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. 2934 October 18, 2006
AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
November 12-18, 2006 marks the 85th anniversary of American Education Week. The American Legion, a co-founder of American Education week has a long-standing interest and commitment to American education. The American Legion believes a strong education program is important and significant in maintaining American traditions and instilling in our young people a sense of personal obligation and responsibility.
Make sure that your Post sponsors some sort of event to mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of American Education Week. Show your community that The American Legion is involved, concerned and dedicated to the education of our youth.
This week is an excellent time to announce your Posts selection for the Educator of the Year from your community. Educator of the Year nomination packets may be obtained by contacting Department Headquarters in Watertown.
ENCLOSED FOR ADJUTANTS
Enclosed for Adjutants with this issue of the Up To Now is a copy of the “American Education Week” brochure produced by The American Legion Children and Youth Division of National Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN.
This brochure includes helpful information that will provide the Post with valuable guidance for executing a highly successful local American Education Week program.
The brochure includes suggested events, sample public relations print media releases, a suggested proclamation that the local mayor can be asked to sign, sample radio and TV public service announcements and lists other helpful resources that are available on the National Education Association’s web site www.nea.org/aew.
Also enclosed for Adjutants is another brochure produced by The American Legion National Committee on Education. This brochure is entitled “A Guide for Parents & Students – Higher Education – Your Stairway to Knowledge”. The brochure provides some excellent guidance for the high school student who is in the process of planning for their education after high school.
Also included in this brochure is information on what other resources are available to assist the young student plan for their education after high school, should it be college, technical school or possibly the military.
SEVEN SD LEGIONNAIRES CALLED TO INDIANAPOLIS
Seven South Dakota Legionnaires have been called to National Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN. The group includes State Commander Gunner Baatrup of Huron (member of the Virgil American Legion Post), NEC Paul Evenson of Sioux Falls (member of the Garretson American Legion Post), National Chaplain Stan Gruneich of Flandreau, Alt. NEC Larry Price of Redfield, State Adjutant Ron Boyd of Watertown, PDC Glenn Green of Pierre (member of the Lake Preston American Legion Post), PDC Ron Tolrud of White.
Commander Baatrup and Adjutant Boyd will be attending the Annual Commanders’ and Adjutants’ Conference. NEC Evenson will be attending the Fall Meeting of the NEC, meetings of the Child Welfare Foundation, serving as Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Committees and serving on the Liaison Committee to the Foreign Relations Commission. Alt. NEC Price will be attending the Fall Meeting of the NEC and serving as the Vice Chairman of the National Americanism Commission. PDC Green will be attending the meetings of the National Convention Committee. PDC Tolrud will be participating as the Region 6 representative to the National Commission on Children and Youth.
National Chaplain Gruneich will perform the duties of the National Chaplain at many of the official meetings and at a host of social functions that occur during the Fall Meetings in Indianapolis.
POST LEADERSHIP RECOGNIZED FOR MEMBERSHIP
The two previous issues of the Up To Now have reported American Legion Posts within the Department where the Post Commander, Post Adjutant and Post Membership Chairman were recognized by Department Commander Gunner Baatrup during the Fall District Conferences. The commander, adjutant and membership chairman from the Posts listed in the two previous issues were awarded 100% Post Commander, Adjutant and Membership Chairman cap pins during the District Conferences.
It has been brought to our attention that one Post was inadvertently omitted when the awards were presented in District two and was therefore not included in the reporting in the previous issues of the Up To Now.
The omitted Post was American Legion Post 216 in Ramona. State Headquarters apologizes for this oversight.
LEGION TO COMMENCE VETERANS OUTREACH FORUMS
Department Service Officer Warren Aas is preparing to hit the road as The American Legion Department of South Dakota commences another round of Veterans Benefits Outreach Forums as part of Department Commander Gunner Baatrup's 2006-2007 program of activities.
All Veterans Forums are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. (local time). The forums will cover approximately 25 VA benefit topics and normally last approximately two hours. DSO Aas has put together a very comprehensive and professional briefing and has invited subject matter experts from the VA, SD Division of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery, and local County and Tribal Veteran Service Officers to assist in the presentation. The “subject matter experts” will be available, not only for the presentation of the materials, but also for one-on-one discussions following the meetings. Service Officers will be available to assist you with enrollment in the VA Healthcare System – or to assist in initiating a claim if possible.
The forums are being offered for the benefit of all veterans – attendees do not have to be members of The American Legion or any other veteran service organization to attend. Spouses, and family members are also invited to attend. Widows and widowers of veterans should be encouraged to attend.
The American Legion Veterans Benefits Outreach Forums scheduled for the month of October are as follows:
Mon, Oct 23 – American Legion Post Home, Midland
Tue, Oct 24 – Hill City Senior Citizens Center, Hill City
Thu, Oct 26 – Lead Senior Citizens Center, Lead
Fri, Oct 27 – Bullhead Community Center, Bullhead
DEPARTMENT LEGION COLLEGE
Applications for the Department Legion College which will be held in Pierre, March 9-11, 2007 are due to Department Headquarters in Watertown by close of business, October 31, 2006.
Applications are available from District Commanders, Area Vice Commanders or from Department Headquarters in Watertown.
All applications require endorsements by the District Commander and the Area Vice Commander from the applicant’s district and area. Therefore, all Legionnaires desiring to attend the college are encouraged to start the process early – don’t wait until the last minute.
All applicants are also reminded that they are expected to complete the current edition of The American Legion Extension Institute prior to the convening of the Department Legion College. This correspondence course can be purchased from National Emblem Sales or by contacting South Dakota American Legion State Headquarters. The purchase price for the course is $6.95 plus shipping.
VETERANS DAY
Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11. Make sure that your Post and community have plans for this significant day by coordinating a meaningful program and ceremony in your area. The American Legion should not be waiting to be asked to participate in Veterans Day – The American Legion should be leading the way. We are after all, “Veterans – Still Serving America.”
The American Legion National Headquarters prepares a suggested speech for Veterans Day each year. As soon as the speech is available, it can be requested from State Headquarters in Watertown, or it can be downloaded from The American Legion National Website at www.legion.org.
DEADWOOD FIRM SELECTED FOR EMPLOYMENT AWARD
Four Aces Hotel, Corp., Inc. of Deadwood, SD has been selected as the 2007 Employer of the Year for hiring the Older Workers. The corporation operates a hotel, casino and restaurant in Deadwood that employ 158 workers, 31 of whom are over the age of 55.
Four Aces Hotel, Corp., Inc., of Deadwood was nominated by Lead American Legion Post Commander Beverly Hink.
Congratulations to Four Aces Hotel Corporation on being selected as the 2007 Employer of the Year for Hiring Older Workers. The award will be presented to Four Aces Hotel Corporation during the 2007 Department Convention in Spearfish in June.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET
The South Dakota American Legion Legislative Committee will hold its annual meeting on Monday, October 30, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pierre Post 8 American Legion. The primary purpose of the meeting will be to formulate the Legislative Agenda for the South Dakota American Legion for the 2007 South Dakota Legislative Session.
It is anticipated that the Legislative Committee will also receive an update for the South Dakota Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on their proposed budget for FY-2008 and legislative issues which would impact on veterans and/or veteran service organizations.
VAVS COMMITTEE TO MEET
The Department Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service (VAVS) Committee will be meeting in Pierre on Tuesday, October 31, 2006. Department Commander Gunner Baatrup and Department VAVS Committee Chairman Clarence Blunck of Platte have issued an official call for the members to attend the annual meeting which is being held at the Pierre American Legion Post Home. Committee members receiving the call include committee members LaVaun Holan of Chamberlain, Larry Roggenbuck of Big Stone City, Don Smith of Clear Lake, Kenneth Van Kekerix of Witten and Ollie Redden of Pierre, along with VA Hospital Representatives Kerwin P. Douthit of Hot Springs, Larry Rounsevell of Nemo and Darwin Wahlert of Sioux Falls.
The VAVS Committee members and the Hospital Representatives will formulate the Department’s VAVS program for the upcoming Christmas holiday season and discuss plans to satisfy some of the needs of the various veterans facilities.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2007 membership stands at 17,954, or 68.99 percent of the 2007 membership goal.