American Legion, held in Salt Lake City, UT also elected five National Vice Commanders. Elected as National Vice Commanders during the closing moments of the 88th National Convention were Byron W. White of Tuscaloosa, AL; Elgin L. Wahlborg of Arkansas City, KA; Robert L. Lahiere of Chattanooga, TN; Alan Setterberg of Sandy, UT; and Lloyd Hazen Woods of Stockholm, ME.
Michael J. Miskell of Scranton, PA was appointed as National Historian and Joseph Steen of Wilmington, MA was appointed as National Sergeant-At-Arms.
NATIONAL COMMANDER ANNOUNCES MEMBERSHIP AWARDS
National Commander Paul Morin has announced four new incentive programs designed to reward Legionnaires and leaders who are spearheading our membership recruiting efforts across the board. Those incentives are as follows:
National Commander’s Membership Incentive Pin – the National Commander’s pin will be awarded to any Legion Family member who signs up five (5) new members and renews ten (10) expired members of The American Legion.
The Reverse Bowl – A custom bowl will be awarded to the two American Legion Posts from each region with the highest membership above 100% by December 31, 2006. This bowl will be awarded to one District per region with the highest membership percentage above 100% by December 31, 2006. Finally, the Department with the highest percentage above 100% by December 31, 2006 will also receive a Reverse Bowl.
National Commander “100% Plus” Pins for Post, District, and Department Commanders – Any Post, District, or Department that obtains 100% or more by the Legion Birthday, March 15, 2007, will receive a set of specially commissioned National Commander 100% Plus Pins for the Commander, Adjutant, and Membership Chairman at the Post and District levels. At the Department level, the pins will go to the Commander, Adjutant, Membership Chairman and the NEC. The Department Commander’s Pin will include a diamond in the center of The American Legion emblem.
100% Paul’s Minuteman Legion Caps – District Commanders, Department Commanders and National Vice Commanders who exceed 100% - without any losses in the number of Posts in their respective areas – will be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind blue American Legion Cap.
All awards must be certified by the Department Adjutant.
NATIONAL PER-CAPITA DUES INCREASE
The $4.50 increase in the National per-capita dues which had been discussed prior to the 88th Annual National Convention was approved by the delegates of the national convention. This $4.50 increase in the per-capita dues for membership in The American Legion will become effective for all 2007 dues that are not received by Department Headquarters in Watertown, prior to January 10, 2007.
This national per-capita dues increase provides an additional incentive for members of The American Legion in South Dakota to pay their 2007 dues early. If 2007 dues are paid prior to January 10, 2007, the membership dues will be at the same rate as 2006. However, anyone paying their 2007 dues after January 10 will be required to pay the higher rate.
Plans are underway to provide all Posts with the opportunity to submit a new Post Data Form to ensure that their dues rate will cover the new dues increase subsequent to January 10th.
All Post Commanders and Adjutants are strongly encouraged to check immediately to ensure that the dues that your Post is currently requiring will cover the $4.50 increase. After January 10, 2007, Posts will be required to send $23.50 to Department Headquarters for each membership submitted. This $23.50 will provide $10.00 per-capita dues to the Department and $13.50 per-capita dues to National.
All Posts should immediately pass this information to their membership with encouragement to pay 2007 membership dues early to avoid the increase this year – and to encourage their membership to explore the option of purchasing a Paid-Up-For-Life (PUFL) membership now before the dues rates increase.
FALL DISTRICT MEETINGS START THIS WEEK
2007 Fall District Conferences commence Thursday of this week (September 7) when Legionnaires from District 8 meet in Burke for the District 8 Fall Conference. The meetings will continue into next week according to the following schedule:
Dist 8 – Thursday, September 7 in the Burke Civic Center and Burke VFW Post Home. There will be a social hour from 6-7 p.m. in the Burke VFW Post Home. The business meetings will start at 7 p.m.; Legion in the Burke Civic Center, Auxiliary in the Burke VFW Post Home. There will be a luncheon served after the meetings.
Dist 9 – Friday, September 8 in the White River American Legion Post Home. There will be a social hour from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Legion Post Home. The business meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.; Legion in the Legion Post Home, Auxiliary in the White River Senior Citizens Center. Lunch will be served following the meetings in the White River Senior Citizens Center. Times are Central time.
Dist 13 – Saturday, September 9 in Rapid City at Rapid City Post 22. There will be a District Executive Committee meeting held at 1 p.m. There is no scheduled social hour but the Post Lounge will be open for business and food service will also be available. The business meetings will begin at 2 p.m.; both the Legion and Auxiliary will meet in the Legion Post Home.
Dist 12 – Sunday, September 10 in Piedmont at Piedmont Post 311. There will be a social hour from 1-2 p.m. The business meetings will start at 2 p.m.; both the Legion and the Auxiliary will meet in the Post Home. A meal will be served after the meetings.
Dist 11 – Monday, September 11 in Thunder Hawk at The American Legion Post Home. There will be a social hour from 6-7 p.m. (MDT) at the Post Home. The business meetings will start at 7 p.m.; both in the Legion Post Home.
Dist 10 – Tuesday, September 12 in Pierre at the Pierre American Legion Post Home. There will be a social hour from 5-6 p.m. with a banquet served at 6 p.m. at the Legion Post Home. The business meetings will begin at 7 p.m.; Legion at the Legion Post Home and the Auxiliary at the Pierre VFW Post Home (402 S. Central Ave.).
The traveling party will then take a short hiatus in order to attend the SD Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dedication ceremonies in Pierre on September 15-16. Fall District Conferences will then recommence on Wednesday, September 20 in District 1 according to the following schedule:
Dist 1 – Wednesday, September 20 in Humboldt at the Humboldt Community Center. There will be a social hour from 6-7 p.m. in the Community Center. The business meetings will begin at 7 p.m.; both the Legion and Auxiliary will meet in the Community Center. Lunch will be served after the meetings.
Dist 7 – Thursday, September 21 in Tripp at the Legion Post Home and the Tripp Fire Hall/Community Center. There will be a social hour from 6-7 p.m. The business meetings will be held at 7 p.m.; Legion in the Legion Post Home and the Auxiliary in the Tripp Fire Hall/Community Center. Refreshments will be served after the meetings with a free-will offering.
Dist 6 – Friday, September 22 in Mitchell at the Legion Post Home. There will be a social hour at 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. A banquet will be served at 6:30 p.m. at the Legion Post Home. The business meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.; both the Legion and Auxiliary will meet at the Legion Post Home.
Dist 5 – Saturday, September 23 in Cresbard at the Cresbard Community Center/American Legion Post. There will be a social from 6-7 p.m. The business meeting will begin at 7 p.m.; Legion in the Legion Post Home/Community Center, Auxiliary in an area church.
Dist 2 – Tuesday, September 26 in Lake Preston at the American Legion Post Home. There will be a social hour from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Legion Post Home. The business meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.; Legion at the Legion Post Home, Auxiliary place to be announced.
Dist 3 – Wednesday, September 27 in Gary at the Legion Post Home. 6-7:30 p.m. is scheduled as a social period. The business meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.; both the Legion and Auxiliary will meet in the Legion Post Home. Coffee, cookies and bars will be served following the meetings.
Dist 4 – Thursday, September 28 in New Effington at the Legion Post Home and the New Effington Community Center. There will be a social hour from 5-6 p.m. A banquet will be held at 6 p.m. The business meetings will be held at 7 p.m.; Legion in the Legion Post Home and the Auxiliary will meet in the Community Center.
Dist 14 – Friday, September 29 in Eureka. There is no scheduled social or meal; however the Legion lounge and food service will be open prior to the meetings. The business meetings will begin at 8 p.m.; Legion at the Legion Hall, Auxiliary will meet at the Senior Citizens Center (1 block west of the bank). Coffee and bars will be served after the meetings.
MEBERSHIP UPDATE
2007 membership stands at 15,219, or 58.48 percent of the Department’s 2007 membership goal.