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. 2932 September 20, 2006
FALL DISTRICT CONFERENCES UNDERWAY
The 2006 South Dakota American Legion Fall District Conferences commenced September 7th with the District 8 Fall Conference in Burke. The traveling party for the Legion consists of State Commander Gunner Baatrup of Huron (member of the Virgil American Legion Post), State Membership Chairman Ron Kazmierczak of Hill City and State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown.
Commander Baatrup has been explaining his “Reaching for the Summit” program. In addition to hearing Commander Baatrup’s “Reaching for the Summit” program, Legionnaires attending the District Conferences are hearing from State Membership Chairman Ron Kazmierczak about the “Just One More” membership campaign; receiving information about the recently approved membership dues increase that goes into effect January 10, 2007; and receiving a briefing on the recently completed 88th Annual National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Fall District Conference schedule will reconvene on Wednesday, September 20 when Legionnaires from District 1 gather in Humboldt. The conference schedule then continues for the next four straight days with District 7 meeting in Tripp on Thursday, September 21; District 6 meeting in Mitchell on Friday, September 22; and the final meeting of the week will be the District 5 meeting in Cresbard on Saturday, September 23.
The traveling party then takes a few days off prior to the final four meetings – District 2 in Lake Preston on Tuesday, September 26; District 3 in Gary on Wednesday, September 27; District 4 in New Effington on Thursday, September 28 and District 14 in Eureka on Friday, September 29.
The annual meeting of the South Dakota American Legion Boys State Corporation and Board of Directors will be held in Yankton on Thursday, September 21. The meeting will be held at the First National Bank of South Dakota at the intersections of Highways 81 and 50.
Business will include election of officers for the coming year, reviewing the past Boys State session, study of the By-Laws, as well as any other pertinent business.
The 2007 South Dakota American Legion Boys State session is planned for Monday, May 28, 2007 through Saturday, June 2, 2007 on the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD.
POST COMMANDERS RECOGNIZED
During the Fall District Conferences, State Commander Gunner Baatrup is presenting 100% Post Commander, Post Adjutant and Post Membership cap pins to those Post Commanders and Post Membership Teams who attained 100% renewal of 2006 membership within their Posts.
100% Post Commander, Post Adjutant and Post Membership Chairman cap pins for 2006 have been presented to the following Posts:
· District 8: Bonesteel Post 36, Burke Post 28, Dallas Post 91, Gregory Post 6, Winner Post 169 and Witten, Post 167.
· District 9: Allen Post 317, Martin Post 240, Wood Post 19 and Parmelee Post 295.
· District 10: Blunt Post 77, Hoven Post 159, Agar Post 271 and Onida Post 79.
· District 11: Bullhead Post 82, Little Eagle Post 239, Thunder Hawk Post 279, Eagle Butte Post 308, Isabel Post 120 and Lemmon Post 66.
· District 12: Nisland-Newell-Vale Post 233, Lead Post 31, Piedmont, Post 311 and Sturgis, Post 33.
· District 13: Custer Post 46, Hermosa Post 303, Edgemont Post 172, Hill City Post 160, Rapid City Post 22, Batesland Post 281, Manderson Post 302, and Pine Ridge Post 251.
SD LEGIONNAIRES CALLED TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
Two South Dakota Legionnaires traveled to Washington, D.C. earlier this week to attend the annual testimony of The American Legion before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on Wednesday, September 20, 2006. This year’s testimony will be presented by National Commander Paul Morin of Massachusetts.
Attending the testimony were NEC Paul Evenson of Sioux Falls (member of the Garretson Legion Post), and PDC Gene Schumacher of Aberdeen.
These two SD Legionnaires serve on the National Legislative Council. Evenson serves as a liaison to Senator John Thune and Schumacher serves as a liaison to U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth. PDC Wayne “Red” Vetter of Cresbard, who serves as the liaison to Senator Tim Johnson, was unable to make the trip this year. In addition to attending the National Commander’s Testimony, Evenson and Schumacher will visit with all members of the South Dakota Congressional Delegation in Washington.
EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
The forms for nominating local area teachers for The American Legion Department of South Dakota 2007 Educator of the Year Program are now available from State Headquarters in Watertown.
This program, sponsored in conjunction with the National Education Week, is an excellent opportunity to provide valuable recognition to an educator from your community. Each Post should sponsor a nominee from a local school. That educator is then recognized by your local American Legion Post as your community’s American Legion Educator of the Year and the nomination package is submitted to your District Commander.
Each District then selects a District Educator of the Year who is recognized by the District organization. The District selectee is then nominated to the Department for competition in the Department’s 2007 Educator of the Year competition. The educator selected by the Department is recognized at the Annual Department Convention; this year in Spearfish, SD. The Department Educator of the Year is the guest of the Department at the Joint Banquet, treated to one free night in the convention hotel, and is recognized during the General Assembly of the Convention.
VIETNAM MEMORIAL DEDICATION
An estimated 34,000 people gathered in Pierre this past weekend to witness and participate in the dedication ceremony for the South Dakota Vietnam Memorial.
Department Commander Baatrup extends a congratulatory “WELL DONE!” to those Posts that participated in the event. A special Thank You to Hartford American Legion Post 118 for volunteering to carry the Department Colors in front of the Department Commander’s vehicle in the dedication ceremony parade.
The culmination came on Saturday afternoon when the South Dakota Vietnam Memorial Statue was dedicated during a spectacular ceremony on the shores of Capitol Lake.
The members of The American Legion Family in South Dakota were major contributors to the fundraising that helped to build the sculpture and fund the event and should be very proud of their contributions. “To preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the great wars” – The American Legion - It’s not what we do – It’s who we are.
DEPARTMENT LEGION COLLEGE
Plans are underway for the first class of the South Dakota American Legion College to be held in Pierre in March of 2007.
This valuable training program, that will provide an increased and enhanced understanding of The American Legion, is available to Vietnam and later era veterans who are current members in good standing with The American Legion Department of South Dakota and who complete The American Legion Extension Institute Correspondence Course prior to entry into the college.
Interested Legionnaires should immediately contact State Headquarters in Watertown for an application form. The completed application forms must be submitted to the District Commander in your District. Nominations require an endorsement by the District Commander and the Area Vice Commander prior to being submitted to State Headquarters.
Quotas have been established by Areas as follows:
a. Districts 1&7 - allotted 4 seats.
b. Districts 2, 5 & 6 - allotted 4 seats.
c. District 3, 4 & 14 - allotted 4 seats.
d. District 8, 9 and 13 - allotted 3 seats.
e. Districts 10, 11 and 12 - allotted 2 seats.
Any quotas that are not filled by a specific area will be reallocated as required to applicants who are on waiting lists from other areas.
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.
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.
ENCLOSED FOR ADJUTANTS
Enclosed for all Post Adjutants is a copy of the Post Data Form. This form must be completed and returned to Department Headquarters in Watertown if your Post is currently charging less than $23.50 (the amount of the news dues rates to include Department and National per-capita amounts of $10.00 and $13.50) that will be required after the January 10, 2007 effective date of the dues increase.
Forms must be returned to Department Headquarters in Watertown prior to December 4, 2006, so that the corrections can be made prior to the January 10, 2007 deadline for the next renewal mailing. If the forms are not returned prior to that date, the new dues rate will not be reflected on the January dues renewal notices mailed to your members by the National Headquarters. WE CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF THIS FORM.
Also enclosed for all Post Adjutants is a copy of the Paid-Up-For-Life Application Form. It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of PUFL applications due to the National Per-Capita dues increase in January. Posts are encouraged to reproduce this form as necessary to meet the needs of your Post. Additional forms are available from State Headquarters in Watertown if required.
DAKOTA DREAM POST
Was your Post one of those recognized at this past summer’s Annual Department Convention when the Dakota Dream Post awards were announced? Department Commander Baatrup is continuing this highly-coveted recognition program again this year. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide your Post wants to be one of those recognized – start planning today to make sure that you meet the criteria to qualify.
This program will identify those American Legion Posts in the Department of South Dakota which are truly taking care of their members and working the programs of The American Legion.
Listed below are 25 items which have been identified as being present in a Dream Post. In order to qualify for this award, your Post must satisfy 20 of the 25 listed items on the criteria listing. Those items that are flagged with a star are required items that must be satisfied.
Posts that qualify for the Dakota Dream Post designation will receive a specially designed plaque that can be displayed in their Post Home. Posts must apply for the designation by June 1, 2007. The Dakota Dream Post Plaques will be awarded at the Department Convention.
«Exceed last year’s membership by June 1, 2007 (exceed last year’s membership – not goal)
«Post member(s) attend District Meetings
«Pay State Convention Delegate Fees
«Have Post Officers certified by June 1, 2007
«Post Service Officer must attend a Veterans Forum
«Submit Consolidated Post Report on time
«Post Constitution and Bylaws on file at Department Headquarters
_Have an Auxiliary Unit
_Have a newsletter and belong to SDALPA
_Send delegate(s) to Boys State
_Provide flag etiquette training to youth group
_Post member(s) attend State Convention
_Post member(s) attend Midwinter Conference
_Submit Post Americanism Report on time
_Submit Post Data Form on time
_Post member(s) complete American Legion Extension Institute (during the current year)
_Post selected a Legionnaire of the Year and submitted nomination to the District Commander
_Hold regular meetings (summer off is ok)
_Post participates in Go Getter program
_Post participates in patriotic holiday observances (Veterans Day, Memorial Day)
_Post participates with honor guard or firing squad at veterans’ funerals
_Have Post Home or regular meeting place
_Conduct VAVS activities (voluntary service or donations)
_Post supports Children and Youth programs (Special Olympics/CWF/Childrens Miracle Network)
_Post sponsors family activities.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2007 membership stands at 16,355 or 62.85 percent of our 2007 Department membership goal.
Today’s 2007 membership total is 1,457 ahead of the Department membership total on this date one year ago. The momentum is there – let’s all strive to ensure that the trend continues. Your hard work on membership is greatly appreciated.