Moon rises over Minnesota

Transcription

Legionnaire
The Minnesota American Legion and Auxiliary
Moon rises over Minnesota
Volume 96, Number 8
For God and Country
Peggy Moon will be first woman commander
of the Department; Klinkner new chaplain
Peggy Moon, St. Joseph, was elected Department
Commander of the Minnesota American Legion at the
recent Department Convention in Rochester.
Moon, 62, a Vietnam Era veteran, defeated Mike
Schaffer of Fulda by a vote of 491 to 278.
Moon becomes the first woman commander in the state’s
history.
Another contested election developed at the convention
when it was determined that the Department’s constitution
would not allow Department Chaplain Richard Wog to succeed himself. Wog was the only candidate for the position.
At morning caucuses, two candidates came forward,
Steve Klinkner of Madelia and Darrel Redepenning of
Fridley. Both were nominated, and Klinkner edged
Redepenning by a 353 to 315 margin in the voting.
Other candidates elected, without opposition, were:
Gary Olson, Moorhead, Department Historian; Clinton
Burt, Slayton, Sergeant-at-Arms; Joe Bayer, Minneapolis,
Board of Publications Member. Elected Department Vice
Commanders were Glenn Mueller, St. Charles; Arne
Gynild, Willmar; Dennis DeLong, Bloomington; Mel
Buesseler, Hillman; Carl Hendrickson, Cloquet.
Moon is the first woman commander of the 98 who have
held that office.
“The historical perspective is very important to me,”
Moon said in an interview. “They say that women have to
work twice as hard and be twice as qualified to be seen on
equal terms with men. So be it. I just want to set the bar at
a high and attainable level for other women veterans to follow.”
Her theme for the year will be “Celebrating Courage.”
“I like to think of it as knowing inside that some things
are more important than fear,” Moon told the convention.
“Look into your district and find those stories about
courage. As my husband (Sixth District Commander Carl
Moon) likes to say, ‘Say it loud and say it proud.’ We’re
going to celebrate who we are.”
Moon introduced Pat Logan, Bloomington, as
Membership Director.
“I can tell you, I’ll work my butt off as membership
PEGGY MOON ADDRESSES THE CONVENTION
director,” Logan said. “I will do what it takes. I will not
stop.”
He said his theme for the year would be baseball, and he
had helpers throw out Cracker Jacks and peanuts to the delegates while he had “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and
“God Bless America” played on the sound system.
Mike Ash completed his year as commander and thanked
everyone for their support and suggestions through the year.
He joked, “How could I get lost this year with everybody
telling me what to do?”
DEC grapples with Riders’ constitution
The future of The American
Legion Riders in Minnesota
became a discussion topic at the
Department Executive Committee
at the state convention in
Rochester.
Richard Oelschlager, the
Department’s liaison for the
Riders, came to the podium late in
the meeting and informed the
committee that it had never offi-
cially approved the Riders constitution
and bylaws.
The constitution and bylaws had
been presented to the DEC about a year
and half ago, but the documents
were filed but not approved by the
Legion leaders.
Oelschlager said that if the state’s
Riders constitution and bylaws are not
approved, the Riders have no
Department level organization. “If we
cannot meet as a group, then we cannot
do what we do.”
The state Riders annually do motorcycle runs in the state and raise money
for the Legacy Scholarship Fund
Continued on Page 2
among other activities.
Don Pankake, who was commander
when the constitution was filed, said it
would not be a good idea to try and vote
on the document now. “Nobody in the
room knows what’s in it. Nobody
knows what it says.”
Oelschlager replied that it was
crunch time for the Riders. “We cannot
exist without your approval.”
Treasurer Richard Horn said he was
concerned about the liability to The
American Legion should the constitution be passed. “What if something happens and there’s a lawsuit to the
Continued on Page 6
DEC MEETING -- Members of the Department Executive Committee participate in the meeting held just prior to the Department Convention.
August 2014
Charlotte will host
2014 National
Convention
The 2014 National Convention will come back to
Charlotte, North Carolina, this year, Aug. 22-28 at the
Charlotte Convention Center. The convention was held
there in 2002.
The Minnesota delegation to the 96th national convention will be housed at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel
at 555 South McDowell Street. The room rate is $151
per night, and there is a $25 registration fee for each
person attending.
Minnesotans are encouraged to bring their colors to
Charlotte to march in the national parade. Minnesota
has a tradition of massed colors in the parade.
The Department has reserved 100 rooms. Delegates
and others must make room reservations through the
Department headquarters. Parking at the Minnesota
hotel is $13 a day.
The Westin Charlotte and the Hilton Charlotte
Center City will be the two official hotels for the
Legion.
The SAL will hold its convention at the Charlotte
Convention center on Friday and Saturday and Sunday,
Aug. 22-24.
The registration hours for the Minnesota delegation
will be Friday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on
Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Registration will be in
Continued on Page 2
CHARLOTTE CONVENTION CENTER
Resolution will
change delegateat-large process
Minnesota will no longer be shorthanded at national
conventions.
A resolution passed at the Department Convention
in Rochester will allow the Department to fill delegate
seats that are not used by districts.
In the past, districts would sometimes not send a delegate, and the state delegation would be short.
The resolution as amended, says that any district that
does not fill its complete slate of national delegates at
its convention, and if that position remains unfilled at
the close of business on Friday at the Department
Convention, that position will be added to the state’s
list of delegates at large.
The resolution went into effect for this year’s convention, and an unfilled delegate position from the
Eighth District was added to the Department’s list of
delegates at large.
Instead of electing three, as allowed by the bylaws,
four state delegates at large were elected.
Other resolutions were passed or rejected without
much controversy, but a resolution that called for all
districts to have teams in the state’s American Legion
Division 1 (larger teams) tournament engendered quite
a bit of debate.
The resolution came out of the Seventh District and
Continued on Page 2
Resolutions pass at
2014 convention
Page 2
Minnesota Legionnaire
August 2014
Continued from Page 1
was assigned the Sports and Recreation Committee.
This past year, the Minnesota Baseball Committee
changed the way teams advance to the Division I tourney.
In an effort to make things more equitable, the committee
changed the format from each district having tournaments
to setting up 15 zone tournaments. About nine or ten team
were assigned to each of these sub-states.
The perceived problem was that smaller districts only
had a few teams competing for the Division I tourney, and
it wasn’t fair to districts that had many teams. A practice of
giving the larger districts more teams in the state tournament field was not seen as the solution to the equity problem.
The winner of each of those zone play downs would then
advance to the 16-team Division I state tournament – plus
the host team.
Every team in the state had a chance to advance to the
state tournament, but as it worked out three districts, the
4th, 5th, and 9th did not have teams in the state tourney this
past year.
The resolution called for every district to have a team,
and it was defeated in the committee by a 4-3 vote. On the
floor of the convention, Delegate Nick Kakos of the 5th
District asked that it be removed from the committee’s
report and discussed.
Kakos moved that the resolution be passed. “The
changes in Legion Baseball have eliminated one of the cardinal principles in that every district should be represented.”
Kakos went on to say that the way the Minneapolis
teams were distributed into three zone tournaments against
the suburban powerhouses, there was no way a Minneapolis
team would ever advance.
Al Davis, a state vice director on the Baseball
Committee, noted that the Minnesota baseball program was
the largest in the nation, and has been very successful with
teams it has sent on to national competition. It is one of the
few baseball programs in the nation has not seen a major
attrition of teams.
“The Baseball Committee has adapted to changing
times,” Davis said of the change to zone play. “If we start
micromanaging all the programs, it would be a disaster.”
The convention held a stand-up vote, and the resolution
was defeated 115-62.
Resolutions that were passed at the convention included:
-- Calling for a special prosecutor to investigate the
problems at the VA health system.
-- Changing the Korean War era eligibility dates for
membership in the American Legion from ending on Jan.
31, 1955, to “open” through the years following. Congress
sets the dates for wartime eligibility.
-- Calling for 50 percent of VA jobs be filled by veterans.
-- Endorsing Dennis Henkemeyer of Bagley for the
National SAL vice commander post for this coming year.
-- Recognizing the National Guard and Reserve at the
National Convention.
Charlotte Convention begins August 23
Governor VI.
Those who are unable to register at those times should
arrange for someone else to pick up their packet.
The Minnesota caucus will be at the Sheraton in
Mecklenburg 2 and 3 on Monday, Aug. 25, from 8-10 a.m.
The Minnesota Party will also be at the Sheraton on
Monday, Aug. 25, starting with a cash bar at 5 p.m. It will
also be held in Mecklenberg 2 and 3. There will be a Jimmy
Buffet theme and Hawaiian shirts and flip flops are encouraged attire.
The burgers and fixings will be set out at 6 p.m., followed by music and dancing. Tickets are $28 and must be
purchased in advance.
The National Commander’s Banquet will be held at the
convention center on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets
are sold out. The States Dinner will be at 7 p.m. the following night.
CHARLOTTE SHERATON AND SKYLINE
Moon elected
He said the job was tough, but worthwhile. “If I had to
drive five hours to deliver a five minute speech, that was
okay. I was proud to do it.”
He praised his wife, Teresa Ash, Chairman of the Public
Relations Committee, for her work on helping the
Department into the electronic age, in particular for setting
up Facebook pages for the Department and all 10 districts.
The four delegates at large elected by the convention
were Joe Niessen, Wes Thompson, Larry Ryan and Dave
Wendt.
Next year’s convention will be at Redwood Falls.
s Worker’s Compensation
s Social Security Disability
s VA Disability Appeals
Round Table seeks
vets for programs
The World War II Round Table that meets at the Fort
Snelling History Center each month is seeking veterans for
certain programs.
“As you know, finding World War II veterans is becoming more difficult,” Round Table Director Don Patton said.
“My priority for planning programs is the availability of
veterans.”
Those veterans who would be willing to share their
experiences should call Patton at 612-867-5144 or email
him at [email protected].
Programs this year that are seeking veterans include:
-- Sept. 11, Canadian or British veterans from the D-Day
landings.
-- Dec. 11, Any veterans from the 327/401st GIR or
326th GFA or 502nd PIR who were in Bastogne on
Christmas of 1944.
-- Jan. 8, Eastern front veterans from German or Russian
armies.
-- Feb. 12, Veterans fighting in Italy, south of Rome.
-- Mar. 12, Veterans who were in supply and other logistical units.
-- Mar. 26, Veterans of the ground action in Leyte.
-- April 9, Veterans of air operations in the 12th AAF or
the 15th AAF, or British veterans of the Mediterranean.
The Round Table is also supporting the national Glider
Pilots reunion in the Twin Cities on Oct. 2-5 with a symposium. The public will be invited. Glider veterans are sought.
Patton said he is always soliciting ideas for Round Table
programs. The March 12 program was a suggestion by veterans.
Order sheets for the Minnesota Party are available
through Department Headquarters. Tickets for the States
Dinner must be purchased through the Auxiliary
Headquarters.
The annual parade at the convention will be Sunday,
Aug. 24, at 4 p.m. There will be a patriotic religious service
on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the convention center.
Charlotte is named after King George III’s wife, and it is
the second largest banking center in the United States.
There are several tours available, including a brewery,
NASCAR, and the Billy Graham Library.
The American Legion will be offering free workshops on
how posts can participate in the upcoming centennial celebration in 2018 and 2019. Participants are requested to preregister on the national website: legion.org.
Other information on the Charlotte convention is also
available on the website including listings of events and
attactions. www.charlottesgotalot.com also lists attractions.
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Page 3
Endorsements
Kellogg runs for Commander
Jim Kellogg has been
endorsed by the First
District and Adams Post
146
for
Department
Commander for 2015-16.
Kellogg is an Air Force
veteran of Vietnam War era,
and is a life member of the
Adams Post with 38 years
of service.
At the post level, he has
served as commander and
has held nearly every officer position.
He was commander of
the county Legion organization, and he was District
Commander and Adjutant.
At the Department level,
Kellogg has been Sergeantat-Arms, Historian, and
Vice Commander. He has
served on an ad hoc committee, the Executive
Committee,
and
the
American Legion Family
Hospital Association. He
has chaired the Brain
Sciences Foundation for
many years.
He is also a member of
the
Past
District
Commander’s Club.
At the National Level,
Kellogg has served on the
Foreign Relations and
National
Security
Commission, and he has
been to national membership school.
He is a member of the
VFW, the DAV, ANAVICUS and the 40/8.
He and his wife, Brenda,
Marland Ronning has
been endorsed by Osseo
Post 172 and the 10th
District
for
National
Executive Committeeman
for 2015-17.
He served in the U.S.
Army serving from 19591967.
Ronning has been a
member of The American
Legion for 39 years. He has
served Osseo post 172 in all
offices, and most chairmanships.
He has also served the
Rural Hennepin County
Council as Sgt-at-arms,
Vice Commander, and was
Commander for two years,
from 1984-86.
He has served the Tenth
District American Legion as
Historian, Judge Advocate,
Adjutant, Americanism,
Children & Youth and
District Vice Commander
and Finance Committee.
Ronning served as
Department Commander in
2004-2005.
Other
Department
positions
include Sergeant-at-Arms,
Vice
Commander,
Membership Director and a
member of the Executive
Board. He was Post Home
Chairman, Co-Chair of the
Citizens Flag Alliance and
was also on the Funds for
Hospitalized
Vets
Committee. He is currently
serving on the Minnesota
Hospital Association.
Ronning is a past
Chairman, past Secretary
and currently serves as
Treasurer of the “V4V”
Board of trustees (Veterans
for Veterans).
He served the National
American
Legion
as
Committeeman on the
National Membership &
Post Activities Committee,
Consultant on the National
Aerospace
Committee,
Vice Chairman on the
Americanism Council, currently serves as a member
of
the
Veterans
Employment & Education
Council and also, is the current Alternate National
Executive Committeeman
from Minnesota.
He is an active member
of Minnetonka Voiture
1281 of the 40/8.
He is a life member of
The American Legion, DAV
and the VFW. He is a dual
member in the Legion and
Sons of the American
Legion. He is an Honorary
Life member of ANAVICUS
He and his wife, Chris,
have a blended family of
five children, 13 grandchildren and 17 great granchildren. He is retired from IMI
Vision located in Osseo.
JIM KELLOGG
have four children, and nine
grandchildren. They are
members of Sacred Heart
Church in Adams.
Ronning runs for NECman
DSO Newman gets
national appointment
Minnesota Department Service Officer Tom Newman
has been selected for a position on a VA national taskforce
titled VHA Leading Access and Scheduling Initiative
(LASI).
“I believe being a member of this initiative will greatly
enhance our department’s ability to advocate for the veterans we strive to serve,” Newman said. “I’m also looking
forward to entering into the collaborative relationships with
the variety of VA leadership and other taskforce members
with which we’ll be working.”
LASI will have 15 members. Some of the areas they will
look at include:
-- A lack of transparency or accountability in the VA
managment structure.
-- A corrosive culture within the VA that has led to personnel problems that impact morale, and the delivery of
health care.
-- Creating a situation where employees can speak out
about problems and issues.
There are 11 issues in total that the task force will try to
address.
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VA DISABILITY APPEALS
952-201-1799
Former VA Decision
Review Officer
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[email protected]
Dr. Robert
Shelton, D.C.
Page 4
August 2014
COMMANDER’S
COLUMN
By Peggy Moon
This is my first article for The Legionnaire, and I want to
start out by thanking all of you for the wonderful support
you have given me during the campaign, and for electing
me as your Department Commander. Thank you also to
Past National Commander Dan Ludwig for administering
the Oath of Office - a pledge that I do not take lightly.
There is a lot on our plate, and as we tackle the issues that
face veterans today, I want to remember and honor those
who have come before us and work together as a team to
mold a great future for this organization.
In preparation for this year, I have been rereading The
American Legion, An Official History, 1919-1989 by
Thomas A Rumer. The dedication and drive of those veterans who founded this organization is very impressive and
thought provoking. How did they accomplish so much with
so little? I was also amazed that even before they had their
first convention, our founders already knew they needed an
Auxiliary. On page 61, the author writes, “Some of the
group stated that when during the war they wanted socks
and other items of need, it was the women’s auxiliaries
more often than not that sent them.” This reminded me of
Past Department President Dee Dee Buckley’s campaign to
furnish socks to our homeless veterans at Minnesota
StandDown functions around the state. It wasn’t that long
ago, and some of our issues still remain. Some things don’t
change.
As I write this, I am also working on my list of committee appointments for the upcoming year. I will present this
at our first Department Executive Committee Meeting
Mail Call
Thanks to Auxiliary
To the Editor:
Hello, I just wanted to express my gratitude and say
thanks to whom I can. I was at the St. Cloud VA with my
two little ones and my father today and a receptionist gave
my
daughter
a
bag
full
of
wonderful
toys/books/crayons/etc. I was very touched. The bag was
artfully designed and colored and said it was donated by
American Legion Auxiliary/ MN Girls State. I am very
impressed and would like info on how to donate etc.
Thanks again and thank you for your time.
Tony Mack
Privatization
To the Editor
I am a life member of the Legion, my concern is in the
latest edition of the Legionnaire. Tom Mullon who headed
a report on the Phoenix health care I feel spoke out of turn
with his statements about privatization of health care. I live
in a very rural area of Minn and our closet VA facility is 200
miles. I have never had to wait for health care at my local
facility which is way above any treatment I have ever got at
a VA facility. At my local hosp. I am a person not a number.
If you would look at the Big Fork Valley Hospital in Big
Fork, Minn. you would find this is one of the top hospitals
in the nation. We have been fighting to get rural health care
for our older veterans because of the distances they have to
travel to get the care they have earned and deserve. I have
to admit I am angry as those statements that Mr. Mullon
made pertaining to rural and private health care.
Today Bernie Sanders and John McCain introduced legislation to make it easier for veterans to get private health.
Look at the bill at the VFW legislative report. All I have to
say Mr. Mullon get out the urban and get out in the rural
Minn then you will see the hoops we jump threw with the
waiting for our appointments to get the care we need. It
took 6 weeks to get an appointment in St. Cloud. My local
hospital took me in 2 days. You folks seem to not understand what happens outside your little world. Please do not
make statements if do not understand the truth. I really
think if Mr. Mullon cared about veterans he would not make
such uniformed statements. Please pass this along to Tom
Mullon. If you really care about veterans you would come
out with something better than those ridiculous statements.
I’m very very upset because I believe our veterans deserve
better.
Tom Moors
Bigfork
Saturday, August 9, 2014 at Rudolph Priebe Post 172 in
Osseo. The meeting will start at 11:00 a.m. Prior to this
meeting, there will be a Membership meeting at 9:00 a.m.
where our new Department Membership Chairman Pat
Logan will roll out his membership program for 20142015. Please invite your District Membership Chairmen to
attend. Pat has been working hard developing an exciting
strategy to this year’s membership drive, and this is your
opportunity to get the details and ask questions.
The end of this month will find many of us heading to
Charlotte, N.C., for our National Convention. Please
remember to bring your American Flags for the National
Parade. Minnesotans continue to show their pride when
marching with massed colors at this event - and this year
should be no different. Let’s show them the spirit that energizes us.
In preparation for our National Convention, our
American Legion Riders will be conducting their 5th
Annual Minnesota Legacy Scholarship Motorcycle Run
throughout this great state. The Legacy Scholarship provides funds to children who have lost a parent on active
duty since Sept. 11, 2001, for college expenses. You can
view their schedule at mnlegacyrun.org. Please put this on
your schedule and show your support for this worthy effort.
They are a sight to behold.
Finally, remember that September 16 is American
Legion Day in Minnesota. What is your Post doing to mark
this occasion? This bill was signed into law by Governor
Pawlenty in 2010. This is the time to open your doors and
show your community what The American Legion is all
about. Remember, Be Loud, Be Proud.
Memorial Day
To the Editor:
We recently celebrated Memorial Day 2014. Touching
tributes to veterans were on Public TV, and last night Turner
Classic Movies featured ‘The Best Years of Our Lives,’ an
excellent show about 3 G.Is returning home from overseas
after WWII. We’ve all seen recent heart-tugging TV news
scenes of loving wives and children greeting returning veterans. All this brought back memories of a long sad story
commencing the night I returned unannounced in 1956
from deployment during the Korean War as an Air Force air
traffic controller in Alaska. The condensed low lites follow:
A babysitter let me in, and hurriedly left. I kissed the
two sleeping little ones, and waited until my wife and her
live-in boyfriend came home. I had suspected something
like that. When I opened the door, the guy ran down the
apartment stairs and wasn’t seen again (Ironically enough,
he and other of her consorts were patrons of a VFW club
she frequented). I talked to her about divorce, called a cab,
threw my wedding ring in a nearby swamp, paid the driver
handsomely to get me a (after hours) bottle of whiskey and
take me to a sleazy hotel in downtown St. Paul. I drank the
bottle and don’t remember much after that. A bitter divorce
and custody fight, all the way to the state Supreme Court,
followed which I lost of course, being male (The laws and
procedures are strange). I made application with the V.A.
for psychological treatment, not compensation, for
depression ― nowadays it would probably be called PTSD
― but the claim was rejected.
I was hired as a civilian air traffic controller, mostly in
Minneapolis tower, but struggled with depression and
heavy drinking. The whole catastrophe took a psychological toll. It eventually affected work. One night during only
average traffic, I nearly caused a collision between a landing Navy jet and a fully loaded civilian airliner on the runway. Not wanting a repeat of that, I resigned from the FAA.
With no income, I was jailed for not supporting my kids and
at least one other child that she produced and claimed was
mine. Admittedly, I became almost equally irresponsible.
My kids, brainwashed during their entire youth, now blame
ME for results of HER lifestyle choices.
I was rescued years later by an old girlfriend-schoolmate
who remembered my better youth. Even despite her serious
health problems including a stroke 7 years ago, we will
have been happily married 40 years this summer in Forest
Lake, Minnesota. Resolved to expose the legal and social
prejudices that destroy families, I became very active in the
men’s defense movement. Active enough to have been
invited to represent men in families at the April 2014
DOHA Qatar conference on families. The formal invitation
Chaplain’s
Corner
By
Steve Klinkner
Greetings to all American Legion Family Members. My
name is Steven Klinkner from Second District Madelia Post
19 and current Post Commander. My wife, Donna and I
have been married for 42 years and we have two children,
son Jeffrey (Tonya) and daughter Sheila (John), and eight
grandchildren.
Congratulations to our new Department Commander,
Peggy Moon, our first female Commander for the State.
The Second District will also have their first female
Commander, Jennifer Kafka. As we look forward to a great
year, may we ask for blessings upon all of the newly elected Legion officers and committees.
I would like to thank Teresa Ash and Bill Barbknecht for
nominating me for Department Chaplain and introducing
me to all of the Districts on Friday morning. I would also
like to thank the Second District for their support, for without their guidance I could not have made it to this level to
be of service for our Veterans. And of course, it is of honor
to be following the foot steps of past Second District and
past Department Chaplain Don Amundson.
I am looking forward to the new year and in keeping the
faith in God and our country. There are two things we have
to do. First: Exercise your faith; the more you use it the
stronger it gets. The less you use it, the weaker it gets. We
can use our faith every day simply by taking time to pray
and obeying your conscience. Second: Keeping our country
close to your heart. If you do not agree with what is going
on in Congress, either e-mail or call your Senators and tell
them how you feel, don’t be afraid to speak, this is your
country, be proud and stand up for what you believe.
Lastly, I would like to thank Richard Wog for his messages in the Minnesota Legionnaire and his service as
Chaplain to the Department of Minnesota.
God Bless America. Keep our servicemen and women
safe for they are keeping our country safe. Remember them
in your prayers.
letter will be produced upon request.
Yesterday, I should have been, as in many previous
years, with old American Legion friends making the rounds
of cemeteries honoring departed vets, but this holiday I
remained home to care for my 83-year-old good wife who
is approaching death.
Richard F. Doyle
Forest Lake
Reunions
The USS Monrovia, APA-31, will holds its 30th
reunion on September 17-21 at its home port of Norfolk,
Virginia. Sailors and Marines who served on board are welcome. For more information, contact John Slagowski, 302234-0701or the Minnesota contact, Wayne Scheffel, 952890-1112.
The Minnesota
Legionnaire
Official Publication of and Owned Exclusively by
The American Legion, Department of Minnesota
Al Zdon, Editor
First published in 1920 as the Hennepin County Legionnaire,
the Minnesota Legionnaire is now in its 95th year of publication. It is published monthly by The American Legion,
Department of Minnesota, Room 300A, 20 West 12th Street,
St. Paul, MN 55155-2000. Periodicals postage is paid at St.
Paul, MN, and at additional mailing offices. The Legionnaire
is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association and
the National American Legion Press Association.
SUBSCRIPTION: $10 for non-members. Members receive
the Legionnaire as part of their dues.
PHONE: 651-291-1800, 866-259-9163, FAX: 651-291-1057
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The American
Legion, 20 W. 12th Street, St. Paul, MN, 55155-2000. (USPS
No. 013-679.) (ISSN No. 1644270)
ADVERTISING RATES: Contact Al Zdon, 651-291-1800
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.mnlegion.org
BOARD OF PUBLICATION MEMBERS: President Peggy
Moon, St. Paul; Vice President, Bob Locker, Fridley;
Secretary Randy Tesdahl, St. Francis; Treasurer, Richard
Horn, Melrose. Board Members include: Don Amundson,
Blue Earth; Bob Locker, Fridley; Clinton Burt, Slayton; Joe
Bayer, Minneapolis; Pat Logan, Bloomington; Virgil Persing,
Columbia Heights; Chris Ronning, Maple Grove; Sandy
Fredrickson, Glenville.
August 2014
What’s Happening
First Exec Meeting
The first meeting of the Department Executive
Committee will be held Saturday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m. at
Osseo Post 172. It will be preceded by a membership meeting at 9 a.m. Lunch will be available for purchase after the
meeting.
45th Camp-O-Ree
The 2014 Camporee will be held at Legionville Camp on
Sept. 4-7.
The camp is located just north of Brainerd on North
Long Lake. It serves grade schoolers who are being trained
in school safety patrol, first aid, patriotism and other activities.
The dedication of the new learning center at the camp
has been postponed until next year, but all Legionnaires,
Auxiliary, and SAL are invited to visit the camp during
Camp-O-Ree in order to see the progress on the building
that has been accomplished since last year. The building
was used this year, but much taping and painting still needs
to be done.
The organizers of Camp-O-Ree are hoping to have a lot
of new faces at the event.
Activities include: A steak fry, bingo, pork feed,
entertainment, SAL breakfast, fish fry, outdoor games for
all ages, barbeque dinner, and a chili feed.
Campers can pitch a tent, bring in a RV, or stay in the
dormitories. Linens and blankets should be brought if you
intend to stay in the dorms.
There is a $25 fee per adult for those arriving on
Thursday, $20 fee on Friday, and $15 on Saturday. Children
4-17 are charged $2 per day.
The American Legion Riders will be having a fund raiser at Legionville on Sept. 26-27.
For more information, contact Jay Beebe at 218-9637750.
Workshop at Convention
A workshop will be held at the National Convention in
Charlotte on Monday, Aug. 25, from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
at the Charlotte Convention Center, Room 203, Sections
A&B, Ballroom level.
The workshop will prepare posts for the celebration of
the 100th Anniversary of The American Legion which will
begin with the Minneapolis Convention in 2018.
Every post should be a part of the centennial events,
including the creation of a post history and other promotions and events.
There is no fee and pre-registration in not required.
StandDowns Planned
The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans is planning four StandDowns in August and September across
northern Minnesota.
The StandDowns are open to veterans and will feature
legal clinics, StandDown Court, meals, clothing, VA benefit info, claims and services, tax assistance, haircuts, housing info, employment assistance, dependency counseling,
and chaplaincy.
The four StandDowns are:
-- August 21, Virginia, Miners Memorial Building. The
doors will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with a welcoming ceremony at 11:30.
-- August 22, Duluth, Duluth Entertainment and
Convention Center, Edmund Fitzgerald Room. The doors
will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with a welcoming ceremony at 11:30.
-- September 24, Bemidji, Bemidji Armory. The doors
will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with a welcoming ceremony at 11:30. There will be a clothing distribution at 10.
-- September 25, Grand Rapids, National Guard Armory.
The doors will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with a welcoming ceremony at 11:30. There will be a clothing distribution at 10.
For faster registration, please bring your DD-214. For
more information, call MACV at 218-722-8763.
VUMS need members
The Veterans of Underage Military Service are seeking
possible members and others who might have an interest in
the organization.
The organization is open to men who enlisted in the military when they were under 17, or women when they were
under 20 in World War II, Korea and beyond.
For more information go to oldvums.org.
Page 5
VA plans housing hearing
The Minneapolis VA Health Care System is seeking public input on its plans to provide 100 units of affordable
housing for veterans. A public hearing will be held
Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the
Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
The VA intends to lease two acres of property adjacent to
the medical center.
Tax Credit Deadline
Those who served in a military combat zone in 2010 are
eligible for a tax credit worth at least $120 and possibly
much more. You had to be a Minnesota resident during your
service, and have served in a combat zone and received
combat pay.
The credit is for $120 a month for each month in the
combat zone. Applicants have to file 2010 Form M99 to
recieve the credit.
The deadline is Oct. 15.
For more information, call 1-800-652-9094.
St. Cloud Rendezvous
Central Minnesota veterans, their spouses and families
are invited to the second annual Veterans Rendezvous on
Saturday, Sept. 6, at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center.
There will be support, music, and fun provided.
The day will begin with a Suicide Awareness Walk/Run
at 9 a.m. Lunch is available for purchase in the VA Canteen,
or participants may picnic. Live music and entertainment
will be available from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
There will also be free hearing screenings, tours of the
VA, a petting zoo, car and motorcyle show and more.
For more information go to www.stcloud.va.gov.
SAL Deer Hunt
The Sons of the American Legion John Zgoda Memorial
Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt will be held Oct. 3-5 at
Legionville. Those who are qualified should contact Lloyd
Schaeffer at 952-457-2981. Four slots are available.
Hunters will stay at Legionville and will hunt on the
grounds. Evening meals, provided by the SAL, will be at a
local restaurant.
Preserving
Minnesota’s
History
Give the gift of Minnesota
military history to your loved
one.
War Stories II
has 35 stories about
Minnesota veterans and
over 300 pictures.
Books will be available at
the Fall Conference.
To order simply go to
www.mnlegion.org. Credit
cards accepted.
Or use the blank below.
Mail to: Books
Room 300A
20 West 12th Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
Name__________________________ Phone____________
Address__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Please send me _____ copy(ies) of War Stories Volume II
Cost is $29 per book. Includes shipping and handling.
Please send me _____ copy(ies) of War Stories Volume I
Cost is $23 per book. Includes shipping and handling.
Total amount enclosed: $ ___________
Page 6
August 2014
Sons of The
American Legion
By
Dennis Henkemeyer
First of all, I would like to thank the members of the
Detachment of Minnesota for the trust that they have placed
in me by my election to the office of Detachment
Commander.
My election and installation at Legionville was a very
special day because it was witnessed by many members of
my family including my parents, Jack and Harriet
Henkemeyer.
I am eligible for membership in the Sons of The
American Legion through my father who was a United
States Navy Veteran who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. My father is a member of Frank Heinzel
Post 254 of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.
I would also like to thank my longtime friend Ray
DeZurik for installing me and the balance of the detachment
officers. Thanks also for PNC Joe Mayne for the seconding
speech that he gave on my behalf, my wife Denise Milton
for placing the official hat of the detachment commander on
my head, PNC Doug Bible for placing the pin of detachment commander and dual membership pin on my lapel,
and to National Commander Joe Gladden for giving me the
gavel of the office.
I am truly excited about the year ahead and look forward
to all of the programs of the S.A.L. that will be carried out.
Thanks to all of the members that have accepted leadership
rolls and have stepped up to chair the various committees.
Thanks to Paul Spyhalski of Austin for accepting the
responsibility of membership director. Paul will be working closely with all of the detachment vice commanders,
district commanders and squadrons and I am sure that we
will reach an all time high in membership by the end of the
year.
As a matter of fact, I feel that 11,000 is a very realistic
goal for us. Thanks also to PNC Bible for accepting the
position of detachment adjutant.
My project for the upcoming year is the Fisher House in
Minneapolis. This is a new program that the Detachment of
Minnesota adopted at the fall conference last year. I would
like to “stuff the shelves” and “pack the pantries” to make
the stay for our wounded soldiers and their families just a
little more like being at home. Any donations to this project are deeply appreciated.
I would encourage all of you to go to www.mnsal.org
and check out our website.
In closing, I would ask that all of you keep Immediate
Past Detachment Commander John W Affolter in your continued prayers. As most of you know, John suffered a
stroke and has been moved from the hospital to a home
where he is presently rehabbing.
Recovery has been very slow and we wish John all the
best and look forward to seeing him real soon.
The Sons of The American Legion is proud to be part of
the Minnesota Legion Family and we stand ready to do our
part.
Together, Let’s Propel to the Top.
Vietnam exhibit at Ripley
CAMP RIPLEY, MN –
The Minnesota Military
Museum will host a special
Vietnam traveling exhibit
for one day only, Monday
August 4 from 10 a.m. until
7 p.m. The exhibit is sponsored by the Mobile
Riverine Force Association.
The mobile museum and
memorial is dedicated to the
soldiers of the 9th Inf.
Division and sailors of
Navy Task Force 117 as
well as all Navy & Coast
Guard Units in the Mekong
Delta and other areas of
Vietnam from 1966-70. It
is housed in a 48-foot fifth
wheel trailer and will be on
the grounds.
In addition the museum
will be hosting a used book
sale and local author
Wendell Affield will be on
hand to sign copies of his
book “Muddy Jungle
Rivers.”
“We look forward to a
good turnout of Vietnam
Veterans and people interested in honoring those who
served on these river boats”
said Doug Bekke, Museum
Curator.
The Minnesota Military
Museum is open 7 days a
week 10:00 to 5:00 and
located on the Camp Ripley
Military reservation.
DEC debates Legion
Rider constitution
Department?”
Historian Dennis DeLong pointed out that the Riders,
with or without a constitution, is still a program of the
American Legion and the Riders can still meet.
Department Adjutant Randy Tesdahl said that the way it
has been set up was that the connection between the Legion
and the Riders is the liaison – Oelschlager. “It was never
intended to have a cadre of officers.”
Department Judge Advocate Don Walser noted that
Departments around the nation were dealing with their
Riders differently. There is no one correct way to organize
them on a statewide basis.
National Executive Committeeman Ray DeZurik said he
was also concerned about the liability. DeZurik moved to
look at the issue again in the August DEC meeting which
will be held Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. in Osseo.
The motion passed and the Rider’s constitution and
Bylaws were moved to the next meeting.
In other business, the DEC:
Heard a report from the Tesdahl on the National
Convention slated or Charlotte, N.C., in late August. He
said that the after-parade party on Sunday will be held at the
hotel in conjunction with several other states including
North Dakota and South Dakota. He said there may be a
jazz band, and samples of Founding Father’s Beer.
LIT Chairman Bill Barbknecht said the insurance program had turned over $101,000 to the Department this past
year. He urged all Legion members to take advantage of the
free Accidental Death and Dismemberment policy.
A representative of Founding Fathers Beer, Bob
Stephenson, told the DEC that a three-year agreement had
been reached with the national American Legion. The
Legion will get half of the profits of the sale of the beer. No
exact distribution of the money had been determined, but he
said he had heard that it would 50 percent would go to the
posts, with 25 percent each to the Department and National.
A motion on changes to the structure of the American
Legion committees was tabled. The motion came from the
Strategic Planning Committee.
Wayne Gilbertson, president of Legionville, said the ribbon cutting planned for September will be delayed one year.
He said funding was at a low point right now, and that there
was other work to be done at new training center. He said
that it’s possible North Dakota school patrol kids could
begin using Legionville. He said that screened in porches
had been added to both ends of each dormitory building.
The DEC voted to endorse Dennis Henkemeyer for SAL
National Vice Commander for 2015-16.
Crisis center set up in Arizona
The American Legion Department of Arizona conducted
a Veterans Command Crisis Center (VCCC) at Post 26 in
Mesa recently, the first of what the department said will be
several similar centers. Department officials said that with
the success of the Legion’s Veterans Crisis Command
Center conducted in Phoenix in June, the department
learned the great benefit of pulling together resources from
the Department of Veterans Affairs and other community
providers to reach out to Arizona veterans with help for
their needs. “We’re going to keep building on the collaboration that we enjoyed with (VA) during the Veterans Crisis
Command Center in June,” Arizona Department
Commander Andy Jaime said. The Mesa center will be
open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Post 26, 505 W 2nd Ave. VA
outreach teams and other community providers will be
available on site.The contact number for the post event is
(480) 213-6277.
Membership Chart
District
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
At-large
Totals
As of July 23, 2014
2015
Goal
9,976
8,110
12,486
2,554
2,959
12,698
7,245
4,768
7,443
11,243
2,340
81,822
Total
2014
9,918
8,026
12,421
2,530
2,936
12,627
7,167
4,727
7,378
11,189
2,338
81,257
Total
2015
2,178
932
2,193
699
516
2,679
1,266
882
1,687
2,352
129
15,513
Percent
of Goal
21.83
11.49
17.56
23.37
17.44
21.10
17.47
18.50
22.67
20.92
5.51
18.96
Same
Date ’13
564
586
601
100
161
1,089
360
741
1,047
823
77
6,149
Veterans Affairs
and Rehabilitation
By
Tom Newman
Tragic Stories
During the past six weeks, American Legion staff has
teamed up with local Legionnaires and Departments of
Veterans Affairs employees in conducting Veterans Crisis
Command Centers in five cities throughout the country.
At these centers, veterans got to meet face to face with
Legion service officers and representatives from the
Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits
Administration. More than 2,000 veterans have come to
these centers for help. And many of those, the Legion’s
Verna Jones told the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
today, have tragic stories to tell.
“I’m deeply saddened,” said Jones, the Legion’s
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation director. “The American
Legion is saddened. We’ve listened to veterans and widows
and children who, one by one, told their stories of broken
promises, pain, mistreatment, delay and, yes, even death.
Many of them – full of hurt, anger, confusion and uncertainty – just wanted to be heard.
“They’ve told their stories many times, but their pleas
fell on deaf ears. The American Legion listened, because
what they had to say matters. We wanted to help. It’s woven
into the very fabric of who we are.”Jones, who has been to
all five crisis centers, told of a homeless veteran who spent
his last $40 on a cab to the center in Fort Collins, Colo., to
get help. In Phoenix, a 70-year-old widow was reduced to
sleeping in gas station bathrooms because VA couldn’t get
her claim right.
“She came to us in tears,” Jones said. “We were able to
put her in front of the VA and get the errors fixed on the spot
in our crisis center.“I talked to a veteran in North Carolina
who had been working on his claim for 14 years. As he left
the crisis center he said, ‘I can’t believe it took me 90 minutes to fix 14 years.’”Jones said she’s read letters from VA’s
Office of the Special Counsel that reference “harmless
errors” that include a veteran waiting more than eight years
for a psychiatric appointment.
“We have veterans taking their own lives, 22 a day, here
in America, and it’s a harmless error that a veteran has to
wait eight years for an appointment?” she asked. Jones said
that those who become whistleblowers within VA should be
put in positions of leadership “so they can set the model for
the people who work for them. You can clear out some
room for them by getting rid of the ones who covered up
veterans waiting for care so they could earn a little extra
money every year.”
Jones said the Legion wants to fix VA – not tear it down
– and that opinion is shared with many other veterans. “I
talked to veterans in every city who has a VA – a place that
belongs to them – and want the doctors who understand
their service and understand their needs,” she said. “When
The American Legion says VA has a problem with access,
with accuracy (and) with leadership, we don’t want to
throw out the VA. We want to fix it.”Jones again referenced
the homeless veteran who spent his last $40 to get to a
Legion crisis center.
“The system was supposed to take care of him,” she said.
“He was broke, he felt broken, and he felt lost. He arrived
after the crisis center had closed for that day, slept at a nearby gas station and walked to the crisis center the next morning. He was at his wits end. This was do or die for him.
“We were able work with VA to get him placed into a
supportive housing program and receive the services he
desperately needed. The (Legion) chairman for Veteran
Affairs & Rehabilitation for The American Legion was so
moved (that) he reimbursed the $40 the veteran spent to get
there because we truly believe no veteran should have to
pay for services they have already paid for by virtue of their
honorable service. That’s what we want for veterans – the
benefits they deserve. They shouldn’t have to get down to
their last $40 to get there.”
Following her testimony, Jones was asked what advice
she had for Robert McDonald, who has been nominated to
take over as VA secretary. “Transparency, so things like this
scandal don’t happen again,” she said. She was also asked
if she though VA’s budget needed an independent budget;
Jones said yes, if it ensures every resource was being used
to care for veterans. The hearing also featured testimony
from acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson, as well as other
veterans service organizations.
[email protected]
VISN 23’s Stromberg and Rep. Tim Walz address the convention
August 2014
Stromberg
Acting VISN 23 Deputy Network Director Chris
Stromberg took on the recent news about long waits and
poor service at the VA head-on at the Department
Convention.
“Trust in the VA is at its lowest point,” he told the conventioneers.
VISN 23 serves the Midwest states including Minnesota,
North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and portions of
five other states. There are 21 such networks across the
country that link area health care facilities.
“This is a critical time for the VA. I’ve never before seen
this amount of critical comments. This is a good time for us
to improve.”
Stromberg said VISN 23 was “quite decent, and competent” in its service to veterans, but improvement was still
needed.
He said the first step the VA made to address the criticism of long waits, and cheating by agency personnel to
make it appear that goals were being met, was to eliminate
the 14-day deadline on appointments. He said that goal was
impossible to meet, and caused managers to falsify their
records to make it appear it was being met.
“It forced people to do things they shouldn’t have done.”
He said the VA will endeavor to increase its transparency about its wait times and statistics and those will be available for all to see on the VA website. He said already major
gain had been made, but it was important for the VA to
maintain those gains. “Check us out online. You are our
eyes and ears. We depend on you for feedback.”
He said there were certain areas of the VA, such as audiology and optometry, that had very long wait times. “We are
working on that.”
Stromberg noted that Minnesota has increased to 14
regional clinics or “CBOCs” throughout the state. And he
said telemedicine was allowing people outside the Twin
Cities to consult with specialists while staying in their communities.
He said that while the wait times and other problems
have cast a negative light on the whole system, he urged
people to remember that it’s still a strong system. “We rank
favorably with health care systems anywhere in the world.”
Walz
Chris Stromberg addresses VA issues.
Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., said Legion members should
be wary of politicians who pay lip service to veterans programs but don’t follow through.
“You can’t swing a dead cat in Washington D.C. without
hitting somebody who’s praising veterans,” he told the state
convention at Rochester. “Then you can’t figure out why
it’s not getting done.”
Walz said the news from the Phoenix VA about long
waiting times for veterans and of mismanagement by staff
has been difficult to understand. “If we cannot stand for
programs for veterans, what can we stand for?”
Walz said we live in a dangerous world where people
need to stand up for what’s right. “Democracy demands we
find solutions.”
But when these veterans come home, America needs to
support them to the max.
“I am the VA’s staunchest supporter, but I am also its
worst critic. If they have failed one veteran, they have
failed.”
He said the recent problems at Phoenix and other places,
and the change of command at the top, presents a great
opportunity to reform the VA where it needs to be reformed.
“It’s a once in a generation opportunity.”
He urged the Legion to continue to watchdog the VA and
push for better quality.
Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., called for VA reform.
State VA Commissioner
Thursday.
Larry
Shellito
-- National Auxiliary Vice President Patricia Steranka of
Colorado told the Legionnaires that their help was needed
in reaching the Auxiliary’s goal of one million members.
She said by making the Auxiliary stronger, the Legion
would also get stronger. “Wouldn’t it be great to look out in
this room and see Legionnaires where all those empty seats
are?”
-- Gov. Mark Dayton paid tribute to veterans organizations and to veterans in his brief talk at the convention. He
outlined the various accomplishments of state government
in recent times including a jobs program, creating the
Minnesota GI Bill, expanding training for CVSOs, and
completing the state funding for the three phases of the
Minnesota Veterans Home at Minneapolis. He said that if
veterans have a problem with government, they should call
him at 651-201-3468.
-- Newly-elected SAL Detachment Commander Dennis
Henkemeyer said that the SAL would soon have a
Facebook page. He said his project for the year would be to
raise money and other donations to the Fisher House.
-- Boys State Lee Krough Award Winner Lucas Mumm
told the convention about his experience in the program. “I
wanted to meet some kids like me who wanted to learn and
improve as leaders.” He ended up losing the race for governor. “But whether I won or lost, I was a winner. Boys State
will not only shine tonight, but well into the future.”
-- Oratorical State Champion Caroline Donaldson, sponsored by Wayzata Post 118 and the 10th District, said that
the scholarships she received at the state level and by going
to the national competition in Indianapolis will help her
greatly when she begins college next year. She said participating, “increased my confidence and taught me many valuable lessons.”
-- Wayne Gilbertson, president of Legionville, said work
on the new training center would begin again after the summer camp sessions were done. He said that the grand opening of the building has been postponed a year until
September of 2015. Part of the problem in finishing the center is that the donation pavers came in the wrong size.
Phil Bellefeuille said the Convention Corporation heard
a report from Rochester on the 2016 convention. He said a
bid by Marshall for the Fall Conference in 2016 was tabled
at this point. This year’s Fall Conference will be sponsored
by Bagley Post 16 and will be held at Mahnomen’s
Shooting Star Casino. He said a questionnaire will soon be
available on the Legion’s website on how to improve
Department Conventions and Fall Conferences.
-- Auxiliary President Shirley Frederick thanked the
Legion for its support during her year. She said that part of
her project will be to send Minnesota Legionnaires to every
VA clinic in Minnesota. She said her life has always been
based on supporting veterans. “I grew up with veterans
since I was three years old. I understand them. I appreciate
them. I plan to dedicate the rest of my life to what is good
for veterans.”
-- Membership Director Tom Fernlund said that
Minnesota came to the convention with 81,186 members, or
96.03 percent of goal. Another 3,357 were needed to reach
the national goal. Fernlund gave out several awards. Denise
Milton was named the top Department Vice Commander.
Dennis DeLong of Richfield Post 435 was named the Gold
Brigade recruiter of the year and Don Skow of Lindstrom
Post 225 was named Silver Brigade recruiter of the year.
The Third and Ninth Districts won $2,000 each for reaching
96 percent by the time of the convention.
-- Parade winners this year, announced by Parade
Chairman David Bode, included Color Guard: Waite Park
Post 428, third place; Hayfield Post 330, second place; and
New Prague Post 45, first place. Top patriotic floats were
3M Post 599, third; Brownsville Post 58, second; and
Rushford Post 94, first. The top districts were: Third, First
District; second, Third District; first, Ninth District.
-- Mike Perry, State Baseball Director, said Minnesota
was now in first place nationally for number of teams with
303.
-- The final credentials report, presented by Chairman
Lynn Nottage, showed:
District
Posts Delegates
Vote strength
1
23
45
117
2
24
34
92
3
21
52
109
4
7
17
31
5
12
27
51
6
27
44
132
7
9
19
44
8
6
8
35
9
12
19
64
10
23
51
127
Total
164
364
802
Convention notes from the 2014 meeting in Rochester
-- Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
Commissioner Larry Shellito said that the federal funding
match for the Minnesota Veterans Home Phase III was getting closer, as several other states had dropped out of the
running. Shellito urged Legionnaires to be active in supporting veterans’ programs in the Legislature. He noted that
one Legislator had complained about being pushed around
by the “hats in the room,” referring to Legion and other veterans caps at Legislative hearings. “All I can say is that you
haven’t seen anything yet. All politics is local, and you are
the ground forces for the veterans of the future,” he said.
-- Minneapolis VA Medical Center Director Patrick
Kelly echoed The American Legion’s stance on the VA system saying it was “a system worth saving.” He said the
recent negative press in Phoenix and other places “should
be an opportunity for us. We think we’re good in
Minnesota, but we will make it better.”
-- St. Cloud VA Medical Center Director Barry Bahl said
the bad news about the VA in different parts of the country
was demoralizing both to veterans and VA staff. He said he
is sure the VA can correct its problems, but he urged The
American Legion to keep a watchful eye on the system.
“You’re our safety net.” Bahl said there was extensive work
being done at St. Cloud including a new pharmacy, new
psychiatry building, and a doubling of the audiology
spaces. He noted that usage of the St. Cloud facility has
gone from 7,000 a year in 1992 to 38,000 per year now.
-- National Executive Committeeman Ray DeZurik said
there has been considerable discussion about the DMS
membership program. He noted that 800,000 of the 2.4 million members came through direct mail solicitation. He said
that the national Legion will spend $6 million this year on
advertising to increase the Legion’s brand awareness. He
noted that the baseball program nationally was at 3,700
teams, down about 1,300 from its peak. He said that a rule
that would have banned college players from the Legion
teams was rescinded.
-- LIT Chairman Bill Barbknecht reported that $101,000
was donated by the insurance company to the Minnesota
Legion this past year. He urged all Legionnaires to enroll in
LIT’s accidental death and dismemberment program.
-- Founding Fathers Beer Vice President Bob Stevenson
said the company had signed a three-year contract with The
American Legion and that Legion posts, department and
nation would be getting 50 percent of the profits. He urged
post members to approach their bar managers about getting
the beer into the clubrooms. Some of the beer was available
at the Friday night hospitality event.
Page 7
spoke
-- The top blood donors by district were announced.
Those posts were: Winona Post 9; Gaylord Post 433; North
St. Paul Post 39; Minneapolis Richfield Post 435; Melrose
Post 101; Olivia Post 186; Grand Rapids Post 60; East
Grand Forks Post 157. The Second and Tenth Districts did
not submit blood reports.
Page 8
August 2014
Listening Post
DOWIDAT HONORED -- 5th District honored Dan Dowidat, who is the chaplain for
the district’s monthly visits to the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Dowidat has
done this service for 30 years.
FOURTH DISTRICT FLAG RETIRMENT -- Boys Scouts stand at attention and
hundreds of U.S. flags are retired in a huge blaze at Big Marine Lake
POST 1 IN FLORIDA -- Dave and Kathie Adam were asked to join the 2014 Florida
Instate Run. They are pictured with Tina and Mike Kirchoff. Both couples have
made all eight national rides.
NORTH ST. PAUL COLOR GUARD -- The North St. Paul Post 39 color guard
marches into St. Mary’s Cemetery on Memorial Day.
News from around the State
BACKUS HONORED -- Sixth District Membership Director Jim Lucas, center,
presents the district’s small post of the year award to Backus Post 368. Receiving
are Commander Gene Gagnon and 2nd Vice Commander Gary Dawson.
FLAG PRESENTED -- A Boy Scout presents a flag as part of the Fourth District
Flag Retirement Ceremony at the Veterans Rest Camp at Big Marine Lake.
RIDERS ASSIST -- American Legion Riders from the 5th and 10th Districts were
called upon by Department Service Officer Tom Newman to assist a paralyzed veteran to transfer to a plane that would take him home to South Dakota.
SPRING GROVE HONORS -- Arlen Doely, Jerome Ellingson and Glenn Kinneberg
of Spring Grove Post 249 were honored for 60 years continuous membership.
Annual Parade
The Ninth District Band oom-pahed its way through
down Rochester in the annual Legion parade.
Youth champions had their own ride in the parade.
August 2014
Page 9
Old Glory passed the world-famous Mayo Clinic on Third Avenue in Rochester.
They shed their Mickey Mouse ears following the
Musical Extravaganza, but the Auxiliary staff still had
their Mouseketeer outfits on for the parade.
Memorial Service
Third District President Joanne Joachim and Third District Commander Mark Dvorak place roses in the vases
during the the annual Memorial Service held at the Rochester Mayo Civic Center.
LeAnne Lake was the singing soloist.
Connie Brophy was the piano soloist.
Past Department President Raleen Tolzmann had a
special ride for the parade.
Past Department Chaplain Jerry Barnhardt was the
featured speaker at the Memorial Service.
Commander MIke Ash light a candle at the Memorial
Service to remember our fallen comrades.
Page 10
August 2014
96th Minnesota
Department
Convention
Longtime Judge Advocate Don Walser got a standing ovation as he worked his last Department Convention. On
the stage with Walser at the Rochester Convention were Commader Mike Ash and Adjutant Randy Tesdahl.
Carl Renalls of 3M Post 599 accepts the Pat Cliff
Award as the top post service officer in the state.
Presenting were Phil Ringstrom and Mike Ash.
Commander Mike Ash sought out his wife, Teresa, in
the audience for purposes of an introduction.
Commander Peggy Moon was installed by her friend and mentor, Past National Commander Dan Ludwig.
New SAL Commander Dennis Henkemeyer was presented with a mop by Past
National SAL Commander Doug Bible. Henkemeyer’s wife, Department Vice
Commander Denise Milton, looked on.
Al Davis, who will be installed as a National Vice
Commander in August, and his wife, Tess, joined the
conventioneers in “God Bless America.”
As the Ninth District Band played on, Past 6th District Commander Harold
Bergstrom and Past Ninth District President Sharon Thiemecke tripped the light
fantastic during the hospitality event on Friday night at the convention.
Speakers at the Convention
August 2014
Minnesota Legionnaire Page 11
REP. TIM WALZ, D-MINN.
GOV. MARK DAYTON
DEPARTMENT AUXILIARY PRESIDENT SHIRLEY FREDERICK
NATIONAL AUXILIARY VICE PRESIDENT PATRICIA STERANKA
BOYS STATE LEE KROUGH WINNER LUCAS MUMM
EAGLE SCOUT OF THE YEAR TROY TIMMERMAN
ORATORICAL CHAMPION SARAH DONALDSON
SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION COMMANDER DENNIS HENKEMEYER
Legion Installation
Page 12
August 2014
When the vote was announced, Commander Peggy Moon got
a smooch from husband, Carl, 6th District Commander.
Past Department Commander Don Pankake, right,
presented outgoing Commander Mike Ash with his
colors.
The 2014-15 officers of the Minnesota American Legion were installed by Past National Commander
Dan Ludwig. They took their oath on the stage of the Mayo Civic Center Presentation Hall.
Carl moon adjusted the commander’s hat on his wife,
Peggy, during the installation ceremony.
Auxiliary Installation
President Shirley Frederick received her past president’s pin from
Past National President Kris Nelson.
Carol Kottom was elected Second Vice President of
the Auxiliary.
New Membership Director Pat Logan said his theme
for the membership campaign will be baseball.
Incoming President Chris Ronning took an oath with husband, Marland, looking on.
Sandy Fredrickson will serve this year as First Vice
President.
Frederick passed the ceremonial gavel onto Ronning
to show the change of command.
Awards and presentations made at the 2014 convention
August 2014
Page 13
MOST DOLLARS SPENT -- Community Service
Chairman Bob Locker presents Carl Renalls of 3M
Post 599 with a plaque honoring the post for the most
dollars spent on community service for a post its size.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS -- Bob Locker, chairman of the Community Service Committee, presented
awards to posts that won awards for 2014.
AMERICANISM CERTIFICATES -- Americanism citations were presented to posts in the 10 districts and representative came forward to pick them up at the convention. Those posts that received citations were Preston
Post 166, Winnebago Post 82, Mahtomedi Post 507, St. Paul Hamline Post 418, Minneapolis Post Office Post
540, Waite Park Post 428, Clinton Post 258, Littlefork Post 490, Crookston Post, Nels T. Wold Post 20, St. Louis
Park Post 282.
POSTS OF EXCELLENCE -- Zimmerman Post 560
and 3M Post 599 were recognized by the national
American Legion as Posts of Excellence. From left:
NECman Ray DeZurik, Sixth District Commander Carl
Moon, 3M Commander Carl Renalls, Cdr. Mike Ash.
EDUCATION AWARD -- The Americanism Committee
members were recognized by National with a
Certificate of Appreciation. From left: Mike Ash, Art
Tobkin, Tom Kunkel, Mel Buesseler and Education
Chairman Gary Weaver.
BOWLING TROPHY -- Springfield Post 257 won the
Legion Bowling tourney. Mike Ash, Bob Mace and
John Torma presented the trophy. Jennifer Kafka,
Second District Commander, accepted.
BOYS STATE AWARD -- Lee Tallackson presented
Ken Meyer with a plaque honoring Pequot Lakes Post
49 for sponsoring the program’s Lee Krough winner.
MERITORIOUS SERVICE -- Carl Renalls accepts a
national Certificate of Meritorious Service Award for
3M Post 599. From left: Art Tobkin, Mike Ash, Renalls,
Dan Williams and Bird Partridge.
DEERWOOD HONORED -- Deerwood Post 557 won
a Certificate of Meritorious Service from the national
American Legion. Vern Massie accepted. Art Tobkin
and Mike Ash presented.
CHASKA HONORED -- Steve Nelson accepted an
award from Chairman Bob Locker and Commander
Mike Ash for most dollars spent on community service
for posts its size.
DENT HONORED -- Tom Norgaard accepted a
plaque honoring Dent Post 148 for most dollars spent
on community service for a post its size. Presenting
were Bob Locker and Mike Ash.
EAST GRAND FORKS AWARD -- Terry Buraas
accepted a Community Service Award for most dollars
spent in its community for East Grand Forks. Bob
Locker and Mike Ash presented.
HAMLINE HONORED -- Mickey Ostrum accepted a
Community Service Award for Hamline Post 418 for
time spent in the community. Bob Locker and Mike
Ash presented.
NORTH ST. PAUL -- North St. Paul Post Commander
Randy Bastyr accepted the plaque for most hours
spent on community service for a post its size.
Presenting were Bob Locker and Mike Ash.
More honors and awards from the 2014 Department Convention
Page 14
August 2014
POST SERVICE OFFICER AWARDS -- Ten Post Service Officers earned a Citation of Meritorious Service
Award from the National Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission. Various people accepted the awards
at the Rochester Convention. The winners were: Russell Retterath, Adams Post 146; Gerald McConkey,
Worthington Post 464; David Heidebring, Hutchinson Post 96; Carl Renalls, 3M Post 599; Del Rose,
Minneapolis Post 1; Leroy Young, Holdingford Post 211; Lee Stock, Olivia Post 186; Gordon Herrgard, Deer
River Post 122; John Stoltman, East Grand Forks Post 157, Jim Eich, Clearwater Post 323.
TROPHIES AND AWARDS -- Trophies and Awards presentations were made at the convention. From left:
Chairman Mike Schaffer, Gary Munkholm, Anoka Post 102, Hanson Educaton Award; Ray Turnquist, Anoka Post
102, Levi M. Hall School Patrol Award; Gary Reimann, Anoka Post 102; Dick Ward, representing Joe Smith Post
468, Father L.J. Fortin Trophy; Steve Nelson, Chaska Post 57, Lindell Community Service Bell; Tom Kunkel, Waite
Park Post 428, Joseph W. Finley Trophy and Frank J. Ring Boy Scout Trophy; Terry Buraas, East Grand Forks Post
157, Stafford Kind Conservation Trophy; Carl Renalls, 3M Post 599, Americanism Trophy; Department Commander
Mike Ash.
FIRE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR -- Mitch Holmes of the
North Branch Fire Department, was honored as Fire
Fighter of the Year by the Law and Order Committee.
Tom Conway and Mike Ash presented.
PEACE OFFICER OF THE YEAR -- Todd Frank of the
North Branch Police Department was named Peace
Officer of the Year by the Law and Order Committee.
Tom Conway and Mike Ash presented.
ANDERSON WINDOWS -- Legionville President
Wayne Gilbertson presented a plaque for Andersen
Windows who make a major donation to Legionville.
Accepting at right was Pat Logan.
MELROSE HONORED -- Melrose Post 101 was honored for most dollars spent on community service projects. Bob Locker and Mike Ash presented and Carl
Moon accepted.
PAT CLIFF AWARD -- Carl Renalls of 3M Post 599
won the Pat Cliff Award for top service officer at a post.
Presenting were Phil Ringstrom and Mike Ash.
PR AWARD -- Lucas Johnson, left, and Lisa Ghylin,
right, were honored for their work on the Public
Relations Committee. Chairman Teresa Ash and
Commander Mike Ash presented.
ORATORICAL WINNER -- Caroline Donaldson was
honored as this year’s Oratorical Champion. She
accepted her plaque from Department Vice Commander
Denise Milton and Oratorical Chairman Tess Davis.
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR -- Jack Thurk, center,
accepted the Employer of the Year Award for Waconia
Manufacturing Inc. Presenting were Dave Heidebrink,
chairman, and Commander Mike Ash.
LEGIONVILLE AWARD -- Past Department
Commander Don Pankake was given the annual
Legionville award for service. Presenting were
Commander MIke Ash and Chairman Jim Blakesley.
NORTH BRANCH SPONSOR -- North Branch Post
85 was honored for sponsoring both the Fire Fighter
and Law Enforcement award winners. Accepting was
Randy Koivisto.
SAL CHECKS -- New Sons of the American Legion
Commander Dennis Henkemeyer presented checks
for Legion projects to Vice Commander Denise Milton.
August 2014
Taps
Skarr, Jack, 83 Air Force veteran of the Korean War,
died July 21, 2014. He was a member of Park Rapids Post
212.
Engst, Ron, 73, Army veteran of the Vietnam War, died
July 10, 2014. He was a member of Park Rapids Post 212.
Spoden, Clarence, 82, Marine Corps veteran of the
Korean War, died July 15, 2014. He was a member of Cold
Spring Post 455.
Starin, Charlene, 93, past Department President in
1985 and past 6th District President in 1976, died July 15,
2014. She was a member of the Little Falls Unit.
Kirtz, Robert John, 79, Army veteran of the Korean
War, died June 28, 2014. He served in Korea. He was a
member of Hector Post 135.
Olinger, William Thomas, 79, Army veteran of the
Korean War, died July 5, 2014. He was stationed in
Germany. He was a member of Hector Post 135.
Satter, Gerald, 63, Air Force veteran of Desert Storm
and Grenada, died July 1, 2014. He was a support mechanic. He was a member of Monticello Post 260.
Jones, Glenn Loren, 86, Army veteran of World War II,
died June 26, 2014. He was a member of Marshall Post 113.
Sumerfeldt, Edmund, 88, Army Air Corps veteran of
World War II, died June 28, 2014. He was a flight engineer
and machine gunner on a B-17. He flew with the Second
Emergency Rescue Squadron. He was a member of
Minneota Post 199.
Boogaard, Clarence, 85, Army veteran of the Korean
War, died June 25, 2013. He was a member of Marshall Post
113.
Larson, Leon Morris, 95, Army veteran of World War
II, died July 6, 2014. He was a member of Rochester Post
92.
Mossel, James Andrew, 71, Army veteran of the
Vietnam War, died June 30, 2014. He was a member of
Alexandria Post 87.
Steidl, Dewey Frederick, 83, Marine Corps veteran of
the Korean War, died July 3, 2014. He was a member of
Alexandria Post 87.
Rettig, Virgil, 81, Army veteran of the Korean War, died
June 19, 2014. He was a member of Eden Valley Post 381.
Weidermann, Kenneth Frederick, 92, Army Air Corps
veteran of World War II, died June 24, 2014. He trained as
a twin-engined pilot, and later served as instructor. He
served as a second lieutenant. He was a member of Pine
City Post 51.
Elliott, David L., 84, Army National Guard veteran of
the Korean War, died June 10, 2014. He was a member of
Dodge Center Post 384.
Gentilini, Frank G., Jr., 79, Navy veteran of the Korean
War, died June 9, 2014. He served on a sub tender. He was
a member of Virginia Post 239.
Koopmeiners, Eugene Anthony, 73, Army National
Guard veteran of the Vietnam War, died July 2, 2014. He
was a member of Holdingford Post 211.
Listberger, Ronald, 78, Air Force veteran of the Korean
War, died June 23, 2014. He was a member of Little Falls
Post 46.
Weismann, Edward, 90, Army veteran of World War II,
died June 25, 2014. He served in both Europe and in the
Pacific. He was a member of Cold Spring Post 455.
Sowada, Robert, 69, Army veteran of the Vietnam War,
died July 1, 2014. He was a member of Little Falls Post 46.
Burseth, Edgar C., “Doc,” 95, Army veteran of World
War II, died June 11, 2014. He was a flight surgeon in
Germany. He was a member of Mora Post 201.
Ennis, Paul “Chuck,” 64, Marine Corps veteran of the
Vietnam War, died June 16, 2014. He served two tours in
Vietnam. He earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He
was a member of Mora Post 201.
Horman, Donald, 69, Army veteran of the Vietnam
War, died June 4, 2014. He was a member of Eyota Post
551.
Jensen, Joseph S., 94, Army veteran of World War II,
died June 6, 2014. He was a prisoner of war for over 30
months. He was a member of Albert Lea Post 56.
LeLand, Walter E., 91, Army veteran of World War II,
died June 18, 2014. He served in Europe. He was a member
of Albert Lea Post 56.
Murtaugh, James E., 86, Army veteran of the Korean
War, died June 21, 2014. He was a member of Albert Lea
Post 56.
Dreisbach, Robert T., 83, Army veteran of the Korean
War, died June 25, 2014. He was a member of Albert Lea
Post 56.
Mack, Walter, 90, Army veteran of World War II, died
June 13, 2014. He was a member of Monticello Post 260.
Enkers, Duane E., 88, Navy veteran of World War II,
died June 28, 2014. He was a member of Breckenridge Post
53.
Kohorst, Melvin, 66, Army veteran of the Vietnam War,
died July 1, 2014. He served in Germany and Vietnam. He
was a member of Lismore Post 636.
Jelen, Ronald, 72, Navy veteran of the Vietnam War,
died June 10, 2014. He was a member of Deerwood Post
557.
Fageroos, Richard R., 84, Army veteran of the Korean
War, died June 7, 2014. He was a member of Deerwood
BASEBALL PRESENTATION -- Mike Perry, State
Baseball Director, presents an official Legion baseball
hat to Commander MIke Ash. Ash will preside over the
state tournaments this year.
PARADE COLOR GUARD -- Randy Fierst accepted
the trophy for best color guard at the annual parade
for the New Prague Post 45. Presenting were
Chairman Dave Bode, Commander Mike Ash, Third
District Commander Mark Dvorak and Tom
Schottenbauer.
BEST FLOAT IN PARADE -- Rushford Post 94 won
the best patriot float award in the annual Department
Parade at Rochester. Scuffy Paulson accepted from
Dave Bode, Mike Ash and Tom Schottenbauer.
BEST DISTRICT IN PARADE -- Tom Norgaard
accepted the check for the best district representation
in the annual parade by the Ninth District. Presenting
were Dave Bode, Mike Ash and Tom Schottenbauer.
Page 15
Post 557.
Isle, Alfred, 89, Army Air Corps veteran of World War
II, died June 13, 2014. He was a member of Deerwood Post
557.
Schoenike, Marvin A., 78, Army veteran of the Korean
War, died June 22, 2014. He was the first vice commander
of Deerwood Post 557.
Keen, Tim J., 68, Navy veteran of the Vietnam War,
died June 6, 2014. He was a member of Pequot Lakes Post
49.
Theiler, Thomas L., 70, Army veteran of the Vietnam
War, died July 6, 2014. He was a member of Pequot Lakes
Post 49.
Denzer, Virgil, 86, Army Air Corps veteran of World
War II, died June 27, 2014. He was a member of Pequot
Lakes Post 49.
Zinniel, Alfred, 89, Army veteran of the Korean War,
died July 4, 2014. He was a member and bingo caller for
Park Rapids Post 212.
Widmer, Godfrey H. “Fritz,” 80, Army veteran of the
Korean War, died July 7, 2014. He served in Korea and
Japan, He was a member of Waconia Post 150.
Lang, Floyd E., 89, Army veteran of World War II, died
June 19, 2014. He was stationed in Okinawa. He was a
member of Paynesville Post 271.
Ralph, Lee A., 96, Army veteran of World War II, died
June 6, 2014. He was in the 6th Infantry Division and
served in the Pacific. He earned a Purple Heart. He was a
member of Houston Post 423.
Cicha, John R., 96, Navy veteran of World War II, died
July 17, 2014. He was a prisoner of war for three and onehalf years. He was a member of St. Paul George Grui Post
572.
Nelson, Herb, 90, Army Air Corps veteran of World War
II, died July 19, 2014. He was a member of Fairfax Post
205.
Baxter, Robert E., 83, Army veteran of the Korean War,
died June 12, 2014. He was a member of the 31st Infantry,
Seventh Division in Korea. He earned a Bronze Star and a
Purple Heart. He was a member of St. Francis Post 622.
Petersen, W. Edward “Pete,” 88, Army veteran of
World War II, died June 17, 2014. He survived the sinking
of the troop ship SS Leopoldville in the English Channel on
Christmas Eve, 1944. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
He was a member of Faribault Post 43.
Eide, David, 82, Army veteran of the Korean War, died
recently. He served as a district commander for the Fourth
District and as a Department Vice Commander. He was a
member of Rosetown Post 542.
More honors and awards from the 2014 Department Convention
TOP VICE COMMANDER -- Denise Milton accepted
a certificate as the top Department Vice Commander
during this past membership year. She represented
the Sixth and Ninth Districts. Presenting were
Membership Director Tom Fernlund and Mike Ash.
PREMIER RACE WINNER -- Mark Dvorak, Third
District Commander, accepted a plaque for winning
the Premier Race for membership. Presenting were
Mike Ash and Tom Fernlund.
Page 16
August 2014
District Commanders
FIRST
DISTRICT
Myron Ehrich
Commander
First District, the Big Red Team, is on the move. I wish
to congratulate all of the new officers for each district as
well as department officers.
It's a new year and a new commander so let's make
Minnesota look good for the next year. I know that it can
be done.
I hope to see a good showing at the National Convention,
as I will be there.
That is all for now. I will have more of a letter next
month.
Keep your faith up and remember our men and women
that are defending our Great Nation in your prayers.
SECOND
DISTRICT
Jennifer Kafka
Commander
Greetings from the Solid Second. I’d like to thank the
entire 2nd District for choosing me to represent you. It is
such an honor to be elected as your next Commander. I am
humbled that you would place your faith and trust in me.
This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I will
endeavor to represent you with the utmost transparency and
boldness.
I have great officers and they will be out working the
membership, and getting information out to the posts. So
what will I as the 2nd District Commander be doing you
might ask? Well, I will be visiting posts and getting information out about what the American Legion family is all
about. I am passionate about what we stand for and sometimes we get caught up on the points and goals that we forget our bigger purpose and who it is for. Yes, strength in
numbers but we as an organization have a responsibility to
all our Legion family members and I will go and listen to
the ones who are out there day after day doing what the
American Legion does best and that is supporting our
Veterans and their families.
My theme for the year is To go beyond the Status Quo,
and my personal motto is We cannot become what we want
by remaining what we are. I will work hard and do what is
best for the American Legion as your 2nd District
Commander.
THIRD
DISTRICT
Duane Anderson
Commander
Greetings Thundering 3rd.
Welcome to the first newsletter of the 2014-2015 Legion
year. The Department Convention in Rochester last week
starts the begining of a new year of challenges and changes
for our Legion. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank the veterans in the Third District for electing me as
the Commander for your District. It is a great honor to have
your trust and respect to be your Commander. It is also a
very humbling feeling when I think of the talent and dedication of the other veterans that have held this office. A
special recognition goes out to Past Commander Mark
Dvorak for completing a very successful year. It has been
fun and rewarding to work with Mark this past year. I also
want to thank the rest of last year’s Executive Board
Members and the rest of the Third District team. We had a
very successful year and I am looking forward to our coming year.
Embrace Change/Maintain Mission
FIFTH
DISTRICT
Wayne Glanton
Commander
Greetings from the Fighting 5th. The 2014-2015 Legion
year is upon us and we are raring to go. The 5th District
Convention in June was a great success. Our new 5th
District Officers are: Commander Wayne Glanton, Johnnie
Baker Post 291; 1st Vice Commander, Gary Martin Gopher
Post 440; 2nd Vice Commander Ray Eiden, Falldin Post
555; and 3rd Vice Commander, Walt Lyndsley, Court House
Post 310. Next month we’ll introduce the rest of our 2015
team.
The Department Convention in Rochester was inspiring
and we wish all-the-best to Department Commander Peggy
Moon and her entire team.
Congratulations to Cari Lamb and Robert Bristo for
being elected as 2014-2015 5th District Auxiliary President
and SAL District Commander. I look forward to working
with both of them.
The Fighting 5th District Minnesota State Fair
Volunteers will be on hand to promote the American Legion
and our Programs at the Fair on Tuesday, August 26, 2013.
Stop by and say hello.
SIXTH
DISTRICT
Carl Moon
Commander
The Great Sixth District is proud to have our candidate
Peggy Moon as our new Department Commander. I want
to congratulate my fellow District Commanders in being
selected to lead their respective Districts. Needless to say,
we do not want to disappoint our Department Commander
so my Membership Director Jim Lucas and I issue this
challenge; “Just Try and Keep Up”. We WILL be number
ONE in membership and ALL other awards this next year.
If you think you have even the slightest chance to beat us,
contact Jim with your challenge. I am having 2 schools of
instruction for our Commanders, Adjutants, & Membership
Directors. The first is on 8-5-14 at the Royalton Legion and
the second at the Walker Legion on 8-18-14. Both classes
will be at 7p.m. The topics of discussion: My Legion.Org &
Reports. My project this year is Legionville, any donations
of money, time, or supplies will be greatly appreciated. My
theme is: The III’s Have It. Inform , Invigorate, Involve. I
am looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can. If
you would like me to attend an event or meeting this next
year please send your request to my new Email:
[email protected]. Remember; Be proud of who we
are and what we can become.
SEVENTH
DISTRICT
Victor Gades
Commander
Greetings from the Mighty Seventh.
We have a first for the Department of Minnesota
American Legion -- a female Commander! Peggy Moon, is
a highly qualified, enthusiastic individual who has the
needs of our Department and Veterans foremost on her
agenda. Let’s draw from her enthusiasm and revitalize our
posts.
Every effort put forward by us, whether large or small,
has an impact on Veterans and their families. We call ourselves the American Legion Family and that is how we
should approach the retention and recruitment of members.
Do not expect your officers to carry the load of recruitment and retention. These duties are shared with all members of the American Legion Family. This is where a small
act, kind word, friendly greeting, sincere concern for health
can impress new and old members and their families and
may entice them to renew or join the American Legion.
This is “membership dinner season” for many Posts.
Invite potential members to share a meal and camaraderie,
and above all, don't overwhelm them with a job. Let them
learn and appreciate what we do for Veterans and our communities.
My Vice-Commanders and I will make every effort to be
available to attend meetings, although there may be
unavoidable scheduling conflicts. If there are any questions
that you may have, we will try to get a answer for you. We
all look forward to serving you.
NINTH
DISTRICT
Thomas Norgaard Sr.
Commander
Greetings from the Roaring 9th District.
The
Department Convention is over and we came out very well
financially. Our Finance Officer is smiling as he deposits
$1,750.00 in the bank. He was $1,500.00 short on his 20142015 budget. By now the Goose Egg race is over.
Congratulations to our ‘sister’ district, the 6th, for being the
first one off the goose egg. August is filled with meetings,
the Department Organizational Meeting on the 9th at
Osseo, the District Organizational on the 16th at Crookston
and then the National Convention at Charlotte, NC. My
wife and I are planning on driving down on the 20th so we
can take in some tours at Mooresville, NC, “Race City
USA”, including Dale Earnhart, Inc. and JR Motorsports to
name a few. During the Convention we plan to take a guided tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway. My son is an avid
NASCAR fan and a Dale Earnhart Sr. fan. I would be
remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to visit these few
places and also the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On the way
back, after 36 years of marriage, we intend to stop at
Nashville, Churchill Downs and St Louis as part of a long
overdue honeymoon.
Until next month, God Bless all our troops wherever
they are stationed, God Bless all our veterans and God
Bless the greatest country on earth, the United States of
America.
TENTH
DISTRICT
Tom Sanders
Commander
10th District Commanders Column
I want to thank the Mighty Tenth District American
Legion Family for having faith in me and electing me their
District Commander.
As I write this month’s column I have already participated in three parades, Delano Parade, Hopkins Raspberry
Parade and Department Convention Parade in Rochester
with some sun and fun. The Tenth District’s first Rally will
have come and gone at Coon Rapids on the 3rd of August
with Legionville Rally September 6th right after National
Convention.
I am looking forward to working with this year’s
District Team and having a personal and up close relationship with all the Post’s in the Tenth District. I want to bring
back the fun and put the “Mighty” back into “The Mighty
Tenth District”. If there is anything that I can do, or my
Membership Team can do to help the “Blue Capper’s”, in
the District, by all means don’t be afraid to ask.
My theme this year is “Tie one on for Membership”,
in honor of my father Ralph J. Sanders, a Korean War
Veteran that has gone to Post Everlasting. He left behind
several ties and I will be wearing a different one at each of
the Rallies this year.
In closing I want to thank the District Officers and
Appointments for taking their respected positions. I know
you all will do well. Until next month, for God and
Country.
Gibson tells Senate
panel VA is in action
In testimony before the Senate Committee on Veterans’
Affairs, Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D.
Gibson outlined serious problems regarding access to
healthcare and key actions the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) has taken to get Veterans off wait lists and into
clinics.
“The trust that is the foundation of all we do – the trust
of the Veterans we serve and the trust of the American people and their elected representatives –has eroded,” said
Acting Secretary Gibson. “We have to earn that trust back
through deliberate and decisive action, and by creating an
open and transparent approach for dealing with our stakeholders to better serve Veterans.”
Gibson discussed six key priorities to begin restoring
trust:
1. Get Veterans off wait lists and into clinics;
2. Fix systemic scheduling problems;
3. Address cultural issues;
4. Hold people accountable where willful misconduct or
management negligence are documented;
5. Establish regular and ongoing disclosures of information; and,
6. Quantify the resources needed to consistently deliver
timely, high-quality healthcare.
Gibson testified that VA needs approximately $17.6 billion in additional resources to meet current demand for the
remainder of FY 2014 through FY 2017. This funding
would address challenges such as clinical staff, space, information technology, and benefits processing necessary to
provide timely, high-quality care and benefits.
“We understand the seriousness of the problems we face.
We own them. We are taking decisive action to begin to
resolve them,” said Gibson. “We can turn these challenges
into the greatest opportunity for improvement in the history
of the department.”
Gibson also outlined actions that VA is taking now in
order to address problems with access to VA healthcare,
including:
• The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has
reached out to over 160,000 Veterans to get them off wait
lists and into clinics. VHA has also made over 543,000
referrals for Veterans to receive care in the private sector –
91,000 more than in the comparable period a year ago.
• VHA facilities are adding more clinic hours, aggressively recruiting to fill physician vacancies, deploying
mobile medical units, using temporary staffing resources,
and expanding the use of private sector care.
Legion: Compromise bill needed for VA
August 2014
The American Legion welcomed the introduction of a
bill in Congress that would fix longstanding, widespread
problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs, which
have impaired its ability to deliver timely health care and
benefits to America’s veterans.
At a news conference today, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.,
and Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., discussed their joint sponsorship of the Veterans Access to Care Act of 2014, a compromise measure that emerged from previous bills introduced
in the House and Senate.
“This measure is a critical component in developing a
long-term solution to problems that have dogged the VA for
years,” National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger said.
“We know that Sen. Sanders and Rep. Miller have labored
diligently to reach bipartisan consensus. But it would be a
great mistake to see this legislation as a one-time fix for all
the woes that have been hobbling VA’s performance and
credibility.”
Sanders, chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans
Affairs, said at the news conference that the bill “makes certain that we will address the immediate crisis of veterans
being forced onto long waiting lines for health care. It
strengthens the VA so that it will be able to hire the doctors,
nurses and other medical personnel it needs, so that we can
put a permanent end to long waiting lists.
“It addresses the very serious problems of accountability and makes certain that dishonest and incompetent senior
officials at the VA do not remain employed there….”
Sanders said funding for veterans’ needs must be considered “a cost of war.”
Miller, who chairs the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs, said, “We have a VA that is in crisis today. This
agreement will go a long way to helping resolve the crisis
that exists out there today. Helping to get veterans off of
waiting lists is extremely important and this bill does that.”
The VA reform bill, Miller said, “starts a conversation, I
think, about VA for the future. Sen. Sanders and I differ
about certain things but one thing that we do agree about is
that the veterans of this country deserve the best-quality
health care that they can get, in a timely fashion – and that
has not been the case as of late …. The VA is not sacred, the
veteran is.”
Major provisions of the bill include:
• Authorization and funding for VA to contract with community providers to help get veterans immediate care for
Page 17
those who had to wait, or would have to travel excessive
distances to VA facilities.
• Authorization of 27 Community-Based Outpatient
Clinics, which is one more than the number authorized by
the Senate bill
• Increased authority for the VA Secretary to manage
senior personnel. Expedited authority to move or fire SES
and other senior-grade executives.
• Extension of the traumatic brain injury (TBI) resident
pilot program.
• $5 billion to help VA to hire more physicians.
• $10 billion to help VA reduced the benefits claims
backlog.
• Continued VA development of an upgraded IT patientscheduling system.
The bill would also require the establishment of a
Commission on Capital Planning for VA medical facilities,
in order to improve VA’s capital asset processes – from
facility planning and individual project management to
managing the multi-billion dollar backlog of facility construction and maintenance projects.
At his congressional testimony last September, Dellinger
addressed The American Legion’s concerns over VA’s
chronic cost-overruns and construction delays for new medical centers.
“We hope this commission, after thoroughly examining
the way VA builds facilities, will have some useful recommendations to make. In any case, we appreciate Congress’s
interest in taking a very close look at the department’s construction process.”
The bill would also establish another commission to
examine VA health-care access issues and recommend
actions to bolster capacity. A report to the president would
be required within 90 days of the commission’s first meeting.
WASHINGTON – Under the direction of Acting
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Sloan D. Gibson, the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken significant
steps to improve Veterans’ access to quality health care. In
keeping with the commitment to improve transparency in
the department’s processes, VA today released the latest
update of facility-level patient access data.
“VA is fully committed to fixing the problems we face
in order to better serve Veterans,” said Gibson. “VA must
restore the public’s trust, but more importantly restore the
trust of our Veterans who depend on us for health care.”
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has reached
out to over 160,000 Veterans to get them off wait lists and
into clinics. VHA has also made over 543,000 referrals for
Veterans to receive care in the private sector – 91,000 more
than in the comparable period a year ago.
Additionally,
VA has reduced the New Enrollee Appointment Report
(NEAR) from its peak of 46,000 on June 1, 2014 to 2,000
(as of July 1, 2014). As of July 1, 2014, there has been a
reduction in over 17,000 Veterans on the Electronic Waiting
List since May 15, 2014.
Since June 2014, Acting VA Secretary Gibson has traveled to 11 VA medical centers across the country in an effort
to hear directly from Veterans and employees about obstacles to providing timely, quality care and how VA can
immediately address them.
“We have to rebuild trust by creating an open and transparent culture that is focused on better serving Veterans,”
said Gibson. “That’s what these site visits are all about – listening to Veterans and employees around the country about
how we can better serve Veterans and deliver the quality
healthcare that they have earned.”
VA has added approximately 7,000 appointments provided to newly enrolled Veterans who had requested an initial appointment at the time of enrollment. VA is continuing
to address systemic challenges in accessing care, as quickly as possible and will provide the most immediate information on its progress to Veterans and the public via the VA
website, www.va.gov.
In a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans
Affairs Wednesday, Gibson testified that VA needs approximately $17.6 billion in additional resources to meet current
demand for the remainder of FY 2014 through FY 2017.
This funding would address challenges such as clinical
staff, space, information technology, and benefits processing necessary to provide timely, high-quality benefits.
VA releases data on access to facilities
Musical Extravaganza
Animals filled the stage during the 2014 Extravaganza at the Convention.
Lynn Nottage blew bubbles.
Amelia Tesdahl was Mickey Mouse.
Dopey (Lori Skallerud) explains the Extravaganza program to Bashful (Pamella
Lubenow) as the Seven Dwarfs took the stage for the Seventh District.
President Shirley Frederick and Dee Dee Buckley were two of the Mouseketeers
during the Extravagana, which had a Disney theme. Buckley was the ringmaster.
Page 18
The Auxiliary Bulletin
August 2014
No. 15-1
August 2014
President Chris Ronning
Secretary Sandie Deutsch
Chris Ronning takes the
helm of the Auxiliary 2014-15
Department Headquarters, Veterans Service Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
The
President’s
Column
By
Chris Ronning
I am so excited to write my first news article as your
newly elected Department President for the year 20142015.
What an honor to represent all the members of the
American Legion Auxiliary as we work together to help our
Veterans and their families. I want to thank everyone for
attending the Installation in Rochester and to all Units,
Districts and Department officers and chairmen, I know you
will do great.
Congratulations to our new leaders from The Legion,
Sons of The American Legion and the Legion Riders. I am
looking forward to working with you as we all come together for a common cause, our Veterans.
My theme for the year is “Our Veterans - Past, Present
and Future.” My symbol is the Poppy and the Butterfly and
my Project is two parts.
The first part is the Daycare Center for Veterans at the
Minneapolis Veterans Home and the second part is the
Creative Arts Program at VA in Minneapolis and the VA in
St. Cloud.
There is so much talent in these men and women, who
all served our country so honorably, that I would like to
raise $23,000.00 to support the Veterans and any money left
over will go towards Legionville.
Our Membership Chairman is Judy Ackerman. She will
do a great job, but not without the help of you, the members.
We need to retain our members and also need to recruit
new members, so we can stand side by side with our
Legionnaires to have our voices be heard by our
Congressmen as we are again electing new officials this
year.
I hope to see some of you at the National Convention in
Charlotte, NC and also at our Department rallies this year.
They are so important and I am pretty sure that Judy and
Pat Logan, our new Legion Department Membership
Director will keep us entertained. Good luck to them both
and a successful membership year.
The first weekend in August we again will have our
Junior Fun Weekend at Legionville and also don’t forget
our annual Legionville Camporee the first weekend in
September.
Auxiliary
Membership
as of July 9, 2014
District
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Eighth
Ninth
Tenth
Depart.
Total
7-9 Total
5,252
5,121
4,514
783
962
6,314
4,102
1,755
4,556
5,414
157
38,930
Percent
92.50
93.91
92.82
93.21
92.06
92.87
93.31
91.31
94.48
93.78
81.35
93.17
On Saturday, July 19th, the year of “Patriotism - Thank
Our Veterans, Teach Our Children” under the wonderful
leadership of President Shirley Frederick, came to its conclusion and became yet another page in the history of the
American Legion Auxiliary. The 95th annual Department
Convention was held at the Kahler Grand Hotel in
Rochester, hosted by The American Legion Post and Unit
#92 of Rochester, with 221 delegates, 4 alternates and 6
guests representing 121 Units hearing the various reports
and conducting the business of the Auxiliary over the three
days of the convention. Another busy year of programs and
activities carried on by you, our Unit members, had come to
its conclusion.
Our special congratulations to newly elected Department
President Chris Ronning, Department First Vice President
Sandra Fredrickson, and Department Second Vice President
Carol Kottom who assumed their duties at the close of the
Department Convention.
Our newly elected Department President Chris has chosen “Our Veterans - Past, Present and Future” as her theme
for the 2014-15 administrative year. Her symbol is Poppy
and Butterfly.
The ratification and election of 34 delegates and 21 alternates to the 2014 National Convention in Charlotte, North
Carolina brought the business portion of the convention to
a close. Shirley Frederick will serve as our Delegation
Chairman with Raleen Tolzmann representing us as our
National Executive Committeewoman at the National
Convention.
Our appreciation and congratulations are given to
Shirley for her dedicated service as Department President
this Auxiliary year. She travelled to all areas of the state
and did her best to honor all of her invitations. Shirley is
very dedicated to our organization and serving and supporting our Veterans.
651-224-7634
Our special thanks to Sharon Kingsley, Auxiliary
Convention General Chairman, and the members of the
Rochester Unit and Post 92 as well as the First District for
their excellent preparations and arrangements in hosting the
2014 Department Convention. Their many hours of planning were reflected in the smooth operation of our 95th
annual convention. Thank you for your warm hospitality
and for making this convention such an outstanding one.
The 2015 Department Convention will be held at the
Jackpot Junction Hotel with the Redwood Falls American
Legion Family 38 hosting. We look forward to seeing all of
you there.
SPECIAL THANKS
At the Department Convention President Shirley was
most pleased to present her special “Presidents Awards of
Excellence” to those Unit members in each of the following
programs. These awards were based on the Unit’s annual
report and the activities it carried on under the program.
The recipients were:
Americanism – Louise Flom, Faribault Unit #43
Children and Youth – Wanda Anderson & Mary Joy,
Blackduck Unit 372
History – Renee Suess, Monticello Unit 260
Junior Activities – Micki Turja, Kingston Unit 483
Community Service - Kim McPhee, Byron Unit 119
Education - Louanne Iceman, Blackduck Unit 372
Past Presidents Parley - Lois Wenz, Chaska Unit 57
Legislation – Sondra Erickson, Unit 216, Princeton
Memorial – Roxanne Jensen, Hutchinson Unit 96
National Security – Dee Koepp, Hutchinson Unit 96
Poppy - Marlys Jacobson, New London Unit 537
Public Relations – Cheryl Nymann, Plainview Unit 179
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Donna Arends endorsed for Second VP
Donna Arends has been
endorsed from her Unit 167
Willmar and the 7th District
to be a candidate for Dept.
2nd Vice President.
Her eligibility is through
her
father
William
Somerville,
a
WWII
Veteran. Her special friend
Harold Goblish is also a
Army Veteran and National
Guard Veteran.
Arends has three children, a son Mark a SAL
member and two daughters,
Michelle and Melanie, both
Auxiliary members. She
has six grandchildren, three
boys all SAL members and
three girls all Jr. Auxiliary
members.
She has been employed
by Rice Memorial Hospital
in Willmar for over 25
years. She plans to retire
within the next two years.
Her hobby is attending all
American Legion Family
events, which she misses
very few. She especially
enjoyed her years as 7th
District President 08-09,
and her year as Dept.
Membership Chairman 1112, as she enjoyed traveling
her District and the State in
both of those years. She has
met and made many new
friends from those experiences.
Arends has held many
Unit, District and Dept.
Chairmanships and offices,
through her 27 years of
being an Auxiliary member.
Other hobbies include reading, traveling and shopping.
She is a member of the
United Methodist Church in
Raymond, and has several
volunteer activities that she
enjoys.
American
Legion
Auxiliary Warren Unit 27
Executive Committee has
endorsed Jean Walker for
Department Second Vice
President for the year 20152016.
She has been an active
member of Unit 27 for 21
years.
Her eligibility is through
her father, a World War II
veteran.
At the Unit level, she has
held many positions including President. On the
District level she has been
District President, 1st Vice
President,
2nd
Vice
President, chairman for
several of the committees
including, Membership,
Americanism, Education,
Children
and
Youth,
Finance Chairman, Past
President Parley.
On the Department level,
Jean has served as
Americanism Chairman and
attended Girls State this last
year.
This year she will be
serving as Leadership
Chairman.
Walker has attended
many
District
and
Department Conventions
and Conferences since she
has been an Auxiliary member.
She
has
attended
National Conventions as a
delegate and as an alternate.
Jean has been married
for 22 years to John. She
has one son and one granddaughter.
She is very active in the
community. Walker currently works at Evergreen
Implement Company as
Office Manager.
Jean Walker endorsed for 2nd V-president
Goal
5,678
5,453
4,863
840
1,045
6,799
4,423
1,922
4,822
5,773
166
41,784
DONNA ARENDS
JEAN WALKER
Auxiliary Bulletin
August 2014
Page 19
Continued from Preceding Page
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation – Stephanie
Chappell, Hutchinson Unit 96
Field Service – Kathy Fisher, Walker Unit 134
Home Service - Charlotte DeLong, New London Unit
537
Leadership - Lois Wenz, Chaska Unit 57
Department Poppy Chairman Shaaron Barnes held two
Poppy contests at the 2014 Department Convention. The
following winners were announced.
Patriotic Coloring Book
1st place – Linda Deschene, Brooklyn Center Unit 630
2nd place – Jane Moody, Lamberton Unit 41
3rd place – Hesley Jensen, Bayport Unit 491
Peoples Choice – Emily Claire, Shakopee Unit 2
Poppy Hat
1st place - Barb Oakland, Hayfield Unit 330
2nd place - Sue Mueller, Wabasha Unit 50
3rd place - Hutchinson Unit #96
Peoples Choice – Jan Elder, Bayport Unit 491
Chairman Barnes would like thank everyone who
brought entries to the department convention. They were
all wonderfully done.
The Book of Annual Reports contains a list of the trophies and awards that were presented at our department
convention. You may want to add the above contest winners to your Unit’s copy of the Book of Annual Reports.
Congratulations to all who received a trophy or an award
in recognition of your outstanding work in the programs of
the American Legion Auxiliary for the 2013-14 year.
OTHER DEPARTMENT WINNERS
Every Unit has or will receive a copy of the 2013-14
Department Book of Annual Reports, either at the
Department Convention Rochester or by mail. This book
belongs to the Unit and should be shared with all your
members. If you would like your own personal copy, they
are available from the Department Office. Just give us a
call and we will get one to you.
This book contains not only the reports of the
Department Officers, Chairmen and District Presidents for
this year of “Patriotism - Thank Our Veterans, Teach Our
Children”, it also contains a copy of the Department,
District and Unit Constitutions and Standing Rules.
BOOK OF ANNUAL REPORTS
The following Department President’s appointments for
the 2014-15 Auxiliary year of “Our Veterans - Past, Present
and Future” were approved by the Department Executive
Committee:
Americanism – Joanne Joachim
Children and Youth – Raleen Tolzmann
Community Service – Mary Hendrickson
Education – Norma Tramm
Finance - Patricia Swanson, Chairman
AnnaMae Warnier
Deborah Rottman
Beverly Otterness
Carol Barbknecht
Girls State –Marie Goede, Chairman
Kris Nelson, Director
Bethany Dickert, Educational Director
Joanne Joachim, Americanism
Donna Arends, Committee Member
Jeannette Mertens, Committee Member
Junior Activities – Patti Coleman
Leadership – Jean Walker
Legislation – Sandra Fredrickson
Membership – Judy Ackerman
Memorial/Chaplain – Erma Redden
National Security – Wanda Anderson
Parliamentarian – Norma Tramm
Past Presidents Parley – Linda Thompson
Poppy – Mary Kuperus
Public Relations – Diane Hayes
Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation – Carol Kottom,
Chairman
Field/Home Service - Diane Strassburg
Gift Shop – Sally Strasser, Chairman
Debra Bayer, Committee Member
Audit Committee –Becky Nelson, Sharon Thiemecke,
Pat Ecker
Special Appointments:
Auxiliary Emergency Fund – Jean Horack
Armed Forces Center – Paula Davis
Memory Book – Jill Mueller
Brain Science Foundation – Judy Samuelson
Sue Nunnelee
Diane Sullivan
Hospital/Home Representatives
Fargo VA - Carolyn Albertson
Fergus Falls Veterans Home – Doris LaFayette
Hastings Veterans Home – Darlene Wondra
Luverne Veterans Home – Judy Kumerow
Minneapolis Veterans Home – Sandy Gibson
DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS
AUXILIARY OFFICERS FOR 2014-2015 -- Following the annual installation ceremony, the newly elected
Auxiliary officers gathered for a photo. From left, front: Sandy Fredrickson, First Vice President; Chris Ronning,
President; Carol Kottom, Second Vice President. District Presidents from left in back: Michelle Weaver, First;
Vida Bacon, Second; Michelle Leonard, Third; Joan Strack, Fourth; Cari Lamb, Fifth; Jessie Hoppe, Sixth;
Sandy Wersal, Seventh; Zandra Kessler, Eighth; Robin Dorf, 10th. Missing is Margee Keller, Ninth.
Minneapolis VA - Mary Ann Davis
Silver Bay Veterans Home - Phyllis Mealey
Sioux Falls VA - Gloria Lindquist
St. Cloud VA – Jan Benson
Our best wishes to each of you as you assume the
responsibilities of leadership that you have taken on
through the programs and activities of the American Legion
Auxiliary this 2014-15 year.
The 2014/2015 membership packets will be mailed to
your Unit Membership Chairman provided we had received
an officers’ list from your Unit.
If no Membership
Chairman was listed, we will send it to the Unit Treasurer.
If your Unit did not turn in an officers list to the Department
Office, then we are holding your 2015 cards until we
receive the required officers list.
Be certain to read the 2014/2015 “Minnesota Guide to
Membership” that will accompany your membership cards
for instructions. The transmittal forms will be available
electronically and on our website (mnala.org) after August
4. Both current and past due dues will be submitted on the
same form. The 2014/2015 transmittals are PURPLE (go
Vikings), please dispose of any OLD forms. If you have any
questions on how to process your membership, please contact the department office.
If you are in need of additional membership supplies
they are available from the department office. An order
form was included in your membership packet listing items
available.
2014/2015 MEMBERSHIP PACKETS
Just a reminder the National organization will be sending
out the first dues notices by September 15th this year.
Members don’t have to wait until they receive a notice to
pay their dues. Please make that personal contact with your
members reminding them their 2015 membership dues are
due and payable now. Let’s get those dues collected early
this year and get back to the top of the rankings where we
belong.
2015 DUES NOTICES
Looking forward to the 2014-2015 year, let’s make a
point to share some of the Unit Happenings, Big Events,
Big Ideas. Does your Unit have a “Wall of Honor?” How
about sharing a picture, a story of how it came about.
Honoring their service, let’s share how it is done. Submit
your photo and story to Sandie in the Department office,
let’s share ideas and honor their service together. Items can
be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected].
LEGIONNAIRE AUXILIARY PAGES
We would encourage you to submit any changes or anything you would like to see on the website. This is your site
and we want to make it as useful as possible. If there is any
event you would like posted to the Department calendar,
please send an email to [email protected]. We are
adding things all the time and if there are items you would
like put on there but can’t seem to find, please let us know.
AUXILIARY WEBSITE
I wish to thank everybody that attended the 2014
Department Convention to make it a very successful event.
This is one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Thank you to everyone that helped in making the
Convention such a success as we worked together for
“Patriotism - Thank Our Veterans, Teach Our Children”.
THANKS FROM SHIRLEY
I am early I know but I have some information regarding
Fall Conference which will be held at the Shooting Star
Hotel/Casino in Mahnomen, October 24-25, 2014. If you
would like to make hotel reservations please call 218-9362621 and tell them you are with The American Legion
Block Code 632397. You shouldn’t have any problems by
using that code number. More information will be in the
next issue.
2014 FALL CONFERENCE
I keep calling this a corner but it is never in a corner help me come up with a better name. I made it through my
third Department Convention and it seemed to go off without a hitch. President Shirley has been a blessing to work
with all year and I only wish her the best. We are now on
to August Workshop, National Convention, Membership
Rallies, Budget Meetings and then Fall Conference. Never
a dull moment around here. I wish all of the new 2014/2015
Officers a very successful year. Always remember we are
here in the Department Office ready to help with any questions you may have.
SECRETARY SANDIE’S CORNER
Our Hospital Home Representative Mary Ann Davis is
in need of the following items: 45” x 60” lap robes and
neck pillows. She has a good stock of the other items.
Mary Ann would again like to thank all of the Units for the
continuous donations that she has been getting for our
Veterans.
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or www.goodshep-rushford.org
Contact:
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email: [email protected]
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All cabins have a lake view.
RESORT FOR DISABLED VETERANS,
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Baseball tourneys begin
Aug. 1 in Eagan, Luverne
Page 20
August 2014
The 2014 Minnesota American Legion Baseball
Tournaments will get underway at two sites on Friday, Aug.
1.
The Division I play, featuring the top 16 larger teams in
the state, will begin at four fields in the Eagan area. The
main field will be at Eagan High School, with first round
action also at Bloomington’s Red Haddox Field and
Burnsville’s two Alimagnet Park Fields.
Games on Saturday will be at Eagan and Red Haddox
Fields. The championship games will be on Monday at the
Eagan Varsity Field.
The double-elimination tournament will feature teams
that survived the 15 sub-state tournaments held around
Minnesota -- plus the host time, Eagan.
The teams for this year include:
Excelsior, Burnsville, Rochester Redhawks, Tri-City
Red, Chaska, New Ulm Gold, Hutchinson, Hamline Purple,
Nisswa, Delano, Alexandria, Lakeville North, Champlin
Park, St. Cloud Chutes and St. Francis.
All games will be nine innings.
Teams will check in on Thursday, July 31, and there will
be an opening ceremony that afternoon. A banquet will be
held in Eagan where the Legion’s annual awards will be
presented.
Terry Ryan will be the featured speaker at the annual
banquet.
The third place game will be played at 10 a.m. Monday,
Aug. 4, and the championship game will be at 1 p.m. with
a short awards ceremony to follow.
The Division II State Tournament will be held in
Luverne beginning Friday, Aug. 1.
It will feature the top eight smaller school teams in the
state. There were seven district tournaments, plus the host
team Luverne.
The entrants in the single-elimination tournament are
LaCrescent, St. James, Plato, Foley, Osakis, International
Falls, Dilworth-Glyndon-Fenton and Luverne.
The tournament games will all be played on one field.
McDonald confirmed
as VA Secretary
American Legion National Commander Daniel M.
Dellinger today thanked the Senate for acting quickly today
to confirm the nomination of former Procter & Gamble
Chief Executive Officer Robert McDonald to become secretary of the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The time to act is now,” Dellinger said. “Veterans are
waiting for the care they earned and deserve.” The Senate
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted 14-0 July 23 in support of McDonald, 61, who would replace Eric Shinseki,
who resigned in late May.
Shinseki’s departure came after The American Legion
called for urgent change, starting with new leadership at the
top, to restore trust in the system after revelations that veterans had died waiting for VA doctor appointments that
were never really scheduled and that executives received
bonuses for falsified performance reports.
From McDonald, Dellinger said he looks for the kind of
changes one would expect in the corporate world when a
company is in trouble. “The American Legion is confident
that Robert McDonald will apply his experience leading
big, complex business operations to the Department of
Veterans Affairs, a complex operation that desperately
needs a system-wide overhaul right now,” Dellinger said.
“I am also confident Mr. McDonald will understand the
importance of engaging the veteran stakeholders of the VA
health-care system as reforms are adopted in the coming
months.” Dellinger said the incoming VA secretary must
make patients his first priority and include them at the table
as changes are planned and executed. “It’s time to put the
veteran back into the Department of Veterans Affairs. No
more secret lists. No more bonuses for poor performance or
unreasonably long waiting times for appointments.”
You can get your
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Licensed, bonded, insured
Just go to
mn.legion.org
and click the red
box at the top of
the page.
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There will be a third place and consolation title game.
The championship game will be Sunday at the Luverne
Redbird Field.
The tourney will be preceded by a banquet on Thursday
night.
Each tournament will name an outstanding player, and
each will determine a team to win the sportsmanship trophy.
Division I will also determine the outstanding pitcher in
the tournament.
The two top finishers in the Division I tournament will
go on to the Central Plains Regional at Fargo. The tourney
will begin on Aug. 7.
The winner of that eight-team regional will go onto the
88th World Series, held at Shelby, North Carolina.
Minnesota has had five winners of the national title,
including three in the last 15 years.
The winner and runner-up of the Division II tournament
will go on to the Central Plains Regional in Milbank, S.D.,
the birthplace of American Legion baseball. That tournament will begin on Aug. 7.
Minnesota has 303 teams, including junior teams, making the state the largest Legion baseball program in the
nation. The Division I tournament is also the nation’s
largest.
In all, about 5,000 student-athletes take part in Legion
baseball in Minnesota.
The program began in 1926 with the first state tournament at Mankato. The winner was Crosby.
The five teams that have won the national World Series
are Richfield, Edina, Tri-City Red, Rochester A’s, and Eden
Prairie. Eden Prairie has also be the runner up twice in the
last seven years.
The winner of this year’s awards are:
Bird Island and Olivia, Post of the Year
Dennis Frey, Minnesota Legion Baseball Hall of Fame
Scott Hackett, Coach of the Year
Dean Atchison, Graduate of the Year.
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Moon rises over Minnesota

Transcription

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