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. 2937 November 29, 2006
KEEP YOUR TAX EXEMPTION
Post officials are reminded to file IRS Form No. 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, if applicable, for the fiscal year. In most cases, a Post’s fiscal year is from election to election, or April to April. If they are not sent to Posts, these forms are available from your nearest IRS office.
IRS Form 990 requires a general exemption number, or GEN. The blanket GEN for all American Legion organizations, including Posts, is 0925.
One of the items requested is the Post’s Federal 501(c)(19) exemption number, which in most cases is unknown to Post officers. This is a nine digit number that normally starts with the digits “46”. This exemption number should be on all of your Post’s financial records and data. If your Post exemption number has been reported to Department Headquarters, we will have a record of that number.
TAX REMINDER
All Posts enjoying tax-exempt status with their real estate property should check with the county Director of Equalization between now and the end of the year to ensure that the proper forms and information are filed on a timely basis.
Post officials are reminded again that they may have to complete an application for property tax exemption as required by law.
The 2007 assessment date was November 1. Valuation notices will be mailed next March, and any resulting taxes must be paid in 2007.
EDUCATIONAL LOAN APPLICATION DEADLINE
January 10, 2007 is the deadline for submitting applications for educational loans from the South Dakota American Legion Educational Loan Fund. The program has two deadlines each year for the submissions of applications: January 10 and July 1.
Loans of up to $1,500 per person, per academic year, are available and will be granted on the basis of need and prospective best use of the training sought, as determined by the Educational Loan Committee. It is further provided that no person may borrow in excess of a total of $3,000 from the Educational Loan Fund. The loans draw 3% interest on the unpaid balance. Repayment commences 90 days after graduation or withdrawal from school.
The loan applicant must be (1) a veteran who is eligible to belong to The American Legion; (2) the child of a veteran who is eligible to belong to The American Legion; or, (3) the grandchild of a veteran who is eligible to belong to The American Legion. The applicant, parent or grandparent does not have to belong to The American Legion; they must only be eligible to belong.
NOTE: The eligibility of grandchildren is a recent change to the Educational Loan Program. The eligibility of grandchildren was the result of a resolution passed at the 88th Annual Department Convention in Brookings in June of this year. The program was previously only open to veterans and children of veterans. If you have grandchildren who are attending college you will want to check this program out.
Loan applications can be obtained from The South Dakota American Legion State Headquarters in Watertown. The completed application must be signed by the local Post Commander or other Post officials and must be submitted to the Secretary of The South Dakota American Legion Educational Loan Committee at State Headquarters, PO Box 67, Watertown, SD 57201.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIREFIGHTER/EMT OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
Nominations for The American Legion Department of South Dakota Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and Firefighter/EMT of the Year are due to State Headquarters by January 12, 2007. One nominee from each of the two categories will be selected as the Department Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and Department Firefighter/EMT of the Year. These two individuals will be recognized at the South Dakota American Legion Department Convention in Spearfish in June 2007. The nomination for the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year will be forwarded to National Headquarters as the Department’s nominee for the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.
Recognition at the Department Convention will include, one night’s lodging at the convention hotel, free tickets for the individual and his/her spouse/guest to the Joint Banquet and the presentation of a suitable award from The American Legion Department of South Dakota.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize well-rounded public servants who have exceeded, above and beyond, the duty requirements expected of the positions held and who exemplify the virtues of professionalism and dedication and have demonstrated a distinct pattern of service to the community, state and nation; and also have proven personal dedication to societal security and protection.
Recognition of individuals nominated for this award should commence at the local Post level. After the individual(s) are selected at the local level, the Post should sponsor some sort of recognition program and make a presentation to the individual. Certificates are available from Department Headquarters, signed by the Department Commander and Adjutant. Additionally, the certificates require the signatures of the Post Commander and Adjutant prior to presentation. Press releases should also be sent to the local media along with photographs noting that the individual has been nominated for higher level competition.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year program continues with national level competition. The Firefighter/EMT does not. The individual selected as the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year will receive a trip to the National Convention, to include travel and hotel expenses. The award also includes the presentation of a suitable award and a letter of commendation signed by the National Commander.
Copies of the governing instructions and nomination forms are available from Department Headquarters. Nominations should cover the calendar year from January 1 – December 31, 2006. Nominees do not have to be veterans or members of The American Legion. The nomination package must include a recommendation from their commanding officer or supervisor.
SPORTS AWARDS TO BE MADE
Posts interested in hosting the 2008 sporting events for The American Legion Department of South Dakota have until Monday, January 22, 2007 to submit their bids and invitations to State Headquarters in Watertown.
The State Bowling Tournament will be held during three or four weekends in March and/or April 2008.
The State Golf Tournament will be held either the third or fourth weekend in June 2008. (The 2nd weekend is the Department Convention in Watertown.)
Tentative dates for the Class B State Baseball Tournament are July 30-August 3, 2008.
Tentative dates for the Legion State Championship Baseball Tournament are August 6-10, 2008.
To ensure that participating baseball teams take home some money to pay expenses, the State Athletic Commission requires that bidders for the baseball tournaments guarantee a split of $2,500 for the “B” Tournament and $7,500 for the Championship Tournament.
Bids will be reviewed by the Department Athletic Commission at its annual meeting prior to the MidWinter and the Commission’s recommendations will be presented to the Department Executive Committee at its MidWinter meeting in Huron, on February 23, 2007.
ENCLOSED FOR ALL
Enclosed for all recipients is a letter from Department VAVS Chairman Clarence Blunck of Platte reminding us all that Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services is a year-long program at our VA facilities and at the South Dakota State Veterans Home.
Last month you received a letter from the VA Hospital Representatives at our VA facilities and the State Veterans Home asking for donations for the holiday seasons. Chairman Blunck’s letter is not time specific – he reminds us all that without the support of the Veterans Service Organizations such as The American Legion throughout the year, there are many services that would not be provided to our fellow veterans who are hospitalized.
Commander Baatrup encourages all members of the Legion Family, as individuals, and Posts, Units and Squadrons to undertake a program of making regular donations, contributions or your time to support these important volunteer services at our VA facilities and the State Veterans Home.
COMMANDER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS
Commander Baatrup has announced the following appointments:
Dan Sudbeck of Dimock to a one-year appointment as Chairman of the Department Athletic Commission.
Dale Kurth of Claremont to an additional one-year appointment as a member of the Department Athletic Commission.
VETERANS DAY MEMBERSHIP AWARDS
The following membership awards have been earned for membership activities by the Veterans Day Membership Target Date. These awards will be presented at the MidWinter Conference in Huron on Saturday, February 24, 2007.
PUFL Drawings – One drawing for every 50 PUFL memberships purchased by December 31, 2006. The individual(s) whose names are drawn will receive a 50% refund on the purchase price of their PUFLS: Craig McQuarie of Hoven Post 159; Al Sebert of Aberdeen Post 24; Lloyd A Howell of Watertown Post 17; and Joseph Baisley of Eureka Post 186.
Individual Awards – A drawing from the names of all Legionnaires (including PUFLs) who have paid their 2007 membership dues by November 15th. One drawing per District – those whose names are drawn will receive a desk flag set that includes the five service flags and the US flag. Those drawn are as follows: Dist 1 – Harvey Ellefson of Dell Rapids Post 65; Dist 2 – Carl Robson of Wentworth Post 161; Dist 3 – Daryl Rust of Estelline Post 184; Dist 4 – Richard Snaza of Roslyn Post 253; Dist 5 – Larry Sell of Tulare Post 292; Dist 6 – Russell Fouberg of Letcher Post 93; Dist 7 – Edward J. Schnaidt of Menno Post 152; Dist 8 – Shane Gardner of Witten Post 167; Dist 9 – Chris Bordeaux of Rosebud Post 125; Dist 10 – Richard Ping of Blunt Post 77; Dist 11 – Willard Ottman of Lemmon Post 66; Dist 12 – Donald Gross of Belle Fourche; Dist 13 – Merlin Crown of Wall Post 246; and Dist 14 – Ronald Backhaus of Pollock Post 272.
Recruiter Award – A drawing of one name from the list of all persons who have recruited one new Legionnaire or who have reinstated at least one Legionnaire by November 15, 2006. The individual whose name is drawn will receive a Legion wristwatch. The winner is Charles Ginter of Sturgis Post 33.
District Membership Chairman Awards – A desk flag set that includes all five service flags and the US flag to each District Membership Chairman who has attained at least 75% of goal and has no “goose egg” Posts. The winners are: Dist 1 – Dick Sievert of Sioux Falls Post 15; Dist 2 – Charemon Dunham of Iroquois Post 180; Dist 3 – Byron Callies of Watertown Post 17; Dist 4 – Hans Nelson of Veblen Post 76; Dist 5 – Donn Grandpre of Conde Post 148; Dist 6 – Allen Stekl of Letcher Post 93; Dist 7 – Wesley Rye of Irene Post 193; Dist 8 – Melvin Lee of Winner Post 16, Dist 9 – Verle Whipple of Martin Post 240; Dist 10 – Bob Kusser of Pierre Post 8; Dist 12 – Duane Riedlinger of Piedmont Post 311; Dist 13 – Roy Coyle of Hot Springs Post 71; and Dist 14 – David Yost of Leola Post 78.
Post Awards – Plaques will be awarded to all Posts that have attained 100% of their membership goal by this target date. The winners are: Humboldt Post 62, Badger Post 260, Erwin Post 241, Ramona Post 216, Wentworth Post 161, Colman Post 278, Hayti Post 217, Pierpont Post 99, Webster Post 40, Virgil Post 268, Cresbard Post 213, Pukwana Post 201, Mount Vernon Post 210, Geddes Post 56, Bonesteel Post 36, Burke Post 28, Fairfax Post 187, Witten Post 167, Allen Post 317, Isabel Post 120, Timber Lake Post 83, Hill City Post 160, and Batesland Post 281.
Congratulations to those listed above. Your dedicated and devoted membership recruiting efforts are greatly appreciated. But please remember what Department Membership Chairman Kaz says – “Just One More!”
Department Commander Baatrup wishes to remind everyone that there is still time for every member of The American Legion Department of South Dakota to get their dues paid for 2007 prior to the dues increase in January. Individual Legionnaires and Post Membership Teams need to be sparing no effort to contact those members who have not yet paid their 2007 membership dues and reminding them that there is this great incentive to paying prior to the end of the year. Wouldn’t it be great to be at 100% by December 31, 2006 and be able to spend the rest of this Legion year concentrating on the recruitment of new members and working the other important programs of The American Legion.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
2007 membership stands at 21,605 or 83.02 percent of our membership goal.
Thank you to all the hardworking membership workers who are devoting time and energy to ensuring that the Department of South Dakota attains this year’s membership goal. Keep up the great work you are doing for God and Country.