2008 December The Hoosier Legionnaire

December 2008

Big Risk, Big Payoff

Week To Shape A Lifetime Surprises One Delegate With Insights On His Comfort Zone And 'Who I Am And What I Am Made Of'

By Ian Stoeckly Reprinted With Permission

There is one week of my life that changed my perspective on life. The memories and experiences of that week are still crisp and clear in my mind. The experiences gave me a great deal of insight into who I am and what I can do, and the memories will last a lifetime.

It involves a week that I spent at Indiana State University in a program called Hoosier Boys State. The motto of the program is “A Week to Shape a Lifetime” and I fully agree.

The entire scheme was set in motion when my grandfa-

Mid-Winter Conference To Kick Off New Year With Training, Updates

The 2009 Mid-Winter Conference—the Department of Indiana’s first official function of the New Year—is set to offer a variety of education and training opportunities, some of which are first-time offerings, others of which will provide important updates on regulated activities.

The conference will be Friday and Saturday, January 9-10, 2009, at the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel East, 21st and Shadeland Avenue in Indianapolis. The Marriott is the traditional site of the Conference, and registration is open now at that hotel and the nearby Fairfield and La Quinta inns. Registrants should contact the hotels directly for reservations and special conference rates.

The conference will include, in addition to special training opportunities, a membership card turn-in beginning 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 9 and ending at 2:00 p.m. Saturday January 10, 2009, in the Harrison Room. Posts and Districts are encouraged to bring all cards paid as of that weekend for including in the Conference Target Date Turnin.

A repeating orientation session that has excited a great deal of interest among Legion Post officers is the Association Information Management Systems presentation. Information Technology specialists from the National Organization will conduct a session every other hour throughout the day Saturday, January 10. The repeating sessions are designed to permit the maximum number of conferees to attend without missing other important presentation.

The Association Information Management System is membership software that makes managing your post

easier and provides more tools to your membership team than you can imagine. AIMS was designed by the National Organization specifically to meet the needs of Posts of The American Legion.

The Department Service Office will conduct its usual training and orientation sessions for Post Service officers, and provide limited claims assistance during the conference. The Department employs four certified and VAtrained Service Officers, who provide unequalled representation for veterans, and all will participate in the Mid-Winter Conference.

Sessions of particular interest to American Legion posts that operate club rooms are those presented by the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Department of Revenue.

The rules and regulations that govern the operation of a club under a not-for profit liquor license are particularly important. Specialists from that agency will cover the procedures posts must follow, the reporting and recordskeeping requirements, and the possible consequences of failing to follow the agency’s regulations.

Similarly, the Department of Revenue will conduct detailed training on Charitable Gaming, and issue that has undergo significant revision over the past few years. The growing presence of legalized gambling in Indiana has had a major impact on non-profit gaming, and posts that conduct community bingo games and other legal gaming activities can benefit greatly from these presentations, and may protect themselves of inadvertent violations.

Continued

Editor’s Note: The following essay was written by a delegate to the 2008 Hoosier Boys State at the beginning of his senior year in high school. Here, he offers a glimpse of not only his experience, but also the program’s lasting effect on his life. Read this essay, and consider the impact this program has had on our young people over the decades, and the damage it’s continued decline would inflict on the State of Indiana.

ther mentioned my name to Dave Ritenour, a sponsor of Hoosier Boys State at the local American Legion. My grandfather then talked to my mom about it, and I heard about it shortly after that.

“Ian, grandpa gave a recommendation for you to go to Hoosier Boys State this summer. If you want to, give Dave a call and he will fill you in

on all the details. I think you should consider going, it will be a good experience for you,” my mom told me that night.

“Well, I guess I will think about doing it,” I responded with little enthusiasm. I didn’t even know what the program was.

In a blink of an eye, Dave and I got in touch and we arranged a meeting to discuss

the possibility of me going. The scope of all the things he told me they do at Boys State overwhelmed me. In essence, it is a weeklong camp in Terre Haute where the best and brightest of Indiana’s young men go to learn how government works by creating an accurate simulation of a real state government.

The thought of learning about something that didn’t interest me much, at the cost of a full week of my precious summer vacation, seemed very unappealing. Nevertheless, not wanting to snub Dave or my family, I listened carefully as I mulled the in-

formation over. The turning point in my perspective on Boys State was certainly when I learned that we would have a lot of freedom and the ability to make decisions for ourselves, and we wouldn’t just be studying in a classroom. For a reason I still don’t fully understand, I decided to sign up. The experience sounded like it could be either enlightening or a dreadful bore. Fortunately for me, it was the former.

Finally, the time came for me to go. As luck would have it, I was among the first to ar-

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Excellence Award

“Greatest Tool” For Membership

By Daniel S. Wheeler National Adjutant

From time to time, salesmen and consultants visit National Headquarters, presenting us with the next great plan for boosting our membership. Their plans promise that we'll be able to boost our numbers to a point where they’ve never been before. Of course, there's a price. And it’s our job to act in your best interest—to decide if potential benefits outweigh the cost.

Perhaps the best membership program in place right now doesn’t carry exorbitant monthly or yearly fees. It doesn’t require a large, upfront payment. It’s sitting right in front of us, at virtually no cost. All we have to do is take advantage of it.

The program is National Commander David K. Rehbein’s Post Excellence Award, and it’s the greatest tool we have for increasing both membership and retention. The program is simple enough. Posts will receive an award for showing excellence in four of the main areas of concern to The American Legion: membership, children and youth activities, community service, and service to veterans and warriors.

Many posts already are excelling at one or more of these areas; other posts will need to increase their efforts in one or more of the areas to qualify. Specific details about the program are online at www.legion.org/members/officers/ nationalcommander.

Greeting the Season

By James Koutz National Legislative Chairman

It’s not a surge, but it’s certainly a trend, as the membership eagle soars ever higher toward the pinnacle of success this year. The end of the year marks a transition from cards easily received

The president's fiscal 2009 discretionary funding recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs reflected a $1.7-billion increase from fiscal 2008 funding. However, the bulk of that increase included fiscal assumptions by administration officials—proposed and

Editor’s Note: The National Legislative Chairman, Jim Koutz, is a native Hoosier, a member of Boonville’s American Legion Post 200, and Indiana’s endorsed candidate for National Commander.

defeated last year—that The American Legion found unacceptable. These proposals included:

Charging enrollment fees ranging from $250 to $750— based on family income—to cover the cost of enrolling vet-

erans in Priority Groups 7 and 8, regardless of other health insurance coverage. Increasing pharmacy copayments for certain veterans, from $7 to $15 per prescription.

Continuing the prohibition

Although one goal of the Post Excellence Award is to increase membership, it’s not the reason Commander Rehbein proposed the idea. Posts that participate will be increasing their communities' awareness of American Legion programs. As Legionnaires, you know the good we’re doing; others, including prospective members, may not. Maintaining a strong presence in your communities by conducting our programs is the best way to advertise The American Legion brand.

We are an organization

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What’s To Come

for the enrollment of new Priority Group 8 veterans. Eliminating the practice of reducing the VA first-party co-payment debts with collection recoveries from thirdparty health plans.

Rather than consider ways to allow the VA health-care system to accommodate the veterans currently using it, the White House budget for

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Training, Education Sessions Set

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Department Public Relations Committee Chairman Jeff Carroll has scheduled a basic how-to on Public Relations for the committee meeting. It will feature a presentation by members of the staff and an opportunity to discuss local public relations challenges and successes.

With the changes in eligibility, particularly that affecting the Reserve and National Guard components, as well as the growing need to protect sensitive personal information, a presentation by the National Personnel Records Center promises to be a well attended and helpful session for both post officers and individual members who want to be well informed as they go about their new member recruitment activities.

In addition to these spe-

Fifth District

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and knowing is Walter Rodgers from Dunkirk Post 227. If ever there was someone who personifies “Officer and a Gentleman,” Legionnaire Rodgers is it. He is one outstanding Legionnaire.

Always attending the District Meetings and being involved in his local Post and community. He always conducts himself in an upright manner. A model Legionnaire. If you would like to meet and talk with him you might consider going over to Dunkirk Legion Post 227 on any last Saturday night of every month around 7:00 p.m. when they hold their NASCAR

Short Takes

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Fisher House by going to their webpage at www.fisherhouse.org and click on Hero Miles for an explanation of how to donate those miles. Listed below are the rules for service members using those miles:

Service men and women with an approved leave of five or more days may be given a free round trip airline ticket for a trip from the medical center to their home and return if they are not eligible for government funded airfare. Qualifying service men

cial training and information sessions, the conference also will offer information on the Veterans Funeral Care and a variety of Legion programs and activities, and will feature a ‘Barn Dance’ themed conference party Saturday night. The no-cost welcoming reception, set for 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 9, will feature Corn Hole and Darts for Dollars competition conducted to support the Commander’s special project, and the Department Executive Committee will meet 9:00 a.m. Sunday, January 11.

A detailed itinerary will be available at the Department of Indiana’s Mid-Winter conference offices in the Wilkie Room. Conferees should pick up a copy of the itinerary upon arrival at the conference to plan their participation in the planned activities.

races. It promises to be a fun evening for those that attend. As a matter of fact why don’t we get a bunch of us from the District and meet over at Dunkirk and do some racing?

I was outraged to hear that honors may not have been bestowed on a Legionnaire recently. I was informed that a firing squad left the cemetery because they got tired of waiting. Could this in fact be true? This did not occur in our 5th District, but the disrespect was shown to a former member of our 5th District who had transferred to another District.

I wonder what the family thought and what those in at-

tendance thought about this happening? Wonder if those who might have become members will still want to join our ranks? I would hope that this information is not true and was a misunderstanding of some sort. If it is true, shame on those who turned their backs on a comrade for the entire world to see.

The 5th District under the leadership of Commander Brannon and Membership Chairman Don Cole is doing a great job at membership this year. They both are to be congratulated for all their hard work and dedication.

The next 5th District meeting will be January 17 at Van Buren Post 368 and Mid-

Bright Lights

Winter Conference January 8-11 in Indianapolis. If you are available please try and attend both of these meetings. They are an important source of obtaining valuable information concerning the American Legion that can be put to use in your local Post to further assist our comrade veterans.

And for you bowlers, 5th District Bowling Chairman Jack Lynn advises our District Bowling Tournament will be held in Wabash January 25. Legion members, Auxiliary members, and SAL members are welcome to come bowl. Get up a team of four and come to Wabash and bowl. It is always a day of fun.

Delegate Learns About Self From Boys State Experience

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and women may be given free round trip airline tickets to enable their family or close friends to visit them while they are being treated at the medical center.

The airlines participating in the Hero Miles program are:

• AirTran Airlines www.aplusrewards.com

• Alaska Airlines www.alaskaair.com/ mileageplan/ssl/Donate/ DonateMiles.aspx

• American Airlines www.aa.com/heromiles

Chaplain's Column

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As you ponder who to respond to and what to give, consider giving the greatest gift—a gift that cannot be earned and is

never merited. It is the essence of General Moore’s writing—forgiveness!

Oh, what wrongs can be undone, what chasms of estrangement can be bridged.

• Continental Airlines https://www.continental. com/web/en-US/apps/ onepass/donate/donateMiles.aspx

• Delta Air Lines http://www.delta.com/ skymiles/use_miles/donate_ miles/skywish_charities/ index.jsp,

• Frontier Airlines http://www.frontierairlines. com/frontier/who-we-are/ community-assistance.do

• Midwest Airlines http://www.midwestairlines. com/MAWeb/myAccount/ useYourMiles/donateMiles. aspx

• Northwest Airline http://www.nwa.com/cgibin/wp_donate_aircares.pro

• United Airlines http://secure.ualmiles.com/ MP051116.jsp, and US Airways, http://www.usairways. com/awa/content/dividendmiles/programdetails/ purchasemiles/donatemiles. aspx.

Finally, let me say that at least two of the airlines listed above were about to take away my miles, but Hero House has them now.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

rive. The thought of having to wait a few long hours all alone did little for my already frazzled nerves. My dad left after helping me into my room, and I was regretting the decision to leave my normal life for week-long camp hours from home. Anxiety and fear crept into me. Fear that I had made a wrong decision. Fear that I would have a horrible experience. My eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into an uneasy steep, unsure of how the next seven days would unfold. I remember waking up in a cold sweat a mere minute before my roommate arrived. We introduced ourselves to each other and I felt an enormous sense of relief. From that time on, I felt immensely netter about my decision to go. I began to think optimistically instead of pessimistically. My roommate and I became fast friends, and we promptly set off to meet the other people arriving at Boys State. We met a wide variety of new people of all walks of life and made plenty of new friends. Our new circle of friends all began wondering what the rest of the week would be like.

The memories of my time at Boys State are fantastic. Some parts weren’t great, like waking up early

for reveille, but the sense of duty and pride instilled in my heart when I was elected to the House of Representatives makes those parts easy to forget. Spending time with my new friends was the best part, though. We stayed up all night several nights laughing and swapping stories. The friendships forged that week are unbreakable. I felt like I had known these people my entire life instead of just a few days. We lived together, learned together, suffered together, and triumphed together. We became brothers through our mutual experience. I cannot accurately describe the feeling that permeated the air in Terre Haute the week I spent there. I believe the best word would be gestalt, but the word means nothing compared to the feeling. I truly enjoyed spending a week of my life learning about government, but more importantly, about who I am and what I am made of.

I learned that sometimes taking a big risk can pay off in unpredictable ways. I gained many friends and valuable experience because I left my comfort zone to experience something new, and I wouldn’t trade the week that helped shape my lifetime for anything else.

Moment of Remembrance

Forgiveness will make both the giver and receiver whole! If it can happen halfway around the world among old warriors, it can happen in the battlefields of your life also.

Let this be the season that you let go and let God.

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psalm 32:1 (NRSV)

Morning Report

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the messages.

The staff is reluctant to ask our members not to send such material to them. I am not. The Department Adjutant and I ask that to the extent possible, members and officers limit their emails to ‘…@indlegion.org’ addresses to necessary, official and, only occasionally, brief personal communications. Photos, videos and music are rarely, if ever, necessary communications, and cause serious slowdowns in processing incoming email. Please keep them to an absolute minimum.

By doing so, you will be making a material contribution to the efficiencies and effectiveness we seek to provide as members of your staff during these difficult times.

Address Labels Coming

The Spring Address La-

bel fund-raiser will soon be in the mail. Members will receive a supply of address labels based on the address maintained in the membership data base at Department Headquarters. If the address on your Hoosier Legionnaire is not the address you would like to have on your return address labels, you should submit an address correction to either your post or the department as soon as possible, so the labels you receive are useful to you. Remember, there is no obligation on your part for the address labels. Contributions are encouraged, of course, but they are purely voluntary and no member should feel obligated to donate.

A note on the so-called “follow-up” solicitations: These are sometimes received by those who have already

Auxiliary President Shirley Firkins and Department Commander Ralph Tolan, assisted by an unidentified member of the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division, place a wreath and render appropriate honors during a moment of silence at the annual POW/MIA Remembrance ceremony in Indianapolis earlier this year. The Legion and Auxiliary’s participation is a traditional highlight of the event, as is the Legion’s Service Department information and assistance booth.

contributed and certainly by those who have decided not to give. They are an irritation, but a necessary one, and are standard practice in the direct mail business. The entire label program is conducted electronically. As responses are read by the machines, those names are removed from the follow up mailing list. Those not ‘purged’ from the mailing list will receive the follow up mailing. If the donation is received too late to be purged from the list, the donor will, unfortunately, receive the second request to donate. If you receive a follow up and have already donated, just ignore it. Throw it away. Forget about it. No records are kept and no one in the Department of Indiana knows who contributes or who does not. Use the labels and give when you can, and only when you choose to.

Holiday Closing Department Headquarters will be closed for the Christmas Holiday beginning at 12 noon Wednesday, December 23, 2008, and will reopen Monday, January 5, 2009. During the break, the membership staff will process membership as required, and the Department Adjutant and Assistant Adjutant will check and respond to important email and voice mail messages from members.

Expanded Hours

The Department Offices are now staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Department is fully staffed between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. There is limited staffing the first and last hour of the day, but the phones will be answered and staff is available to provide members with normal and usual office assistance.

Four of the brightest lights in the Legion’s firmament gathered on stage to recognize the latest achievement of one of them – Ray Giehll, immediate Past National Commander of the Sons of The American Legion. Preparing to present a pin to him is National Legislative Chairman Jim Koutz, and with him to his left are Department Commander Ralph Tolan (foreground) and Department Adjutant Steve Short. The presentation came during the recent Fall Conference in Indianapolis.

DISTRICT 1

Ernest Komasinksi Commander

It’s time again to let everyone know about the exciting events that occurred in the First District over the last two months.

In October a number of representatives from the First District traveled to the National Guard Armory in Hammond to recruit new members for the American Legion. Our Executive Vice Commander Fred Lemos, Post 508, made the arrangements with the officers of the National Guard. We were well received and recruited eleven new members. Those applications were turned over to the Department Membership Chairman to forward to the appropriate Posts and Districts.

In November, Vice Commander John Rassbach, Post 100, made arrangements with Sears in Southlake Mall to set up tables and a display at the mall entrances to provide support for their Heroes to Hometown campaign and recruit new members for the Legion. We have been staffing the tables on Saturdays and Sundays thru the month and have made arrangements to continue this campaign thru the middle of December. We have been told that we have already surpassed the Sears expectations. We have heard that the store we have been staffing has raised over $4,000 so far.

Many people didn’t have time to go into the store so they gave us the money to deposit in Sears. One shopper was so moved to see John and others that he gave them a one hundred dollar bill to pass on to Sears. We have already used up all of the supplies for their campaign and they are copying more fliers for us daily. We have also had a strong interest in the Legion and have handed out a number of “Why You Should Belong” fliers and applications. A couple of people even completed their applications right there. Those will also be turned over to the Department Membership Chairman.

The First District also has a program to visit the veterans at the Hines Hospital in Chicago. Chairman John Balczo, Post 369, and Co-Chairman Jack Smith, Post 66, have done an outstanding job of organizing the visitation each month for the last few years.

About twenty Legionnaires and Auxiliary drive to Hines to cheer up the patients. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of that tradition for a couple of years now. John pur-

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of legislation, such as H.R. 6562 introduced earlier this year, to clarify the definition of service in the Republic of Vietnam for the purpose of presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to include service in territorial waters offshore. The American Legion has had a longstanding position supporting the premise that shipboard service in Vietnam’s territorial waters constitutes service in the Republic of Vietnam for the purpose of presumption of exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) during the Vietnam War.

AL Amyloidosis Added To

Agent Orange List:

There are currently a number of medical conditions VA can grant compensation for by presuming the those conditions were cause by the veteran’s exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. On November 3, 2008, VA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to add AL amyloidosis to its Agent Orange presumptive list.

AL amyloidosis is a rare monoclonal plasma cell dis-

chases small gifts from District donations each month that we take to the patients when we visit.

Auxiliary District President Barb Sales also provided comfort packs to distribute to the patients this last month. The First District Ladies Auxiliary purchased, collected, and packed the items for us. Next month they will collect and pass out Christmas cards and stamps for the patients to use to remember their family and friends during the holidays. It is especially heartwarming to do this visit during the Holidays. A very heartfelt thanks to you all.

On November 10 I was invited to be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day service at U.S. Steel in Gary. I was very honored to be a part of the ceremony that has been a tradition for years. I would like to compliment U.S. Steel for having this ceremony.

Many companies do not recognize Veterans Day at all. Some only add it to their holiday schedule as another day off. Many workers then just take the day off to do chores around the house or if warm weather barbeque like they do on Memorial Day. Many people today do not even think about the significance or meaning of Veterans Day or any holiday. They just use holidays as time off to do their thing.

Again thank you U.S. Steel and all of the participants for remembering and observing Veterans Day. And remember to keep all of your fellow veterans in your prayers everyday and let them know in some small way that their contributions are truly appreciated.

Sympathy wishes to the family and friends of Stanley (Stosh) Vlarich, Post 279 Commander who passed away in October, and Past First District Commander George Puchowski, who passed away in November. Among other accomplishments, Commander Puchowski was instrumental in establishing American Legion Post 1 in Tokyo, Japan. Both Commanders will really be missed in the First District.

I would like to close by wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May next year be even better for you, your family, and friends. Remember to stop, take a moment or two, close your eyes, forget about all of your problems, and be thankful for all of the good things you have and take for granted every day.

order that shares biological and pathophysiological features of multiple myeloma and some lymphomas that have already been accepted by VA as associated with herbicide exposure. Veterans who served in Vietnam who now have AL amyloidosis are encouraged to contact their local county veterans’ service office or The American Legion Department Service office for assistance with filing a VA claim for service connected compensation benefits.

Surviving spouses of Vietnam veterans who have died of AL Amyloidosis should also file VA claims for service connected survivors benefits.

Veteran Population

According to the www. va.gov in a FY-2007 study, there are 7.9 million Vietnam veterans. There are about 23.8 million living veterans, 7.5 percent of whom are women. There are about 37 million dependents (spouses and dependent children) of living veterans and survivors of deceased veterans. Together they represent 20 percent of the US population.

DISTRICT 3

Robert Claypool Commander

Greetings and Happy Holidays from the Third District.

We have been busy the last couple of months with one project that was conducted as a District, that being the collection of donations to purchase a new state of the art television for the boys at Division 18 at Knightstown Home.

The S.A.L. collected $650 and the Third District donated $500 for the cause. A list of the S.A.L. Squadrons that donated will be in the next article from the Third District.

Some of our posts were busy, as well. Five riders of the Wanatah Post 403 Chapter of the Legion Riders braved low 40s temperatures on October 25, making the 370 mile round trip to the home without incident. ALR Member Terry Benkie followed in his truck with trailer in case of any breakdowns. Fortunately, there were no incidents. With generous donations from our Post’s Legion, S.A.L. and Auxiliary, along with many others, we were able to present a check for $1,200 to the ISSCH for use in their Recreational Program.

Riders Robert Corcoran, Dave Bickford, Dave Lapine, Dale Scott, Dave Shirley, and Terry Benkie were treated to a greatly appreciated lunch of great hot dogs, chips and soda in the Recreation Center with the students.

Many thanks to all who donated to this worthwhile project!

October 5 was American Legion Post 297 S.A.L.'s chili cook off, which was a huge success. The place was packed with chefs and patrons that received a wonderful meal.

The post was also given a Certificate of Appreciation from the Indiana Department. of Transportation "Adopt a Highway" program. This was for our continued support and participation in this program and for this year’s Trash Bash.

S.A.L. Squadron 189 of Walkerton held its annual Halloween party October 26. In attendance were approximately 80 children and their parents who were treated to food, drinks, games, and gifts. The hall was nicely decorated with flowers, gourds, pumpkins and even a graveyard with a monster or two. The moms received mums that were decorating the tables and as usual it was a big hit and all in attendance had a great time.

Auxiliary Unit 189 was busy as well. In August, the unit members treated the seniors to a music event featuring a band that played all of the old time music. Then in November, the Post and Unit members went to Miller’s Merry Manor and treated the vet-

Tip Of The Hat

The Department Executive Committee, during its October meeting in Indianapolis, gave final approval to the new cap insignia to be displayed on all future Legion caps worn by members of Indiana Department of The American Legion. The insignia is a rendition of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis. It is available as a patch, or can be embroidered on new caps. Both are available from the National Emblem Sales Office. Existing Caps may continue to be worn, but new ones must display the insignia.

erans to a beautiful Veterans’ Day program. Each veteran was presented with an American flag to mark the event.

New Carlisle Post 297 had their annual Veterans’ Day program on November 8 which featured their famous home cooked meal followed by this year’s speaker, our Department Commander Ralph Tolan. His speech focused on thanking the veterans of World War II and the Korean War. Without their service to country, we wouldn’t be enjoying the many freedoms that we have today.

Mishawaka Post 161 had its annual Veterans’ Day program on Veterans’ Day which featured two guest speakers who work with Workforce Development and specialize in assisting veterans in finding employment. The program was followed by the traditional Army Stew which was enjoyed by all.

Middlebury Post 210 visited Heritage Middle School for a Veterans’ Day program which was a big hit. The auditorium was almost filled with the eighth graders and several faculty members, including the principal and two of the assistant principals. The day started with the Pledge of Allegiance which was recited by the eighth graders and was heard in each room via the intercom. Post members and the eighth graders then went to the auditorium where the Northern Lites choir sang the National Anthem.

The members then went on the stage and each member of the post in attendance had an opportunity to say a few words about our experiences. With a show of hands, we discovered that almost every one of the students had a father or grandfather or uncle that had served. The Goshen News was there and took many pictures including several of us holding the flags that the Post had donated to the school and six students from each of the sixth, seventh and eighth grades in front of and behind us also holding flags.

The faculty members were more than a little thankful for us coming that day. Attendees included post members Art Baer, Everett Grimm, Floyd Flynn, Joe James, Tom Carney, John Whetstone, Earl Haithcox and Leonard Wisowaty.

On Wednesday, November 12, many of the Posts from LaPorte County assembled and performed a flag disposal ceremony for the entire South Central High School student body in Union Mills. We are continuing with our membership push and we have a few words for the First and Second District: “Rest Assured—Here Comes The Third.”

Hard to believe we are closing in on a new year. Seems like we went right from August to December. That’s what happens when you have a busy schedule, time flies.

Our District is supporting our candidate for Department Commander, Bob Newman, and Sgt-at-Arms candidate, Gary Parker, for the 2009-2010 Legion year.

We have just completed our Past Commander’s recognition evening at the November 6 District meeting. In attendance were many Districts with their choices for Department and National Legion positions for the 2009-2010 Legion year.

The District has many programs going on. Posts are supporting the Sears holiday season, community donations to various organizations. One program that needs mentioning is Churubusco Post 157, Girl Scouts. The Post furnishes the food, the Girl Scouts serve the food and do the clean-up, and get to keep the profits for their programs. They do this every Wednesday night and do a very good job.

Hattie Moore, the District Chairwomen for Girl Scouts, will be working with all the Posts to develop and make the Girl Scout Program one that the Department and National Commander David Rehbein will be proud of.

This is what we do, and just a small part of all the Programs that our 30 Posts are involved in.

This District Commander

is very proud of our Membership Chairman, Bob Miller. His hard work has elevated the District from 11th to 5th place at our last turn-in at Indianapolis on Nov. 9th.

Now as we get ready for Thanksgiving and the busy Santa season, let not forget our Troops that will not be home for the Holidays. God Bless.

We will be with our Dept. Commander Ralph Tolan for the Dept. Christmas party.

The next day I have my officers’ Christmas party.

My best wishes to all the Legion Family at this special time of year and hope to see you at Midwinter Conference, after which we will be getting ready for our Feb. District meeting at Post 148 in Fort Wayne, District Bowling Tournament Feb.6th & 7th. Sponsored by Post 86 in Kendallville.

Looking forward to the Lincoln Pilgrimage in Springfield, Ill. We also have our Oratorical Zone competition at Decatur Post 43. Our Dist. Chairman, Norm Bultemeier is doing an outstanding job with this program. Many more Post visitations and before you know it we will be celebrating our Legion Birthdays. So as we go into a New Year, “Remember Pride is being a Legion Member.”

And our purpose is paying our dues in a timely manner, which supports all of our Legion programs. So, until next time, have a great New Year. God Bless.

PDC Dave Ritenour reports that the Roanoke Post 160 Rabbit Fry was held once again this year. They have been doing the rabbit fry for around 50 years now. Having been there many times before I can attest that they have cooking the rabbit down to a fine science of excellence. No one can beat the meal they put out.

Attending from the 5th Dist. was 5th District Commander Pete Brannon, Membership Chairman Don Cole, Vice Commander Jerry Stevens, Adjutant Bob Bach, and Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ed Trice. American Legion State Commander Ralph Tolan and State Sgt.-AtArms Kenny Dowden were also in attendance.

It was good to see Legionnaire Dowden up and around after his recent heart attack. Kenny is 92 years old and is still serving The American Legion doing a fantastic job at being our State Sgt.-At-Arms.

Kenny is a great example to the rest of us in The American Legion of what it means to serve.

This Veterans Day, Wabash Post 15 Honor Guard participated in Court House Cere-

monies and also a ceremony at the Senior Center. Laketon Post 402 held a veterans dinner as did Fairmount Post 313, Jonesboro Post 95, Wabash Post 15 and Hartford City Post 159. A nice simple way of honoring American Legion members for their sacrifice made for our beloved Country. Portland Post 211 is rumored to be wanting to start an American Legion Riders Chapter. 5thDistrict ALR Chairman Kent Mullett advised he will be assisting them in getting their Chapter started.

Our District lost a former District Commander, Dave Dilling of Laketon Post 402. Dave was District Commander in 1965. Dave served in the U.S. Navy during WWII in the South Pacific.

PDC Dave Ritenour reports he received word that Dale Sheedy, adjutant for Huntington Post 7 died. The 5th District sends their deepest symphony to both families.

One of the assets to being a Legion member is the opportunity to meet some of the greatest people on this planet. One of them that I have had the privilege of meeting

No column submitted.

DISTRICT 2

Robert Rettig Commander

DISTRICT 4

Charlie Rathsack Commander

DISTRICT 5

Pete Brannon Commander

DISTRICT 6

As the year 2008 winds down it is time for all of you to look in your wallets and make sure you have a paid-up 2009 card. Our strength as an organization depends on membership numbers. Membership funds our activities and gives us a strong voice with the legislature. The more members we have, the stronger we are as a Legion.

I have enjoyed the post visitation program so far this year. The hospitality and friendship I have experienced has been a real bonus. For the posts not yet visited, I will be in contact with your officers to set a time for my visit. I am trying to make my visits correspond with your meeting times. Since there are several meetings on identical nights it is taking time for me to make

my rounds. It is my goal to see all of you before my term is complete. It has been interesting to learn how some Posts go about their community activities and fund raising.

As examples, Greencastle Post 58 sells “Legion Burgers” at the County fair, Rockville Post 288 sells home-made noodles during the Covered Bridge Festival, and Cicero Post 341 has started a Memorial Walk at the local cemetery and is selling engraved pavers to raise funds.

The Holidays are upon us and I want to wish everyone a joyful and prosperous Christmas and New Year. Also, don’t forget the Mid-Winter Conference January 9-11, 2009.

If any of you have any experience with our Oratorical Contest I can certainly use some help with the program.

DISTRICT 9

Raymond Kerner Commander

As members of The American Legion, we are veterans who served as uniformed military personnel during wartime. We have banded together to ensure our rights and benefits as provided by past congressional legislation are not arbitrarily taken from us by random political elections or administrative budget cuts. We recognize that our political clout in Washington is commensurate with our numerical strength. This is the reason for our annual 12 month Department Membership drive. When we lobby our national and state legislators from a position of as much strength as possible, we not only represent the millions of Veterans who served during wartime; we also represent and fight for millions of vterans who served between wars. We do an awesome job.

Our Nifty Ninth Membership Team is: Milton Howard, Post 337 Sunman, Membership Chairman East; Ronald Taylor, Post 69 Orleans, Membership Chairman West; Ron also is a Vice Commander and serves as the Task Force of our 9th District Headquarters Post 709. He claims to hold all the elected offices of said Post.

is that since early October they have held the honor of being No. 1 in the Department. and presently at 110.48 percent which includes 12 new members. Their success comes from a desire to be as good as they can be and a can-do attitude mixed with innovation. Part of Post 452’s success is in response to a P.O.W./M.I.A. table and easel holding a manila envelope full of P.O.W./M.I.A. flyers which explains the meaning of the table and the items on it.

DISTRICT 10

By Vonda Garringer Public Relations Officer

Greetings from the Terrific 10th District.

From the desk of Commander Gammon:

We had a membership drive around November 22.

We picked up several cards.

Thank you to all the Posts who opened their doors for the drive around. Please don’t forget about the Flag Education testing in February, and get your Boy’s State applications in as soon as possible.

All the 10th District Of-

ficers would like to wish you all a joyous and safe holiday season. Try to give back, find someone to share your holidays with, you never know what that act of kindness may reward you with.

Keep looking for new members & renewing current ones. Times are difficult, but this organization can be such a blessing.

We look forward to seeing you at the Mid-Winter Conference next month.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Season Greetings to all of our Legion family members.

As we all know the holiday's are upon us and it is time to spread some holiday cheer. I received an e-mail the other day from a wonderful friend that had a wonderful idea inside. Some of you probably already have heard this but for those that haven't, when you sit down to send out your Christmas cards this year, please add one to the list and send it to:.

A Recovering Soldier

C/O Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20307 - 5001

Not only will this make you feel good about yourself but also hopefully it will make one of them feel better. Let them know that we appreciate all they have done to protect our great country.

Now is also a great time to work on our membership, look for those less fortunate during the holidays and purchase their membership card for them. Just think of the joy that will be spread with the gift of kindness that says it all, thanks for your service, here's your 2009 card, happy holidays.

Congratulations to Marengo Post 84 for being the first post in the 8th District for reaching 100 percent for the 2009 membership year. They also recently re-opened their post for business; quite an accomplishment taking in to consideration that some posts are closing.

My hat is off to the members of Tennyson Post 463 as well; they are trying to reopen their post and hopefully expand their membership. Good luck to the both of you.

We have a candidate for Southern Vice for the year 2009-2010 who has been making his candidate appearances throughout the southern part of the state. Our candidate is Dave Sharber. Dave is from Mt. Vernon Post 5. He is a very worthy individual, well schooled in all fields of The American Legion and a pretty nice gentleman to boot. Dave and his traveling companions have made several District meetings already and have several more scheduled for the near future. So please attend your district meeting and meet Dave. You won’t regret it.

As is everyone, I’m looking for a great start to the New

Year. As this year fades by, hopefully as in the past our membership will take off after the first of the year. With the help of the great members of the 8th District climb our way back to the top.

Here's wishing all pleasant and safe travels over the holidays. May God bless each and every one of you. Let us also remember those that are still over seas and stationed throughout this crazy world we live in.

Lastly to my son SSG Tom Dooley ,USAF, Osan, South Korea, congratulations on your promotion. We love you and miss you.

From my two sons and me, Happy Holidays from the Dooleys.

By David Sharber Public Relations Officer

On Veteran's Day, 11-11-08, at Eugene Pate Post 265 a new computer set up was unveiled for use by the public to contact their family members overseas. This project was started by the Sons of the American Legion at Post 265 and supported by Te American Legion and the Auxiliary of Post 265. The computer system with the software, camera and set up was donated by PC Quest in Evansville. The hook up to the Internet was provided by WOW! Business Solutions.

Anyone wishing to use the system is invited to the Post Home at 1301 N. Fares Avenue, Evansville, IN. Please phone 812-423-4033 for more information. Freedom

AlsoRandy Beeler, Post 250 Mitchell, Executive Vice Commander; James E. Beach, Post 231 Aurora, Vice Commander; C.T. (Sugo) Castner, Post 173 Versailles, Vice Commander; Alex Crook, Post 76 French Lick, Vice Commander; Floyd Crouse, Post 13 Nashville, Vice Commander; Larry Durnil, Post 24 Columbus, Vice Commander; Richard Fleenor, Post 234 Scottsburg, Vice Commander; Paul C. Hardy, Post 267 Osgood, Vice Commander; Jerome (Jerry) Maune, Post 464 St. Leon, Vice Commander; Samuel R. Moore, Post 69 Orleans, Vice Commander; Lowell W. Sullivan, Post 185 Vevay, Vice Commander; James J. Tracey, Post 89 Seymour, Vice Commander.

Completing our District Membership Team is our Adjutant, Mike Blevins, who is always willing to travel and help in any way he can to encourage Posts to work the three R’s of membership: Renewal, Recruitment and Reinstatement.

The caliber of our team and the old ‘Nifty Ninth Bully CanDo Attitude,’ should ‘Shiver the Timbers’ of the other Districts in our Department.

I thank the individual Post membership teams of our District. Your work determines how good we are and how far we go toward becoming a growing organization instead of a declining one.

Post 452, New Alsace, is a small village post surrounded by larger posts; what makes them heads above other posts

8th District

Continued from column 2

Colors that lead parades

And cover a comrade’s grave

We speak their names now and then

Some are family

Some are friends

All are precious in our sight

For they defend

What we know is right

We pray that God will shelter them in his hands

And bring them home from

By David Sharber

29 October 2008

We are always talking membership, not because we enjoy harping at our Legion family about it but because it is so important to the survival of our organization and the values we hold dear in this great nation. With the holiday season at hand, think about what a great gift a membership in your Legion family would make for a qualified

After being set up in the lobby of the Dearborn County Hospital, the display gained popularity and now there is a waiting list of schools, banks, churches and other organizations waiting for their month to host the Post 452 Traveling P.O.W./M.I.A. table. Thank you, Post 452, for doing your share to make The American Legion grow. I hope it is catching. Aurora Post 231 American Legion and Auxiliary are implementing a new scholarship program to replace their old “in house” awards that have been in place for several years with mixed results and inadequate funding. The grant and aid award will be given in the amount of $1,000 to a single student who is approaching their third year of college seeking a bachelors degree, or working for a Masters or Doctorate Degree. Qualifications require that student has a parent, grandparent or guardian with a minimum of three consecutive years of paid up membership in the Legion or Auxiliary of Post 231. For information, call 812-926-2138.

Batesville Post 271 has announced its annual Four Chaplains Interfaith Memorial Service will be held in Oldenburg at the Sisters Chapel across from Holy Family Church on Hwy 229, Sunday Feb. 1, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Parking will be in the church school lot.

A big hello to George W. Wouster and John F. Hilgeman, both of Post 14 in the 5th District, for being great friends and for their hospitality when I am in Peru.

If we make a habit of asking everyone we meet if they are a veteran, and their dates are right, by making sure they have the opportunity to join, we will continue to be the largest and best group of veterans helping veterans—The American Legion.

Remember, we are a band of brothers united by a common bond of wearing the military uniform of our country with the goal of forming and maintaining the strongest organization possible to protect the rights and benefits of Veterans.

Anchors Aweigh for God and Country,

DISTRICT 11

No column submitted.

A Look At The 110th Congress

Continued from page 1

VA sought to drive tens of thousands of veterans away from VA while continuing to prohibit more than a million Priority Group 8-eligible veterans from enrolling in its medical system. The American Legion vehemently opposed this particular administration strategy.

On March 13, the House passed its version of the fiscal 2009 budget resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 312. The vote for passage was 212-207. The Senate version of the fiscal 2009 budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 70, passed on March 14 by a 51-44 tally. Both chambers' budget blueprints call for an increase of $3.2 billion above the president's fiscal 2009 request for VA funding.

Both resolutions also rejected the administration's policy requests outlined above. On June 4, the Senate voted 48-45 to agree to the conference report to S. Con. Res. 70. The following day, the House voted in favor of the report 214-210. It should be stressed that the budget resolution is not law but merely the guideline for spending bills.

The chart below shows VA discretionary funding for fiscal 2008, proposed funding contained in the president's 2009 budget resolution, and The American Legion's fiscal 2009 proposal.

In the final days of September, congressional leadership realized that it would be impossible to pass all 12 appropriations bills to fund federal government programs for fiscal 2009. Therefore, a consolidated appropriationscontinuing resolution bill was developed. H.R. 2638 consisted of three major elements:

a vote of 78-12. It was signed by the president Sept. 30 as Public Law 110-329. A full delineation of the fiscal 2009 appropriations portion will be presented later in this report.

Americanism

Two years ago, the concerted efforts of millions of concerned Americans to pass a constitutional amendment to protect the U.S. Flag— including The American Legion and the Citizens Flag Alliance—fell one vote short of passage in the Senate of the 109th Congress. Last year, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., introduced House Joint Resolution 12, once more seeking to protect the U.S. Flag from acts of physical desecration through passage of a constitutional amendment. The measure currently has 72 cosponsors. A Senate companion measure opposed by The American Legion, S.J. Res. 40, was introduced by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., on June 12. Neither measure has been acted upon by either chamber during the 110th Congress.

The American Legion will continue to seek passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the U.S. Flag because it is the right thing to do.

Children & Youth

On June 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved S. 3182, the fiscal 2009 funding measure for the departments of Commerce and Justice, and science programs. Funding for Department of Justice programs supported by The American Legion include:

$7.3 billion for the FBI, a $592-million increase from the current fiscal year.

$1.95 billion for the Drug Enforcement Administration, a $97-million increase from fiscal 2008.

friend or family member. If you have a relative or friend currently in the service or recently discharged, think what a show of support and thanks for their service would be. We have to stick with growing our membership back and stick to our beliefs and principles or those who would undermine our American way of life will stick it to us.

I need your input for the Eighth District articles going into the Hoosier Legionnaire. If your Post or someone in your Post does something newsworthy please send it to me, David Sharber by e-mail to wobegon@sit-co.net or by mail at PO Box 60 in Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. We need newsworthy Legion, veteran, community-related information. Be proud of your post and your Legion Family. Share what they are doing. No gossip please, just news.

A disaster relief package totaling $22.9 billion that included block grants, FEMA disaster relief funding and community development block grants.

Funding for the majority of federal government programs—with three exceptions noted below—that will keep government agencies functioning through March 6 of next year, but at levels equal to fiscal 2008 funding. This places the burden of developing fiscal 2009 appropriations bills for the last six months of the fiscal year on PresidentElect Barack Obama and the 111th Congress.

Full fiscal 2009 appropriations for the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, as well as military construction programs.

The measure passed the House on Sept. 24 by a vote of 370-58, then was approved by the Senate three days later by

$1.04 billion for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a $59-million increase from the current year.

$1.4 billion for state and local law-enforcement assistance grants, a $480-million increase from fiscal 2008.

$968 million for the U.S. Marshals Service, a $104-million increase from the current year.

$400 million for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a $16million increase from fiscal 2008.

However, due to the budget impasse, P.L. 110-329 contained stop-gap funding for DoJ programs set at fiscal 2008 levels, which will expire in early March. At that time, Obama and the 111th Congress will determine if increased funding levels will be needed for the remainder of fiscal 2009.

Randy Dooley Commander

Alescia Johnson Commander

Niles Gammon Commander

DISTRICT 7

Jerry Ward Commander

Donald Hudson Commander

New GI Education Bill Is Boon To Veterans; Shows Legion Influence

The American Legion and Congress worked together for three years in overhauling the federal veterans’ education benefits package. This resulted in one of the most important veterans legislative improvements since the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944.

The 1944 Serviceman’s Readjustment Act, better known as the GI Bill, provided returning World War II veterans essentially free education benefits. The 1944 version of the GI bill is often credited for better educating the workforce and spurring more than 50 years of economic prosperity in America.

Over the years, the education provisions of the old GI Bill steadily eroded. Service members had to either decline or buy into their education benefit while in service. After leaving service, many veterans found it near impossible to attend school. The education benefit they invested into failed to pay the full cost of college tuition. The ‘benefit” also failed to pay anything toward living expenses while veterans attended school.

Many veterans simply could not afford to attend school since they still had to pay a large part of their education expenses. Even with several years of military experience, veterans found themselves having to enter the workforce with little education and training for civilian employment. One might wonder if the federal government’s attempt to save money by reducing veterans’ education benefits might have contributed to the state of our nation’s present day economic situation.

President Bush signed the new veterans’ education assistance bill, the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, into law on June 30, 2008. It will not take effect, however, until August 1, 2009. While the Post 9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act has many advantages over current veterans’ education programs, there are some provisions in the current education assistance programs that are not present in the Post- 9/11 education bill. Veterans should therefore be aware of the differences in these programs before mak-

ing the irrevocable choice switching their veterans’ education benefit programs.

Some differences include:

John Hickey Department Service Officer

The Post 9/11 program does not require a $100 contribution during service for 12 months as does the current Montgomery GI Bill.

Veterans can use their current veterans’ education assistance programs now, but will have to wait until August 1, 2009 to enroll in the Post 9/11 program.

Veterans must have served on active duty after September 10, 2001, for eligibility to the Post 9/11 program, but veterans having service only before September 11, 2001, have 10 years after active duty discharge to use the current Montgomery GI Bill.

Generally, the Post 9/11 program provides benefits for up to 36 months. Many veterans may also have up to 36 months total entitlement under the current Montgomery GI Bill. Each month’s entitlement used under a current veterans education benefit program subtracts a month from the Post-9/11 program.

Veterans who transfer from the current Montgomery GI Bill benefit to the Post- 9/11 program have entitlement limited to the months remaining from their Montgomery GI Bill benefit.

Veterans have 15 years following service discharge to use the new Post-9/11 program, but have only 10 years following service discharge to use the current Montgomery GI Bill.

Post-9/11 benefits can be transferred to a spouse or dependent child upon permission from the Department of Defense if the service person has served for at least six years and agrees to serve an additional four years in the US Armed Forces. None of the current veterans’ education assistance benefits have this option.

Unlike the current Montgomery GI education assis-

tance program, the Post-9/11 GI Bill may not be used for flight training, correspondence schools, vocational schools, apprentice programs, on-the-job training programs, or national test or online distance education programs.

The new Post-9/11 program will pay tuition and fees based on the highest-cost fulltime undergraduate training program at a state public institution of higher learning, a monthly housing allowance equivalent to the base housing allowance for an E-5 with dependents, and a stipend of up to $1,000 per year paid for books, and supplies. The current veterans’ education programs pay only a set monthly benefit.

(For instance, the full time institutional training rate for a single veteran using the current Montgomery GI Bill education assistance program pays $1,101 but does not pay a housing allowance, the annual $1,000 books and supplies stipend or the cost of tuition over and above the $1,101 monthly allowance.)

Please also understand that all the specific regulations for the Post-9/11 program have not yet been finalized so some specific provisions of this benefit program may change before its August 1, 2009, start date.

Persons eligible for Post9/11 education assistance benefits include:

Active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces with at least 90 aggregate days of active-duty service since September 10, 2001.

Veterans who performed at least 30 days of continuous active-duty service after September 10, 2001, and were discharged due to a serviceconnected disability.

Veterans with at least 90 aggregate days of active-duty service who were released from the armed forces with service characterized as honorable and place on the retired list, temporary disability retired list, or transferred to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve.

Veterans honorably release after at least 90 aggregate days

Continued on page 7

Wisdom of Youth

Reverence for the service and sacrifice of America’s military heroes knows no age limit and no gender as demonstrated by this young man attending to the POW/MIA Chair during ceremonies in Indianapolis in September, and the two Legionnaires above, reverently in prayer during the annual POW/MIA observance in Indianapolis. The ceremony calls attention to the plight of those captured and still held, or those listed as missing but whose whereabouts are unknown.

Legion Launches Website For New Post-9/11 GI Bill

The American Legion has launched an informative new web site to help veterans and their families understand the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which takes effect Aug. 1, 2009, and how it compares with other federal education benefits for veterans.

The site, www.mygibill.org, includes clear explanations of the different GI Bill benefits, news alerts and updates, frequently asked questions, state-by-state benefits and online application opportunities. The site also includes information about The American Legion's historical and

ongoing role in the evolution of veterans’ education benefits. The site will continue to evolve with new features and updated material every week.

"This new Web site comes in response to quite a bit of confusion from veterans since the passage of the Post -9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 last summer," National Commander David K. Rehbein said.

"There are some major differences between the Post9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill that veterans need to understand. Foremost, they need to understand that

they have choices and should review all of the different education benefits to see which one best meets their needs."

Rehbein said The American Legion has a time-honored obligation to play a lead role in providing information and outreach on the GI Bill.

"The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944—the original GI Bill—was the brainchild of American Legion members, most notably Past National Commander Harry Colmery, who drafted it in longhand from a room inside the Mayflower Hotel in Washington," Rehbein said.

Service Officer Award Nominations Due

Department Service Office December Business Hours

The Department Service Office will be closed on Friday, December 21 for a Staff Christmas dinner, and from Wednesday, December 24, 2008 through Friday, January 2, 2009, in celebration of the Christmas and New Years Holidays. The Department Service Office will otherwise be open each Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. during December. Appointments are necessary for client visits. You may contact the Department Service Office by calling our direct number of 317-916-3605; calling a long distance toll free number of 1-888-723-7999, extension 3; faxing us at 317-226-6645; or by using the following e-mail address: vsohickj@ vba.va.gov.

Post Service Officer Award

The American Legion Department of Indiana is now accepting award nominations for outstanding American Legion Post Service Officers. Post interested in nominating their service officers may contact the Department Veterans Service Office for a nomination form.

Note from the Department Service Officer: The Department Service Office will be open each Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. during the month of May. Appointments are necessary for client visits. You may contact the Department Service Office by calling our new direct number of 317-916-3605; calling a long distance toll free number of 1-888-723-7999, extension 3; faxing us at 317-226-6645; or by using the following e-mail address: vsohickj@vba.va.gov.

Veterans Employment Awards

The American Legion awards certificates of appreciation and recognition to employers having an outstanding record of hiring and retaining veterans. Each year the Indiana Department of The American Legion may provide one employer award each for small companies with 50 or fewer employees, medium sized companies with work forces of 51 to 200, and large companies with 201 or more employees. Employers may also receive American Legion awards for hiring and retaining older workers and disabled workers. The American Legion also provides certificates of appreciation to recognize and honor outstanding local veterans employment representatives, disabled veterans outreach program specialists, and local

job service officers. American Legion Posts (or others) may make their award nominations by sending completed nomination applications to the Department Service and Rehabilitation Office by the end of the 2008.

The department employment committee selects the winning nomination at the department mid-winter conference, and awards are then given each year at the American Legion Department of Indiana Convention. You may obtain applications by contacting the American Legion Department Service Office or by using the following website links:

Veterans Employment

Representatives Application: http://www.in.gov/dwd/ files/vetdirectory_02-11-08. pdf

The Employer of Veterans Award Application:

http://www.legion.org/ documents/legion/pdf/employerveteranaward.pdf

Award to enhance the lives of disabled persons Application: http://www.legion.org/ documents/legion/pdf/ awarddisabledworker.pdf

The Employer of Older Workers Award Application: http://www.legion.org/ documents/legion/pdf/employerolderworkers.pdf

Employment Service Awards Application: http://www.legion.org/ documents/legion/pdf/employmentserviceawards.pdf

Agent Orange Blue Water Veterans’ Case

Filed With Supreme Court:

On October 17, 2008, attorneys filed a petition for a Supreme Court review asking the Court to accept a case for review (Hass v. Peake) that had denied Agent Orange-related benefits to veterans that served on ships in the Blue Waters off the coast of Vietnam. While court action continues, The American Legion will continue to seek support

Continued on page

A Home Is More Than A House—Thanks To Veterans

Department Commander Ralph Tolan helped preside over the dedication of a new Habitat Humanity House constructed for a veteran with the support of veterans – a project come to be known as Veterans Build. Here, photos chronicle the dedication of the new home on Friday, November 21, 2009: The house itself, a modest but substantial brick and siding home with a full front porch and an American Flag, proudly waving over it. The home owner, at far left, JoAnn Turner and her son stand by as Dean Illingworth of Habitat For Humanity MCs the dedication. Below, Legion and SAL leaders Department Commander tolan and 11th District Commander Alecia Johnson stand in front of the new home, while the crowd (below) gathers for the ceremony. The colors were presented during the ceremony (below) by members of the IUPUI Army ROTC unit. Turner is an army veteran of Operation Desert Storm.

Final Push In Membership Always Toughest Part Of The Job

As the calendar rolls over to a new year, the toughest part of our membership year begins. Historically, after the first of the year the toughest ten percent of our membership to collect presents itself. These memberships usually represent those who are wavering in their resolve to continue their membership, those whose finances may make it more difficult to pay their dues, those who simply forgot, and those who stubbornly—but well within their rights – are waiting for their card to expire or an officer to call. The remedies for each of these circumstances are obvious, and have been used by membership workers for decades to close the year with success. For some reason, however, we are less and

less relying on our own efforts and more on those of higher headquarters to gather in the final segment of our renewals.

Ralph Perez

Membership Chairman

That is not how the Legion was built, and it is not how the Legion will recover from the continuing decline in membership.

If you don’t know what to do, drop me a line, talk to some of the old-timers, or come up with a new way to communicate. But do something.

Potential Membership

At Record High

The number of potential members is greater today than at any time in The American

Legion’s history. After World War II, there were approximately 16 million new veterans eleigible for membership, and the organization nearly doubled in the five years following the war. What is interesting is that there were only half as many members available to sign these new members up, and still the job was done.

Today, nearly 20 million new veterans—every single veteran who has been called to active duty for periods as short as four hours—are eligible for membership, and we have already in our ranks nearly twice the number of members to do the membership work.

What did our World War I comrades know that we don’t?

What did they do that we are not doing?

The answers to those questions hold the key to our future. We don’t have to do what they did, how they did it. We have so many more tools available to us, but the principles remain the same. Reach out, communicate, and welcome new members into your fellowship, and your posts and programs will grow. Hang out on a bar stool, keep the Legion a secret, and close the doors to all but your cronies, and your posts and programs will not. It is that simple.

AIM System

To Be Presented Information Technology specialists from the National Organziati0on will conduct a serious of briefings and workshops on the AIMS data system during the upcoming Mid-Winter Conference. Those of you interested in learning more about this in-

Ask Jessie

novative and user-friendly system for managing your post membership should plan to attend one of these sessions.

The Association Information Management System is membership software that makes managing your post easier and provides more tools to your membership team than you can imagine. AIMS was designed by the National Organization specifically to meet the needs of Posts of The American Legion. It is used by many of our posts, and the Department Headquarters late last year installed the system to replace its older antiquated data system.

Posts that have put their membership files on the AIM system also have access to the ALPOP system, which eliminates the need to complete paperwork and rely on higher

headquarters to make many of the changes you want made in your members’ records. It is easy to use, inexpensive and available immediately from the National Organization. Go to National’s website, www.legion.org, and follow the prompts for more information.

Christmas Wishes

Despite my constant harangues, I want to assure you that as your membership chairman, I deeply appreciate the hard work and effort that our membership workers at every level of the organization put into the program this year. I know I speak for Commander Tolan when I say we would not do half so well as we do if it was not for you, and we appreciate your good work.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, Happy New Year!.

Non-Member Legionnaires Visit Post If Post Says OK

Dear Jessie: I live and belong to a Post in Silver Spring, MD but visit family in Indianapolis quite often. Can I go to a local Post in the area I am visiting although I do not belong to it?

Welcome Visitor

A Bird In The Hand

During the recent card turn-in at Department Headquarters in November, Commander Tolan’s ‘Soaring Eagle Award’ for the district with the highest percentage of membership, was passed from the First District to the Second District. First District Commander Ernie Komasinski, with his membership chairman Juan Roman at his elbow, hands over the prize to 2nd District Commander Bob Rettig and District Membership Chairman Dana Clark. The Department’s Dual Ralphs—Commander Tolan and Membership Chairman Perez—don’t exactly look on, but they knew what was going on behind them. They also know that victory for any district can be short-lived, since the award potentially changes hand every month.

New Service, New Name Mark Changes At CVS Flag Partner

A long time financial partner of The American Legion Department of Indiana has morphed into a more webfriendly business, bringing with it new ways to take advantage of the company’s services and a new name—CVSFlags.com.

Marion, IN-based CVSFlags.com now offers on-line purchase options, along with its customary services, as a part of its offering to members and posts in Indiana.

To make ordering flags even easier, and the Department will put a link on its webpage—www.indlegion. org—which will take buyers directly to the CVSFlags.com website.

Under the program, Indiana Legion posts can purchase flags and flag-related items at wholesale prices by going on

line to at www.CVSFlags.com.

When posts take advantage of the program, they will receive the best possible price on flag related items, and the Department of Indiana will receive a $1.00 donation for each flag purchased from CVS Flags. com. Inexpensive stick flags are excluded from the donation program, but all other items will generate donations from CVS. Proceeds from the CVS Flag program are earmarked for department programs.

To take advantage of the program, Legionnaires and posts will place their orders directly with CVSFlags.com; there is no need to contact Department Headquarters when ordering, unless there are questions. There are three ways orders can be placed with CVSFlags. com:

For fax orders, make copies of the order form on the back of the catalog and fax the completed order to CVSFlags. com at (765) 668-4290.

For phone orders, you may contact a CVSFlags.com customer service representative at (800) 825-1100 ext. 555, Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For online orders, you may order direct from the CVSFlags.com web site at www. cvsflags.com.

CVSFlags.com ships orders of one dozen or more flags, mix or match, excluding stick flags, at no charge, and posts will be offered ‘net 15-day’ terms. Orders typically ship within 24 hours, and all flags are made in the United States, and carry with them a replacement or refund guarantee against defects other than normal wear and tear.

Commander’s Award Honors Excellence

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based upon the philosophy that through service, membership will come. Service is our priority, but a strong membership is vital to maintaining our programs in local communities and our lobbying efforts in Washington.

Direct Mail Solicitation has been a great tool for bringing in new members, but it’s only part of the equation. Faceto-face contact needs to be a part of the recruitment/retention process.

Too many times, members are recruited into the department headquarters post and remain there, paying dues

to belong to an organization they know little about. No one has reached out to them. No one has simply asked in person, "Would you like to join a local post?" When it comes time to renew, the decision is pretty easy: "Since no one has reached out to me, why should I renew?" And then they don’t. But if you ask them to join—perhaps while inviting a prospective member and his or her family to a dinner sponsored by your post—and show them what we’re doing, most of the time they will eagerly transfer their membership to their local post. If you accomplish the goals set by Commander Re-

hbein in each of the four areas of emphasis, you won’t have to search very far to find new members. They’ll knock on your post door. If current members are debating about whether or not to renew, and then see what our organization is doing on the local level, they’ll want to stay a part of The American Legion.

Everyone wins in this program. We’ll grow our membership, but more importantly, our communities will benefit by your enhanced efforts in carrying out the mission of The American Legion. No other organization has the programs we do. Let’s make sure everyone knows that.

Dear Welcome Visitor: You may be and you may be not be—a welcome visitor, that is. Whether or not to permit non-member Legionnaires into their post is entirely up to the members of that post. Based on the assertion in our constitution that the post is the judge of its own membership, and the increasingly common use of electronic pass cards for members, posts are increasingly careful about who they admit to their clubrooms.

Dear Jessie: Who the heck is Jessie Estock? I thought you were Jessica Berggren? Confused

Dear Confused: I am Jessie Estock, ever since I got married almost a year ago. The problem is the editor of the Hoosier Legionnaire, who never seems to be able to get it straight.

Dear Jessie: Is there a toll free phone number to National Headquarters Customer Service in case I have additional questions or inquiries about my membership that my Post or

Editors Note: The Ask Jessie feature is designed to answer your questions about the Department Membership program, and provide information for both membership workers and interested members alike. Please send your questions concerning membership to Jessica Estock, Membership Manager, c/o Department Headquarters. And don’t be surprised if a question from one of your phone calls ends up in the paper!

the Department may not be able to answer?

Walking Fingers

Dear Walking: Well, yes, there is. The number is 1-800-433-3318. However, it is always best to check in with your post and department offices first, before you contact the National Organization. Other than the sheer volume that can lead to long delays, you will find the people at Department are friendlier, more knowledgeable about circumstances in your post, and very willing to help. If we can’t, you can always call the 800 number.

Dear Jessie:

I am an Honorary Life member at my Post and my dues are automatically paid each year. I have moved out of state and want to know if I transfer to a local Post if I will still hold my Honorary Life status and continue to have my dues paid each year?

Used To It Now

Dear Used To It:

That is entirely up to the post to which you transfer, but it is not likely. An honorary life membership is voluntarily

provided to a Legionnaire by his or her post, and usually lasts only as long as the Legionnaire is a member of the post that granted the honor. Such memberships are not automatically transferable. A Paid Up For Life membership, on the other hand, does go with the member and his or her dues will be paid for the rest of his or her life, regardless of what post he or she is a member of. Be sure to check with your new post, and if the post does not want to honor your honorary life membership, you should complete a member data form directing that your renewal notices be sent to you once again.

Dear Jessie: I’m not an active Legionnaire but still like to be kept up to date on happenings within the Department and state. Do you have a website I can check out periodically to find updated information?

Surfer Boy

Dear Surfer Boy: Go on line at www.indlegion.org for the latest information on the Department of Indiana.

100 Percent Posts

The end of the year brings with it special recognition for those posts which attain the one hundred percent mark prior to midnight on December 31—the statutory end of the membership year. This year, for the calendar year 2008, eight posts achieved this very difficult mark, representing seven of the Department’s 11 districts.

The one hundred percent posts by December 31 for 2009 are:

District Two, 356 Clifford Garbison; District Three, 191 Otho B. Place; District Five, 138 Orville Bidwell and 342 Homer Cameron; District Seven, 462 Wilson-Oliver-Riley; District Eight, 84 Crawford County; District Nine, 452 North Dearborn; and District Ten, 442 Williamsburg.

These posts will be divided into groups according to post size, and one from each group will be drawn at random for an expense paid trip with the Department Commander to the Lincoln Pilgrimage in Springfield, Ill., February 11-12, 2009.

Veterans Update

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of active-duty service for a reserve component. Veterans discharged or released due to hardship, a condition that existed prior to service or a condition that interfered with duty.

Additional information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill is avail-

able from www.mygibill.org., and a Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit calculator is available at http://www.gibill2008.org/ calculator.html.

Of course, The American Legion Department of Indiana Veterans Service Office will also help answer any questions you may have concerning your VA education

assistance entitlements.

This significant improvement in VA’s education assistance program is but yet one more example of how your American Legion membership helps safeguard and promote veterans benefits. Please keep your membership current and encourage others to join.

Commander’s

Message

Soaring Together Defines What We Do—And How We Do It

As I prepared to take office last summer, I gave a lot of thought to the theme that I wanted to work under during my tenure. As you know, I selected “Soaring Together,” because I wanted my theme to define not only what we would do this year—Soar— but also, how we would do it —Together.

“Soaring Together.”

It is important that we keep both ideas in mind. The American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of The American Legion are each one leg of a three-legged stool, and we must work together to keep the whole structure upright and fulfilling its purpose. The Christmas Season is traditionally a family time, and I hope that in every post, every unit and every squadron, all across the great state of Indiana, our members take

the time to reflect on what it means to be a member of The American Legion Family. None of us succeed if one of us fails.

I hope that during the rest of this year, “Soaring Together” will be the hallmark of our Legion Family, all pulling together as a team.

Ralph Tolan Department Commander

The Christmas Season is also a time for remembering, and caring for, the least fortunate among us. I encourage you all to remember our older comrades, many of whom are spending this holiday alone.

I encourage you to remember those who have no home, and may spend this holiday beneath an overpass or in a mission somewhere. And I encourage you to remember those who fortunes have

turned, whose needs have overtaken their wants, and who must depend on the kindness of others for the care of their families and their fundamental well-being. For some of our comrades, the most welcome gift this season may be another year of membership in The American Legion Family, where they find fellowship and acceptance. Please consider those who dues are soon to be delinquent. For most, all it will take is a phone call to remind them to give this gift to themselves. For others, it may take a visit, and for a precious few, it may take the generosity of the post to keep his or her dues current. No matter the effort of cost, it will be a small thing to you, but an immense

joy to those for whom you do it. Elsewhere in this issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire, you will find photos of Legion Build, a special Habitat for Humanity project supported by and participated in by The Department of Indiana. It is a perfect example of our “devotion to mutual helpfulness,” and is puts bricks on mortar on the best Christmas ever for one of our comrades. You can be proud of your in supporting this most worthwhile project.

Before you know it, the holidays will be behind us and it will be back to work for the Legion Family. One of the first opportunities to present itself is the Mid-Winter Conference, once again scheduled for the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel East in Indianapolis. I will not burden you with a list of

Short Takes

Taking Over The Lead

On most of the Membership Target dates throughout the year, District Commanders and their membership Chairmen meet with the Department Commander and Department Membership Chairman to review the membership program and await the final results of the turn-in. Here, at the November turn-in at Department Headquarters, members of the team take their first look at the standings –which showed the First District giving up its leading spot to the Second District. Looking at the report are, from the left, Northern Vice Commander Rick Hudson, 8th District Commander Randy Dooley, Commander Ralph Tolan, Rehabilitation Chairman and department gadfly Ed Trice, Membership Chairman Ralph Perez, and Northern Vice Commander Ron Kizer.

If Former Foes Can, You Can: Give The Gift of Forgiveness

Veterans are linked together by a common tie regardless of the era or the particular war. There are certain key experiences that draw an even tighter circle. Surviving the experience and horrors of combat leaves indelible impressions that can never be fully understood by those outside the circle. When combatants meet one another or discover one another’s experience it may seem to the observer that others seem to disappear.

The intensity often increases when the same branch of service, particular war, or area of operation was shared. These experiences leave many scars and issues that continue to be dealt with by many of our veterans. Survivor’s guilt and Post Traumatic Stress are two highly identified ones. Various movies have been made to portray the experiences of war to those who have not gone through it. With advancements of technology in the last decade, stunning reality has been brought to the screen. Several producers and directors have made exemplary attempts to depict specific battles with great historical integrity and accuracy.

Of all the movies that have been made about Viet Nam or have referenced Viet Nam, I have only found one that accurately represented the battle conditions and depicted the true commitment of those who fought. In fact, the film version was strikingly accurate to the authors’ book. I am referring to We Were Soldiers

Once and Young, by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway. Many of you have seen the movie based on the book, starring Mel Gibson as thenLt. Col. Moore in the 1965 battle of the Ia Drang Valley.

The authors recently published a follow up book of their

Norris Keirn Department Chaplain

experiences of returning to Viet Nam over the past decade and a half. They also report of the experiences of fellow unit veterans who returned with them and by themselves. As soon as I learned of the book’s release I ordered it and devoured it immediately upon its arrival. It held a special interest to me since this was the year that my son Nathan, a “War on Terror” Marine, took me back to Viet Nam on my fortieth anniversary year of first arriving during the Tet offensive of 1968. To help me process my own experiences, I wanted to read about someone else’s reflections on their return.

Due to the stellar publication of their first book and the major motion picture which followed, opportunities followed that most returnees will never experience. The most dramatic occurrence was an actual joint return to the battlefield on which they fought with several of their former enemies. Regardless of one’s position on or involvement in any war, the book is a powerful “read” about commitment, love, forgiveness and healing.

The secular experiences depict the sacred and the writing becomes divinely spiritual.

Brought together in these endeavors are Lt. Gen. Moore and Lt. Gen. Nguyen Huu who both were lieutenant colonels of the opposing armed forces. Few experiences like this have ever occurred or have been written about. As the return to the Ia Drang was nearing an end, General Moore called the

Americans and Vietnamese together saying:

“Let us stand in silence, in prayer, in memory of the men on both sides, Vietnamese and American, who died on this ground, in this place, in November 1965. May they rest in peace.” (p.98) He continues: “General An stood directly across from me in the circle, and when we broke he walked straight to me, his right hand extended. As we shook hands my old enemy pulled me to him and kissed both cheeks. Old enemies can become friends.”

(p.98)

There they shared a dream that one day a memorial would be erected to the men on both sides who perished in the battle. They desired that the names from both sides would be placed on one common marker.

Throughout the book Gen. Moore is not shy about expressing his faith and his commitment to God. This is the key element that has made him a great man of his time. In these return trips and dialogues with former enemies, both he and Joe Galloway learned about the personal lives and commitments of those they battled. To summarize the book in one word, the one word would be ‘forgiveness.’ From forgiveness came respect and a deep love for one another.

In this season of great intensity, we pass through a presidential election, a remembrance of veterans and the wars they fought and are fighting, a national day of Thanksgiving and the celebration of Christmas. There will be many encounters with family and friends. There will be many opportunities for sharing signs and gifts of love.

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all the training and education available to you at the conference, since you can find that information beginning on the front page of this issue. I will tell you that the information you receive there will be of immense value to you in carrying out the programs and activities of your post, unit and squadron. I hope to see you there.

The last half of the Legion year features some of our most prestigious programs, and is the run-up to our big show—the Department Convention. We have the trip to Lincoln’s Tomb, the Washington Conference, Legion Birthday, the Oratorical Contest, Memorial Day, the Boys and Girls State programs, Flag education, and, of course, American Legion Baseball. Now is not the time to begin planning for these programs;

now is the time to continue and refine the plan you began months ago. I encourage you to make this the finest program year ever.

And I encourage you to begin now to look over those in your community that we seek to honor at the Department Convention. The teachers, the police, fire and EMT personnel, the employers, and those serving in uniform—they all deserve the awards that we have created for them, and I hope to see record numbers of nominees this year. And, I expect to see record numbers of our members, posts and districts competing this summer for the many Department Convention awards available to them.

My wish for each of you and your families, of course, is a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Turning Over Unused Miles Can Be More Than Revenge

Any of us who travel by air have felt the frustration of not only rising air fares, but the aggravation of the “nickel and dime” techniques used by the airlines with regard to seating, baggage, meals and beverages. Recently, I discovered yet another aggravation when an airline on which I had accumulated several thousand miles of frequent flyer miles decided that since I hadn’t used those miles in a couple of years, they were taking them away from me. Ok, one more shot over the bow by the airlines. Since then I have discov-

Stephen W. Short Department Adjutant

ered a satisfying way to take revenge on the airlines and help our nation’s soldiers and their families at the same time. Many of you are familiar with Fisher House. This is a program similar to the Ronald McDonald House concept, where the families of seriously ill or wounded soldiers can have a place to stay in the city where their family service member is either stationed or being treated.

Well, Fisher House has a wonderful program known as “Hero Miles.” This is a project whereby people who have

accumulated frequent flyer miles with several airlines (named below) can donate those miles to Fisher House for military families to use to fly for free to their loved one’s military hospital.

My advice for you is that if you have accumulated any amount of miles on an airline and know they intend to take those miles away from you prior to you having an opportunity to use them, donate them to Hero Miles. For those of you who only fly occasionally, sign up for their frequent flyer program anyway, earn the miles and donate them to Fisher House. You can learn more about

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Take Time To Care For Vets During The Season of Caring

This is a very special time of the year, with the holidays upon us.

With this year theme “Stars and Stripes Forever with Service to our Veterans” I’m asking you to do something special for the veterans in our communities.

There are so many that are alone and forgotten though the holiday season. Take them a dinner, invite them to your home to spend time with you and our family. Go visit the Veterans in the nursing home and take a small gift with you. This will enrich your holiday season as well as theirs.

Be sure to do something special also for the Soldiers oversea and the ones stationed here in the states. They also enjoy phone cards to call their love ones on that special day. Be sure to help with the soldier families here at home.

The Ready-Us groups will be having Christmas parties for

The Morning Report

the children in your communities call and see if your Post can help out.

The Juniors held their first meeting at Department Headquarter thanks to Commander Tolan and Steve Short for allowing us to meet there. The Juniors enjoyed the day so much see the building and being at Department Headquarters. We enjoyed walking down to the War Memorial and taking a tour of the building.

Shirley Firkins Auxiliary President

“Thank you, Steve, for making the arrangement.”

I have been very busy with visiting the Veterans Hospital this year. I feel that this is a very important part of the Auxiliary to go and help with

the gift wraps, as well as visiting with the patients. I have visited Evansville Outreach Clinic, Marion, Ill., VA Hospital, and Richmond State Hospital so far. Before the end of the year I will be visiting Roudebush Hospital, Marion VA at Marion IN. In January I’m going to Danville VA Hospital to play bingo with the residents there. My hope is to visit each VA Hospital before the end of my term.

As we start a new year I hope each one of the auxiliary members have taken the time out and paid her 2009 dues.

So, that she will have continuous membership in the world largest women veterans organization in the world.

I would like to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year may all your wishes come true this coming year. May all the troops return home safe and sound. God

Bless You All

Frivolous E-mails Take Toll On Staff Efficiency

E-mail … voice mail … text messaging … facsimile transmission … the internet … laser printers and color copiers: Instant electronic communication provides ready access to and dissemination of information vital to the operation of Department Headquarters, and few of us can imagine what it would be like to return to the days of the mimeograph machine and message pads. But the communication revolution also has spawned inefficiencies, diversions and delays that threaten to undermine all the progress made.

The Department provides each employee with an email account and unrestricted internet access. We have instituted policies to control nonbusiness related web surfing, game playing, and personal email communication, and we have installed fairly expensive software designed to pro-

Editor’s Note: Beginning with this issue, the Assistant Department Adjutant will pen a recurring column on issues and activities in Department Headquarters. Information included in the column will be useful to our members and helpful to the staff; occasionally, his opinions will be included, and readers are encouraged to keep in mind that any opinions expressed by the Assistant Adjutant are his own and not necessarily those of the Department of Indiana.

tect our data system from spam, junk mail, computer viruses and other harmful data.

Hugh Dagley Assistant Department Adjutant

This software, like the millstone of the gods, “grinds exceeding slow, but exceedingly fine.” That is to say it checks every piece of electronic mail, sorts it, and loads it slowly. Therein lies the problem.

Each member of our staff receives a variety of

email every morning, upwards of 50 separate messages per staff member. The vast majority of these are photographs, videos, jokes, patriotic ditties, music, rumors of anti-American activity and, occasionally, emails bordering on the pornographic. Each of these messages is run through the security system, which causes a significant delay in the downloading of important, business-related information. Once received, the material then diverts staff from productive, meaningful work while they plow through

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