Pages 1-7 - American Legion

Transcription

Badger
“For God & Country”
&“Wisconsin”
aire
January 9, 2014
Vol. 91, No. 1
Official Publications of The
Wisconsin American Legion Family
www.wilegion.org
The mission of The American Legion, Department Of Wisconsin is to provide service to veterans, their families and their communities.
Reservations Going Fast for the 2014 Midwinter Conference
New Training Seminars • Saturday Night Event to Honor Vietnam POW Guy Gruters
Training sessions and Educational opportunities will highlight the upcoming Midwinter Conference January 17th through the
19th, 2014 at the Ho-Chunk Hotel and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells.
New training sessions on Saturday, January 18th will be offered by members of
the National American Legion Staff. The
new National training initiative is known
as LEAD – Leadership Education and Development. Information on VA Enrollment
Priorities and Service Connected Disability
benefits for veterans as well as instruction on
Post Operations and Membership Development will be presented in detail.
Attorney Wendy Rusch of Reinhart
Boerner Van Deuren, SC will provide an
in-depth look at Estate Planning issues for
attendees. Her clients include the owners of
family controlled companies, professionals,
individuals, trusts and estates. She is an acknowledged expert in the fields of estate and
retirement planning, in addition to probate
and trust administration. She advises clients
on a wide variety of estate, gift and income
tax issues.
Wendy will expose the myths and realities
of Estate Planning and answer your questions. Think you don’t have an estate plan?
Think you don’t need an estate plan? Think
again. This presentation will provide you
with the knowledge you need to take control of your lifetime and post-death planning.
The session will cover Probate issues, Wills,
trusts, the benefits of marital property and
the power of a durable power of attorney.
The free information provided will help you
plan for future health care needs as well as
gift and estate taxes.
Dr. Jeffrey Whittle of the Medical College
of Wisconsin and the Zablocki VA Medical
Center in Milwaukee will also be in attendance to chair a discussion on VA Hospital
Research. VA hospitals in the state have a
research mission to improve the quality of
care they deliver and need to develop a way
for Wisconsin veterans to provide feedback
on the types of research that is being done.
Dr. Whittle will cover the types of research
currently being conducted and the purpose
of the program. The session is aimed at ensuring that veterans have a voice in directing VA research and can become involved as
participants.
The Midwinter Conference will also feature an Americanism Program Resource
Center on Saturday, January 18th from 10:00
AM-2:00 PM. Information on each of The
American Legion’s signature Americanism programs that benefit young people in
Wisconsin will be available. A highlight
this year will be “Baseball Spring Training
Camp” for Legionnaires, Coaches, Managers, Directors and anyone interested in
American Legion Baseball. Team sponsorship and Registration, Background checks,
Rules & Regulations are a few of the topics
that will be covered.
If you are looking for information on the
High School Oratorical Contest, Badger
Boys State, Boy Scouting, American Legion Baseball, Jr. Shooting Sports, County
Youth Government Day, the A&G Scholarship Program, Schneider-Emanuel Scholarships, Sons of The American Legion, as
well as Children & Youth programs this is
an opportunity for you. Resource tables for
each program will be packed with information for your Post to accept the challenges of
sponsoring and conducting Americanism activities that foster wide-ranging community
service, youth development and educational
advancement.
On Saturday evening a special commemorative banquet will be held featuring National Vice Commander Robert Newman of
Indiana and Vietnam War POW Guy Gruters as our special guests. All Legion Family
members are invited to attend the event.
Guy Gruters is a US Air Force Academy
graduate who flew more than 400 combat
missions over Vietnam and was shot down
twice. Captured by the North Vietnamese on
December 20, 1967, Gruters spent over five
years as a Prisoner of War. During his captivity, Gruters provided care for fellow Air
Force pilot Lance Sijan. Sijan, a Milwaukee
native, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976 largely due to Gruter’s
testimony. Gruters’ own decorations include
two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying
Crosses, two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star
for Valor, the POW Medal and other awards.
Guy will share his inspirational story and
(continued on page 5)
Commander Ken Rynes joined the Sullivan-Wallen Post No. 11 Honor Guard at Lambeau
Field to present the National Colors prior to the Green Bay Packers game on December 8th.
The Packers managed to defeat the Atlanta Falcons that day by a score of 22 to 21.
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PAGE 2
THE BADGER LEGIONNAIRE
“Badger Legionnaire”
& “Wisconsin”
The Badger Legionnaire & Wisconsin are
the official publications of the Wisconsin
American Legion Family and are published
ten times annually, once every five weeks,
by The American Legion, Dept. of Wisconsin
2930 American Legion Drive
P.O. Box 388, Portage, WI 53901.
Periodicals Postage Paid at Portage, WI
and additional mailing offices.
USPS ID Number 010-135
ISSN: 2154-2627
Post Master: Send address changes to
Badger Legionnaire and Wisconsin,
P.O. Box 388, Portage, WI 53901
“Badger Legionnaire”
The American Legion,
Department of Wisconsin
P.O. Box 388 • Portage, WI 53901
Phone: (608) 745-1090
E-mail: [email protected]
David A. Kurtz, Executive Editor
2013-2014 Communications Committee
Kendel Feilen, Chairman
Harold Rihn, Vice Chairman
Dale Oatman, DEC Liaison
Butch Van Rossum, Member
Bernie Olson, Member
Phil Ingwell, Member
Barb McDaniel, Member
Cecil Groves, Historian
Loretta Shellman, Auxiliary Liaison
Bonnie Dorniak, Auxiliary Liaison
2013-14 Department Officers
Commander
Ken Rynes
Vice Commanders
Robert Shappell
John Wolfe
Dan Rindt
Larry Wrycza
Adjutant
David A. Kurtz
Department Chaplain
Greg Simonis
Assistant Department Chaplain
Larry Olson
Sergeant-at Arms
Charles Roessler
Dave Wischer
Service Officer
James Fialkowski
NECman
David L. Gough
Alternate NECman
Steve Krueger
District Commanders
1st – Dave Brisk
2nd – Dan Seehafer
3rd – Rich Ruland
4th – Claire Goodfellow
5th – Ensley Brown
6th – Jeff Puddy
7th – John Thurk
8th – Jerry Krofta
9th – Dale Oatman
10th – Ed Cooper
11th – Frank Kostka
12th – Jim Chapin
Change of Address & Other Information:
Subscribers: To report any upcoming changes
of address, please ask your Post Adjutant to fill
out a Membership Data Form and forward it to
Wisconsin American Legion Headquarters. The
change of address form that will be completed
by the Post Adjutant should not be confused
with the change of address card filled out at the
Post Office. Department financial statements
are available to Legionnaires in good standing
upon written request through their District
Commanders.
“Wisconsin”
American Legion Auxiliary
Department of Wisconsin
P.O. Box 140 • Portage, WI 53901
Bonnie Dorniak, Editor
Joyce E. Endres, Department President
Bonnie Dorniak, Exec. Secretary/Treasurer
To change your address: Notify Unit Secretary
Unit Secretary: Notify Department
Headquarters on a Member Data Form
The “Wisconsin” deadline for copy is
4 weeks before publication date.
Publication Schedule
All articles due to the Editor four weeks
before publication date. Send all copy to
[email protected]
JANUARY 9, 2014
DEPARTMENT COMMANDER
Greetings fellow Legionnaires.
Ann and I hope
that your holiday
season found you
and your family
with health and
Ken Rynes
Department Commander happiness.
The system does
work! Many times we talk about
our resolution process wherein a
post can draft a resolution and submit it up the chain eventually ending up at our National convention
and, if approved by the body, becoming the position of all Legionnaires. Such was the case at our recent convention in Houston. Three
resolutions were passed pertaining
to unfair practices by the IRS in auditing Legion posts. This topic has
generated more questions directed
to me than any other as I travel the
state. So, I am happy to say the sys-
tem does work.
The IRS, after meeting with The
American Legion, released a memorandum revising audit procedures.
According to the new audit rules,
the DD214 is no longer their primary means of membership verification. The auditor will now ask
for: 1.) membership list which we
all maintain, 2.) a document which
shows the dues structure and classes
of membership (i.e. your constitution and bylaws), 3.) the document
used to create membership, such
as the membership application or
membership cards or other similar
documents other than the DD214,
4.) documents showing the organizations policies and procedures for
controlling membership eligibility
and means of enforcing it (constitution and bylaws). Finally, the last
option is that, if the agent has information that contradicts the above,
they may ask for the DD214 with all
personal information blacked out.
I hope that you see the positive
impact of this new policy in regards to your post record-keeping
responsibilities. Each post still has
the responsibility of maintaining
an accurate membership list and
copies of cards along with an upto-date constitution and bylaws,
but no longer needs to provide a
secure place for the DD214, which
has privacy act implications. If the
documents mentioned above are
maintained, which we should all
be doing anyway, an audit will be
painless. I would like to share, that,
if your post is conducting business
in a legal and forthright manner,
your chances of being audited are
very minimal. Don’t raise any “red
flags”.
I hope you understand both sides
of this article. First of all, we have
clear guidance on a long-standing
question when it comes to satisfying
the IRS and secondly, we have seen
the positive result of our organizations resolution process and how it
can work. If your post has an idea,
don’t hesitate to send it up the chain.
I will close with a big thank you
for all your work so far in keeping
Wisconsin in the top three in membership this entire year. We have
won the first membership bet with
the Department of Pennsylvania
and there are many more to come.
You all know that I would never
talk trash to those that we beat. So
make sure we win the other bets
too. (LOL) History, however, dictates that this is when the slide begins. I hope you continue to focus
on the “big picture” of all that we do
and put Wisconsin No. 1 at the end
of this membership year.
-Commander Ken
DEPARTMENT SERVICE OFFICER
Your staff at
the Department
Service Office
considers it a
privilege and an
honor to represent The AmeriJames Fialkowski
Service Officer
can Legion. It
comforts me to know that veterans
and their survivors will receive the
benefits that were earned by virtue
of military service. The Department Service Office has had another busy year, continuing to earn our
good reputation, of which we are
proud. We have completed a two
year project digitally converting
our 15,000+ local files. Be assured,
during the process we made certain
that all documents were handled appropriately.
Over the last 12 months, your
Service Office assisted veterans
and their families in attaining over
142 Million dollars in due benefits.
This equates to over $11.8 million a
month in federal dollars coming into
Wisconsin. To accomplish this goal
we completed over 45,000 Veteran
client services. During that same
time, we have received 20,000 pieces of mail, 11,000 phone calls and
assisted 2,500 walk-in clients. Benefits include education, vocational
rehabilitation, burial, compensation,
pension, death pension, automobile
allowance and dependent indemnity
compensation. Our office administers the National American Legion
Temporary Financial Assistance
program (TFA), which is designed
to protect children of veterans who
are in danger of homelessness.
Through early December, we have
obtained approval of 11 TFA grants
that assisted 23 children with funds
totaling $11,342.68. Since January
of 2007, the Service Office has assisted a total of 144 children with
grants totaling $78,936.72.
Additionally, Service Office staff
participates in Veteran’s Benefit
Supermarkets and Stand Downs
around the state. We are also available to provide training at the Department Midwinter Conference
or District conferences around the
state. We also maintain direct contact with the Directors of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center and Regional Office, as well as American
Legion Hospital volunteers.
One of the most rewarding activities we engage in is reaching out to
veterans who may have been affected by hazards they were exposed to
during their military service. Once
again I am requesting your assistance in advocating on behalf of two
little known yet important issues.
The first issue being the presumption
of ALS (otherwise known as Lou
Gehrig’s disease) as a service connected disability. ALS is a Veterans
Administration service connected
disability to any qualifying veteran
who suffers from the disease. A
veteran with ALS or their widow(er)
should submit a claim to the VA.
The second item relates to legislation known as the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act or “RECA”.
The United States conducted nearly
200 atmospheric nuclear weapon
development tests from 1945 to
1962. RECA establishes lump sum
compensation awards for individuals who contracted specified diseases. Qualifying individuals fall
into three defined populations, with
different award levels for each:
Uranium miners, millers, and ore
transporters – $100,000; “Onsite
participants” at atmospheric nuclear
weapons tests – $75,000; Individuals who lived downwind of the
Nevada Test Site (“downwinders”)
– $50,000. Claims can be filed by
the qualifying individual’s family
members from grandparents down
to grandchildren, if the individual is
no longer with us. You may get assistance through your local CVSO
or the Department Service Office.
Although the Department of Wisconsin has accomplished so much
for veterans and their families,
the future holds much more to be
done. Without your loyal support
and commitment in “Still Serving
America”, this continued assistance
would not be possible. Thank You!
WDVA SECRETARY
The
holiday
season and the
end of the year
is good time to
reflect on all we
have
accomplished and all
John A. Scocos
we have to look
WDVA Secretary
forward to as
we begin a new year. It’s also a fitting time to remember that we still
have servicemembers in harm’s
way in Afghanistan, as well as in
other troubled places throughout
the world. Some of these men and
women in uniform have spent more
holidays deployed than they have at
home – another sacrifice made in
service to their nation.
As always, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs is here to
serve our military veterans when
they come home. From World War
II to Afghanistan our veterans return home to the best benefits in
any state. Some of the best benefits
available are our veterans homes.
When Governor Walker appointed me Secretary of the Department
of Veterans Affairs in 2011, the
Department faced a $12.9 million
deficit related to operations of our
Veterans Homes. I am very pleased
to inform you that now, two years
later, the Department’s homes are
operating at the highest positive income in its history.
With the Legislature’s support I
have taken deliberate steps to not
only improve the financial condition of the homes but to also improve the quality of life for the
members of our homes. The Veterans Homes are very popular among
Wisconsin’s veterans, evidenced by
the occupancy levels and waiting
lists associated with each home, and
our staff retention rate exceeds that
of comparable facilities across the
state.
In February of this year we opened
our newest Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls. Our five-year business
plan projected it would take three
years to overcome the start-up expenses and begin operating with
a net positive income. We have
achieved that in less than one year.
As of November 30th, this year’s
operating income is $671,737, with
an occupancy rate of 99 percent.
The Department also operates
homes at Union Grove and King.
At Union Grove we repurposed
Gates Hall from assisted living to
skilled nursing, consequently increasing the occupancy rate from
10 to 99 percent since its re-opening
in June. The change enabled us to
realize positive operating income
at Union Grove for the first time in
its 12-year history and has boosted
the overall occupancy rate at Union
Grove to 97 percent.
Occupancy at King remains
consistently strong at 98-99 percent. The 2013 State Budget provided additional nursing positions,
thereby reducing overtime and
contract nursing expenses. I am
very proud of the improvements
we have achieved to deliver highquality services to our veterans and
improve the fiscal condition of our
Veterans Homes.
As we enter a new year, we will
continue to build upon our successes and continually strive to provide
the very best programs, benefits and
services to our military veterans.
Happy Holidays and I wish you all
a Happy New Year
JANUARY 9, 2014
PAGE 3
Camp American Legion: Making a Difference
It’s “that
time
of
year” and
once again
the classic
Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been enjoyed by a
whole new generation of viewers. At the start of the film, James
Stewart’s character George Bailey was feeling an all-consuming
sadness which led him to say “I
wish I had never been born”. But
by the end of the story he is filled
with total joy, contentment and
happiness. It all happened simply
because he finally saw in his heart
all the people that cared for and
loved him. Through his Guardian Angel, Clarence, he finally
realized how his life positively
impacted and changed the lives
of many others. He saw just how
important his life really was and
the true value of it.
Over the holidays I received a
very beautiful card that pulled at
my emotional heart-strings. It was
a thank you card that touched me
so, that I wanted the message to
touch your heart as well.
Susan and Noah attended our
“Camp Serenity” Families-of-theFallen weekend this past summer
here at Camp American Legion.
It is held annually for Wisconsin
families who have lost a service
member and it is an incredible
time of emotional sharing and
healing. They came to honor
Bradley S. Tetting of the Wisconsin Army National Guard
who was 34 years old when he
died on October 6, 2012.
Christmas is such a special
time and Susan’s words take on
a special meaning. One might
be struck with sadness upon first
reading Susan’s words but for
me, that sadness quickly turned
to joy. We can all take comfort
because Camp American Legion, “our camp”, helped to
heal Susan and Noah. Wisconsin American Legion Family;
Susan’s card is not to me. She is
writing to each and every one of
you to say “Thank you”. And I
thank you also.
Legionnaires, Sons, Auxiliary
members, and Legion Riders;
always remember that often the
good work we do may go unnoticed. None of us really know
when we will profoundly touch
someone’s life in a very deep
and meaningful way. We don’t
know when we will positively
impact someone’s life or maybe
even positively change someone’s future. That is the work we
do, big and small. The services
we provide are very important
and making a difference in real
people’s lives. Please feel happy
and proud.
I’m truly convinced that Camp
American Legion is a real treasure and a gift we can give to our
fellow veterans and their families.
Camp is among all the programs
and services we offer as gifts to
our communities, state and nation. Everything we do in service
to help our veterans, servicemembers and their families is a gift
from us to them. They are more
of a gift than those wrapped under
the Christmas tree.
It is my desire that Susan and
Noah know that while Bradley left us as a relatively young
age, he lived a wonderful life.
Susan and Noah, the Wisconsin
American Legion Family and
Camp American Legion thank
you for giving us the opportunity
to serve you and help you heal.
God bless.
Kevin Moshea
Director
Camp American Legion
Department Legislative Committee Report
As Department Legislative
Committee Chair I am thrilled to
share many of the State legislative
successes for 2013. It has been a
great year for veterans in Wisconsin and The American Legion deserves a great deal of credit for the
achievements.
Because the details of the many
initiatives would take up this entire issue of the Badger Legionnaire, I would like to provide a
summary of each below. If you
have any questions regarding specific items, more information is
available by contacting Department headquarters. I look forward
to continuing to serve as Legislative chair and am available for any
questions you may have, as well
as hearing your ideas on how each
of us who has worn the uniform
can receive the treatment and benefits we have so rightfully earned.
PASSED IN TO LAW
Wisconsin ACT 17- Indication
of veteran status on a state issued
driver’s license.
Wisconsin ACT 18- Designation and marking of State Highway 128 as the “128th Infantry
Memorial Highway”.
Wisconsin ACT 19- Creation of
an individual income tax exemp-
tion for military income received
by active duty members of the
U.S. armed forces who die in a
combat zone (prior to this law’s
passage, only federal income was
exempted).
Wisconsin ACT 55: Creation of
the “Purple Heart Conservation
Patron” license within the Department of Natural Resources.
This law provides for all Purple
Heart recipients, who are residents of Wisconsin, a catch-all
license that covers all outdoor
hunting and fishing (except for
bear and wolf) and admission to
state parks at an annual rate of
only $10. Further, the law provides that non-resident Purple
Heart recipients can hunt and fish
in Wisconsin for the resident fee.
Wisconsin ACT 56- This law
provides veterans and members
of the armed forces priority registration for courses at the University of Wisconsin system schools
and technical colleges.
And of course the passage of a
biennium budget by the Governor and Legislature that was one
of the best pro-veteran budgets
we have seen in years.
ONGOING EFFORTS
The current legislative session
ends on April 3, 2014. Below are
some bills that the Legion is still
working on:
AB 114/SB 106- Creating a
veteran-themed lottery game,
and changing the primary sources of funding for the veterans and
surviving property tax credit.
SB 370/AB 466- Setting a goal
for the State to issue procurement contracts, and certain construction contracts to certified
service connected disabled veteran owned businesses of 1% of
all contracts.
SB 13/AB 19- Changes to torts
and personal injury trust legal
claims. This legislation would
detrimentally affect the efforts
of veterans who were exposed to
asbestos during their time in the
service (and after) from seeking
justice and compensation for suffering and ultimately dying from
mesothelioma. The American
Legion opposes this legislation
and encourages all of its members to contact Majority Leader
Senator Scott Fitzgerald’s office
and Governor Walker’s office
asking that this bill not pass.
Thank you for the honor of
serving as the Department Legislative Committee Chair.
Jason E. Johns
US Army - OIF 2003-04
We would like to wish all Legionnaires and
their families a happy and healthy New Year!
Bradley S. Tetting
ANNUAL COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
On December 15th, the Carl
E. Grabman Post No. 329
of Briggsville in Marquette
County held a free community
breakfast. The annual breakfast is designed to show appreciation for the support the
community provides the post
during the year. Legionnaires
cooked up a hearty meal and
Santa made a visit with the
help of post member Matt
Friend. American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 329 provided
the treats and held a Christmas
Cookie bake sale.
PAGE 4
David Wischer
Charles Roessler Stephen Krueger
JANUARY 9, 2014
John Wolfe
Candidate for
Department Sergeant At Arms
Candidate for
Department Sergeant At Arms
Candidate for High Office of
National Executive Committeeman
Candidate for High Office of
Department Commander
David Wischer is a Candidate for reelection as a Department Sergeant at Arms.
He served in the Army during the Vietnam
era and is a Honorary Life Member of the
H.A. Todd Jr. Post No. 537 in Milwaukee.
He has served twice as Post Commander and
achieved 100% in membership in each term.
David also served as the 4th District Sergeant at Arms for five years and was instrumental in support of the 2010 National Convention held in Milwaukee. He is a graduate
of The American Legion Extension Institute
and served on the Department Membership
Committee for seven years.
David attended Badger Boy’s State as
a High School student and is currently involved with orientation and registration at
Badger Boys State. His wife Trish and their
two sons and two grandsons are all members
in The American Legion Family.
He has the endorsement of his Post, the
Milwaukee County Council, and the 4th
District.
“It has truly been an honor to serve as one
of the Department’s Sergeant at Arms this
year and I would like to continue assisting
the Department and its Members.”
Charles Roessler earned the privilege of joining The American Legion
through service in the US Air Force
from 1975–1979. Charles also served
with the 128th Aerial Refueling Wing,
WI Air National Guard from 1982–
2003 where he retired as a Master Sergeant with 27 years of military service.
Charles served as a Milwaukee Police Officer for 25 years and has over
30 years of total law enforcement experience. He served 2 terms as Milwaukee Police Post No. 415 Commander reaching 100% membership
each year.
He also served 2 terms as the 4th
District Sergeant at Arms and is presently serving as a Department Sergeant at Arms.
He is currently a consultant to the
National American Legion Countersubversive Activities Committee (3
years) and served on the Department
Fundraising Committee for three
terms.
Charles served on the 2010 Milwaukee National Convention Committee
as a board member, provost and distinguished guest chairman.
In 2005 he was named the Department Edward Ormsby Law Enforcement Officer of the Year as well as
National American Legion National
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
He is married to his wife Nancy of 28
years and has two children, Daniel and
Valerie.
It has been his honor to serve the
Department and he looks forward to
continuing to serve as your Sergeant at
Arms in the future.
Steve served as Department Commander
in 2001-2002. Steve is an Honorary Life
Member of the O.L. Arnold – D.K. Slayton
Post No. 100 in Sparta. He has been a member for forty continuous years and served as a
100% Post Commander in 1991-1992, both
years being an all time high. Steve also was
a 100% County Commander for two years.
He has served on and chaired many Department Committees including the Americanism & Government Testing program,
Membership Committee, Safety Committee,
Hospital Committee, Fundraising Committee, Convention & Activities Commission,
the Wisconsin American Legion Foundation
and the Department Executive Committee
for seven years. He has attended every Department Convention and Midwinter Conference since 1988. He has attended nine
National Conventions, serving on both the
Americanism Committee and the Security
Council. He has served at various levels of
the Forty et Eight and is a charter member of
the Past Chef De Gare Club. Steve has been
appointed to review applications for Military
Academies by Congressman Ron Kind for
the past eleven years.
Steve earned the right to join The American Legion by serving in the Navy from
June 1966 to October 1969, most of which
in Vietnam. After a short stint in the Naval
Reserves, he joined the Wisconsin National
Guard and retired as a First Sergeant in 1990.
He worked at G. Heilman Brewing until
1990, when he froze his retirement and went
to work at Fort McCoy. In 2006 he started
his own trucking company.
Steve works to improve The American
Legion, Department of Wisconsin, and to
provide service to fellow veterans and their
communities. He truly believes in The
American Legion Family and that service to
fellow veterans, their families, community,
state and nation are the most fulfilling acts a
veteran can perform.
Department Vice Commander John
Wolfe announces his candidacy for the high
office of Department Commander. John,
a 9th District Legion Rider, is a PUFL
member of Sullivan-Wallen Post No. 11 in
Green Bay. He earned his Legion eligibility by serving in the U.S. Navy from 1968
to 1975 during the Vietnam Era. He has
served as Department Vice Commander,
District Commander and was a Commander of Post No. 11 for four years, three as a
100% commander.
John is a graduate of The American Legion Extension Institute. John served two
years as Chairman and DEC liaison to the
Badger Legionnaire committee, as well as
DEC liaison to the Legislative committee.
He has served on the National Distinguished
Guests committee, the National Foreign
Relations Council and is presently serving
on the National Veterans Employment and
Education Council. He has also served as
the Legislative liaison to U.S. Representative Ried Ribble for the National Legislative Commission. He is presently the Chef
de Gare of Voiture No. 774 of the 40 et 8.
John believes that Legionnaires should
be active in the community and that the
Legion and community organizations
working together can only improve the
services that we provide to the veterans
of the state of Wisconsin. Commander
Wolfe is a member of the Loyal Order of
Moose 801, and is a member and Trustee
of Elks Lodge 259 in Green Bay. Annually he provides numerous volunteer hours
to the March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis, Leukemia Foundation and a host of
local community events. He was named
post Legionnaire of the Year in 2004 for
his service to the community.
John is supported by his wife of 40 years,
Suzanne and has the endorsement of Voiture No. 774, Post No. 11, the Brown County Council and the 9th District.
John Thurk
Candidate for
Department Vice Commander
7th District Commander John Thurk
announces his candidacy for the high office of Department Vice Commander.
John earned his eligibility to join The
American Legion by serving in the United
States Army during the Korean War era.
Commander Thurk has been an American
Legion member since 1996 and is proud
to belong to the Coon Valley Post No. 116.
John has served in a number of positions at Post No. 116 including 5 years
as Post Commander. The post reached
all-time highs in membership 3 times during his tenure. John has served as Vernon
County Commander and currently serves
as 7th District Commander. Commander
Thurk has also served as the Department
Americanism & Government Scholarship
test program Chairman for 4 years.
John encourages everyone to ask a
veteran they know to join The American
Legion and is asking for your support and
your vote for the high office of Department Vice Commander.
Message From The Legionnaire Insurance Trust
The Wisconsin
American Legion
and the Legionnaire Insurance
Trust (LIT) are
constantly looking to improve the value of your membership. And, we have some exciting
news to report!
Since 1966, the LIT has been offering
a competitive, dependable package of insurance choices to protect Legionnaires
and their families. Our goal is to continue serving The American Legion family for decades to come. With the future
in mind, we are pleased to announce that
effective January 1, 2014, the A+ rated
Transamerica family of insurance com-
panies will become the new provider for
our Hospital Indemnity Protection and
Cancer Care programs with additional
programs to follow soon.
Transamerica is committed to
serving Wisconsin Legionnaires and
their families with superior customer
service that has made them an industry
leader for over 100 years. Transamerica
is also dedicated to staying ahead of your
insurance needs in a changing world and
will periodically update their coverages
to stay current with insurance laws and
regulations as well as how healthcare is
delivered.
If you are one of the thousands of Legion families currently enrolled in these
products, rest assured that the transition
will be as simple as possible. All you
have to do is pay your next bill and your
coverage will continue.
New products will be coming on board
soon because of the LIT’s partnership
with Transamerica and you will see these
items offered to the Wisconsin American
Legion family in the coming months.
We look forward to this new partnership with Transamerica, and to continuing
our commitment of service and protection
to you and your loved ones.
NOTE: Don’t forget the “No Cost To
You” LegionCare Accidental Death policy available to all members. To apply,
contact Department Headquarters at (608)
745-1090 for information and an enrollment form.
JANUARY 9, 2014
South Korea Offers Gift to Korean
War Era Veterans
Free Commemorative Book Now Available
To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, the
Wisconsin Departments of Military Affairs and Veterans Affairs
are partnering to distribute a special book to those veterans who
served in that conflict.
“Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60
Years of Growth” is available for
free to Korean War Veterans or
family members as a gift of gratitude from the Korean government.
The hardbound, full-color, 175page commemorative is provided
to honor these great veterans and
their families for their service and
sacrifice.
The Korean War began in June
1950, when the pro-communist
North Korean Army invaded South
Korea. American troops entered
the war as part of the United Nations forces defending South Korea. Nearly 1.8 million Americans served in Korea from 1950 to
1953, and over 36,000 were killed.
More than 132,000 men and women from Wisconsin served in the
war. Today, there are over 40,000
Korean War veterans living in
Wisconsin.
The book was published in Salt
Lake City and was paid for by the
South Korean public and private
sectors. The free book is available
to be picked up at the following locations:
• County Veteran Service
Offices
• WI Veterans Museum on the
Capitol Square in Madison
• WI Department of Military Affairs, 2400 Wright Street, Madison
• Also various veteran service organizations and the
Wisconsin Korean War Veteran Association will have
copies available.
Request the book online
(http://dma.wi.gov/dma/dma/
bookRequest.asp) or call 608242-3239. The book is available one per veteran or family.
Midwinter 2014
Department Commander Ken Rynes met with Major General Don
Dunbar of the Wisconsin National Guard in December. Commander
Rynes briefed the General on recent developments at Camp American Legion and other programs that support Wisconsin service
members and their families.
(continued from page 1)
speak about many of the team
building techniques that he
learned from the best team he
was ever associated with, his
fellow POW’s at the infamous
“Hanoi Hilton”. At the conclusion of the Team-building
Banquet the $1,000.00 Membership Bounty incentive
drawing will be held.
Please mark your calendars
and save the dates of January 17th through 19th, 2014.
Bring your family and enjoy
the indoor water parks, attractions and many activities offered in the Wisconsin Dells
and the Ho-Chunk Hotel, Casino and Convention Center.
Visit www.wilegion.org or
call Department Headquarters
at (608) 745-1090 for Housing
and Registration Forms.
PAGE 5
2014 MIDWINTER CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Friday, January 17
8:00-10:00 AM
Americanism Committee
Lower Dells-E
8:00-10:00 AM
Fundraising Committee
Lower Dells-FG
8:00-10:00 AM
Membership Committee
Lower Dells-A
8:00-10:00 AM
Convention & Activities Commission
Lower Dells-I
10:00AM-12:00PM Camp American Legion Committee
Lower Dells-B
10:00AM-12:00PM Legislative Committee
Upper Dells-C
10:00AM-12:00PM Communications Committee
Lower Dells-CD
10:00AM-12:00PM Religious Emphasis Committee
Lower Dells-Salon A
Upper Dells-E
10:00AM-12:00PM Hospital Committee
12:00 PM
Past Sergeant At Arms Meeting
Stand Rock Buffet
12:00 PM
NEW! Past Dept. Vice Comm. Lunch
Upper Dells-D
1:00-3:00 PM
VA&R Committee
Lower Dells-CD
1:00-3:00 PM
Finance Committee
Lower Dells-A
1:00-3:00 PM
National & Homeland Security Committee Lower Dells-FG
1:00-3:00 PM
Policy Committee
Lower Dells-E
1:00-3:00 PM
Children & Youth Committee
Lower Dells-I
3:00 PM
WI Legion College Alumni Assoc.
Upper Dells-E
3:00 PM
Wisconsin Historian’s Association
Upper Dells-Board Rm
3:30 PM
Golf Association
4:00 PM
GNUTS Social Meeting
Upper Dells-D
5:30 PM
Past Commanders Club Meeting
Lower Dells-E
2:00 PM-4:00 PM SAL Meeting
Lower & Upper Dells
Saturday, January 18
10:00-3:00 PM
Blood Drive
Lower Dells-A
10:00-2:00 PM
Americanism Resource Area
Upper Dells Atrium
9:00 AM
VA Enrollment & Priorities
Lower Dells-CD
9:00 AM
Post Operations & Membership Dev.
Lower Dells-E
9:00 AM
Roberts Rules of Order
Lower Dells-GF
9:00 AM
Computer/Website Training
Lower Dells-H
9:00 AM
Auxiliary Finance Meeting
9:00 AM
Take Control of Your Estate Planning
Lower Dells-I
10:00 AM
Baseball Spring Training Camp
Upper Dells-A
10:00 AM
2nd District Oratorical Contest
Upper Dells-C
11:15 AM
Service Disability Claims Development
Lower Dells-CD
11:15 AM
District/County/Post Leadership Training Lower Dells-E
11:15 AM
Funeral Honors/M1 Training
Lower Dells-B
11:15 AM
Public Speaking & Post Administration
Lower Dells-H
11:15 AM
Take Control of Your Estate Planning
Lower Dells-I
12:00 PM
Auxiliary Luncheon
Upper Dells-B
1:00 PM
Dual Members Club Luncheon
Sunrise Cliffs Café
1:00 PM
National Appointments Luncheon
Upper Dells-D
1:00 PM
Chaplain’s Luncheon
Sunrise Cliffs Cafe
1:00 PM
WALPA
2:00 PM
American Legion Baseball Directors Mtg
Upper Dells-A
2:00 PM
VA Enrollment & Priorities
Lower Dells-CD
2:00 PM
VA Research
Lower Dells-I
2:00 PM
Post Operations & Membership Development Lower Dells-E
2:00 PM
Roberts Rules of Order
Lower Dells-GF
2:00 PM
Computer/Website Training
Lower Dells-H
2:00 PM
Funeral Honors/M1 Training
Lower Dells-B
3:00 PM
SAL Detachment Executive Committee
Upper Dells-E
4:00 PM
Service Disability Claims Development
Lower Dells-CD
4:00 PM
District/County/Post Leadership Training Lower Dells-E
4:00 PM
Public Speaking & Post Administration
Lower Dells-H
6:00 PM
Catholic Church Service
Upper Dells-E
6:00 PM
Protestant Church Service
Upper Dells-C
7:00 PM
Rhino’s Midwinter Team Building Ball
Upper Dells-B
Sunday, January 19
9:00 AM
Department Executive Committee
Lower Dells-B
Noon
Midwinter Sweepstakes Drawing
Lower Dells-B
Camp Meeting at Midwinter
Wisconsin American Legion Family, I personally invite you to attend
this meeting of the Camp American
Legion Committee. Wherever you
live I encourage you to pack a lunch,
saddle up your horses and come to the
Wisconsin Dells. Pull together your
Post, Unit and Squadron members and
make a Post sign to hold up and make
your presence known.
Camp American Legion is “your”
camp. Every one of you is important
to Camp. You show your personal
commitment to Camp every day
through your fundraising, donations,
cabin sponsorship, work parties,
volunteering and all you do. Camp’s
success over the years has come
about only through your efforts.
Now is the time to celebrate 2013
and plan for 2014.
I look forward to greeting you at
the door, shaking your hand and
thanking you personally.
Kevin Moshea, Camp Director
MIDWINTER CONFERENCE
Camp American Legion Committee Meeting
January 17, 2014 – 10:00 AM-12:00 AM
PAGE 6
The Last
Bugle
9 Wisconsin Rapids
Edward Aughey
II
10 Wausau
Barney W Bagby
K
18 Milwaukee
Donald D Peterson
V
19 Hartford
Eugene Priesgen
V
29 Kewaunee
Kenneth E Skarvan
K
31 Milwaukee
Robert R Lenz
II
36 West Bend
Arthur A Washick
V
38 Appleton
Norman J VanHeuklon II
William E Pulda
V
Lawrence Van Zummeren II
Donald Torbeck
II
39 Marinette
Carl H Johnson
K
41 Kaukauna
Harold Steinbach
II
44 Wabeno
Clifford Marshall
K
47 Portage
Raymond F Robinson II
Harold Hill
II
Robert Okan
K
48 Beloit
Herbert A Dahlberg
K
50 Hudson
Chester Bahneman
K
53 Eau Claire
Charles A Schultz
II
David R Pressler
K
Dennis Slack
V
55 Hortonville
Milan G Vollmer
K
61 Prescott
Herbert Gerke
K
Clair Eaton
II
John Most
II
63 Clintonville
Kenneth Wege
Richard Popp
V
70 Oshkosh
William Crane
II
75 Fond du Lac
Roy A Tindall
II
Michael M Wettstein II
80 New Richmond
Douglas Krumm
K
82 Port Washington
Todd E Hilton
P
Allan J Schowalter
K
Leland M King
II
93 Tomahawk
Gary L Baier
V
Edward Mattheeussen K
97 Dodgeville
Lavern F Heuer
II
118 Thorp
Stanley Kaszubowski II
Richard Alger
K
123 Owen
Donald L Kraut
II
Chester W Nirva
II
125 Chilton
Lloyd L Broker
K
126 Brillion
Lloyd L Habermann II
12/13/13
12/13/13
11/15/13
10/19/13
12/18/13
6/13/13
11/13/13
12/9/13
12/14/13
12/25/13
12/25/13
12/6/13
11/15/13
12/14/13
11/16/13
11/10/13
11/23/13
11/29/13
3/27/13
11/23/13
11/28/13
12/2/13
12/7/13
8/31/13
12/16/13
12/14/13
11/24/13
12/11/13
11/21/13
9/14/13
4/22/13
12/14/13
10/26/13
11/8/13
7/31/12
12/15/13
5/10/13
11/8/13
12/6/13
12/6/13
12/22/13
11/23/13
11/28/13
131 Colfax
Kenneth V Iverson
II
138 Viroqua
Charles O Johnson
II
Daniel R Jacobson
II
146 Beaver Dam
Frank Koronkiewicz K
148 Bloomington
Harold Crubel
II
152 Menasha
Dean T Kamps
II
162 Alma Center
Francis N Michels
II
179 Chetek
George Webb
II
180 Milwaukee
II
Edward Rybicki
182 Park Falls
Eugene Miesbauer
K
185 Grantsburg
Robert W Anderson K
188 East Troy
Frank G Krueger
II
189 Watertown
Kenneth J Robillard K
Charles L Wendt
V
193 Batavia/Beechwood
Gaylord Krahn
II
205 Janesville
Ralph L Schuett
206 Wonewoc
Dale E Scott
V
243 Plymouth
David Reichardt
V
245 Cross Plains
Philip J Virnig
V
250 Adams
Joseph Pietrowski
K
261 Greenbush
Victor R Schilling
V
272 Butternut
Gregory Halverson
V
280 Coleman
Robert Martens
II
286 Oostburg
Howard J Arentsen
II
Erwin Hendrikse
II
288 Cedarburg
Garth Hoffmann
II
294 Hartland
Frederick Kandler
304 Palmyra
Clarence Drewa
II
305 Johnson Creek
Dalen Soholt
K
310 Racine
Calvin C Kousek
II
315 Stoddard
Lawrence C Anderson V
318 Lake Tomahawk
Gene A Martishus
II
324 Osseo
Bruce A Brechlin
K
Richard Garber
K
329 Briggsville
Michael A Johnson
V
332 Black Creek
Orville H Zuberbier K
333 Sun Prairie
Donald Stoiber
II
338 Cedar Grove
Carl Huibregtse
K
348 DeForest
Edwin E Wipperfurth II
Delos Derouchey
K
350 Reedsburg
Charles L Montgomery II
355 Grafton
John Klas
V
James Joyce
II
372 Forestville
Wilfred Gebauer
II
385 Korea
Paul Marty
K
387 Plymouth
Orville Knoener
K
12/4/13
1/25/12
9/1/11
11/13/13
12/2/13
9/24/13
12/5/13
11/12/13
12/6/13
11/21/13
11/25/13
406 Milwaukee
Edward Seidner
Floyd K Hubatch
411 Milwaukee
Lester J Schneider
Donald A Schulz
Richard D Heis
Jerome C Grisham
412 Belgium
Eugene J Pierron
436 Wrightstown
Emmett Berken
449 Brookfield
Melvin Dreikosen
Leon D Gosse
Lloyd D Doney
Fred Honkamp
451 Boulder Junction
Robert F Goodwillie
452 Spirit
Carl A Nelson
II
II
11/26/13
11/26/13
V
II
K
II
3/24/13
2/17/13
4/4/13
4/8/13
II
12/11/13
II
11/15/13
K
V
K
K
8/14/13
9/15/13
6/1/13
10/15/13
K
8/25/13
K
7/28/13
Henry Schilling
Robert Tripp
455 Milwaukee
Willie Adams
Leon Whittaker
473 Potosi
Gary R Boyd
482 Bagley
Richard L Blodgett
483 Allenton
Allen Konrath
Raymond C Miller
486 Jackson
Avery W Powers
491 Cazenovia
Joseph F Duren
494 Caledonia
John Grubisic
501 Madison
Clarence F Olson
Abraham G Gross
JANUARY 9, 2014
II
II
II
10/11/13 Lloyd N Kempfer
4/7/13
Peter R Dooley
518 Green Bay
10/14/13 George Kornowske
12/11/13 519 Stetsonville
Frank McLellan
11/22/13 521 Fox Lake
Donald A Willey
12/5/13 522 Hubertus
John A Bayliss
11/23/13 527 Sister Bay
12/12/13 George Kufrin
534 McFarland
10/17/13 Bert L Pullar
539 Green Bay
11/16/13 Janice M Belleau
546 Racine
11/26/13 Elzy L Hill
II
II
11/22/13
7/2/13
II
II
V
K
K
K
II
II
II
6/14/13
11/16/13
II
11/30/13
K
11/28/13
K
12/10/13
II
12/8/13
II
11/27/13
K
12/3/13
II
11/27/13
II
10/30/13
11/18/13
A WORD ABOUT LEGIONNAIRE INSURANCE TRUST
11/15/13
11/21/13
11/30/13
11/25/13
12/6/13
12/16/13
4/28/13
11/3/12
11/15/13
12/8/13
11/24/13
4/28/13
8/8/13
The Legionnaire Insurance Trust (LIT) was formed in 1966 with two primary goals:
to provide Legion families with low-cost insurance protection, and to provide a
source of revenue to participating Legion Departments.
11/26/13
11/8/13
The Trust has been so successful in its over forty-five years that today over
1,600,000 Legionnaires in 49 participating Departments are enrolled in this
unique program.
11/19/13
11/28/13
Also, in the same period of time, hundreds of millions of dollars in claim
benefits have been paid to Legionnaires and their families through the LIT;
and over $52 million in allocations have been paid to participating Legion
Departments.
11/24/13
11/19/13
11/30/13
12/7/13
12/15/13
The first Trust insurance plan to be offered was the Hospital Income Protection
plan, a program designed to pay fixed dollar amounts for periods of hospital
confinement. Over the years, other insurance coverage offered included:
Cancer, Accidental Death, Travel Accident, Critical Illness, Disability Income,
Emergency Assistance, Long Term Care, Medicare Supplement, Discount
Cards, Dental, Whole Life, Auto, Homeowners, Identity Theft, and Home
Health Care.
1/20/13
12/16/13
11/27/13
12/19/13
Since its creation, AGIA has worked closely with the Trust to develop insurance
programs especially designed for Department members and their families. We
are proud to serve you through the Trust and invite your inquiries and
suggestions on any aspect of our activities.
12/9/13
12/16/13
11/7/13
11/17/13
11/21/13
11/26/13
12/10/13
11/29/13
A
JANUARY 9, 2014
PAGE 7
100% POST COMMANDERS
Milwaukee County
American Legion
Christmas Party
Commander Rynes attended the
annual Milwaukee County American Legion Christmas Party
which was held December 4th at
Tanner-Paull Post No. 120 in West
Allis. Also in attendance were Milwaukee County Commander Ray
“Godfather” Pasbrig, 4th District
Commander Claire Goodfellow
and 5th District Commander Ensley Brown. A naughty/nice list
was not made available.
POST NO. 103
Harold Vaughn
POST NO. 216
Eugene Neumaier
REVERSE MORTGAGES
POST NO. 148
Mike Weber
POST NO. 234
David Steinert
Call for a free consumer
guide and personal quote.
-- Must be 62 or older.
-- Never make a monthly
mortgage payment again.
-- Receive a lump sum of
cash, credit line or monthly
payments.
-- Income and credit not
required.
POST NO. 265
Robert Maas
NMLS ID #283509
Let a retired active duty
veteran you can trust
show you how you may
benefit from a Reverse
Mortgage.
Mike Kraus
7365 Kirkwood Court North, Suite 300
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763-355-8540
[email protected]
POST NO. 269
Mark Johnson
POST NO. 433
Lee Pollock
POST NO. 506
Art Booth
$1,000 Membership Bounty at Midwinter
Severson-Cairns Post No.
501 Commander Keith
Lovell and 1st Vice Commander Thomas W. Stolarczyk assist post member William L. Robbins in filling out
his entry to win the $1,000
bounty offered by Commander Rynes for recruiting
new members. The membership bounty drawing will be
held at the Midwinter Conference. Legionnaire Robbins qualified to enter the
bounty drawing by signing
up his wife Christine as a
new member of Post No. 501
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