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Given the uncertainty of the weather, the turnout at the Annual Midwinter Conference this past weekend was very good. An estimated 350 Legionnaires and Auxiliary members attended the event which was held at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma, SD. Our sincere thanks to Potter American Legion Post #3 of Chamberlain for hosting the event.

State Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter of Cresbard declared the event a great success. Commander Vetter commended Chamberlain Post #3 Commander Preston Olson and Auxiliary Unit #3 President Lila Speckels and the Legionnaires and Auxiliary members of Chamberlain for their superb efforts. Many Legionnaires and Auxiliary members commented that they were happy to return to Cedar Shore following one year away – last year the event was held in Pierre after four consecutive years in Oacoma.

National Commander John Brieden III of Brenham, Texas was at the conference center for the entire period of the event. National Commander Brieden commended South Dakota on our membership work when he attended the Go-Getter‘s Reception and Smorgasbord which was held at the Anchor Bar and Grill in Chamberlain. He stated that we should be very proud of our #2 spot in the nation in the membership recruitment drive.

National Commander Brieden attended several of the Legion’s breakout sessions on Saturday and many positive comments were heard about his participation in the discussions in those sessions. His 25 years of American Legion experience coupled with his breadth of knowledge following his service as Chairman of the National Legislative Commission, Chairman of the National Economic Commission, Chairman of the National Foreign Relations Commission and Chairman of the National Americanism Council make him an excellent participant in almost any discussion group on any American Legion topic.

National Commander Brieden gave a very dynamic speech at the Joint Legion and Auxiliary Banquet on Saturday evening. About 200 people attended the banquet. Commander Brieden spoke about many of his personal experiences while fighting for VA benefits legislation in Congress. Using a very different style than previous National Commander’s who have been keynote speakers at our Joint Banquets, National Commander Brieden took advantage of the cordless microphone, and roamed throughout the audience during his speech.

On Saturday, attendees attended breakout sessions on Americanism, Membership, along with training and information sessions for Post Service Officers, Post Historians, Post Adjutants and How to Write a Resolution.

The State Athletic Commission recommended, and the Executive Committee confirmed that 2005 state tournaments be played in Aberdeen (bowling), Parkston (golf), Groton (State "B" Baseball) and Rapid City (State Championship Baseball Tournament, sponsored by Rapid City Post #22).

The Department Executive Committee adopted two resolutions that established new recognition programs during their midyear meeting. By Executive Committee Action, The Department Legionnaire of the Year Programs and The Robert C. Gabrielson Memorial Leadership Award were both established.

The Department Legionnaire of the Year Program adds an additional level of competition to the existing Legionnaire of the Year Program whereby one of the 14 District Legionnaires of the Year will be selected as the Department Legionnaire of the Year at the Annual Department Convention. The selection committee will be comprised of the incumbent Department Commander and the five incumbent Area Vice Commanders.

The Robert C. Gabrielson Memorial Leadership Award is established to provide recognition to one individual who has demonstrated superior and inspirational leadership above and beyond that of his/her contemporaries. Eligible for the award are the District Commanders and all other Department Officers as outlined in the SD American Legion Constitution and By-Laws, Article VI, Section 14. The selection committee will consist of the incumbent Department Commander and six Past Department Commanders appointed by the Department Commander.

Department Commander Wayne "Red" Vetter announced the selection of a new Department Service Officer during the meeting of the Department Executive Committee on Friday, February 6, 2004 at the Midwinter Conference in Oacoma. Commander Vetter stated that the Department had received 14 applications and had convened a subcommittee to narrow that field of applicants to five who were interviewed.

Warren Aas of Milbank, a 28-year retired Master Sergeant of the South Dakota Army National Guard, was presented to the Executive Committee and his appointment was confirmed. His most recent assignment was as Battalion Operations NCO, 88^th Troop Command, SDARNG in Brookings, SD. Warren Aas is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (Gulf War). He is a 13-year member of Birch-Miller American Legion Post #9 in Milbank. He reports for duty as the South Dakota American Legion Department Service Officer on Tuesday, February 17, 2004.

Department Chaplain Stan Gruenich of Flandreau brought a guest to this year’s Midwinter Conference. Accompanying Chaplain Stan was a young veteran named Don Peters, also of Flandreau. Don is a Sergeant in the 1742^nd Transportation Unit attached to the 727th Transportation Unit. He is one of three members of that unit who were involved in a terrible truck accident in Iraq.

Sgt. Peters began his enlistment in the Army National Guard with Basic Training during the summer between his junior and senior years in high school. He now has 14 years of service, and is a veteran of both Gulf Wars. Don had just become a foreman supervising electricians wiring ethanol plants when he was called to active duty. On January 21, 2003 his unit left the Flandreau area, and was deployed into the Persian Gulf area the second week of March, 2003.

On May 23, 2003, Sgt. Peters and two other South Dakotans were pulling security during a rest break. They were on a six lane road heading to Baghdad. A vehicle from a convoy traveling in the far lane veered into the three men. Sgt. Peters was in and out of consciousness for the next few weeks. Medics on the scene are credited with saving his life. He was flown to a military hospital in Kuwait where he was stabilized, then transported to Ladstuhl, Germany where he stayed for 2½ weeks, and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC for an additional 2½ months, and finally to McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls for another 3 months. He has had 13 operations to date.

Don is married to Sherry; they have 3 children – Brandon a 6th grader, Taylor a 2nd grader and Shalyn a 17 month old.

Chaplain Gruenich, concluding his first visit with Sgt. Peters at McKennan Hospital, asked Sgt. Peters what they should pray for? Sgt. Peters’ reply was that they should "pray for the men and women of my unit still over in Iraq and Kuwait; pray for my healing that I may rejoin them".

He also stated what helped him focus on the mission over there, was knowing his family was taken care of over here.

Sgt. Peters spoke to the assembled Legionnaires and Auxiliary members at the Sunday morning religious service and related some of his experiences.

Department Commander Vetter thanked Sgt. Peters for his service to his country and informed him that he was awarding him with a Honorary Paid-Up-For-Life membership in The American Legion.

Enclosed for all Adjutants are copies of the minutes of the February 6, 2004 Department Administrative Committee Meeting and the Department Executive Committee Meeting, both of which were held in conjunction with the 35^th Annual Midwinter Conference at Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma, SD.

Copies of those minutes are also being sent to all members of the Administrative and Executive Committees.

State Headquarters has been notified that the following Past Department Commanders are ill or recovering from illness:

Wayne Nesby, recovering at home. Cards and letters may be sent to him at: 3420 Corral Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702.

Wayne Slade. Cards and letter may be sent to him at: PO Box 75, Fulton, SD 57340.

Bill Danekas, recovering at home. Cards and letters may be sent to him at: 1014 Pebble Beach Dr., Clark, SD 57225.

Fred Weller Post #186 of Eureka has endorsed Deleano (Del) Heupel for the office of District 14 Vice Commander. (The last edition of the Up To Now erroneously reported this endorsement as being for Cal Neuharth – we apologize for the error and any confusion this may have caused)

Pierre Post #8 has endorsed Roland (Rollie) Benson for the office of Area Vice Commander for Districts 10, 11 and 12.

Congratulations to the following high school students who have qualified through the Area High School Oratory Contests for the right to participate in the South Dakota American Legion High School Oratory Championship Round.

From the Area of Districts 3, 4 and 14, Jenna Krause of Watertown has been declared the winner. Jenna is a high school senior at Watertown High School.

From the Area of Districts 2, 5 and 6, Leah Menning of Chamberlain has been declared the winner. Leah is a high school senior at Chamberlain High School.

These two Area winners will compete against the winners from the other three Areas at the South Dakota American Legion High School Oratory Championship Contest which is scheduled to be held on Sunday, February 29, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. CST at the Zion Lutheran Church located at 314 S. Main, Chamberlain, SD.

The following is a list of the bills that The American Legion is watching in the 79^th Session of the South Dakota Legislature in Pierre:

HB 1060 – Has passed both the House and the Senate and has been delivered to the Governor for his signature.

HB 1090 – Passed the House 69-0 on 1/28 and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

HB 1091 – Passed the house 69-1 on 02/09 and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

HB 1147 – Deferred to the 36^th Legislative Day – thereby killing the bill.

HB 1200 – Continues to wait for hearing in the House State Affairs Committee.

HB 1217 – Passed the House 70-0 and is now waiting for hearing in the Senate Education Committee.

HB 1305 – Received a Do Pass recommendation (9-0) from the House Appropriations Committee on 02/07.

SB 6 – SB 7 & SB 8 – All passed the Senate and are awaiting hearings in the House State Affairs Committee.

SB 91 – Passed the Senate 35-0 on 02/04 and is now awaiting hearings in the House Appropriations Committee.

SB 100 – Deferred to the 36^th Legislative Day – thereby killing the bill.

SB 101 – Deferred to the 36^th Legislative Day – thereby killing the bill.

SB 195 – Remains in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 199 – Passed the Senate 33-0 on 02/03, now in House Appropriations Committee.

For information on the subject of these and all other legislative bills introduced during the 79^th Legislative Session visit the Legislative Research Council’s homepage at

http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2004/index.cfm

Specific information on all the bills listed above can be found in the last edition of the Up To Now, No. 2863, dated January 28^th.

2004 membership stands at 24,877, or 93.46 percent of goal.

The Department has been advised that we have won the Big Twelve Competition for our category for the fourth year in a row. Congratulations to all those membership workers who worked so hard to ensure that Commander Vetter reached his bid of 92% by February 12. We couldn’t have accomplished it without your individual and collective efforts.

Now it’s time to show them what we’ve really got! Commander Vetter wants your full support as we take our membership "over the top" for the first time in several years. It’s achievable, it’s attainable, and the leadership of the Department believes the time is now, but it will take the efforts of the whole team! Won’t each of you make sure your Post does its fair share to help us attain this goal?