2010 June/July The Hoosier Legionnaire

June/July 2010

What’s In It For You?

Member Benefits Include More Than Satisfaction of Service; Discounts Take Sting Out Of Dues Payment, Cost of Living

Membership in The American Legion brings with it a variety of benefits, some related to a veteran’s special interests and talents, other more general and available to all. While those that derive from the member’s personal perspective require extra effort, a deeper commitment than some are able to offer, and often take years to ripen into a Legion career, those that add measurable value to an American Legion membership are available immediately.

“One thing I’ve learned during the past year is that many of our members are totally unaware of the benefits that come with membership

in The American Legion,” said Department Commander Robert Newman. “Most of them know that if they want to get involved, the rewards of working a youth program, for example, or taking on a leadership role at the post are great. What most don’t know, however, is that taking advantage of some of the more tangible benefits will more than recover the cost of membership with just one use,” he said. The Legion’s member benefit program is administered by the National Organization, where an entire division is devoted to exploring, testing and offering member benefits ranging from discount

travel to investment services. Among the most lucrative categories of benefits are:

Vision—EyeMed Vision Care offers Legion members approximately 40 percent of the cost of eye wear, with no limits on usage. Many optical practices participate in the program. To find a provider, call (800) 793-8626 or visit www.eyemedvisioncare. com.

Prescription Drugs—The American Legion Prescription Discount Program helps Legionnaires save on prescriptions not covered by insurance. On average, the Prescription Discount Card saves 20 percent off regular retail prices. There are no re-

strictions or limits on usage, and most pharmacies participate in the program. Members also receive a 20 percent savings on CVS products nationwide. For more information, visit www.caremark. com/legion.

Travel/Vacation Discounts—Benefits available to Legion and SAL members range from deep discounts on auto rentals, best-rate hotel room discounts, cruises, vacation condominium rental, and much more. For additional information on each of the travel benefits, visit The American Legion National website (www.legion.org) and click on member benefits.

Auto Club—Legion Auto Club offers Emergency Roadside Assistance for your vehicle and mobility devices for the whole family at an exclusive rate for Legionnaires. $15 activation fee waived, annual memberships starting at $50, 60% off our published rate.

Percentage of each membership goes to support The American Legion Programs. Visit legionautoclub.com or call (800) 720-3132.

Computers/Electronics—Legionnaires can receive up to a 17-percent discount on Apple products, such as the MacBook and iMac, as well as Apple software. For product or purchasing questions, contact 800-692-7753

or visit www.apple.com/eppstore/legion.

Dell also offers Legion members a 7-percent discount on selected computers, accessories and electronics. Call 800-695-8133 or visit www.dell.com/americanlegion for more information.

Home Improvement/ Modification—Legionnaires who are remodeling their homes or relocating can take advantage of some special offers from Sears. Members can easily choose and purchase the latest home appliances through the Sears Member Purchase Program. Sears also offers other well-

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Legion and Auxiliary To Inaugurate Joint Department Conventions

To Convene On Same Dates In Separate Sessions; Both Organizations Will Follow Usual Formats

Feeding The Hungry

In what may be an historic first, The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary will conduct their annual State Conventions on identical dates at one hotel, a measure designed to reduce the financial burden on Legion families and eliminate many of the costly duplication of activities that have contributed to the costs of the annual conventions.

tion strength.

Always a highlight, the nomination and election of the Department Commander will be Saturday afternoon. In addition to the Commander, delegates will elect four vice commanders and the Sergeant-at-Arms, while other officers will be appointed during the Department Executive Committee meeting immediately following the close of the convention.

President Asked To Aid Return Of Mojave Cross

The American Legion has joined with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Liberty Institute in sending letter to President Obama asking him to help put the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial back in its rightful place following its vandalism and theft on May 9.

The letter reads in part, “This impasse is at a point where we now need your intervention as our nation’s leader, Mr. President, on decisive action to direct restoration of the memorial to its original form.”

On April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the seven-foot-tall memorial cross,

which was erected by World War I veterans in 1934 and is the only World War I Memorial designated a national monument by Congress, should stand, but sent it back to the lower court to review the land transfer. Vandals then tore the memorial down in the middle of the night.

To date, the National Park Service and Department of Justice refuse to put the memorial back up, and when a replacement cross was put up in the middle of the night, they tore it down.

“Allowing a national memorial to our veterans to sit in a vandalized state for possibly years is totally unacceptable,” said Kelly Shack-

Past Department Commander Max E. Julian, Sr., one of the last surviving Hoosier State Commanders from World War II, died May 28, 2010. He was 84.

Commander Julian was elected to the office of Department Commander at the 63rd annual convention in 1981 at the age of 54. His election, according to his official biography, came after he had “already launched a vigorous campaign to increase Legion members in Indiana and to bring the Vietnam veterans to the forefront in the organization.”

PDC Julian remained active in Legion affairs following his tenure as Department Commander, and was a familiar figure for many years

elford, president/CEO of Liberty Institute.

“It dishonors our veterans and the remembrance of their selfless sacrifice, and it flouts the rule of law and a direct decision of the Supreme Court.”

Henry Sandoz, the caretaker of the memorial for the last 26 years, has built an exact replica of what was torn down and is ready to reinstall it. The Park Service and Department of Justice refuse to allow it at this point.

The VFW and the Liberty Institute, which represents the national veterans’ organizations in their fight to protect memorials, is offering a reward of $125,000 for

at Department Executive Committee meetings and conferences and conventions, and he was a frequent participant or observer at youth program activities. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Hoosier Boys State Board of Directors. He was a member of American Legion Post 31 in Angola, where he served in most offices at one time another. He also served the Department of Indiana as Fourth District Commander, Northern Vice Commander, and

information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminals responsible tearing down the Mojave Desert War Memorial.

This is a federal crime under the Veterans' Memorial Preservation and Recognition Act of 2003, and it defies the rule of law, flouting a binding decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Liberty Institute works to uphold Constitutional and First Amendment religious and speech freedoms in the courts. Liberty Institute represented all major veterans groups as amici in the Supreme Court case of Salazar v. Buono involving this 76year-old war memorial. The Institute continues to represent them as the case returns to District Court, where the ACLU is still asking that the Memorial be torn down and banned.

View or sign on to the letter at www.putthecrossback. com.

The two organizations will convene in separate sessions at the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel East, 7202 East 21st in Indianapolis, following the formats both have observed over the years. The Legion will begin official activities on Thursday, July 15, 2010, and begin its general sessions at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 16, 2010. The Auxiliary, also following it usual format, will conduct Executive Board and Finance Committee meetings on Thursday and open its general sessions on Friday at 1:00 p.m.

The Legion’s general sessions will be held in the Grand Ballroom, while the newly completed Veterans Hall will be the site of the Auxiliary’s sessions.

Nearly 100 delegates and an equal number of alternates comprise the Department Convention, all of whom are either elected by their posts or appointed based on criteria for automatic delegate selection. A simple formula awarding a minimum of one delegate to every duly certified post, regardless of total membership, plus one more for each 100 members is used to determine conven-

Other highlights of the 92nd annual convention include presentation of teacher, armed forces member, and police, firefighter and EMS personnel of the year awards, membership achievement awards, the annual Color Guard Convention, which determines the official department color guard team for the coming year, remarks by the Indiana Governor and Indianapolis Mayor or their representatives, and the presentation of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award, which this year goes to four outstanding Hoosier Legionnaires.

In addition, the five convention committees will report on their deliberations and present convention resolutions to the delegates for debate and consideration.

Combining the two conventions has required some modifications in the usual activities for the three-day confab. Most significant for the Auxiliary will be the changes to the traditional Saturday evening banquet, which this year will be a casual dinner without a program, to allow

An important part of the activities at Legion Day at Indiana Veterans Home, held each June at the West Lafayette facility, is the districts’ picnics, where contingents of Legion Family members from all across the state share a picnic lunch after visiting with residents and participating in the annual program honoring the IVH staff, sponsored by the Second District. Here, ladies of the Seventh District Auxiliary prepare for the run on the food by members of the Legion. Continued on page 2

AD&D Policy Available To All

Every member of The American Legion Department of Indiana is entitled to a no-cost $1,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance policy administered by the Associated Group Insurance Administrators on behalf of the Legionnaires Insurance Trust.

Enrollment cards will be available to all members beginning immediately after the 92nd annual Department Convention July 15-18. Supplies will be provided to newly elected District Commanders, who will distribute them to posts in their districts. During new officer orientation, the District Commanders will be briefed to encourage every post to include an AD&D renewal card in with the members’ 2011 membership card when he or she renews.

Currently, nearly one-third of all Hoosier Legionnaires are enrolled in the program, one of the highest rates of enrollment among the 48 LIT member departments. The Department’s Trust Director, Assistant Adjutant Hugh

Benefits

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known home products such as Craftsman Garage Storage, Sealy and Sears-O-Pedic Mattresses, NordicTrack Exercise Equipment, Craftsman Lawn Tractors, Kenmore Outdoor Grills, Televisions and more.

Available exclusively through Sears Commercial Sales, members will receive a private selection consultation with a Sears professionally trained specialist. Additionally, members will receive Preferred Affiliate Program Pricing, which is backed by Sears’ Matching Plus Policy.

For the American Legion discount price contact a Sears Commercial representative at 214-392-5088 or email americanlegion@searshc. com. To locate an Appliance Select Center contact :www. contractsales.sears.com/ contactus/scs. When making your purchases use Member Purchase Account # - CU067849

Additional discounts or exclusive opportunities are available in the following areas:

Conventions

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Auxiliary members to attend the Department Commander’s party at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010.

According to Janet Barnaby, Department President, “we are hoping that by holding this type of convention, it will ease the financial burden on couples and at the same time increase attendance of

The

Registration Cards similar to this will soon be available to all members of the Department of Indiana through their posts for enrolling in the no-cost AD&D insurance program. Re-enrollment is necessary at least every five years, so all members should complete the card and mail it in. Additional supplies of cards also will be available from Department Headquarters.

Dagley, is encouraging every member to take advantage of this important protection. Enrollment is simple, but must be renewed every five years.

“Our members need insurance, regardless,” said Dagley. “It seems to me to make good sense for them to purchase insurance that costs no more, or less in many instances, than what is available on the open mar-

• Moving/Relocation

• Real Estate/Mortgage Services

• Web-Site Design

• Mobile Phones

• Insurance

• Medical

• Satellite TV

Most require no enrollment, and in some cases, the use of Legion benefits also provides additional revenues for the Department, especially those offered by the Department. They include:

• CVS Flags—Discounted flag and banners, and related materials

• Veterans Funeral Care

– Complete arrangements at significant savings;

• AGIA—No-Cost AD&D insurance and other policies;

• BMV—The ‘Indiana Legionnaire’ state license plate. For additional information on member benefits, contact the National Organization via its website, www.legion. org, the Department website, www.indlegion.org, or call department headquarters to request a benefits brochures. Quantities are available for posts interested in better informing their members.

both organizations.”

Among Auxiliary convention high lights are:

1.) Hoosier Girls State Governor and Outstanding Girl

2.) Department Awards and Auxiliary Member of the Year

3.) Department Chairmen’s Year-End Reports

4.) Installation of the 20102011 Department Officers.

ket, and at the same time, protect themselves from dues increases and benefit the department, all at once.”

In addition to the no-cost AD&D policy, AGIA, the only insurance provider officially endorsed by the Department of Indiana, offers additional policies for a variety of needs, including cancer care, long-term care, Medicare supplements, auto and homeowner policies, and

more. An added benefit of the department-endorsed insurance program is that a percentage of the premiums paid is returned to the Department of Indiana as a regular and reliable revenue source.

Since joining the LIT in 1990, the Department of Indiana has received more than $1.3 million in premium shares. The annual contribution is increasingly important for the operation of the Department as membership declines and pressures mount to either increase dues or cut back on programs and department activities.

In 2009, after an increase in similar programs offered directly to Posts, the Department Executive Committee approved a resolution that discourages posts from enrolling in competing programs, and withholds department approval and use of the Legion’s name and emblem. Those programs reportedly resulted in unwanted home visits and other intrusions not practiced by AGIA.

Final Honors

What are the cash and other benefits available for a veterans’ burial or interment of cremated remains?

$300 is available to the family of the veteran when at least one of the following conditions applies: The veteran is receiving pension or disability from VA at time of death, death occurs in a VA hospital, or the death occurs in certain VA nursing homes or hospices.

$2,000 is available to the family of the veteran only if one or both of the following circumstances applies: The veterans was on active duty at the time of death, or the if veteran died of a service-related injury.

A $300 burial plot allowance is reimbursed to the veteran’s family if certain conditions are met and the burial is in a private cemetery. The VA can provide current information on applicable conditions.

In addition, if services by Veterans Funeral Care are selected, a transportation allowance for deceased veterans from the place of death to Veterans Funeral Care facility if the following conditions apply: the death occurs in VA hospital or military hospital for retired or active duty personnel, or the veteran’ death is due to a service-connected condition..

Transportation from Veterans Funeral Care to a national cemetery will be provided if:

The veteran died of a service-connected injury, the veteran was receiving VA disability or pension payments; or the veteran died in a VA hospital or a military hospital for retired and active duty personnel.

If the deceased veteran is eligible for any of the above benefits, Veterans Funeral Care will apply VA Burial Benefits directly to cremation expenses.

Documentary Chronicles American Legion History

A new documentary detailing the 91-year history of The American Legion has just been released and is currently available through the organization's Web site and Emblem Sales division.

“History of The American Legion: A National Legacy” was produced by Blackhorse Productions, a Californiabased company that specializes in military documentaries. Narrated by actor Neal McDonough (“Band of Brothers”), the movie traces the World War I roots of The American Legion and follows its history from its founding through its support for the

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Department Membership Chairman. At the national organization, Commander Julian was a long-time National Commander’s Representative to the Americanism Commission. He also was a Past Chef de Gare of Voiture 483 of the 40 et 8 in Angola.

Julian served in the United States Air Corps, with duty in the Marshall Islands and

military during the global war on terrorism.

The National Executive Committee passed Resolution 6 during its October 2008 meetings, which authorized The American Legion to cooperate with Blackhorse Productions in the creation of the documentary. The project was completed at no cost to The American Legion, with a portion of the sales proceeds being allocated to The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund, Child Welfare Foundation and National Emergency Fund. The DVDs cost $19.95 each and are available online or by calling 1-888-453-4466.

DISTRICT 1

Fellow Legionnaires: The First District is still trying to improve it’s standing, and we haven’t given up yet. The Membership Team is still going post to post,- visiting homes in person, so we hope to be in the Top Five by Close of Books.

The First District is always busy, as the following will indicate: Our monthly visits to Hines Hospital are always well attended. Members were at the Ground Breaking dedication ceremony for the new Adam Benjamin Jr. Veterans Outreach Center in Crown Point, and every last Friday of the month, First District members attend the Fallen Heroes Program hosted by Post 54 of Hobart.

Memorial Day is a big event all over the First District. Every Post is involved in some kind of event. For example, the District has its annual “show of color,” at Calumet Park Cemetery, where this year Department

at the Atomic Energy site in Roswell. New Mexico. He graduated from Pleasant Lake High School and lived his entire lifetime in Steuben County, where he owned and operated Triangle Earth Movers, Inc. He was a member of the Christian Church, several Masonic orders, and the Moose Lodge.

Max Julian and his wife Audree, who survives, were the parents of five children.

Commander Bob Newman was the guest speaker; Post 66, Griffith has a great program at Chapel Lawn; Post 508, provides the Honor Guard at the “Blessing of Waters” at the East Chicago Marina; and Post 369, East Chicago, visited all six war memorials in the city. As the Legion year comes to an end, I am pleased to note that the First District has Committee chair persons in the following Department programs: Boys State—Terry Pierson Boy Scouts—Marty Dzieglowicz Children &Youth—Charlie Franklin Community Involvement—Eric Baggett Law & Order—John Wrolen Girl Scouts—Gail Galich Flag Etiquette—Pete VanWorden Thanks to these chair persons, the First District had a good year.

DISTRICT 2

Dana Clark Commander

Where did the year go?

Seems like just yesterday I was standing on the stage at the Department Convention being sworn in as District Commander and now the time grows near to pass the torch to the incoming District Commander. It has been a fun and rewarding year but yet challenging and frustrating at times.

Frustrating, because as hard as the Green Machine membership team and Membership Chairman Denny Pettit worked to achieve 100 percent of our membership goal we still fell short of target. We must find a way to stop the continuous decline of members in order to keep our organization and its programs strong.

I hope that next year is the year things turn around and wish the best for next year’s District Commanders.

On a positive note, the Second District captured the Membership Trophy six times throughout the year and currently has 12 of 48 Posts at 100 percent or higher and 14 posts needing only 10 or less members to achieve 100 percent before Close of Books. Thank you Green Machine and Membership Chairman Denny for making that happen. Your hard work is and always will be appreciated!

The fun part of being District Commander is all of the new faces you meet and the new relationships that are made. The American Legion Family is made of wonderful people and being District Commander has allowed me to meet so many of them. The rewarding part is the ac-

Fred Lemos Commander DISTRICT 3

complishments that the Second District achieved, such as having the Department Oratorical Champion for the second year in a row. Even though she did not go on to win the National Title she represented the Department of Indiana proudly.

I am also extremely proud of the Second District’s effort to help The American Legion Operation Comfort Warrior Program win the Pepsi Challenge and become the recipient of a $250,000 grant. I know that the Green Machine was out there promoting to all 48 Posts in the Second District to vote daily in the Pepsi Challenge. Who knows? Without our District’s votes the outcome could have been different.

As my year comes to an end I want to thank Commander Newman for allowing me to serve under his command. Also, I want to thank the Second District membership body and all Second District Officers and Second District Chairman for all their support throughout the year. Their support, encouragement, patience and mentoring was Second To None!

Additionally I want to thank the South Haven Post 502 Honor Guard for posting the Colors at all Second District Meetings. Most of all I want to thank my wife, First Lady Dee, for her support and love. From organizing and running the hospitality rooms to keeping my schedule straight she was a major asset to me and the Second District.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the Department Convention in July.

James Hewitt Commander

DISTRICT 4

Larry Funk Commander

Greetings from the Fourth District and my fellow District Commanders.

This is the last article that I will be writing for the Hoosier Legionnaire. Most

of the posts in the Fourth District have held their election of officers for the year 2010- 2011. The Officers in the Fourth have been busy

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On May 22, 2010, Commander Newman had his home coming party at Post 178 in Garrett. There was a golf outing in the morning and lots of socializing in the afternoon with a dinner and entertainment in the evening. The District Commanders presented Commander Newman with a new pair of athletic shoes. They should be big enough.

May is the month that Memorial Day is observed. The posts in the Fourth have been out placing flags on the graves of the veterans that have passed on. On Memorial Day they will be having Memorial Day services at the cemeteries and their posts. Some of the District Officers and I have been asked to speak at these events and it is an honor to be able to do this.

The Fourth is in 4th place in the Department on membership at 89.04 percent as of this writing. The membership teams are out trying to get all the members to renew that they can before the close of books. We hope to finish strong. I would like to thank Jay Hilliard for the great job he has done on membership this year. There have been a lot of people involved in the various programs here in the Fourth and I would like to take a moment to thank them for their hard work it took to make them work.

I would like to thank Man-

uel Fernandis for his work on the A&G program; Larry Thiele on the Flag Etiquette Program; Ron Kizer on the Children and Youth program; Nick Nicholoff on the Law Officer – Firefighter and E.M.S. program; Dick Tonkel and Jay Hilliard on the baseball program; Ken Holloway on the Boys State Program; Don Dapp for his work with the S.A.L.; Bob Miller for his work on Golf and the Legion Racing and Religious Emphasis & Sick Call; Charlie Krumrine on Community Involvement and the former Knightstown Home program.

Also, Dick Bash on Convention Contests; Allen Connelly on the Oratorical program; Alan Myers with the POW – MIA porgam; Maryann Berry on the Fallen Heroes program: Gordon Anthony on National Security/ Foreign Affairs and Legislative; Mark Elliot on Bowling; Mike Collins for his work in Public Relations; Hattie Moore with the Girl Scouts; Gene Zinkiewicz with Junior ShootingSports; Tom Pett with the Lafayette Home; Gary Parker on Homeless Veterans; and all the other people it took to make things work.

Thank You All for a job well done.

ship. It needs to happen now, not especially for me, but for the American Legion to continue to exist as an organization. While it is nice for a Commander to be able to toot his or her horn with the bragging rights of making a 100 per cent post this year, remember that it takes more than card numbers to make a post. A post must have members involved and helping with the programs. A handful of members can only maintain status quo for so long and then they burn

out and drop out. All Legion members need to step up to the plate—unless of course the member doesn’t really care about the future of The American Legion. Then by all rights, do not help and do not get involved in any way.

Our State Membership Chairman, Jerry Jordon spoke at our last district meeting pointing out that the State of Indiana could fall below the 100,000 membership number this year. Scary, isn’t it? If it isn’t scary to you as a Legionnaire then perhaps that answers the question as to why the Legion is dropping off in membership.

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ask a fellow Legionnaire if he or she has paid current dues yet and if not, ask why.

If the answer is because he or she doesn’t drink anymore, please respond with all the many things the Legion is really about. In short, tell current and prospective members how important The American Legion is to our way of life and why all veterans should be proud to be members. Carry applications in your wallet for the Legion, Auxiliary and SAL. Stay informed on things The American Legion is doing at the local, state and national level; use these as selling points to recruit new members and help your American Legion grow.

When you finish reading

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your Hoosier Legionnaire, your Legion Magazine or other Legion publications, casually forget and leave them in the waiting room of your dentist or doctor or mechanic or wherever and perhaps someone else will learn a little about The American Legion. Your might want to take the time to remove or blackout the mailing label before your do. This is good cheap advertising for us, and a way to reach potential members.

Take pride in your American Legion membership and let your words and actions reflect that pride. The American Legion is your organization; get off your butts and help it grow and survive or sit back and watch it die. The choice is yours!

DISTRICT 9

cation of our children.

Also, I hope that our officers will help in promoting our programs in order to help educate new members of what The American Legion is really about, and to take advantage of the scholarships and other programs that can help with the edu-

Remember, if we do not tell them, then how will most of the new members know what we have to offer to them and their families?

Again, thanks for putting the Sixth District in first place for the first time in over thirteen years. This is something everyone can be proud of. Again thanks for your help.

DISTRICT 7

Kenny Ellis Commander

Greetings from the Fighting Seventh.

DISTRICT 5

Another year has come and gone. Commander Don Cole and his membership chairman Jerry Stevens have beat the bushes from Colfax 439 to Portland 211 to Roanoke 160 to Anderson 127 and all posts in between trying to get new members and retain current members.

While we certainly did not obtain our objective of 100 percent as we did last year, no one can say that the Fifth District didn’t try. Kudos to Commander Cole and Membership Chairman Jerry Stevens for caring enough about The American Legion to fill those high offices for the “Good of the Legion.” We in the Fifth give you both a parting “attention on deck and hand salute” as you depart from your respective offices. Jerry Stevens, from Fairmount Post 313, will be our incoming District Commander and Dewayne Dunn from a Hartford City Post 159 will be our Membership Chairman for the coming year. We wish them well.

My friend “Buck” called me on the carpet here while back. Buck is a combat veteran of Viet Nam earning a commendation for actions in combat. Buck is a ‘don’t beat around the bush’ type man. He calls them as he sees them and doesn’t look back. I see Buck every so often down at the Legion as he normally hangs out at the VFW.

This particular time he says to me, “If you are so interested in membership why do you make the disabled veteran come in the back door? (Back door at our Legion is the side door off the parking lot that has a ramp.) Some of those guys are elderly now and cannot enter via the front door due to the steps and the disabled cannot go up and down the steps either.

“So why do you treat them like second class citizens and second class members instead of with the honor and

respect they deserve? They deserve to enter through the front door like everyone else. They earned it and should be acknowledged in a 1st class show of respect.”

Well, needless to say, Buck had pointed out a flaw in our Legion building that needs to be fixed for the very reasons Buck gave. We need to fix those steps for access by the disabled veteran and the elder veterans. We need to do it now. I know I would not like it if I had to come in the back door instead of the front door. No wonder we have a problem with retention of members. We have to treat our veterans with the respect they deserve in order to earn their respect for the American Legion. Thanks Buck. You hit the nail on the head as to one of the problems that needs to be fixed.

The American Legion seems to be, for the most part, visible to the public. What may be lacking is that being visible is not always being conspicuous in the eyes that are observing The American Legion and its members. And that is what I personally think is lacking and needed when it comes to attracting new members and keeping our current members.

The American Legion needs to be conspicuous. How we do this is the $64,000 question. Lots of things have been tried and lots of things have failed to keep our membership numbers up. We lack having any conspicuity face within our organization. Someone much smarter than me will have to figure the answer out. Figure out what key will turn the lock on our doors to open it up for the membership numbers that are out there. And I hope someone will do this soon.

I’m too old to have to wait around for the tide to change in favor of more member-

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It has been a pleasure working with Commander Bob this year. I want to thank all posts that made a one hundred percent this year and to all the posts that helped with the drive around, I thank you. The hospitability they showed us was great, and I enjoyed meeting and chatting with the Commander at each post and the membership team.

I have greatly enjoyed my year as your Seventh District Commander. Thank you to the Department and all the posts for all their help. Without you, my year would not have been as interesting.

I enjoyed going to all the birthday banquets, the posts did an excellent job with food, fellowship, decorations and programs. Also, thank you to all the people and posts that helped with the hospitality room. As usual, the Seventh District had the best hospitality room, and you made it so!

I am sure all the posts will be having Memorial Day celebrations, remembering our past, present and future veterans.

May is the month of the Poppies. All of the posts have been doing a great job putting the word out about the poppies and what they represent. Linton Post 22 had two days at Wal-Mart passing out the poppies. They received over $2,000 in donations. The mayor proclaimed Poppy weekend with a great article in the paper along with a picture of him and the

Unit Auxiliary President, Susie Brinson.

Susie made a display of Poppies with a Flanders Field and information about the Poppies at the Linton Library. Thank you to Post 22 for all your hard work. I know that there are other posts doing as much as Post 22. “Way to go” to all of them. My wife and I enjoyed going to SAL Commander Steve Tansel’s homecoming. We had a great meal, enjoyed the program and seeing old friends and making new friends.

Then we traveled to Garret for Commander Bob’s Homecoming. Commander Bob and First Lady Rosey were such gracious host and hostess. Even with Rosey being in a wheelchair due to a broken knee cap, she was still working the crowd and greeting everyone. They made us feel very welcome. All the District Commanders had fun with Commander Bob’s gift, the BIG SHOES, and of course they all had to give him his “Special Beverage.” We had another great meal and program. A good time was had by all.

I look forward to working with all the new officers and membership team this coming year. I will be the Southern Membership Chairman, helping the new commander to attain his one hundred percent.

Good Luck to Bloomfied Post 196 Color Guard at the National Convention. I know, as usual, they will do their best and bring home another trophy.

DISTRICT 8

Melvin Jantzen Commander

The words ‘thank you’ seem inadequate to express the appreciation I have for all of the hard work the Eighth District has done this year. I know how tough it is to get new members. Sometimes it’s even harder to get current members to pay their dues in a timely manner. But, the results are worth it.

If the American Legion is to survive and continue to support veterans programs, work for the education and betterment of our youth,

preserve and promote Americanism and fight for the rights of our veterans, we must maintain our membership levels and trend toward growth in numbers.

If you meet someone in a store, a doctor’s office, on the golf course or anywhere else your daily routine takes you, don’t hesitate to ask that person a few simple questions to find out if he or she is a vet and might be eligible to join the Legion family. It’s OK to

Alex Crook Commander

members are the backbone of the District. The meals and hospitality of the Auxiliary members were great.

Thank you to all of the Vice Commanders, the Adjutant, Finance Officer, Chaplain, Membership Chairmen East and West, Judge Advocate, Historian, Southern Vice Commander and Department Membership.

Great Job!

Thank you to our Department Officers and staff for all of their assistance.

Thank you to all of the posts that hosted our district meetings. You officers and

Thank you to all 34 posts in the 14 counties in the Ninth District. It has been a long road.

Congratulations to the posts who have made the goal of 100 percent in membership. These posts are 452, New Alsace;, 149, West Baden; 464, St. Leon; and 59, Rising Sun. Also there are 10 posts very close to 100 percent.

As the end of my year as Ninth District Commander draws near I salute you one and all for a job well done. “Be All You Can Be.”

DISTRICT 10

Paul Smith Commander

Welcome from the Terrific Tenth District.

This year as the Tenth District Commander has gone faster than I expected.

It has been a very eyeopening experience to The American Legion. It has shown me the inner workings to the largest veterans’ organization in the world. It has also shown the inner struggle of some of the posts in the District. These trials and tribulations of everyday management of the posts include:

The inner struggle of power to operate the post in the manner to make the post the best it can be, sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst; people who become officers of the post, and after that will not do the tasks that make the post successful; not being replaced because nobody else wants to get involved.

This is the largest and greatest veterans organization in the world. It will not remain in this status unless more members get of their duffs and get involved and the officers that are in office at this time to do the things that promote The American Legion and the programs that we support.

It is necessary to get the community involved and to let them we are here to support community. We can not just be a bar in town, but the organization that supports the youth of today and tomorrow, the veterans of yesterday, oday and in the future. We can and must be an asset to the community where located.

I have had the experience of meeting some of those people who are the ones most dedicated e to the progress of The American Legion. I have had the pleasure to serve the members of the Tenth District and I only hope I have accomplished this position to the best of my ability and have completed my term as Tenth District Commander with the approval of all the Legionnaires in the district. In closing, the people not in the forefront and you know who you are I thank you more than words could ever express, because if it were not for you, the tasks of this office could not be completed with the same consistency from year to year. I would to thank all the members of the Tenth District for the opportunity to serve as your Commander. I would not trade the experience for anything.

DISTRICT 11

Kenny Cooper Commander

Since this will be my last article for the Hoosier Legionnaire I would like to dedicate the first part of it to those special people who made my year as your Eleventh District Commander a year that I will never forget— and I do forget a lot.

the hospitality room. Executive Vice Commander Mark Gullion, who had to double up as our membership Chairman, worked with the Vice Commander to make sure that we got to their post. Vice Commanders Rex Ikemire, Joe Fuller and Rich Brown had good communication with the posts and they did a good job with get-

Continued on page 7

in

DISTRICT 6 Clifford Stephens Commander

doing installation of officers for those posts. It is an honor to do the installations for the posts and we will be busy for the next month or so doing them.

Continued in column 5

Membership Is Foundation For Service And Benefits

What’s more important for The American Legion, membership or veterans services?

Those of us charged with providing veterans services would likely answer “Veterans Services,” of course.

What could be more important for the largest veterans’ organization in the world?

Under the banner of Veterans Services, The American Legion promotes and protects veterans benefits through legislative efforts; represents individual veterans, their dependents, and survivors with veterans benefits claims and appeals; visits and provides small gifts to hospitalized veterans and veterans in nursing homes; offers temporary financial assistance to veterans and their families experiencing a financial situation through no fault of their own. We also provide visitation and arrange events for veterans living at the Indiana Veterans

John Hickey Department Service Officer

Home; make sure veterans receive the very best of health care services at VA Medical Centers; provide volunteers to assist veterans in traveling to and from VA medical appointments; support homeless veterans issues and assists organizations providing care to homeless veterans; honor our fallen heroes and helps ensure the memories of those who served are never forgotten. Also, promote veterans employment opportunities; helps make sure returning veterans are welcome back into their local communities; provide a veteran friendly place to go to meet other veterans and their families;

Service & Legislative Update

and, offer veterans looking for further fulfillment in life, a chance to become involved in activities continuing their service to the community, state, and nation.

Everything we do, however, depends on membership. Veterans benefits have substantially improved over the years. World War I veterans had to march on Washington DC before receiving benefits promised to them years before the march.

World War II veterans were welcome home with exceptional education assistance benefits only after The American Legion pressed congress into action; however, The Legion had to fight for years before WW II veterans received compensation for cancers associated with radiation exposure.

The Legion also had to press the federal government very hard before Korean War veterans received adequate

Service Officers’ Training To Follow The Convention

Service officer training is set for Sunday, July 18, 2010, 8:00 a.m. to noon in Salon A at the site of the 92nd annual Department Convention, the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel East, Salon 7202 East 21st, Indianapolis.

Topics will include Post service officers’ duties and responsibilities, ethics, the rehab program, homeless veterans program, claims representation, veterans service and membership, avoiding common mistakes, newly discharged veterans consultation checklist, replacing the DD Form 214, disability compensation, non-service connected pension, survivors compensation and pension, burial benefits, the appeals process, military correction and review board issues, concurrent receipt and combat related special pay, and VA medical benefits.

Department Service Officers will also conduct an open panel discussion to help answer any and all veterans’ benefits and service issues of concern to the audience.

Those who attend will receive a computer disc containing The American Legion Department of Indiana Post Service Officers Training Manual, Training Certification Test, claims research information, forms link for federal and State benefits, and a Veterans Benefit Power Point presentation for post presentations.

This seminar is designed to help American Legion posts assist members with veterans benefit issues, and improve membership

Department Service Office June Business Hours: The Department Service Office will be open each Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 4:00 PM during the month of June. 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.

through services. Pre-registration is not required.

All post service officers are encouraged to attend. The training session is free, but attendees will likely incur costs associated with travel and possibly lodging. Active post service officers volunteer much of their time while assisting post members. Posts may now reward their service officers by sponsoring their attendance at this training session, then reap the benefit of their service officer’s increased knowledge.

Veterans Health Benefits Seminar:

Limited seating is available at an upcoming health benefits seminar sponsored by American Legion Speedway Post 500 will host a Veterans Healthcare Benefits Seminar Thursday June 24, 2010. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and the seminar begins at 9:30 a.m. The seminar will cover such topics as VA Prescription Coverage; Medicare Part D: the ‘donut hole; how to enroll in the VA Health Care System; the new health care law and whether or not it will affect you and your spouse; avoiding health insurance scams (Attorney General); long term care options (Indiana Veterans

Auxiliary News

Continued from page 8

ming with Pride in 2007-08, and Shirley Firkins brought out the patriotism in all of us with Stars and Stripes Forever in 2008-09 and just 309 units. This year we have been Raising a Cup of Kindness to everyone we meet and trying to keep up the morale of our 308 Units and 58,336 members.

Time waits for no one, how true. (If you read back through this letter, you’ll notice that in 1982 we had 367 units and 53,350 members). How has your unit changed in the last 43 years? Many of you have lost members, but are you trying to get new members so that your count stays continuous, or are you “dying out” and dwindling down to a few members, and

then complaining that no one understands your situation? We do understand! We are all in the same boat; it is just that some units are paddling their boat in a different manner. Some are replenishing their declining membership while others are sinking with their boat! We at Department have tried to throw out lifelines such as “Unit Development and Revitalization. Some grabbed on and asked for help, while others said ‘no thanks!’ We have offered to come and speak to your units and give guidance, either from the President or through Past Department Presidents in your area.

Some have been very receptive and welcomed us, while others have said ‘no thanks.’ Can you guess which

compensation for disabilities related to combat cold injuries. VA fought The American Legion every step of the way, but Vietnam veterans are now receiving compensation for Agent Orange related disabilities as well as combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorders.

Many Gulf War veterans now receive adequate compensation for undiagnosed illnesses through the Legion’s efforts. The American Legion as also succeeded in helping to make the VA Health Care system one of if not the best healthcare system in the world for veterans returning from today’s ongoing wars and all veterans now enrolled for VA health care services.

The Legion has also helped millions of veterans understand their benefits, and have won veterans million upon millions of dollars in benefit they would have not otherwise received if not

for American Legion representation and appeals assistance. The American Legion has also put together many local community assistance programs with the help of thousands of volunteers.

Only a strong membership makes this possible. Congress would not give much thought to our legislative proposals if our membership consists of three hundred instead of nearly three million members in addition to members of The American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion.

VA would not grant near as many benefit claims or appeals if not for The American Legion having the ability to employ full time professionally trained department service officers. The State Legislature would likely follow through with previous attempts to further restrict free education benefits for children of wartime era dis-

Department Commander

Continued from page 8

who will serve after my officers and me will face even stiffer challenges, especially in the retention of members and the recruitment of new members. We finished the year smaller than we started; that is true. But we learned much about why that happens and what must be done about. The challenge for the future is not for the officers to understand the problems,

abled veterans if not for our large membership. Veterans in VA hospitals would have fewer visitations, and many community service projects would fail if not for a large organized American Legion membership and the assets it provides.

Without membership we could not have veterans services and without veterans services we would not have membership. So what’s the answer? Which is the most important, membership or veterans services? I’ll leave that up to you. It’s too hard for me to answer.

It’s also up to you to help The American Legion keep doing what is does by keeping your membership current and encouraging others to join. If every member would just sign up one more member, your organization’s membership and veterans service influence would double.

Home): emergency financial assistance; and national cemetery benefits. Speakers include representatives from: Indiana Department of Insurance, VA Eligibility Representatives, County Veterans Service Offices, Indiana Veterans Home, Social Security Administration, Indiana Attorney General, & Veterans Funeral Care.

Because seating is limited, please RSVP no later than Monday, June 21, Toll Free at : 1 (800) 810-9025 or email to healthbenefits@voice4vets. org.

Guard and Reserve Totals

The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 101,746; Navy Reserve, 6,247; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 17,270; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,379; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 834. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 132,476.

Veterans Service officers are reminded that National Guard and Reserve members called to active federal service are usually entitled to the same veterans’ benefits as their regular active duty counterparts.

units are on the “up-swing” and which ones are sinking, or at least trying to “bail water” with a leaky bucket? The offer still stands, but now it is up to you and your unit to ask us for the help. Some of you need our help, so don’t wait too long, or we may run out of life rafts! As of June 10, the Auxiliary had over 54,350 cards in, for 93.3 percent (we needed 3,860 cards for goal.) We can do this, but it will take all of us and not just the membership person! As the saying goes, “Membership begins with ‘me’.”

It has been a fun and rewarding year, being your Department President. I have enjoyed it far more than I ever thought I would, and for the most part, it was because of you. Thank You, from the depths of my heart!

but for all of us to find the will to meet it. Business as usual at the post level, the district level and the Department level will result only in more of the same, and that bodes ill for our survival.

I can only say that from this point forward, my support, my assistance and my encouragement will be with the men who occupy this high office that I soon will relinquish. The burden is not

Department Chaplain

Continued from page 8

Life is short, but it will always be precious because of those who have lived their lives for the sake of others.

SAL News

Continued from page 8

dation donations surpassed our pledge; the Josh Dog program was an otherwise dormant program that a couple of members took hold of and promoted and helped collect significant donations to help kids in our Children’s Hospitals; one of our members used his talent to completely overhaul the Department Legion’s webpage; and a couple of members took time to educate themselves on new Adobe Acrobat Pro software, making increased use of electronically produced forms to better conduct our business that has significant promise for easier and more accurate reporting in the very near future.

Retention remains an area we struggle with year over year. As my year as your Commander ends, my focus will shift to helping to draw attention to the retention issue and how to work on retention issues in the squadrons in order to retain a greater number of members from year to year.

There's a saying that goes something like this: "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

It is often a reference when talking about things that we either fail at or don’t do as well as we could. We’ve talked about it plenty and understand that it is a problem, but I don’t know that we’ve ever considered it a serious challenge and taken a serious approach to work toward fixing it. I feel like we’ve hoped that everyone would recognize it as a prob-

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complain-

light, but it is never borne alone. The challenges will be formidable, but the talent in our Legion family is unlimited. And the experience we have as citizens, veterans, and Legionnaires will stand us in good stead for the future. We are, after all, “Anchored to the Past, But Sailing into the Future.” That is more than a motto. It is how we chart our course.

ing. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

1 Peter 4:8-10

lem and fix it themselveseasier said than done.

As the saying suggests, "if you do what you've always done, you'll get the result you always get." I believe that until we tackle the problem head-on, we’ll continue to "get the result we always get," and that is to fall short when it comes to retention. The inability to retain members from year to year makes the job of membership maintenance more difficult than it needs to be.

As with many things in life, this much can be said about it: it is what you make of it.

No matter what it is, whether it is a committee appointment, being an officer, working as a member on a committee or filling in for a member or chairman of a committee – you get out of it exactly what you put into it. If you put in the minimum amount of effort, you’ll get the minimum amount out of it. If you put in the maximum amount of effort, you’ll get the maximum amount out of it. The programs don’t work themselves.

The successes or failures are many times a direct result of the effort you and your members put into it. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about membership, the hog roast, the bingo party, the honor guard, etc. Can you say that you put the maximum amount of effort into your activities and events? I feel as though I put my maximum amount of effort into the activities and events of this past year. I have enjoyed every moment and I don’t regret a single thing. Thanks to all of you who had

an opportunity to make an impact and took the time to do so. I know I got the most out of my membership this year. Did you?

As a reminder, if you’ve yet to do so, please fill out your squadron and district certification forms as well as your Consolidated Report forms and return them. Each contain vital information to assist in our reporting requirements which helps close out our year and allows the new commander and his officers to hit the ground running will the tools they need to have a successful year. The longer it takes to gather information and the more effort that is expended, the less productive and less effective the new commander and his administration becomes. Please do your part by filling out and returning all forms that are sent to you in a timely manner.

I look forward to handing the Detachment over to my successor a couple of weeks from now. Citing the above accomplishments and many more that I’ve talked about all year long, I believe I and my officers have left the organization better than we found it. What more could anyone ask for? I hope that it is your attitude and your goal regardless of where you serve in the organization.

I hope you will continue the great kindness you've shown me and bless my successor with the same and I know you will. It has been a great privilege and an honor to serve with you this past year. It has been a special time for me and I appreciate having been a part of it with you.

Never Ending Task Cards in, cards out. That is the flow of the day at Close of Books activities conducted each year in conjunction with Legion Day at the Indiana Veterans Home. At right, district officers pick up 2011 membership cards from Department staff Brenda Hickey for distribution to posts that returned their unused 2010 membership cards. Accounting for the unused cards was a task that fell to outgoing district commanders, below, as they counted and confirmed the receipt of unused cards.

Chairman's Notes

‘Baffling’ Decline In Membership Continues Despite Best Efforts

By the time this issue is published we will have been through close of books at Lafayette and the total membership numbers will be known. I fear that we will indeed fall short of our goals and we will finish this year below 100,000 for the first time since 1945. But worse yet, it indicates our decline in membership has not stopped. I think everyone who deals with membership is baffled and undecided as to why.

Last year at close of books we had signed up 4,255 new members and this year as of June 2 we had signed up 3,785, a difference of 470 with two weeks yet to go. I can’t imagine we have lost any more members to death than other years, so that leaves retention as our main cause of decline in membership. I urge posts that have experienced a steep decline in renewals to contact some of these non-renewed members to find out why. At department convention I will give the final numbers, as I will be making my final report to the membership at that time.

I am now making my last visits to Districts thanking them for the hard work that they have done this year on membership. Even though we fell short of our goal, it does not mean we didn’t work hard and give it our

Ask Aubrey

Posts Face A Big Change: Turn In Old Cards For New

Dear Aubrey: When and where will we get our 2011 membership cards?

Anxious to Begin

Dear Anxious:

2011 membership cards will be distributed to the posts by the District Commanders. Posts may pick up cards at Close of Books, June 13, 2010, at the Indiana Veterans Home ONLY if they have turned in their unused 2010 cards. Posts will not receive 2011 cards until the unused 2010 cards are submitted.

Dear Aubrey: When do we have to be certified by?

Unofficial So Far

Dear Unofficial:

Posts must be certified not later than June 14, 2010. Any certification turned in after that date will be considered late. Delegates not certified by that date will not be seated at Department Convention, unless the seated delegates approve a motion to seat them, which may or may not be offered.

Dear Aubrey:

Why do some of the members in my post have a membership card with the number of continuous years missing?

Miscounted

Dear Miscounted: If the member paid after the April 14, 2010 cut-off date, they will not have a number of continuous years in that space. This also happens when a member is expired.

Dear Aubrey:

Why do I keep getting renewal notices when I’ve already paid?

Charlie R.

Dear Charlie: Renewal notices go out once every three months. National has a cut-off date that the post needs to meet or else the member(s) will end up getting another renewal notice. For example, if the cut-off date is Sep-

Editor’s Note: Ask Aubrey is a question and answer column prepared by the Department Membership Staff. Here you will find reliable and helpful information to help you manage your own membership and that of your post. The questions are representative of those the office receives over the phone and in the email every day. Please send your questions to Aubrey Real c/o Department headquarters, or call 317.630.1300. Don’t be surprised to see one of your questions in the column some day.

tember 9, the post must have mailed in your dues to Department by that date in order to be taken off of the Renewal Notice mailing list.

Dear Aubrey:

Could you clarify how to determine the number of delegates our post is entitled to?

Bill M.

District

11

Continued from page 3

Jerry Jordon Department Membership Chairman

best shot. I have been thanking them for their hospitality and leaving them with my last thoughts. It occurred to me while at a Fourth District meeting, when they were doing a post ever lasting and recognizing 4th grade flag education winners, just how much a local post means to a community. When a post closes and ceases to operate, who will continue to educate our 4th graders about our flag? Who will test our high school students on Americanism?

Think of all the American Legion programs that are not available to the community unless another post picks them up and continues to offer the programs. Other service organizations would aundoubtedly pick up Memorial Day and Veterans Day services if they had a presence in the community, but what if The American Legion was the only service organization in that community? It might then be left with no one to honor our fallen comrades on Memorial Day and no one to thank our service men and women on Veterans Day.

We preach what membership numbers mean to the National Organization when they attempt to lobby Congress on issues that concern veterans and we inform you how a decline will affect Department and its ability to run our programs but all this pales when compared to the effect the loss of a post would have on a local community. I am proud to have served as your Membership Chairman. The opportunity to travel this state and meet many of you is an experience I shall never forget. I have always said there are no better and no more compassionate people than the people of the American Legion family. I am also proud to have served Commander Newman. I don’t think you could have made any better choice for Commander this year than he. His knowledge and passion for the Legion has been an inspiration to me and I hope for you also. My year as Department Membership Chairman is about over but a new year is about to begin with a new Commander and Membership Chairman. We must all get behind them and do whatever is asked because keeping the Legion strong and vibrant is a must, as we have a new generation of veterans who will need us. Thanks again for the memories and the honor.

is 51/100.) So, a post with 100 members will be assigned two delegates: one for its charter and one for the first 0-100 members. A post with 200 members will be assigned three delegates: one for its charter, one for the first 100 members and the third one for the second 100 members. For simplicity sake, think of it as adding one more delegate as the membership hits the -51 mark; that is, 51 members equals two delegates, 151 members equals three delegates, 251 equals four delegates, and so on.

The same procedure applies to alternates.

ting help to them when they had a problem. Sometimes the results do not match the efforts. I know the efforts from these commanders far exceeded the results of our membership. They should be proud of what they were able to achieve with the posts in the Eleventh District. We are not judged on membership alone, but what we are able to achieve supporting our past, current and future veterans, our youths and our communities.

The Commander at Wayne Post 64, Glenn Hawkins, did whatever it took to help me in my role as the Eleventh District Commander, and I will always be grateful for it. Membership Chairman Jerry Jordon, sometimes the results do not match the efforts, but here again, the effort was second to no one.

Jim May, our Southern Vice Commander, despite the fact that the year is almost over, is still offering his help with phone calls, letters or whatever it takes to help the Districts with their memberships.

has achieved 100 percent of the members that they had last year.

I hope that the goals that you set for your post next year will be one more than you had at the close of books this year.

At the present the 11th District has 83.19 percent in membership. If your post continues to achieve this percentage over the next 10 years, and you have 500 members today, you will have only 78 members in 2020.

Dear Bill:

That depends on which convention you are concerned with.

The process for both the Department and National Conventions is similar, but there are real differences.

For the Department Convention, the post receives one delegate for its charter, plus one more for each one hundred members or major fraction thereof (the first major fraction of 100

For the National Convention, each department is entitled to five delegates plus one additional delegate for every 1,000 members or major fraction thereof. In Indiana, delegates are selected by the Districts, based on their membership totals, one delegate per 1,000 members or major fraction thereof. The additional delegate is added when the membership total hits the -501 mark; i.e. 501 members equals 1 delegate, 1,501 equals two delegates, 2,501 equals three delegates, and so on. Your district, with a total membership of 8,914, would be entitled to nine delegates.

Alternates are allotted by the same procedure.

One Hundred Percent Posts

The Tenth District topped the list of districts whose posts achieved one hundred percent of their assigned membership goal, with 12 posts attaining the increasingly elusive success level.

The Second District followed with a close second, with 11 of its posts reaching one hundred percent, while the Sixth District, which led the membership standings for much of the year, finished third in the standings with ten posts at goal.

Following are the 68 posts that reached goal this membership year, along with the date on which each reported its attainment.

The PDC were there for direction. There was a lot of knowledge that they passed on to me that made my job a lot easer. Their other job was to make sure I did not screw up. Well, at least they tried.

I want to thank all of my officers and all of those who were on the committees and a special thanks to our Judge Advocate Bob Flynn. We sure kept him busy this year.

Chairman to whom a work of thanks is due are Skip Nunweiler for all the work he did on up dating our by-laws, Bill McClure for trying to keep me straight in our District meetings and reminding me where I needed to be and when, and AJ, our Past Eleventh District Commander for believing enough in me to put me in the position to be the Eleventh District Commander.

Commander Bob Newman has been a great leader for the Department of Indiana American Legion. The Commander has a good mix of business and fun. I have learned a lot about the Department’s role in helping all of us at the District and Post levels.

All of those who work for the Department of Indiana, I would start by mentioning names but I know I would forget some one, so I just want to thank you all.

I want to congratulate all of those at your post who were involved in achieving 100 percent in membership.

Those posts were Post 355, Commander Bill Reading; Post 64, Commander Glenn Hawkins; and Post 510, Commander George Steel; and Post 26, Commander Ansel Schmalhausen, who

Is it time to start thinking about getting today’s veterans involved? We all know what the answer is.

If you think that I bring this you to scare you or that my math may be a little fuzzy, go back and see what your membership was in 2000. I think it will surprise most of you.

We must all set long term goals whether we are doing well now or not. Things can change over night and if we are not ready for that change we could lose membership or even worse we could lose our post.

Those who read this ask your post commander or your Executive Board members if you have goals for your post, and if you do, know what they are. It will take all of us, but I think in the near future we will figure it out. Thanks again for the great year.

Time To Close The Books On Another Commander’s Year

The Department of Indiana has closed the books on this membership year, and it will soon be time to close the books on this commander’s year as well. I’m flipping through the pages of my memory, trying to determine how the history of this year will be written.

That is not for me to decide, but if it was, the dominate theme would surely be the camaraderie of men and women in service to a common ideal. When I speak of the men and women of The American Legion, of course, I refer to the entire Legion Family – the Legion itself, The American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of The American Legion. Together, we comprise the largest patriotic organization in the state, and we distinguish our patriotism by our action, our service and our comradeship. I have put thousands of miles on my van this year, and not but a handful of those miles have been recorded outside the State of Indiana. And even those few miles have been in service to Hoosier veterans: Trips to Louisville for the National Convention and later to the VA Hospital there to donate a transport vehicle bought by the generous donation from Indiana’s American Legion Family, and a trip to Cincin-

nati for the same purpose. All the rest of my travels have been among my friends and

fellow Legionnaires in the Hoosier state, and no where did I go where I did not experience the best in Hoosier Hospitality. From the bottom of our hearts, First Lady Rosey and I thank you for your kindnesses, your gifts, your hospitality, and most importantly, your friendship. Over the years I have read

may final Commander’s Messages. Only now to I fully understand the sentiments so many of them have expressed: I will never forget this year and the privilege it has been to service as your Department Commander. Thank you all.

I will be the first to admit that we did not accomplish all that we set out to do this

What So Funny, Mark?

year. For that there is no blame to be placed, no apologies to be rendered, and no regrets to be admitted. The fine officers elected to serve with me, the fine officers who accepted appointments to important positions, and the many others who chaired the committees and commissions could not have worked harder or supported

our organization more completely. We simply are in a phase of organizational life that presents us with formidable challenges.

In our membership program, the loss of our beloved World War II comrades converges with our own aging and the elusiveness of our younger veterans. Those

Experience Underscores Value Of Life

Three decades ago, after I finished my seminary training, I sat with a group of octogenarians in a Wednesday morning prayer group. The Lord did some amazing things in and through this dynamic gathering. I will always be indebted to these ladies who taught me things my “book learnin” was unable to do. One thing they instilled in me was how fast time goes by and how precious it is. They impressed upon me the acceleration effect life has as one ages.

In the paper today was a picture of “Sentimental Journey,” the only fully restored B-17 in the world. In the lead picture was a very senior man standing by the machine gun with a young child. The child looked amazed at the surroundings and filled with wonder. The old gentleman seemed to be reflecting as though he had stepped off the warplane only yesterday … could it have been that long ago? I received a forgotten family picture of me in Class A Uniform with my great uncle in California. It was taken after I returned from Viet Nam and my great uncle served in WWI. He’s been gone nearly four decades now.

Time passes quickly and each generation has had its war. At our Memorial Day service at the Pendleton Reformatory, Commander Newman stated that only ten percent of Americans have ever worn the uniform of the armed services. The American Legion is made up of a unique and elite group of people. Only a few have borne the burden. These sacrifices made in war enhance our awareness of how precious life is and how quickly a life is spent.

Ed Darack’s Victory Point is an excellent book by a British photojournalist imbedded with the 2/3 Marine Regiment in Afghanistan. It is a reflection on Operation Red Wing & Whalers in 2005. The book is a great resource on the history of how modern Afghanistan came to be and how the radical Islamic fun-

damentalist were stirred and stimulated during the brutal years of Soviet invasion and occupation. He reflects on the longstanding history and traditions of the Marines and gives page after page of examples of how those traditions are being upheld in that rugged and toxic terrain. With each soldier’s cross, the cost of freedom is realized. There is a timeless nature to war to which all warriors can relate.

When I attended my daughter’s boot camp gradu-

ation, I had the privilege of once again touring Parris Island. Her barracks still sported the same “racks” that were used in my day. They were aged by the wear and tear of generations of aspiring Marines. The obstacle course, exercise yards and parade deck showed that the blood, sweat and tears are the same in any era. I ponder and pray about where her service will take her. The paper reported seven additional deaths of American services personnel yesterday in Afghanistan. This is her time. As time moves at its everincreasing pace, I find my generation moving up to the senior position. One by one, my buddies are retiring. The men and women who commanded us are fading away.

Like my WW II buddy who

came in once a week to share “war stories”—he came to see me because there was no one else left. Last year I paid my tribute to him and remembered his sacrifice and service for my freedom as I laid him to rest.

Life is a precious thing. I believe it is not how long you live, but how you live that is important. Life passes in a moment, what we do and leave behind reflects the quality of the life we have been given. We will always be indebted to those who enhanced our lives and enabled us to enjoy its fullness. Most importantly we are obligated to those who made and are making sacrifices in times of war so that others may experience the gift of freedom.

I like to look back through the years to see where the Auxiliary has been and what has taken place in the past, so this past week I have been doing just that as I begin to wind down my year and clean out some files. Here are a few things I came across:

In 1966-67, with Helen Moore as Department President, we were the Indiana Indians; a few years later, in 1970-71, with Thelma Butler as Department President, we

were Busy Bees with Working Keys for Unity and Peace. By the time we got to 198283, with Corinne Walker as Department President, we were Butterflies and there

As the year quickly comes to an end, I am reminded of the great experiences I was permitted and how deeply I appreciate the hospitality shown me, my wife and those traveling with me from time to time over the course of the past year. I've met and been met by some wonderful folks on my journeys. Thanks to all who took

the time to come out to greet me (us) as I traveled and to those who opened up their

Famed Correspondent’s Home To Get The Axe From Budget Cutters

The State of Indiana’s bean counters and budget cutters have struck again regarding an issue near and dear to the hearts of Indiana’s veteran community.

The Ernie Pyle Historical Museum in Dana, is about to become a victim of Governor Mitch Daniels cost-cutting tactics. In spite of convincing the state’s Natural Resources Commission to delay a decision to “de-access” the site until their November meeting, the word from one of the Governor’s staff members is that the historical site will be dumped by the State of Indiana.

The State intends to offer the facility to the non-profit Friends of Ernie Pyle, a group dedicated to protecting Ernie Pyle’s legacy, but one that is challenged with finding the funding to do so. The Governor’s staffer we spoke to also offered that if the museum survives with private funding, it will be allowed to keep the “State Historical Site” moniker.

One aspect of this tragedy, is that many years ago during the 1970’s, The American Legion Department of Indiana led a statewide, threeyear campaign to save Ernie Pyle’s birthplace. The campaign was a partnership with then-Governor Otis Bowen (a member of The American Legion) to raise the funds necessary to move the home from its outlying location into the town of Dana where the famous historical site was established.

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were 367 units for our 53,350 members.

In 1985-86, under the leadership of Lavelle Black, we raised Hot Air Balloons for Love and Liberty, and were down to 354 units. Not long after that, in 1992-93, under the direction of Kittie Blackwell, we had only 341 units using the theme of Shoes and we “stepped together” to make it happen. In 1994-95, we had Karen Lowe as Auxiliary President and Ron Lowe

In exchange for a promise by Governor Bowen to provide perpetual state funding for the site, The American Legion Department of In-

as Department Commander, and for the Auxiliary it was 75 years of Service to God & Country. In 1995-96, Florence Salvatore had us Renewing our Spirit through the Red, White, and Blue, using Eagles for our theme.

Rosey Newman was President in 1996-97, during which time we used Trains for a theme of Reaching for Excellence in Leadership; we had just 335 Units. In 1999-2000, Denise Delaney

home to me while I was in your company. As ready as I am to have a weekend free of travel or commitment, I will miss the friendships and experiences I've enjoyed so much this past year and wish my successor much luck and nothing but the best.

Thanks to Department Commander Robert New-

man and Department Auxiliary President Janet Barnaby for their friendship and congratulations on the completion of their year. Thanks also to the Department staff for all of the help and great support they provided.

Collectively, the SAL accomplished much this past year and made decent strides in a number of ar-

diana pledged to raise the $111,000 needed to move the birthplace home. After almost three years of fundraising with donations from Posts, schools, Sunday school classes and citizens from all over Indiana, the money was raised and Governor Bowen signed into law legislation to fund the site.

I would love to know if anyone has had the nerve to tell Governor Bowen that the current administration is reneging on his promise.

Ernie Pyle was not only a Hoosier treasure, but he was a national treasure for generations of school children and adult citizens to admire. He voluntarily served the Scripps Howard organization as a correspondent during WWII in dangerous forward areas and he paid the ultimate price, just like the many combat service members about which he wrote.

In addition to The American Legion, members of the VFW, DAV and AMVETS met with Governor Daniels’ representative to appeal this cost cutting decision and save this historical legacy, but to no avail. The budget needs cut. It makes one wonder what additional national treasures and veteran commemoratives might be abandoned if, as some are predicting, the leaders of this administration seek higher national office.

brought us into the “new millennium” with Angels and Louise Hyde had us riding Noah’s Ark and going Back to the Future with Patriotism and Pride. We made a World of Difference, with Vee Titus as President in 2001-02, and strived for Peace on Earth in 2006-07, under the leadership of Vickie Koutz, with 314 Units. Judy Butler had us Hum-

Department Commander Robert Newman gets a hearty laugh from Past Detachment Commander Mark Tansel, who only moments before was fined by the commander for picnicking with his SAL cap on during the June 13 Legion Day at IVH. Tansel was not the only one laughing, since his gaffe — and feeble efforts to avoid the fine — was observed by several other districts and of course, all his comrades from the Seventh. Tansel’s meager $1.00 fine went to the commander’s project. Continued on page 6

eas. Membership appears to be on course for ending the year with a 2nd consecutive record close in as many years. It is no small undertaking and I thank you for all of your efforts in that regard. Aside from membership, a few go-getters ensured that our Child Welfare Foun-

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