2012 April/May The Hoosier Legionnaire

Smoking Ban To Affect All American Legion Posts; Here’s How

Late last month Indiana

Governor Mitch Daniels signed into law legislation establishing strict rules governing the use of tobacco products in public places. The new law, which takes effect July 1, 2012, has far reaching implications for Posts of The American Legion. The law as originally written would have exempted American Legion Posts from the law’s prohibition against smoking indoors where workers and others might be exposed to second hand smoke. The exemption would have depended on a vote by the Post membership to permit smoking in the Post

home. What was not made clear to most supporters of the exemption for Legion Posts was that a vote to allow smoking was, in effect, a vote against allowing persons younger than 18 years of age into the Post under any circumstances.

On that basis, Department Commander Michael J. Miller prepared a statement for presentation to the Sen. Ron Alting’s Committee on Public Policy, which had scheduled hearings on proposed compromises with the very strict language of the original bill. The Department’s Position

In that statement, Commander Miller wrote, in part

“The nearly 200,000 men and women of The Indiana American Legion Family firmly believe that regulating individual behavior among members of private clubs and organizations is not the proper role of government. Our members are grateful to the authors and sponsors of HB 1149 for recognizing that principle and including the right of self-determination on the question of smoking in the legislation under consideration. To that extent, we support the bill…

“It is not clear in the bill, and apparently not well understood by most of our members, that a vote for exclusion

from the smoking ban is, in effect, a vote against allowing young people under the age of 18 into post facilities. That would be a crippling blow to those posts whose focus is on youth programs, but considerably less severe for those posts in which service to veterans is the primary focus. No one policy, no one yea or nay vote on smoking, can apply equally to all Legion posts, and in that lies the fundamental issue before The American Legion: A vote pits one vital interest against another in many cases…

“The amendment offered by the Chairman, Sen. Alting … permits a vote to limit

smoking and set aside areas of the post facility where young people can be isolated from the effects of second hand smoke. Accordingly, The American Legion Department of Indiana can support the bill, with the amendment.

“Be it noted however, that we are not naïve. We know that this issue is not closed, and if and when the bill makes its way to the Senate floor, many amendments and changes may be offered. We intend to, and will, monitor its progress closely, inform our members by every means available to us, and encourage them to speak out

on this measure.”

The Compromise Reached

The bill signed into law by Governor Daniels does not conform well to the Legion’s understanding of the amendment that was anticipated. It was amended, in its final form, to permit American Legion posts to continue to allow smoking in their facilities and to host persons under the age of 18, only insofar as the Post provides a separate, independently ventilated area that does not permit smoke to seep into, or in any other way, enter into non-smoking areas of the building.

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National Vice Commander

Milton Heifner headlined the annual Joint Spring Conference April 14 with a stirring address designed to encourage membership workers to finish the race and, in a nod to the Legion’s first ChineseAmerican Commander, respect the diversity of the veteran community.

Heifner told the more than 400 Legion, Auxiliary and SAL members assembled for the conference’s general session that “it is not time to give up. The work before you now is to get out and visit those members who have not renewed, and find out why.”

He encouraged them to help those members who, for whatever reason, are unable to pay their own dues, and to take into consideration the individual circumstances of each member contacted.

The Vice Commander also reminded the General Session that not all veterans will share the same characteristics and attitudes that they share. A good example, he said, is National Commander Fang Wong, who was born in China, emigrated to the United States and completed a career in the United States Army before becoming an active Legionnaire.

“The Commander is an

example of how the difference among people is not as important as the values we share with them,” he said, adding that the nation’s youngest veterans deserve the same opportunity to become Legionnaires.

Indiana’sowncandidatefor National Commander, James E. Koutz, also addressed the general session, reminding those in attendance that the coming National Convention in Indianapolis is a chance for Indiana to put its best foot forward.

Koutz said to do that requires compliance with the rules for participating in a national convention, and suggested that delegates should carefully consider the cost before choosing not to be housed at the Indiana delegation’s hotel, the downtown J.W. Marriott.

“The Department does have a rule that delegates who do not register at the convention hotel will not receive their delegate pay,” he reminded those in the audience. “And, the cost to the department if we do not meet our guarantee of reserved rooms in the hotel can be huge. We need to avoid that if we can.”

The candidate also thanked the Legion Family for it “overwhelming support” of his candidacy, citing the historic nature of his nomination, since Indiana’s last National Commander was elected in 1979.

A 17-year-old homeschooled student from Morgantown, Indiana, capped a busy weekend of competition in Indianapolis by earning an $18,000 college scholarship and first place in The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program – “A Constitutional Speech Contest.” Her winning oration was titled “Maintaining Liberty: The People’s Call.”

Rebecca Frazer, who repeated as this year’s Indiana State High School Oratorical Champion, started the weekend as one of 52 champions from around the country in the 75th annual contest. She advanced to the championship through three rounds

of intense competition. In her prepared oration, Frazer said “Every great creation requires great effort to maintain –including our nation’s powerful founding document – the United States Constitution. Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘The Constitution … must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.’ But President Lincoln was not speaking of the original paper Constitution – he was praising the very words and mandates of our Constitution. Together, we can understand the full importance of Lincoln’s charge by first viewing the Constitution’s beautiful power and by second seeing the neces-

sity of maintaining this great founding document.”

She mentioned that the Constitution was improved through its amendments. “The simplicity and limited scope of the Constitution showed the world that the strength of a nation is not defined by the power of its government, but by the freedom of its people. The Constitution built our government from the roots up. By itself, the document is not perfect, but it gave the people the ability to make their government perfect.”

Second- and third-place

finishers earned $16,000 and $14,000 college scholarships respectively.

In each round of the weekend competition, orators delivered a rehearsed 8- to 10-minute address and a randomly assigned 3to 5-minute oration on a constitutional topic, each without the benefit of notes and in front of a live audience, including the judges. The 2.4-million member American Legion developed the contest to encourage young people to improve their communications skills and to study the U.S. Constitution.

By Ann Hubbard MCF Public Information Officer

When they walk through the doors of the meeting room, they are no longer just inmates of the Miami Correctional Facility -- they are members of The American Legion. There is a pride that is felt by the 36 members who make up American Legion Post 555 at the Miami Correctional Facility.

Post 555, which was chartered on July 26, 2009, is doing well and increasing in membership. The group is impressive, according to members of District 5 American Legion leadership.

“This is my second trip here. I think it’s fantastic,” Jerry Stevens, Fifth District Commander, said of the post. “I don’t think of it as a prison. I think of it as an American Legion post.

“MCF is one of three facilities which have American Legion posts. The other two are in Pendleton Correctional Facility and Indiana State Prison. There are 390 posts in Indiana and a quarter to a third of them cannot do what you’re doing in here,”

Ed Trice, a Past Fifth District Commander and active Indiana Department leader, said of the MCF post and the donations they make to the community “Because of to-

day’s economy, some of the smaller posts are even having a tough time making it.

“I’ve visited many Legions in the Fifth District and never have seen a post honor the flag like this. This is something. What a magnificent way to show respect to the flag. It overwhelms me every time I’m here,”

Dick Thomas of the Kokomo American Legion post and a Fifth District representative, added, “The state will know what you are doing here, because I’m going to tell them.”

Stevens said he, too, is impressed with the respect the group shows the American flag.

“A lot of posts do not go through that much formality at their regular meetings. I think that’s very impressive. I think they do a very good job and conduct their meetings well.”

At the beginning of each meeting, the color guard presents the flags -American, State and American Legion flags. The American Legion is one of two groups in the facility allowed to host food fundraisers for the offender population. With the money earned from these fundraisers, the group gives back to the community. To date, they have given away $5,134 to local charities and organizations.

Most recently, they donated $340 to Indiana C.U.R.E. (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants); $500 to Blue Star Mothers; and $500 to Special Olympics. Post 555 has also donated to Whites Institute, Sew Much Comfort, Salvation Army, Kokomo Rescue Mission, Red Cross/ Japan Disaster. Besides giving back locally, the offender organization is giving back to the facility. Plans are in the works for putting up a flag pole that can be seen from the inside of the prison.

The three groups who most recently received donations had representatives at

Rebecca Frazer National Champion

The chief legislative aide to Senator Richard Lugar met with several members of the Indiana contingent attending the 2012 Washington Conference. The group, led by Department Commander Michael J. Miller, delivered the Legion’s Legislative Drop Sheet, a summary of Legion positions on key veterans and other issues in Congress. At the table, clockwiase from the aide, are

VETERAN INFORMATION

VETERAN INFORMATION

DISTRICT 1

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP

Gail Galich Commander

DISTRICT 2

Larry Macy Commander

March 24 201 -- Dewayne Dunn, new assistant Department Adjutant, is making the rounds attending District

meetings. At the Third Disrict meeting he talked about the devastation of the tornados in Southern Indiana and elaborated on the Departments upgraded website.

LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS

The difference between try and triumph is a little “umph.”

COMMISSION REPORTS COMMISSION REPORTS

He also spent some time with Vice Commander Billy Rose attending Legion functions. Mikey needs to learn more about protocol. He was fined $5.00 for wearing his cover while eating his St. Patrick’s Day meal. So, Bill Clark, since this is your brainstorm, you owe Rehab $5.00.

It is with heavy heart that I open this article for April and May.

DISTRICT 4

So to EVERYONE in the First District, I want to say “thank you” to all of you who have already renewed your membership and ask you to please continue to help bring in delinquent members. With your help we can improve our retention and thus reach our goal.

their efforts in going around to all the Posts. But the largest thanks go to the Post Members who have worked so hard this year on Membership.

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

DEPARTMENT CONVENTION DEPARTMENT CONVENTION

FEATURES FEATURES

Charles Krumrine Commander

I was thinking that at this point in my year as Commander, it was going to become routine and I would get a break from the hectic schedule of running around. Not true. I now know, and can say with pride, I bleed blue. With every spare minute I have from work and my family life, I am thinking of what is it I can do to help one of my posts, one of the Legion programs, or someone in the community who needs American Legion support.

HOOSIER HAPPENINGS

HOOSIER HAPPENINGS

Continuing with District business, our Hines Hospital Chairman, John Balczo, is still under the weather. Please continue to pray for him and his wife Janice. She fell and broke her hip. John has been discharged from the hospital but will spend several months in rehabilitation in Crown Point. I will be overseeing his committee at Hines and Jessie Brown and the Adam Benjamin VA Clinic.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION CONFERENCE INFORMATION

As I was preparing this article, we were notified that Past Department President Kittie Blackwell had passed away. Joe and Kitty have been good friends to us since we started in the District, and I know that she will be sadly missed by all of the Legion Family.

Also, since the first of the year we have lost three of our past District Commanders. Cal Cree (1989-1990) and Larry Lynn (2000-2001), we lost in February. Gerrit Van Kepple (1966-1967) just passed away in March.

Also a big thanks to those members who have sent their membership in on time without us asking or begging them to. It makes all of our jobs so much easier. To those who did keep the Second District in first place during the Mid-Winter Conference turn-in, my special thanks. Because of that standing, I had the privilege to attend the National Conference in Washington DC. What a wonderful experience it was.

Greetings from the Fabulous Fourth.

DEPARTMENT NEWS NEWS

Our last two visits to Hines for this season are April 18 and May 20. All are welcome, so join the group and spread goodwill and comfort to those in need. We really do need your support. For more information call 923-5537.

FALL CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE

CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

over the last several months have provided housing, clothing, food and personal items to a number of homeless veterans in the greater Fort Wayne area. They have also handed out McDonald’s and Arby’s meal cards along with providing free breakfast at the VA hospital for those homeless veterans.

With the coordination of the chairman for Indiana Veterans Home, Al Pulido, the District started the month of March out with a bang. Several district members met at his post to prepare comfort packages to take to our annual visit to Indiana Veterans Home on March 4. As in the past, the residents enjoy the visit but mostly look forward to going to American Legion Post 492 to enjoy dinner and entertainment. I think me serving ‘spuds’ on the dinner line was very entertaining. It was really nice to be able to share the day and see the residents dancing and just enjoying a day away from their daily schedules. If you have never been to IVH, I encourage you to add this to your To Do list.

CONVENTION NEWS

CONFERENCE NEWS CONVENTION NEWS NEWS

All posts should have received the 2013 Post Data forms and the consolidated post report. It is very important that the Commander or Adjutant take time to fill this out and return it to Department. This report lets National know the numbers from posts. We need your support; it is imperative that we speak as one voice. I will be monitoring the posts’ participation.

DEPARTMENT IN ACTION DEPARTMENT IN ACTION

I was honored to be present at the Department Oratorical contest on March 11. We had a contestant from the First District, William Greenlaw, a Junior from Munster High School. Although he did not win, he was exceptional. He has a great talent and is determined to win next year.

We were able to go on the Lincoln Pilgrimage in February with the Department Officers and District Commanders. What an exciting trip it was. The Lincoln Memorial was nice to view but the new Lincoln Museum was just great. I learned more about Abe than I ever did in school. What I found most interesting were the political cartoons from the time period.

We dropped into second place in February, but turnin for March found us back in First Place in the Department Membership standing. Our thanks to all of the District Vice Commanders for

It’s time for your entries for awards to be turned into the District. All entries for Teacher of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer, EMT, Firefighter, Boy Scout, and Military Person will be looked at and a District winner will be chosen during the May district meeting in North Webster. I have been asked about the no-cost accidental insurance forms. I do not have any but call customer service at 1-800-235-6943, and they can take care of you over the phone. Until next time, for God and Country.

DISTRICT 3

All of the Legion Birthday Dinners are now behind us -thank goodness. I don’t think I can let out my waistband on my dress pants any further. And my Red Jacket seems to be fitting a little tighter. Now every time I step on our bathroom scale it just simply says “Ouch.” I am seriously considering implementing a Weight Control Program for all of the Fourth District Officers -- effective August 2012. Easter was a few days ago, as is the Joint Spring Conference. I always look forward to the Spring Conference. It gives us a chance to coordinate with the ladies of the Auxiliary, to hear their committee reports, and to exchange thoughts and ideas on the programs of the Indiana Department.

I anticipate that all of my Committee Chairmen were present at their appropriate meetings and will be able to report back to the Fourth District at our next monthly meeting.

With less than ninety days to Close of Books we are continuously purging our Post’s greenbars and contacting those members who have not yet renewed their 2012 membership. I have faith that we will succeed and be at 110 percent by the final turn-in.

Lawrence Parmley Commander

In my last column I reported on the Department of Defense announcement of a major restructuring of the United States Air Force that, in part, will greatly affect the Air National Guard base located in the Fourth District.

In Memoriam. At 87, Donald L. Beaty was not your typical World War II veteran. He joined the Navy right after graduating high school, came home and started a family, started a career in the industrial insulation business, had lots of friends, enjoyed helping people, and -- oh yes -- he felt lucky to be alive. But that is where “typical” stops. You see Don Beaty was a sailor on the USS Indianapolis -- a survivor of the USS Indianapolis. Of the 1,196 on board on that fateful July 1945 night, Don was one of only 317 to survive. He survived five days in cold, shark infested waters midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf.

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

While at the Department I was presented with a so called gift/visitor -- Little Mikey. He will be visiting the 1st District until Spring Conference.

I would like to talk more about Little Mikey. Mikey, (my love child), is having a great time up here in the First District. He has gotten his commercial driver’s license and now drives a school bus. He has met new friends, and even has a girl. He now has excellent computer skills after spending a day working with Vice Commander James Grauvogl. He is very knowledgeable about membership after spending time with Membership Chairman Noreen Komasinski. He even was on our local radio station WJOB with Vice Commander Patrick O’Donnell talking about -- you guessed it -- “MEMBERSHIP.”

Department Director of Rehabilitation John Hickey, along with Ray Guiden, our First District Service Officer, will be conducting a seminar on VA processing, filing, reviewing and awarding claims Saturday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Griffith Post 66.

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

Voiture 470 will conduct a fundraiser steak fry May 19 at Schererville Post 485. All profits will be going to student nurse training programs.

In recognition of Memorial Day the First District will host its annual Calumet Park Cemetery Service in veterans’ section of the cemetery Sunday, May 27at 1:00 p.m. All posts, along with their SAL and Auxiliary members, are encouraged to participate.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee is also conducting a Memorial Day Service May 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Stoney Run County Park in Hebron.

Thank you for your Service and God Bless America

Nappanee Post 154 -Nappanee Club Scouts held their February meeting at American Legion Post 154 and learned about US Flag Education and the use & care of it.

Richard E. Adamski, 86, passed away at 1:12 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in Memorial Hospital. Richard was born on August 18, 1925, to the late Edward and Stella Adamski. On July 2, 1955, Richard married Lucille (Lichner), who preceded him in death on August 17, 2001. Richard honorably served his country in the United States Army as a medic. He was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr. Richie was very active in American Legion Post 357 as Past Commander, he was Post Chaplain for 14 years, making sure all veterans received proper military funeral honors; he was Past Northern Vice Commander, Past 3rd District Commander, and a member of the VFW, the 40 & 8, and served on the Board of Directors for Boys State for 20 years. A walk by was lead by Department Commander Mike Miller and Alt NEC Paul Steward followed by many past and present Commanders, District officers and legion comrades to pay their final respect to a great Legionnaire.

Third District Fund Raiser Benefit for Jim Koutz For National Commander – Feb. 18 at Post 297 Jim Koutz and traveling buddy Past NEC Tom (Thumper) Henderson arrived just in time to enjoy a huge T-bone steak served by SAL members of Post 297. Casino night was the main event for the evening, and many hams the size of a basketballs, bacon, and other goodies were raffled to raise money. More than 160 persons attended, generating better than $1,733 to support Jim Koutz for National Commander.

American Legion Post 30 Goshen -- John D Hartley, George Dupree, Herbert Hoover and Henry Clason were awarded 60 year certificates at the last Post meeting.

March 3, Post 297 celebrated the Legion’s 93rd Birthday with a great dinner followed by speaker Richard Jewell, candidate for Department Commander. He spoke on the birth of The American Legion in the United States.

Post 210 Middlebury -The SAL made a donation to help with medical costs the Grewe family is faced with. They sold 200 steak dinners, with overwhelming support from the community for this family. The Middlebury community has always supported The American legion with all their programs and projects.

Post 297 New Carlisle -A presentation by Meredith Perks, case worker from Congressman Joe Donnelly’s office, covered how their office can help veterans with claims that have been delayed or lost in the shuffle, more or less put them back on track, and help with many other services.

Jackie Bone, Branch Manager for Wells Fargo in New Carlisle, and Michelle Zarobinski, Home Mortgage Consultant with Wells Fargo, discussed the benefits of VA loans and what Wells Fargo can do to help veterans.

Barry Skalski from Prudential talked about how their company helps veterans prepare their homes to sell and what to look for when they buy a home.

All the presentations were geared to helping veterans with housing, mortgages and loans.

Post 297 New Carlisle celebrated St Patrick’s Day March 17 with over 60 wannabe and real Irish fans enjoying a corn beef and cabbage dinner. Many enjoyed their meal at the post while others took carry out and, of course, there was good old Irish beverages available. The post also hosted a cabin fever night, Saturday, March 24, with various items raffled off to raise money for several Legion projects. A disc jockey provided music for the ones who wanted to dance, while others enjoyed the food.

Third District Meeting,

As part of a major restructuring plan by the United States Air Force, the 122nd Fighter Wing, located at the Air National Guard base in Fort Wayne, will lose twenty A-10 aircraft in fiscal year 2013. They will be replaced with eleven MC-12 aircraft in fiscal year 2014. Local and state politicians, along with the base commander, are fighting this “restructuring.”

As I complete this column for the Hoosier Legionnaire no further “official” announcement has been made by the DoD or the Air Force. It would seem that maybe those in the decision making process are rethinking the entire restructuring agenda.

I need to take a moment and thank the members of the Fourth District American Legion Riders. The Riders

The USS Indianapolis was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by the I-58, a Japanese submarine. Don was a Past District Commander. He very seldom spoke openly about his ordeal, but in recent years would joke about the fact that the Japanese “taught me how to swim.” As his own obituary stated “He is gone to meet the 880 that went down in July 1945.”

To his daughters, Carolyn, Kelly, and Barbara and son Kenneth, our deepest sympathy. Don will truly be missed.

And finally, please remember our troops in your prayers. Please take the time to remember those individuals who have voluntarily chosen to put on the uniform of our country and stand guard so we can live in freedom.

“For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes…” and one of those purposes happens to be “To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation”

Well, ladies and gentlemen of the Fifth District, we did just that as a district and as individual posts by helping the unfortunate victims of the tornado that swiped through the southern part of our great state.

While we veterans normally shy away from a big pat on the back as we feel we just do what is right and what is needed, nevertheless, the guys and gals of the Fifth District deserve a big ‘Thanks’ for fulfilling some of what The American Legion is all about.

Commander Stevens sends his thanks to all the District Post’s that donated for the relief effort for the tornado victims in southern Indiana. This effort and participation is greatly appreciated by Commander Stevens. I was working down there in Henryville helping to clean up

with members of my church’s mens’ group and I can attest to the fact that those citizens need all the help they can get.

I saw it firsthand.

Recently I noticed an ad in “The Paper” for the McDonald Funeral Home here in Wabash. It was a half page and the back drop photos were of our sharp looking Color Guard and Firing Squad’s from VFW Post 286 and American Legion Post 15.

Very impressive and for those who have had to go through a veterans’ funeral of a loved one, I’m sure this ad brought back some painful memories but also reminded them of the veterans who were there for the last rites of a fallen veteran. No matter what the weather is, rain, heat, snow, cold, or whatever, the details assigned to render the final salute can always be counted on to be there paying the due respect, honor, and dignity that the fallen veteran and his family deserve.

Thank you McDonald

DISTRICT 5

Jerry Stevens Commander

DISTRICT NEWS DISTRICT

Continued from page 2

VETERAN INFORMATION VETERAN INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP

LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS

COMMISSION REPORTS COMMISSION REPORTS

Funeral Home for acknowledging us. It was quite a nice surprise to see that ad in the paper. Our local funeral homes know all to well the service that the VFW and American Legion perform in appreciation of the fallen veteran’ service to his or her country. To all the Color Guards and Firing Squads in the district, state, and nation, a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for your service and your continued service to our comrades.

much for the veterans in the past 93 years. One thing for dog gone sure is that we have done far much more good for the veteran than we have done bad. We have lead the way on veterans benefits and even though the newly made veterans cannot know just by looking around at their benefits what role The American Legion played in them, we as American Legion members know and can be proud and can keep our heads erect in this knowledge.

Continued from column 2

The name of their production is “Voices In Conflict,” a show consisting of memoirs drawn from letters of soldiers serving in Iraq. Contact Danville Community High School, Attn: Drama Dept/ Voices in Conflict, 100 Warrior Way, Danville, IN 46122, telephone 317-745-2212 for more information.

Continued from column 4

Lou, 82, have 60 years apiece under their belts. Little sister Annie, 73, has done the same for almost 30 years.”

communities to help others and many of the things we can do take little or no financial commitment, just a little time and personal commitment to share the love.

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

DEPARTMENT CONVENTION DEPARTMENT CONVENTION

This year, March 15, marked the 93rd Birthday of The American Legion. We might, as Legionnaires, want to step back and look at ourselves in the mirror on this birthday. What do you see?

FEATURES FEATURES

HOOSIER HAPPENINGS HOOSIER HAPPENINGS

Do you see an aging veteran looking back at you or do you see a revitalized young veteran with eyes intent on living up to American Legion traditions set out for us to follow 93 years ago? That image in the mirror will tell you the state of The American Legion on this 93rd birthday. I know what I saw when I looked in the mirror and I don’t like it one bit. I fear that The American Legion is not rebuilding and the membership numbers back me up on this. Until we can look in the mirror and see a young veteran looking back The American Legion is in trouble.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION CONFERENCE INFORMATION

So let us honor our founding fathers and bring our membership numbers back to where they should be. We pulled together in time of war and accomplished amazing things working together so let’s pull together one more time for membership. We can do this. And if the truth was known, we are at war with trying to keep The American Legion alive. So come on guys and gals. Let’s do this. Let’s ‘Git ‘R Done.’ Commander Phil Turner of the Grant County Veterans Council sent me a copy of a flyer for a blood drive. We wish them luck in this noble endeavor to help others. The drive will be over by the time you read this and we hope they did well.

DEPARTMENT NEWS NEWS

FALL CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE

Brownsburg High School’s history class is working on building a veterans’ memorial at their high school grounds. I do not have all the information on this yet but will pass it along when I get it. Several of the class members have relatives who are or have been overseas in harm’s way. They are looking at placing an arch over a sidewalk, with a monument of soldiers raising the U.S. Flag from Imo Jima. They have a big project

ahead of them and looking for ways to earn money. You can contact me if you are interested in this project. They do not have a total cost but the stone and engraving will cost $10,000 alone. Look out for the American Legion Riders. They are coming out of hibernation and will start with rides thoughout the District. If you are interesting in hosting a stop contact Douglas Day at 317753-1621 or e-mail ridecoordinator@alr331.com; you also can contact John Ruble at 317-560-1341 or e-mail john@ruble.com. They are looking at stopping at posts around the district so get you name on the list. Welcome home to all veterans coming back from overseas. Thank you for all you have done and sacrificed to keep our country free.

DISTRICT 7

Fred Lewis Commander

It does my heart good to see people who aren’t afraid to volunteer, people who don’t automatically roll a dozen excuses off their tongue why they can’t at the meere sound of the word ‘volunteer’ or ‘help out.’ Thank God for people like these girls who give ten times what they should have too.

Think how great our organizations could be if everyone helped out only one tenth of what they should. There are so many things that we as individuals and as an organization can do in our

I need your input for the Eighth District articles going into the Hoosier Legionnaire. That way, you won’t have to read as much of my rambling. If your post or someone in your post does something newsworthy, please send it to me, Dave Sharber, by email to wobegone@att.net or by mail at PO Box 493, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. We need newsworthy Legion, veteran and community-related information. Be proud of your post and your Legion Family. Share what they are doing. No gossip please, just news.

DISTRICT 9

Greetings to my fellow Legionnaires.

CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

Like it or not, statistics tell us that most every county here in Indiana has many more veterans that are eligible for membership than there are members of The American Legion. If we don’t at least ask those who are eligible to join us in The American Legion we are on a path to be doomed from existence.

CONVENTION NEWS

CONFERENCE NEWS

CONVENTION NEWS NEWS

So, in honor of our 93rd year, let each Post, each Post Commander, every Post Officer, and each Post Member, go out and get new members to get our numbers up where they should be.

DEPARTMENT IN ACTION DEPARTMENT IN ACTION

This past month has been a very busy one with all of the travel to visit all the Posts in the district, but also to help celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the founding of The American Legion. I would like to thank all the Posts that showed us such great hospitality at the birthday dinners and it was good to see Commander Mike in the Seventh District.

Spring Conference is now behind us. One of the goals of the conference was to

collect school supplies for Henryville. Many supplies were collected and will be sent to the tornado area for their use.

Membership is coming along, although not as fast as I would like. We do have some posts that are at or very near goal. Hopefully, those that do reach goal won't stop there but will follow the example set by Post 106, which presently sits at 108 percent. Honored to serve.

DISTRICT 8

Ed Giltner Commander

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

We all, as American Legionnaires, have every reason to stand tall and be proud of our heritage. The American Legion has accomplished

Paul V. Pleasant Post 608 was visited by State Commander Miller along with some members of the Fifth District. Post 608 held their American Legion Birthday celebration. Included was the Missing Man Table dedication. The MIA/POW table is now in place due to the efforts of Post 608 members and others. On Feb. 6th, the post held a flag raising ceremony. And the post donated three $75 gift certificates to three families in Pendleton. Post 608 Officers and members are to be congratulated for all that they are doing on behalf of The American Legion. They are doing great and the Fifth District and The American Legion in general thank you for helping to keep our traditions and honor alive. An attention on deck and hand salute to all of you. Job well done!

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

Greetings from the Great Eighth.

DISTRICT 6

Darrell Bowman Commander

Hello from the Sixth District. Spring seems to have come early this year. If you are doing your spring cleaning, think of those who lost everything in the tornados. You might find something they might need. Check with downtown on items you are not sure of. Also, a great big Thank You to all who have donated or contributed to the victims already. We are here for the long term on helping those in need.

Busy time for all posts on election of officers at the post level but at the district level, too. We have several positions that need to be filled in the next couple of months.

If you are interested, please contact me or James Delaney. Again, I want to state how important it is to have someone from your post at our district meetings. Too many posts are out there saying there is no one to help us with problems. If you do not come to the meeting to talk about what is going on, then we cannot help you. Also, by attending the meetings you can get first hand information from the department. Your attendance at the conferences is another source of information on the many programs The American Legion has going on now.

Membership is going good with nine posts with 100 percent, but I can see 12 to 18 more posts that can reach the 100 percent by end of April. Last time I had three posts with 100 percent and now I can add the following: Jamestown, Danville, Clover-

dale, Rosedale, Russellville and Kingman. SAL membership has five squadrons that have 100 percent so keep on working on your renewals.

Some of our posts are having major projects going on and if possible need all of our help. Post 346, Terre Haute, had a fire last fall and they have been able to restore or replace the inside of their Post. They have done a great job getting the post back on its feet, but would like to see visitors come by and see what they have done.

Post 113, Lebanon, has a major project on getting another roof on their post. They have been having several steak dinners and other fundraisers to get all the material for this project. And everyone knows about Post 145, Avon, that has to move and build a new post. If anyone is interested in any of these projects then contact the post.

Two highs schools in the district that I know of are doing interesting subjects. Danville High School Thespian Troupe has been chosen to represent the State of Indiana at the 2012 International Thespian Festival in June at the University of Nebraska. Danville Post 118 is backing the group but needs more donations to send all the troupe of 20 kids. The cost is $1,000 per student. This is for a week at the festival and the transportation to and from. Your help is needed to send this group.

I would like to start by extending the gratitude and heartfelt thanks of the Eighth District to Commander Miller, the Department Officers and the Department Staff for their quick response in the wake of the recent tornadoes that devastated parts of the Eighth District. Assistant Department Adjutant Dewayne Dunn did a tremendous job in coordinating relief efforts for the Department. I want to express my extreme gratitude to my fellow Legion Family members for their support and donations. It has been overwhelming.

As the Legion year winds down I would once again like to thank everyone in the Eighth District and the Department for their guidance and support. It has been a great honor to serve as the Eighth District Commander this year. Besides greatly expanding my vision and knowledge of The American Legion, I have made friends and memories to last a lifetime. The year has started speeding by as we near the end but my commitment to The American Legion has grown to a new level as I face the future.

Our Membership has been steady this year. We are still a little behind last year but making goal is still in reach. We currently have six 100 percent posts and fourteen others that need 10 or less to make 100 percent. We got to this point through your hard work; let’s push just a little harder, beat last year’s close of books and turn the tide on our declining membership. We all know people who are eligible to be members: just ask them. The worst they will do is say ‘no’ and who among us hasn’t heard that word many times in our life? We are almost there. Keep up the good work.

At Milltown Post 332 March 25 during the Eighth District meeting, a letter of appreciation from the mother of a former Boy’s State

delegate sponsored by New Albany Bonnie Sloan Post 28 was read. I personally was moved by the thoughts and gratitude shared in the letter.

Mrs. Truman acknowledged the life changing effect of Boy’s State on the life of her son Evan Truman. She stated that the week at Boys State helped Evan with government studies at New Albany High School and in her belief helped Evan obtain an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Evan is currently a Third Class cadet, studying electrical engineering at the academy. He will leave the academy as an officer in the United States Coast Guard as well as a federal agent. He will then fill a five-year commitment to his country and most likely make a career in the Coast Guard. Mrs. Truman says that her family is forever grateful for The American Legion sponsoring her son to American Legion Hoosier Boy’s State. That sure sounds like another success story for one of our great American Legion programs.

Speaking of Boy’s State, Jasper Post 147 is sending 24 young men this year. I can only say, what a great accomplishment for the post and their Boy’s State chairman. Way to go.

During the recent tornadoes that cut through southern Indiana in early March, Newburgh Post 44 allowed the Red Cross to set up a command station and use the social hall as a shelter. Since that, the membership at Post 44 is discussing some renovations to add shower facilities to the restrooms so they can be even more help to the community in an emergency.

Monty Buchanan, an SAL member at Jasper Post 147, sent me an article featured in their local paper about some of their bingo volunteers. The following couple of sentences caught my attention:

“Big sisters Sally, 86, and

I have had the pleasure of attending meetings at nearly all posts in the Ninth District and I can say that without exception, every post was either wrapping up or planning on a charitable event and nearly every post was engaged in some type of activity that benefitted their community, veterans’ widows, and children everywhere. I have constantly been impressed by the “enthusiasm” and “eagerness to serve” by the members of the Ninth District. I know we are not distinctive, and I am sure all Legions throughout Indiana and every state are as generous with their time and energy (and money!) but it took me being the District Commander and attending the 28 or so meetings to realize that something I always thought was true: that The American Legion is more than the “sum of its parts.”

I will have to say, though, that West Baden Springs Post 149 probably had the best dressed officers at their meeting.

Thanks to Sunman Post 337 for allowing me to participate in their Flag Education and A&G awards program. It’s always nice to see kids who like to learn.

Versailles Post 173 will be hosting the “Travelling Wall” at the Vocational School on Highway 50 on July 18 through the 22. Thanks also to Post 173 for their effort in helping the devastated town of Holton and its residents who were displaced after the March 2 tornadoes. Salem Post 41 served as a Red Cross collection center for Washington and surrounding counties, and is one more example of who we are and what we do.

Friendship Post 247 has revived its firing squad by turning in their old ’03 Springfield Rifles and getting brand new M-1s. Yep, Brand new! Those are some really nice looking guns…oops, I mean rifles! Sorry, Marines. They say it only took a little over a year to get this done.

Speaking of taking over a year, Vevay Post 185 reports that Belterra Hotel and Casino has agreed to put an American flag at its front entry. This request goes back to when Lowell Wayne Sullivan was Post 185 Commander. I

know how much he enjoyed seeing the flag flying because I’ve seen letters he wrote to businesses thanking them for flying it. He will be smiling when this happens. Thanks also to Post 185 for its generous donation to the tornado victims. I combined it with Seymour Post 89’s donations and was able to purchase over $2,000 worth of supplies and gift cards.

In my visitations throughout the District, I wanted to emphasize to the Ninth District that we are a “community” and are connected with each other by this common bond. I think that participation by posts in the Ninth District in Legion programs is very important to our organization and reporting these activities on the Consolidated Post Report allows those on the National level to see “What We Do.”

I believe, also, that participation in local events like street festivals and parades has the same effect on the people in your city or county and it shows them that we are not just a building and a club.

The key, in my opinion, is participation in these types of activities by the Legion is “enthusiasm.” If only 10-15 percent of the members in each post, chapter, unit or squadron have this enthusiasm, we can accomplish anything we try. Sometimes, members come forth at meetings or post gatherings and their eagerness is met with less than 100 percent acceptance. That might be due to the activity having been tried before and failed. Well, maybe it’s time to try it again, with new blood and a new insight and new “enthusiasm.”

If a post member has an idea for a new type of fund raising event that is not the normal post activity, you may want to consider giving it another try. (If it involves charity gaming, make sure you get all the required permits). I would encourage you to use any monies, efforts, time, and that “enthusiasm” toward Children and Youth Programs, such as Boy’s State, Scouting, Junior Shooting, Scholarships, local Boys & Girls Clubs, and the like. These kids you help today will remember “The Legion,” and the good things we do for them, for the rest of their lives.

Greetings from the Terrific Tenth.

On Saturday, March 24, we made a second Drive Around and visited the following Posts. Shelbyville Post 70 was the beginning and also visited were Greensburg Post 129, Rushville Post 150, Morristown Post 102 and

Greenfield Post 119. Onward from Greenfield to Fortville Post 391 and then to Knightstown Post 152 and finally to Cambridge City Post 169. A total of 34 cards were the result of this event, although the camaraderie and con-

Continued

James Tracey Commander

DISTRICT 10 Jere Riggs Commander

DEPARTMENT IN ACTION DEPARTMENT IN ACTION

aMERICanISM

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

The Americanism Commission met on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 4:15 p.m. in Salon 5 of the Indianapolis Marriott East Hotel during the 2012 Spring Conference.

Chairman Larry Lowry opened the meeting in proper form.

Roll call disclosed the following members present: Chairman Larry Lowry, Vice Chairman Peter Van Woerden, Baseball Chairman Owen Wells, Golf Chairman Michael Comerford, and POW/MIA Chairman John Bubala. There were two guests in attendance.

Those absent included:

Natl. Liaison Rep. John Hayes, Bowling Chairman Shannon McCroskey, NSFA Chairman Gary Steinhardt, and SAL Department Advisory Chairman Larry Horvath.

Baseball Executive Committee

Chairman Wells clarified several rule changes with the committee.

Chairman Wells discussed the idea of going to an eightteam state tournament, rather than a five-team tournament.

The committee conferred about a mileage limit for travelling teams. To receive travel pay at tournaments, the teams must have traveled 50 miles or more.

The Chairman announced to the committee that he would like to change the fall meeting to a seminar on how to complete and use forms, specifically form 76, 77, and 2. Form 76 is a declaration form, form 77 is a player release form, and form 2 must be done and notarized by June 1.

Chairman Wells and the committee laid out the sectional tournament plans.

Chairman Wells announced that the state tournament would be held August 3-5. He informed the committee that teams who have more than five returning kids from one school must receive a release from the IHSAA. Chairman Wells and Vice Chairman Hayes are going to meet with IHSAA head about releases.

Chairman Wells and the committee discussed their options for the B-Team state tournament.

There were no motions dealing with Department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Baseball Committee

Chairman Wells announced the pairings for the sectional tournament and the 10 sectional sites were selected, and announced the four regional tournament sites: Plymouth, Lafayette, Terre Haute, and Rockport.

Chairman Wells discussed the form 76, 77, and 2 with the committee and stated that the form 2 was due by June 1.

Chairman Wells stated that team managers are responsible for getting all of the transfers.

The committee discussed the rules for the tournaments and how each team must adhere to them.

Chairman Wells announced that for the regional and state tournaments, teams will only get paid for travel if travelling 50 miles or more.

There were no motions dealing with Department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Bowling Committee

A list of tournament results was passed out to the committee. There were 126 participating teams this year,

which is three teams down from last year.

Elections of committee officers were held. Results were: Chairman, Phil Deckard; Vice Chairman, Ed Gray; and Secretary, Charles Myers. The Executive Committee will remain the same, with the addition of Tom Clark.

There were no motions dealing with Department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Golf Committee

Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.

Members from Post 65 came before the committee and discussed the 2012 tournament.

Chairman Comerford announced that Brownsburg Post 331 submitted a bid for the 2013 tournament. Dennis Manning spoke to the committee on behalf of the tournament about other activities done by the post and golf course. With no other bids received, the bid was unanimously accepted.

There were no motions dealing with Department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was closed in proper form.

NSFA Committee

Minutes from previous meeting were read and approved.

District Chairman Paul Steward introduced a guest, who was a past Department Commander.

Past Department Auxiliary President Carolyn Cunningham discussed her visit with the USO at Camp Atterbury.

Al Dyer gave a presentation to the committee on his background and Military Intelligence Detachments.

There were no motions dealing with Department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

POW/MIA Committee Chairman Bubala read a Defense POW/MIA Report to the committee and explained how the system works to identify remains. There were 2,646 missing during the Vietnam War and 974 have been identified. Work on identifying the others still continues.

Chairman Bubala reported on Richard Harris from the Korean War. He was reported missing and his remains were found 61 years later. He was buried with honors.

Chairman Bubala discussed the U.S. POW who was taken in Afghanistan in 2009 and conferred by Peter Visclosky office.

Each district reported their POW/MIA news and activities to the committee.

There was a motion made dealing with Department funds. The committee requests $600 to purchase the POW/MIA decals, which will be included in the 2012 Department Convention packets.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

SAL Advisory Committee

Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.

Vice Chairman Ron Kizer read Resolution 21 from the National Headquarters.

The following SAL endorsement resolutions for the 2012-2013 year were presented to the committee: Frank Orsini for 1st District Commander, Craig Titzer for Southern Vice Com-

Hoosier Legionnaire

CHILDREn & YOUTH

The Children & Youth Commission met at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2012, in Salon 6 at the Marriott East Hotel during the Spring Conference.

Chairman Ed Trice opened the meeting in proper form.

Roll call disclosed the following members present: Vice Chairman Richard Thomas, Vice Chairman Al Pulido, National Liaison Representative James Delaney and Committee Chairmen: Americanism and Government Bob Bach represented Bill Andrews, American Legion Family Scholarship John Lloyd, American Legion Children’s Education & Welfare Jim Hagler, Boy Scouts Stan Gatewood, Flag Education/ Etiquette John Branson, Girl Scouts Dan Lee, and Junior Shooting Sports Ida Jewell.

Americanism and Government Chairman Bill Andrews was working. The Oratorical Committee did not meet due to the National Oratorical Contest being held. One guest was present.

American Legion Children’s Education & Welfare Committee

Minutes were read and approved.

Robert Guillaume, founder of the Anderson Preparatory Academy, gave a presentation about their school which has 52 students. They would like a couple of buses to transport students and

sound equipment for a stage area.

The following officers were approved for the 2012-2013 year: Chairman Ralph Tolan, 1st Vice David Ritenour, 2nd Vice Mike Brady, Commander’s Rep Jerry Jordon, Treasurer Tony Riley, Secretary John Bubala, Chaplain Paul Steward, Executive Section 3 years James Hagler, Executive Section 3 years Leland Baxter, Executive Section 2 years Dave Sharber, Executive Section 2 years Larry Lowry, Executive Section 1 year Kenny Cooper, and Executive Section 1 year James Daube.

Treasurer Tony Riley reported $113,622 in the general fund, $84,113 in the foundation, and $132,331 in the scholarship fund. A motion was made and 2nd to accept the financial report.

A motion was made, seconded and passed to approve a request for $343.79 from the 11th District for a veteran in need of emergency relief.

Joe Blackwell informed the committee former students of the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Home keep in contact on Facebook. Jerry Jordon reiterated funds are available and the Children’s Education and Welfare application is available on the department website.

American Legion Family Scholarship Committee

Oscar Lopez, Charlie Wier,

Continued on page 5

REHaBILITaTIOn

The Rehabilitation Commission met at 4:15 Saturday, April 14, 2012, in Salon 8 of the Marriott Hotel during the Spring Conference.

Chairman James May opened the meeting in proper form. Roll call disclosed the following members present: Chairman, James May; Vice Chairman, Phillip Hutson; Commander’s Rep, Walter Krohn; Employment, James Piepenbrok; Homeless Veterans, Robbie Robinson; Indiana Veterans Home, Robert Rettig; Nursing Home, Anthony Sadowski; Veterans Assistance, Dennis Pettit. There were two guest present.

Those absent include: National Liaison Rep, James Koutz; General Hospital, William McClure.

Employment Committee

A resolution was read by Paul Norton of Post 119 to “Support Federal Legislation That Protects The Employment of Veterans In US Postal Service Mail Processing That Are Slated For Closure.”

Motion to adopt the resolution was made by Ed Healy, seconded by Bill Parks, and passed unanimously by the Committee.

Motion was made and approved to send the resolution to the Resolution Committee.

Allen Conley stated the previous resolution, House Bill 1116, passed and was signed into law on March 14, 2012.

Larry Trittipo, State Veterans Coordinator of Work One, reported on services available to veterans and on 2 Career Fairs coming up, one at Stout Field on April 18 and one in Fort Wayne on May 10.

General Hospital

Mike Wooden was the Acting Chairman. Guest speakers VA Nurse Betsy Sykes, Nurse Practitioner Elizabeth Sipes, and Hospice Nurse Kendall Kent spoke about the Hospice Veteran Partnership and expained the benefits.

There were five handouts passed out showing how much Rehab money needs to be spent.

Inviting people to the General Hospital meeting during the General Assembly helped a lot to get people to the meeting. There were several new faces attending this meeting.

Homeless Veterans

There were two handouts passed out, one being a list of homeless shelters in Indiana by county. There were two donations made to the Committee totaling $1,200. Discussed at length was the fact that this is a self supporting Committee and possible alternatives to raising money. Hoosier Legionnaire articles asking for donations form the posts would be great.

Indiana Veterans Home Superintendent Tony Stewart’s resignation from the Indiana Veterans Home was discussed.

There are currently 272 residents at the home.

Motion was made and passed to purchase four alternating air mattresses for $8,000. The American Legion and the Auxiliary have started a project to refurbish the eight hotel rooms at a cost of $10,000 per unit. The wish list was passed out.

Nursing Home

Indiana Veterans Home Auxiliary Chairwoman Janet Barnaby attended the meeting. The home is in need of support socks. There was no money requested.

Veterans Assistance

Guest speaker Chris Stein, VA Regional Office Special Operations Coach, talked about the Fully Developed Claim Process. The Director of Rehab spoke about the service office taking new clients again and that they are hoping to do a lot of Fully Developed Claims. A VA Form 21-4138 to use as an informal claim to preserve the effective date for a FDC was passed out.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

InTERnaL aFFaIRS

Kenneth Hylton Chairman

The Internal Affairs Commission met Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 4:15 p.m. in Salon 7 of the Marriott East Hotel during the Joint Spring Conference.

Chairman Kenneth Hylton opened the meeting in proper form.

Roll call disclosed the following members present: Chairman Kenneth Hylton, Vice Chairman Mary E. York, Vice Chairman Terry Smith, American Legion Riders Chairman Robert Schnell, Community Involvement Eric Baggett, Convention Contest Chairman M. Roger Baker, Firefighter/Law & Order Chairman Wilfred Kocher, Legislative Chairman John “Danny” Rice, New Post Development Chairman Herb Hoffman, Public Relations Acting Chairman Ron Hanger and Religious Emphasis Rep. Charles Wotring.

Roll call disclosed the following members absent: Natl. Liaison John Pipher, Membership Chairman Bill Clark and religious Emphasis Chairman Norris Keirn.

Chairman Hylton asked for the Committee reports:

American Legion Riders

The minutes from the Fall Conference were read. A correction was made to show that Mike Clark is the First District Representative and was present at that meeting. A motion was made to approve the minutes with the corrections made. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

There was some discussion regarding the Rider of the Year Award. It is a Department Award and they will order the award for convention.

There was some discussion regarding the committee needing two hours for Department Convention 2012. The district Chairs will meet during the second hour to review the submitted nominations. Two versions of the nomination for this year but will be corrected and one standard form only will be accepted for next year. The nomination for the 20122013 year will be posted on line and included in all start up packets.

The process for the bylaw changes will be documented and posted online to inform all of the proper way to proceed with any changes and approval.

Fourth District Chairman Small requested that a copy of the committee minutes be passed out to each chairman at the start of the meeting to save time on reading them.

Chairman Schnell asked for District reports: All were given.

There was some discussion regarding the Ninth District having the Moving Wall on July 18, 2012. All are welcome to come. The Wall will be at a local vocational school for four days. The dates will be posted on the website.

There were no requests for Department Funds and with no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Community Involvement Department Adjutant Hugh Dagley addressed the committee on the Indiana Disaster Relief Fund. The Department has opened an account and so far has $10,000.00 to use for relief victims. We will aid veterans and non-veterans through this fund. He stated that the Community Involvement Committee is to set up the rules and guidelines for distributing funds.

Chairman Baggett instructed all District Chairmen to go to their next district meetings, to allow input from all districts. The Committee Chairmen will meet at

Close of Books for discussion and to set guidelines. The Indiana Disaster Relief Fund Resolution 21 was read. There was a brief discussion.

Chairman Baggett asked for District Reports: All were given.

Chairman Baggett reminded the Committee that scrapbooks are due at Close of Books. He stated that they will have a meeting there as well.

There were no requests for Department Funds.

There being no further business to be brought before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Convention Contest

Chairman Baker read a resolution passed by the National Organization in 1960. It was meant to explain to and encourage Indiana Legionnaires to submit more resolutions but to limit them to matters for which The American Legion was organized.

There was some discussion regarding the procedures and the judging for convention. Seven judges on the field are required. Chairman Baker will try to get someone to record the contest. He would like to get two hand held tape recorders as well. He will be requesting the Liberty Ball Room for 7:00 a.m. on July 14, 2012. Chairman Baker will work on simplifying the scoring sheets, rather than waiting on the National Organization.

There were no requests for Department Funds made.

Firefighter/Law & Order

Chairman Kocher asked for each District to report their progress regarding binders. All Districts reported their status.

Chairman Kocher reminded all in attendance that all binders are due at Department no later than June 1, 2012.

There was a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

No requests for Department funds were made.

Legislative Committee Chairman Danny Rice read the minutes from the Mid-Winter Conference. The minutes were approved as read.

NEC Committeeman Darrel Hansel introduced National Vice Commander Milt Heifner to the Committee.

Dick Jewell, candidate for Department Commander, discussed this year’s Washington DC trip. He advised that the SAL will be involved in this Committee.

Chairman Rice held a brief discussion on the VA and DOD budget.

Information regarding Korean War Agent Orange was handed out to all in attendance.

SB 1059, Military Family Relief Fund, HB 1065, Military Custody and Parenting Time Matters, and HB 1116, Military and Education and Training bills were announced as having been passed by the general assembly..

Department Adjutant Hugh Dagley spoke regarding the Indiana Smoking Law changes. There was a motion made to support Senator Glick and Senator Alting being acknowledged by presenting them with The Department Public Service Award. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

There was a motion made to request that the Department Commander to invite all candidates running for office to attend the Department

Larry Lowry Chairman

Edward Trice Chairman

James May Chairman

CONFERENCE NEWS

DEPARTMENT IN ACTION IN ACTION

Children & Youth Commission

Sleepy Time?

AMERICANISM AND

CHILDREN & YOUTH AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

Continued from page 4

John Lloyd, and Coleman Sumrall met at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Patriot Boardroom of the Marriott East Hotel during the Spring Conference to judge the American Legion Family Scholarships.

There were 44 applications. The winners are Casey Mihal, Kali Miller, and Nicholas Huffman.

Casey Mihal is from Crown Point and will attend Rose Hulman. He is eligible for the scholarship due to his uncle Thomas Mihal, who is a member of Squadron 485.

Kali Miller is from Garrett and is attending Grace College and Theological Seminary. She is eligible for the scholarship based on her grandpa Robert Cole, who is a member of Post 258.

Nicholas Huffman is from Bluffton and will attend Ivy Tech. His father is a member of Squadron 111.

Americanism & Government Committee

Vice Chairman Bob Bach led a discussion about the Junior Americanism & Government test.

A motion was passed to accept a resolution to recognize the Junior Americanism & Government test at the department level. Chairman Bach explained the grading process for the senior Americanism & Government test and why scores are not generally publicized. He suggested district winner scores could be disclosed if appropriate.

The committee discussed awards for the junior test winners. 4th District Chairman Manuel Fernandis noted this was the worst participation rate in many years and that many posts do not have an Americanism & Government chairman.

Vice Chairman Bach noted committee members need to

talk about Legion programs at post meetings. Chairman Byrley noted the study guides need to be revised.

Commission Chairman Ed Trice introduced Nick Nicholoff who will be the Commission Chairman next year.

Boy Scout Committee Minutes were read and approved.

Eagle Scout of the Year applications must be thoroughly checked before submitting to the committee for state judging.

Department Adjutant Hugh Dagley spoke to the committee about The Frank Belgrano Trophy and the need for the committee to submit an entry to The National American Legion.

A resolution should be written requesting The National American Legion change the wording on the Eagle Scout of the Year to have completed applications be sent to the district chairmen. The committee should also write a resolution to change the smoking ban, because it will adversely affect our youth programs.

Eighth District Chairman Brady will develop an example book for the Eagle Scout of the Year binder. District Chairmen should submit square knot applications as soon as possible to be recognized at the Department Convention. Chairman Gatewood would like all district chairmen to return next year as district chairmen.

Eleventh District Chairman Chorpenning reported the cost for making the Boy Scout pin is $1.98. The committee would like to set up a table at the Department Convention and the National Convention to sell the pins.

Boys State Enrollment Committee

Secretary Oeth read the minutes from the January meeting and they were approved.

Internal Affairs Commission

Continued from page 4

Convention. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Mr. Paul Norton spoke about a resolution regarding the employment of veterans in the USPS mail processing facilities that are slated for closure. A motion was made that this Committee support the resolution. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

There were no requests for Department Funds.

Membership Chairman Clark announced the unofficial results of today’s turn in. The Eighth District is in 1st place and will be presented with the traveling trophy. Chairman Clark stressed that membership growth is still a possibility.

Assistant Department Adjutant Dewayne Dunn spoke about our steady decline in membership over the past sixteen years. He encouraged everyone to read the Membership Awards Guide for changes.

There was some discussion regarding getting information about The American Legion to the public.

There were no requests made for Department funds.

New Post Development/ Revitalization

The minutes from the Mid Winter Conference were read and approved.

Chairman Hoffman asked the Committee Chairman for their District reports: All were given.

Chairman Larry Bush asked Director Steve Bowman to give an update on plans for the 75th Hoosier Boys State. The alumni golf outing on June 9, 2012 needs 72 players registered. The Hoosier Boys State website has been updated. Senator Richard Lugar will not be the keynote speaker for The American Legion Hoosier Boys State. Lou Holtz will be speaking at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13. John Gregg will be speaking at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 15. State Representative Kreg Battles is drafting a resolution to honor the 75th anniversary. Director Bowman placed orders for new shirts and shorts for delegates and new 75th shirts for staff, district chairmen, and board of directors. Each district will have three delegates at large to cover no shows. District Chairman Oeth proposed to give awards to the top district chairmen, top district, and top post chairman for sending the highest number of delegates. The second and third place recipients in each category will be given certificates. They will be announced at the Friday evening awards ceremony and will receive awards at convention. A motion was made by District Chairman Strong to accept the proposal and seconded by District Chairman Bach. The committee voted and passed. The committee discussed the need for an interpreter for a deaf delegate. Secretary Oeth read a thank you card from the family of the 33 year District Chairman and Board of Directors member Rich Adamski, who died February 7, 2012.

Children & Youth Committee Minutes were read and

Continued on page 7

NEC Darrell Hansel introduced Vice National Commander Milt Heifner to the Committee. He spoke about non-functioning or inactive posts. He suggested that we do start new posts for the younger veterans because the “old timers” are not meeting the needs of the recently returning veterans.

There were no requests for Department Funds made.

Public Relations

Acting Chairman Ron Hanger announced to the Committee that Chairman Jeff Carroll has resigned his Chairmanship and Mr. Hanger was asked to fill in for today’s meeting.

Eighth District Chairman David Sharber read the minutes from the Mid-Winter Conference. One correction was made: Sixth District Chairman John Ruble was present at the last meeting and did not show during the roll call portion of the minutes. The minutes were approved with the correction.

Acting Chairman Hanger announced that the judging for the Wayne Talbot Award is scheduled for Saturday, June 9, 2012. All entries must be received at Department no later than June 1, 2012. Chairman Hanger asked for volunteer judges.

There was a question asked about Department’s new website. All website questions are to be directed to Department Adjutant Dagley for any questions or concerns.

Americanism Commission

Continued from page 4

mander, and Greg Spaulding for Detachment Commander. There were no motions

dealing with Department funds.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

There was some discussion regarding the criteria for submitting articles for publication on a monthly basis. They were instructed to go to the new website and submit an article. There was some discussion on the benefits of Facebook.

Mr. Thomas Pett from Post 111 in Bluffton stated that the new site is a work in progress but is much easier to navigate. He stated that there needs to be a gatekeeper to screen all articles submitted. There needs to be a system in place to check for spelling and grammar errors, as well as fact checking.

There were no requests for Department funds.

Religious Emphasis

Vice Chairman Wotring welcomed the Auxiliary representatives to the meeting.

A motion was made by Chairman Harris to nominate Chairman Keirn for Chapel of the Four Chaplains Award. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

There was much discussion by all on how the Districts have been working in the posts and throughout the districts to promote Godly patriotism.

There were no requests for Department Funds.

Adjournment

There being no additional business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the commission, the meeting was adjourned in proper form.

Despite the heavy schedule of business during any Legion Conference, there is always time for a little fun. Here a couple of party-goers at the Department Commander’s “Pajama Party” Saturday night following the close of business consider the wisdom of his coming out in his sleepwear. Fortunately, he was not alone. Hundreds of others did the same.

Previous C&Y Minutes Omitted

Editor’s Note: Portions the Mid-Winter Conference meeting of the Children and Youth Commission were omitted from the February/March issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire. Those minutes are printed here.

The state winners are Justin Hughes from Pioneer High School sponsored by Post 60 in the 2nd Distict, Katelyn Mehling form Castle High School sponsored by Post 44 in the 8th District, Steven Marquez from Griffith High School sponsored by Post 66 in the 1st District, Kelly McKaig from Pioneer High School sponsored by Post 60 in the 2nd District, Elijah Leighty from North Daviess High School sponsored by Post 293 in the 7th District, and Jamie Durbin from Mitchell High School sponsored by Post 250 in the 9th District.

Boy Scout Committee Minutes were read and approved. Eagle Scout of the Year applications must be submitted to the district chairmen by February 1, 2012. Judging will take place at The Boy Scouts of America Crossroads Education Center, 7125 Fall Creek Blvd, Indianapolis on March 17, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

The committee discussed possible applicants for the Eagle Scout of the Year. Vice Chairman Marty Dzieglowicz distributed information about a Boy Scout survey recognizing posts sponsoring troops and The American Legion scouting information for the website.

Home schooled students can apply for the Eagle Scout of the Year. District chairmen need to speak to their respective council executives, district Legionnaires, and non-Legionnaires about the scouting program and applications. Chairman Chorpenning introduced a newly designed scout pin, which a motion was made and seconded to approve production.

Boys State Enrollment Committee

Secretary Bob Oeth read minutes of the October meeting. Chairman Bush introduced Director Steve Bowman for a report on the upcoming 75th American Legion Hoosier Boys State. Director Bowman provided a list of state politicians that have been contacted to speak during the week. Senator Richard Lugar has made a commitment to attend.

Each district chairman told what and how they have been working their district to get boys interested in attending. District Chairmen Scott Weyler and Steve Bowman made and seconded a motion to have District Chairman Oeth write a resolution to give awards to the top three districts and top three posts for sending the highest number of delegates. The motion was passed.

Chairman Bush distributed information about the golf outing on June 9, 2012 for Boys’ State alumni, The American Legion family and sponsoring businesses. Chairman Oeth expanded on how district chairmen can use the delegate at large program. Commander’s Representative Stevens suggested chairmen not forget to request funds for The American Legion Riders.

Children & Youth Committee

Minutes were read and approved. Chairman Sharber announced The American Le-

gion insurance benefits had changed from the typical $1,000 to $5,000 if a Legionnaire is conducting Legion business. Members are encouraged to remind their post members of the coverage. Contributions for National Commander Candidate Jimmy Koutz can be made until noon on April 14, 2012.

Educator of the year binders were distributed to all districts. The committee is still awaiting materials for the McGruff child identification program.

A motion was made by 11th District Chairman Joe Komenda and seconded by Ron Kizer to request an increase in the Educator of the Year award from $500 to $1,000 for each educator. The motion passed unanimously.

The request will be sent to the finance committee. The committee discussed concerns about funding being available and the benefits of the excellent public relations of the Educator of the Year program.

Girl Scout Committee

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The 1st District has a possible candidate for the Girl Scout Gold Award. There are seventeen posts in the 1st District, which are sponsoring Girl Scout troops. The committee would still like to draft a resolution to encourage a national Girl Scout program. The committee is requesting space to display gold award projects in the atrium or other appropriate area at the convention.

A $50.00 donation was received from Avon Post 145. At the time of the meeting, the balance for the Gold Award scholarship was $4189.00.

Junior Shooting Sports Committee Minutes were read and approved.

Districts reported on activities within their districts, with the 4th district being the most active.

Chairman Jewell reported on the Department Tournament held in November 2011 at the Hancock County fairgrounds. The winner of the tournament was Dusty Gremaux, a student at Belmont High School, sponsored by Post 43, Decatur.

Questions on getting grant money for staring or maintaining clubs was discussed. Some suggestions were made to contact county foundations, REMC, Safari International, Friends of the NRA, and Indiana Youth Shooting Sports Foundation.

Chairmen and posts should also consider club

membership in CMP and USA Shooting.

Chairman Jewell will inquire whether a certified trainer could conduct a small training session for less than five people.

Oratorical Committee Department Adjutant Steve Short was reintroduced to the committee to recognize his past oratorical accomplishments.

He has worked at The American Legion National office in coordinating the National Contest. The American Legion Department of Indiana has had a great oratorical contest due to his foundation, knowledge and leadership.

Chairman Seto distributed new national judges’ scorecards without the checkerboard pattern.

The National Forensic League and The American Legion have joined forces. The American Legion National winner is allowed to participate immediately with other associations’ finals. The associations including Indiana’s “We the People” will share names, schools, and contacts.

We had 55 contestants in the state for 2012 and 28 are from the 1st district. The 2012 state contest will be March 11. Due to the National Contest being held April 13-15, 2012, at IUPUI, a motion was made by Fred Langley and seconded by Rick Hudson to not meet at the Spring Conference.

Zone contests will be:

Zone 1- District 1 will host at Post 180, 2703 Jewett St., Highland IN 46322 on February 19, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Zone 2 – District 5 will host at Post 368, 7595 E 450 N, VanBuren IN 46991 on February 19, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Zone 3 – District 6 will host February 11, 2012 at Post 155, 852 W Main St, Carmel IN 46032 1:00 p.m. EST

Zone 4 – District 8 will host February 5, 2012 at Post 147, 1220 Newton St, Jasper IN 47546 1:00 p.m. EST

Chuck Mason from Post 502 in the 2nd District was introduced due to his rapport with Hoosier Boys State and allowing the committee to speak with boys during orientation.

As Children and Youth committees, cooperation and effort needs to be made to promote all programs at Trine University during Hoosier Boys State.

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was closed in proper manner.

Flag Education/Etiquette Committee

The committee had a moment of silence for 6th District Chairman Carrine Scott, who recently died in a car accident.

Minutes of previous meeting were read and approved.

There was discussion about pages 3 and 4 in the comic books in regards to question 7 in the Flag Education test. The book refers to the 13 original ‘states.’ It should read the 13 original ‘colonies.’ The committee agreed to remove question 7 and submit a new question.

Adjutant Steve Short said he would contact the National American Legion about changing the comic book. Committee chairmen voted on the 4th grade flag education winning essays.

The state winners were Connor Fife of St Thomas More School sponsored by Post 16 in the 1st District and Shelby Hoff of Knightstown Elementary School sponsored by Post 152 in the 10th district.

FALL CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE

Blue Star Salute: Time for Hoosiers To Say ‘Thanks’ CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

DISTRICT 11

Richard Brown Commander

CONVENTION NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONVENTION NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS

Greetings from the 11th District, Congratulations to Kenneth N. Dowden-Wayne Post 64 for surpassing their 2012 Membership Goal!

All Legionnaires are invited to attend our upcoming district meetings: Saturday, May 19 at Atkins Saw Post 355, 12:00 noon lunch ($5/ person) & 1:00 p.m. meeting and Thursday, June 7 at Broad Ripple Post 3 for District Everlasting, 6:00 p.m. dinner ($5/person) & 7:00 p.m. meeting. Additionally all are invited to participate in the Eleventh District’s Golf Tournament Saturday, June 16 at Winding River Golf Course. Come out and have a good time while raising money to fund American Legion programs in the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Please encourage your fellow Legionnaires to renew their membership in The American Legion by renewing at their post, mailing their dues into their post adjutant, or renewing online at www.legion.org/renew

As of March 21, our membership retention rate stands at 86.9 percent. With your help, we can improve our district’s membership retention rate from a historical year-end average of 90 percent (over the last 10 years) to the estimated 95 percent retention rate required to hit our 100 percent membership goal. We must continue to focus on the Four R’s as a road map to success throughout the Eleventh District: Retention of current Legionnaires, Recruitment of new veterans to become Legionnaires, Revitalizing the posts with decreasing membership strength, and refocusing on American Legion programs such as Boys State, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the American Legion Family Scholarship.

Now is not the time to give up on membership, but

the time to focus in on those who have not renewed and contact them to ensure they are financially able to pay their dues. If not, consider having another Legionnaire or the post sponsor their membership this year. The pool of those who have not renewed is getting smaller each day at the posts; contacting each of these fellow Legionnaires would not take more than one day for most posts throughout the District.

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH DEPARTMENT IN ACTION IN ACTION

The annual Indiana Blue Star Salute, sponsored by The American Legion Family at Legion Posts 145 in Avon, 331 in Brownsburg, 118 in Danville, 426 in Pittsboro and 329 in Plainfield, is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Stout Field, 2002 S. Holt Road in Indianapolis. Gates to the Blue Star Salute, styled as “A Celebration of the Military Family,” open at 12:00 noon, with the formal ceremony scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Admission and parking at the event are free to the public.

District 10

In order to ensure that The American Legion in the greater Indianapolis area grows in membership strength, every post leadership team should be able to spare one day to organize an outreach program to contact their fellow Legionnaires.

Everyone is invited to join the online conversation at the Eleventh District’s Facebook page (www.facebook. com/IndianapolisLegio n ) and on our official Twitter Feed -- @LegionRichBrown.

By visiting and clicking “Like” on our Facebook page, not only will you receive relevant news from a multitude of sources on veterans issues in your Facebook News Feed; you will also be increasing the visibility of The American Legion among your Facebook friends. By following us on Twitter you will also be increasing the visibility of The American Legion among Twitter users, a large percentage of whom are college students and news media professionals -- two sections of the population The American Legion must reach out to with greater success.

It is hard to believe that the 2012 Membership Year is quickly coming to an end. This year has been a very educational and rewarding experience. I will always be grateful to the veterans of the Eleventh District for allowing me the privilege of serving as your commander.

Indy Air Show Offers Discount Tickets For Legion

The 2012 Indianapolis Air Show is scheduled for June 23-24 at Indianapolis Regional Airport – formerly Mount Comfort Airport -just off I-70 East at Mt. Comfort Road. The US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will headline this 16th annual show.

Special discount tickets for members of The American Legion Family are available on the show’s website, www.indyairshow.com

Bob Thomas, owner of Capitol City Ford which is the title sponsor for the air show, said

“This phenomenal event not only features the best civilian and military performers in the US, but hundreds of dedicated volunteers who assist them in presenting one of the top community events in the Greater Indianapolis area.

“Their mission touches the heart of all of us at Capitol City Ford, and we are proud to be associated with this organization.”

The Indianapolis Air Show is a not-for-profit organization that has raised nearly $1.5 million since its inception to benefit Riley Hospital for Children through the Central Indiana Community Foundation. Organizers have set $100,000 as their fundraising goal for 2012.

Thomas’ proclamation of the local show as “the best air show in the country” is accurate: last year’s headliners,

Continued from page 3

versation garnered was the finest result.

As the District is approaching the last quarter of The American Legion year of 2011-2012, the renewed membership cards are not as abundant as they were in July and August of last. This is expected and if we accept it we will not prosper in our posts and our voice in every assemblage of government will evermore be weakened.

It is time to shake the “bud from our hands” and seek out the youngest and newest defenders of our nation. Also don’t forget to challenge our older veterans who left the post because of personal reasons or conflicts that were not resolved.

Our organization is still based on those principles selected 93 years ago by those veterans who endured The Great War and recognized a need (as was the case after every conflict since the Declaration of Independence; i.e.: Sons of Cincinnatus and The Grand Army of the Republic) to maintain and foster a comradeship among those soldiers and sailors who fought and were victorious during their generation. Those principles were to assist and improve the lives of the defenders of our country, our way of life, our country, our children and our youth. Those pillars of service since 1919 are the only main reason that we

The 2:00 p.m. ceremony will feature a special tribute to Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard, for, according to a release from organizers, “his extraordinary service to American and Hoosier military families in over 40 years of military service.”

Event chairman Ralph A. “Zoc” Zoccolillo, from Post 145, has put out a call for the public to join in honoring the Indiana families whose loved ones serving in the Armed Forces.

carry on as members of the greatest veterans organization in existence.

So I challenge all 36 American Legion Post Commanders, their officers and members in the Tenth District to get out and get on the mission to meet and greet these Afghani and Iraqi veterans and make them members of our posts in order to make this district number one in the Department of Indiana.

It all adds up. If we increase our membership in our posts, we grow in strength, membership, revenue and serving our communities in which we live. If we develop a sincere attitude and foster to the programs adopted 93 years ago, we establish a communal presence in our schools, our towns and counties. Each post must fill its required committees with members that will work within the required parameters and become involved and dedicated candidates.

Every post should have their area youth involved in post sponsored scholarships, Boy’s/Girl’s State and Flag Education/Etiquette. If we don’t visit our local high schools as Legionnaires and describe and promote our Oratorical and School Awards programs, we end up with nothing. They are the educators of our future leaders and they need reminded of our programs as an external source and means of educating our youth.

If we don’t, who will?

REWEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FAST & EASY

“Please join us as we show our support for the families of our men and women in uniform. These families sacrifice every day to support their husbands, wives, parents, and children who serve in the War on Terror. We owe them our unconditional support,” he said.

“This is your opportunity to show your appreciation.”

2012 marks the seventh consecutive Blue Star Salute, an event that has grown from small beginnings at Post 145 to become a statewide recognition of military

personnel and their families by The American Legion and thousands of their fellow citizens.

The Blue Star Salute is named for the banner that adorns the homes of those who have sent family members into harm’s way as members of the Armed Forces during times of conflict. It originated during the latter days of World War I, flourished during World War II, and was re-introduced to the American public by The American Legion during a period after 911.

More Than A Prison

Continued from page 1

the Legion meeting Wednesday.

“We really appreciate what you have done,” Lela Ewers with Indiana CURE told the group. “We don’t have many fundraisers and this money takes a big load off my mind. The largest expense we have is for the newsletter. This will help to pay for that and for postage.”

Blue Star Mothers representative Karen Orr said they planned to use the donation for packages they will be mailing to men and women serving overseas and stateside and a portion will be donated to the DAV food pantry.

Doug Adams said the Miami and Wabash County Special Olympics have 100 athletes involved in summer games and bowling. The donated money will be used to help bring these year-around programs to them.

Earl Kimmerling, Post 555 Commander, expressed his desire to continue giving back to the community.

“People out there are watching us to see if we are about what we say we are,” Kimmerling noted. “I’m not offender number ‘106...’ in here (he said of the meeting room). Numbers don’t mean anything in here. In here I’m a member of The American Legion.”

Chaplain’s Corner

Continued from page 10

of Passover and Easter. We are mindful of how divine intervention has so wonderfully preserved and blessed our lives. Peace comes when people of faith are able to give and forgive, working together for the united benefit for mankind. While we miss our close interaction with our Legion family, we continue to pray for those who

SAL News

Continued from page 10

Guard Relief Fund with donations still coming in.

are going through personal trials, and believe we will be even better able to serve after this current experience. May God’s blessing be with you all and may you find your peace in this spiritual season. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 NRSV

the US Navy Aerial Demonstration Squad, also known as the Blue Angels, named the Indianapolis show as its ‘2011 Show of the Year.’

The award was presented last December at the International Council of Air Shows convention in Las Vegas.

Additional information about the wide range of exciting air show events, displays and activities – in the air as well as on the ground -- can be found at www.indyairshow.com

A special American Legion ticket rate for general admission tickets to the Show on June 23-24, 2012, has been established. Tickets are $10.00 for those age 13 & up – a $5.00 discount from the normal gate admission price.

American Legion members and their families who are interested in purchasing tickets using this discount can do so on the show’s website, www.indyairshow.com.

Here’s how: Find the CLICK TO BUY TICKETS icon and follow it to the SELECT AN EVENT TO ATTEND. Once the Indianapolis Air Show is chosen, Legionnaires should proceed to the BUY TICKETS NOW page, where they can choose the tickets they wish purchase and PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP. Look for the PROMOTION CODE at the bottom left of the screen and type in ALMIAS.

Once that code is input, hit VERIFY PROMOTION and proceed to check out.

Conference

Continued from page 1

Before adjourning the general session, Commander Mike Miller introduced the 2012 Americanism and Government winners. Five of the winners attended the session and addressed the audience, each thanking the Legion for the opportunity to earn scholarships. The six winners were: the 10th grade girl winner, Jamie Durbin, Mitchell High School in Mitchell, sponsored by Post 250 in the 9th District; the 11th grade girl winner, Kelly McKaig from Pioneer High School in Logansport, sponsored by Post 60 in the 2nd District; the 12th grade girl winner, Katelyn Mehling from Castle High School in Newburgh, sponsored by Post 44 in the 8th District; the 10th grade boy winner, Elijah Leighty from North Daviess High School in Oden, sponsored by Post 293 in the 7th District; the 11th grade boy winner, Steven Marquez, from Griffith High School in Griffith, sponsored by Post 66 in the 1th District; and the 12th grade boy winner, Justin Hughes from Pioneer High School in Royal Center, sponsored by Post 60 in the 2st District.

Kelly McKaig was not able to attend the session, but her

See www.legion.org for details

award was accepted by classmate Justin Hughes.

Also honored during the session were County Service Officers who had earned spots in the Service Officers’ Million Dollar Club. Rehabilitation Chairman James B. May said, in making the presentations, “Veterans, their dependents, and survivors often ask The American Legion to represent them with VA claims. In calendar year 2011, our Department Service Office represented veterans whose combined VA benefits topped $213,500,000 dollars.

Our Department Service Office does not, however, accomplish such outstanding results alone. They are part of a veterans’ services team. This team includes not only our national staff, but also veterans’ service providers at posts, districts, and counties.

Twenty-two County Veterans Service Officers worked in cooperation with The American Legion to win over $1 million for the first time or over $5 million total. Combined, these service officers accounted for 61 percent, or $156.1 million worth, of benefits 2011.

Let me say thank you for all the great Hoosier Hospitality that has been shown to me in my travels around this great state. It is truly a great honor to represent Indiana’s

They are:

nearly 38,000 hard working members of the Sons of The American Legion. I have two great teammates in Department Commander Mike Miller and Auxiliary President Billie Bubala. Thanks again and let’s make the rest of the year one we can all be proud of.

Marion Wallace Harrison County $1.0 million

Claude McMillan Wells, County $1.1 million

Kevin Hinton Sullivan County $1.2 million

Wayne Hubert Perry County $1.2 million

Michael P. Clouse Noble County $1.2 million

Richard Marion Kosciusko County $1.2 million

Larry Leach Carroll County $1.3 million

Ken Hylton Ripley County $1.4 million

Lori Turpin Hendricks County $1.4 million

Allen Connelly LaGrange County $2.2 million

Brian Lamm Dekalb County $5.5 million

Jay Kendall Miami County $6.0 million

Paul Dupont Vanderburgh County $6.5 million

Robert McClain Elkart County $6.6 million

Robert Kelley Grant County $7.8 million

Raymond Guiden Lake County $8.4 million

Jay Randolph Madison County $8.5 million

Kevin Kelsheimer St. Joseph County $10.8 million

George Jarboe Allen County $14.1 million

At the close of the general session, individual Legionnaires and those representing posts, districts and other organizations lined up to contribute to Commander Miller’s project, Jim Koutz’ campaign, and other Legion programs and activities. The final total was $51,683.65, of which $17,349 went to the American Legion Family Scholarship, $12,367 went to the new Indiana Disaster Assistance Fund and $5,784.65 went into the National Commander Candidate’ Campaign Fund.

In other activities at the conference, all but a few of

the permanent committees met in joint session with their Auxiliary counterparts, and a common topic of discussion was the state wide smoking ban and its effect on Legion posts. The four commissions reported out a total of 5 resolutions for consideration by the Department Executive Committee, and the DEC acted on those as well as six other resolutions endorsing candidates for Department offices.

Detailed reports on these and other conference activities are provided elsewhere in this issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire.

VETERANS UPDATE VETERANS UPDATE

NATIONAL CONVENTION NATIONAL CONVENTION

Unemployability Compensation Can Be Granted In Variety Of Cases

DISTRICT NEWS DISTRICT NEWS

percent rating for a single veteran is $1,760 per month.

VETERAN INFORMATION

Many veterans have serious service connected disabilities preventing them from working – or should I say, in technical terms, making it impossible for them to “secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.”

VETERAN INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP

John Hickey Department Service Officer

LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS

COMMISSION REPORTS COMMISSION REPORTS

gainful employment for VA purposes is considered any employment with earning above the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census poverty threshold for one person. That threshold is currently $11,702 annually for those under 65 years of age and $10,788 for those 65 years of age and older.

erans having a 60 percent compensation evaluation for one service connected disability, or for veterans having a combined 70 percent compensation evaluation with at least one of the service connected disabilities assigned an evaluation of 40 percent or more.

Their service-connected disabilities are often evaluated 60, 70, 80 or even 90 percent disabling but for employment purposes, these veterans are totally disabled. Veterans having these high service connected disability ratings might want to consider filing a 100 percent Individual Unemployability (IU) claim if their serviceconnected disabilities prevent them from working.

automatically assigned for those having 90 percent disability evaluations nor is it automatically denied for veterans assigned only a 60 percent disability evaluation.

least 20 years.

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

SONS OF AMERICAN LEGION

DEPARTMENT CONVENTION DEPARTMENT CONVENTION

FEATURES FEATURES

Individual Unemployability ratings are granted when one or more serviceconnected disability makes it impossible for the veteran to hold substantial gainful employment. Substantial

There is a big difference between a 90 percent compensation rating and a 100 percent compensation rating. The 100 percent rating pays $1,108 more a month for a single veteran than does the 90 percent compensation rating. The difference between a 60 percent compensation rating and the 100

HOOSIER HAPPENINGS HOOSIER HAPPENINGS

VA pays the same for 100 percent ratings assigned due to the pure nature and severity of the disability (a scheduler rating) as VA does for the 100 percent rating assigned using the Individual Unemployability rule. If, however, the veteran receiving a 100 percent IU rating regains the ability to work (ability to perform substantial gainful employment), VA will reduce the 100 percent IU rating to the “scheduler” rating. Veterans receiving the 100 percent IU benefit also receive the same ancillary benefits when VA decides the condition is not likely to change (permanency is established), such as education and medical benefits for dependents.

Upon proper application, VA regulations allow VA to consider granting the 100 percent Individual Unemployability rating for vet-

Vets’ Benefit Seminar Set

A Veterans Benefit Awareness Fair has been scheduled for 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. May 19, 2012, at New Carlisle American Legion Post 297, 486 East Michigan Avenue in New Carlisle.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION CONFERENCE INFORMATION

The Awareness Fair is sponsored by the Post, and Legionnaires and non-members alike are encouraged to attend, reports Past Department Commander John Michalski.

DEPARTMENT NEWS NEWS

“The post is really very proud to host the first annual Veterans Benefit Fair. We welcome everyone and encourage participation to make this event a success for veterans and their families,” he said.

Although a full slate of exhibitors is scheduled to participate, Michalski said additional exhibitors are still welcome.

FALL CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE

“If your organization would like to be a part of this event, your participation will be greatly appreciated and welcome by all,” he said.

Michalski added that there is no cost to exhibit, and lunch will be provided to all exhibitors.

CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

Among the exhibitors currently scheduled are:

Once the veteran meets the “minimum disability evaluation requirement,” VA will look at the veteran’s individual circumstances, including such factors as employment history, education, transferrable job skills, etc., for deciding if that veteran is incapable of performing a substantial gainful activity. VA is not to use an older veteran’s age as a factor for denying IU benefits.

The IU benefit is granted based upon the individual circumstances of the veteran with qualifying service connected disability evaluations. The IU benefit is not

Smoking Ban

Continued from page 1

This is significant, because it was the understanding of The American Legion that Posts would be permitted to declare themselves smoking facilities, but set aside a portion of the post as nonsmoking and free from second hand smoke in order to accommodate youth activities.

The bill as signed into law by Governor Daniels has set the bar unreasonably high.

In most cases, veterans who believe they are possibly entitled to a 100 percent Individual Unemployability rating should file. There is at least one exception. VA Central Office has issued VA regional offices directions to reevaluate all the service-connected disabilities claimed to interfere with employment before deciding an IU claim. Veterans who therefore have service connected disabilities that have improved could risk a rating reduction when filing an Individual Unemployability claim. Service connected disability evaluations are not protected against reduction by law, until they have been evaluated at the same or higher disability level for at

Before filing a claim for a 100 percent Individual Unemployability rating, veterans should make an appointment with a qualified veterans service officer to discuss that option fully. Veterans should also attempt to obtain evidence to file with the claim to help show the service connected disabilities by themselves prevent the veteran from working. (VA will not consider nonservice connected medical conditions for this benefit) The best evidence would consist of a doctor’s statement noting why the doctor believes the service-connected disabilities make it impossible for the veteran to hold employment.

You may contact a qualified veterans’ service officer at your local county veterans’ service office, or by calling the American Legion Department Service Office.

bers; and

smoking ban?

A complaint system is being developed and will be available on July 1, 2012. Instructions will be posted online at www.in.gov/atc,

Is smoking prohibited in vehicles?

Smoking is only prohibited in state-government vehicles owned, leased and operated for governmental functions. Smoking is permitted in private vehicles.

Where should signage be located?

(h) It shall maintain an establishment provided with special space and accommodations where, in consideration of payment, food, with or without lodging, is habitually served.

How is a fraternal club defined in Indiana Code?

A fraternal club means an association or corporation, the membership of which is comprised of or forms:

CONVENTION NEWS

• Indiana University South Bend

• Ivy Tech Community College

• Brown Mackie College

• Edward Jones Investments

CONFERENCE NEWS CONVENTION NEWS NEWS

• Jesse Brown VA Hospital

• Crown Point Clinic

• WorkOne Veterans Representative

• The American Legion

• American Legion Auxiliary

• Sons of The American Legion

• DAV

• VFW

• AMVETS

• VNA

Senator Alting, sympathetic to the Legion’s concerns, has indicated his willingness to continue to advocate for the organization’s position when subsequent efforts come to the Senate to further tighten the ban.

Frequently Asked Questions

DEPARTMENT IN ACTION DEPARTMENT IN ACTION

• Wells Fargo

• Community Wide Federal Credit Union

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

Children & Youth Commission

Continued from page 5

approved with the correction that the Sixth district did not receive Educator of the Year binders.

The committee would like to know the status of the funds request to increase educator awards from $500 to $1000 for each state educator winner.

Adjutant Hugh Dagley explained changes to the Temporary Financial Assistance program. Buzz Smith is now the contact at the Department Headquarters. Specific details will be defined in the following weeks.

National Executive Committeman Darrell Hansel introduced the National Vice Commander Milton Heifner. Commander Heifner extended thanks from National Commander Wong.

Commission Chairman Ed Trice introduced his replacement for next year, Nick Nicholoff. Educators of the Year binders need to be submitted to department headquarters by June 1.

Each district chairman discussed their work to find candidates. Auxiliary Chairman Janice Mort thanked the committee for their efforts.

Flag Education/ Etiquette Committee

A motion was made and passed to replace question #7 on the test.

Although the finance committee has approved appropriating money to fulfill

the spring winners, they have not done so for the fall winners. The committee has submitted a request for funds to the finance committee.

Girl Scouts Committee

Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Donations totaling $32.00 were received from Posts 58, 113, 118, 140, 155, 290, 328.

The committee discussed sending a survey to each post to inquire whether they sponsor girl scouts. With the National Convention being in Indianapolis, the committee would like to write a resolution to make Girl Scouts a national program.

At this time, no district has confirmed a candidate for the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Applications are available on the department website and must be received by May 1.

Junior Shooting Sports Committee Minutes were read and approved.

Districts reported on activities within their districts, with the Fourth District being the most active. When the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors home closed, their shooting equipment was given to the department office. If anyone needs equipment, he/ she may contact Susan Long at the department office. Wooden rifle stocks can be used to cut down for smaller athletes.

Many people have no idea what an air rifle is or how to

use it. Chairman Jewell has proposed having a demonstration at the Midwinter Conference 2013 and asking Adjutant Dagley to request Colin Short make a presentation.

The committee would like to have training for coaches, but the National Rifle Association has spoken poorly of our program in the past. Chairman Jewell is exploring other sources.

The committee is considering moving the tournament to other locations to attract more club participation.

The packets sent by the National American Legion to new teams have not contained as much materials as in years past. Many posts have ranges not being used to sponsor a shooting team. District chairmen should encourage those posts to start a team.

Oratorical Committee

The Oratorical Committee did not meet due to the National Oratorical Contest being held.

Adjournment

The commission voted to approve the resolution to recognize the Junior Americanism & Government program at the state level. The resolution was forwarded to the screening committee. There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was closed in proper manner.

Here are frequently asked questions about the ban, along with answers provided by the Indiana Excise Police, as they pertain to Fraternal Organizations, which include American Legion Posts:

When does Indiana’s new statewide smoking ban go into effect?

The new law goes into effect July 1, 2012.

Where is smoking prohibited?

Smoking is prohibited in most public places and places of employment. Smoking is also prohibited in stateowned vehicles and school buses under certain circumstances.

Where is smoking permitted?

Smoking is permitted in the following establishments: a horse-racing facility, a riverboat, a facility with a gambling game license, a satellite-gaming facility, cigar bars, hookah bars, certain fraternal clubs, a retail-tobacco store, a bar or tavern meeting certain requirements, a cigar manufacturing facility, a cigar-specialty store, a business in a private residence, provided that each establishment meets the requirements of I.C. 7.1-3-12.

How far must someone be from the entrance of a public place or place of employment in order to smoke?

Smoking is prohibited within eight feet of a public entrance to a public place and place of employment.

Who enforces the law?

The Alcohol & Tobacco Commission is the primary enforcement agency. Additionally, the Indiana State Department of Health, a local health department, a health and hospital corporation (Marion County), the Division of Fire and Building Safety, and any law enforcement officer may enforce the law.

Where may I file a complaint for a violation of the

Signs are required to be posted at all public entrances of enclosed public places and places of employment. Signs must read “State Law Prohibits Smoking Within 8 Feet of this Entrance” or other similar language. Signs are available online at www. in.gov/atc

How does the state law affect local ordinances on smoking?

The new state statute does not supersede a local county, city, or town ordinance previously adopted, if that local ordinance is more restrictive than state law. Additionally, the new state statute does not prohibit a local county, city, or town from adopting an ordinance more restrictive than state law.

May a business exempt from the state smoking law choose to prohibit smoking?

Yes. A business owner or manager may voluntarily choose to prohibit smoking, even if the type of business is one of the exemptions to the state’s smoking law. For example, a tavern owner may chose to prohibit smoking.

How is a private club defined in Indiana Code?

As defined by I.C. 7.1-320-1. A club must meet the following requirements to gain the appropriate club permit:

(a) It shall have been organized in good faith under authority of law;

(b) It shall have been in active, continuous existence for at least three years prior to the date the application for the permit is filed;

(c) It shall have maintained, in good faith, a membership roll for the three year period;

(d) It shall have a paid-up membership of more than fifty (50) members at the time the application is filed;

(e) It shall be the owner, lessee, or occupant of an establishment operated solely for objects of a national, social, patriotic, political, or athletic nature, or the like;

(f) It shall not be operated for pecuniary gain;

(g) The property and the advantages of the organization shall belong to its mem-

(a) A lodge or local chapter or corresponding unit of a fraternal order or of another association of a like nature; or

(b) A body whose membership is comprised of persons who have served in the armed forces of the United States; and which has been in continual existence on a national scale for more than five years prior to the date the application is filed.

(c) Fraternal clubs and labor organizations need not meet the requirements of section 1of this Chapter, but are considered clubs for all other purposes of this title.

Is it true that smoking is allowed in private or fraternal clubs?

Yes, if the private and fraternal club meets all of the requirements as described in HEA 1149 (I.C.1-5-12).

Does the private or fraternal club have to be exempt from federal income taxation to also be exempt from Indiana’s smoking law?

Yes. The club has to be exempt from federal income taxation under 26 U.S.C 501 (c) in order to be exempt from Indiana’s smoking law, as well as meet other requirements in HEA 1149(IC 71-512).

Does the private or fraternal club have to provide a smoking room?

Yes. The club must provide a separate, enclosed, designated smoking room or area that is ventilated to prevent the migration of smoke to non smoking areas on the premises. Smoking is only allowed in the designated area or room. Additionally, someone less than 18 years of age cannot be allowed to enter the designated area or room.

Does the membership of the private or fraternal club have to vote to allow smoking?

Yes. Members must have voted, within the two previous years, to allow smoking on the premises. The initial vote must occur on or before June 30, 2012. What other requirements do private or fraternal clubs have to meet to allow smoking?

In addition to the requirements noted above, the club can only provide alcoholic beverages to its bona fide members and their guests.

Representatives from Congressman Joe Donnelly’s office also will participate. Additional information is availablr from Daniel Shepherd, VSO at Post 297. He can be contacts at (574) 654-8195, or by email at Daniel.shepherd@gmail.com.

An Ill Wind

DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS

The Legion Family Responds To Tornados With Immediate Help,

And A

By Dewayne Dunn Department Assistant Adjutant

FALL CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE

CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

Visa, Wal-Mart and K-mart cards. They were disbursed to District Commanders as well as to local government service agencies in the affected areas to be handed out to the community.

CONVENTION NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONVENTION NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS

On May 2, 2012 southern Indiana was hit by a series of tornados which affected hundreds of residents. Within a matter of hours Indiana Legionnaires did what they have always done and started to coordinate help for those in need.

The Department staff, after consultation with Department Commander Michael J. Miller, arranged for a member of the staff to travel to the disaster area on the morning after the tornadoes struck. She took with her stacks of National Emergency Fund applications and other information residents might need. She also was tasked with assessing the situation to identify what immediate needs were most pressing. What she learned was that the disaster was far devastating than early news reports had indicated; equally significant, she learned that posts and district officers had already opened their doors and were getting information and assistance to the people.

The Department decided on that first weekend that the cries for help would not go unheeded. The Department Adjutant called on the staff for a plan of action to help those affected, and a plan to mobilize all 112 districts while providing direct financial assistance from existing and new sources, including the National Emergency Fund, Temporary Financial Assistance, and the Department’s Children’s Education and Welfare Fund.

What became apparent, however, was that so much of the need centered on those who were unaffiliated with the American Legion Family. They were the friends and neighbors and family members of Legionnaires, but in many cases, the Legion was powerless to help. A solution began to take form, and with the support and encouragement of the Department Finance Committee, a Disaster Assistance Fund began to take shape.

All District Commanders were notified of the need for donations. This information was put out to the posts and within days donations started coming in without delay. As the assistance and solicitation plan unfolded, Commander Miller was called in to lend the prestige of his office to the effort, as well as to visit the site of the disaster in order to report to the members the extend of the devastation and the need for immediate assistance.

A visit to the area was set up and conducted on March 9 one week after the tragedy. The team led by Commander Miller arrived in Henryville and the devastation was clearly more than anyone could have imaged. The Commander coordinated the delivery of the first two van- loads of supplies, which were dropped off to local fire stations and Legion Posts for distribution to those in need.

As the team traveled more donations arrived throughout the state and were delivered to Department Headquarters to distribution. All other items were then taken to the local area on March 14.

Along with donated supplies other monetary donations were made either by check or gift cards. The total amount of gift cards was nearly $4,000. These gift cards were in the form of

The extent of the devastation confirmed not only the need for an assistance program for the immediate aftermath, but also for the mid- and long-term assistance to all affected members of the community. That plan became the Indiana Disaster Assistance Fund, approved by the Department Executive Committee April 15 during the annual Spring Conference. This fund will help those people in the community who are still in need once other sources are exhausted and those who descended on the communities are long gone.

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & Y AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & DEPARTMENT IN ACTION DEPARTMENT IN ACTION

To date the fund has grown to $21,867, of which more than $12,000 was collected at the Spring Conference.

Along with all other donations it was seen the need to help the children with school items given most of the schools where damaged.

Heather Hale of the Department staff headed a plan to collect donations of school supplies during the Spring Conference, and hundreds of pounds of supplies including backpacks, pencils, paper, folders, books, and some clothing for back to school days.

In times of need The American Legion has always been there to do what is needed for the community. This disaster provided not only the chance to provide immediate assistance to Legion Family members, but also provided the inspiration for a solution to long-term needs of communities as a whole, which demonstrates the Department’s commitment to that provision in the Preamble to the Constitution that calls on Legionnaires to gain a “sense of obligation to the community state, and nation.”

Commander Miller Checks In With Others On the Disaster Inspection Team The

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP

COMMISSION REPORTS COMMISSION REPORTS

Meeting Membership Goal Not Just A Matter Of Issuing Cards

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

DEPARTMENT CONVENTION DEPARTMENT CONVENTION

FEATURES FEATURES

As we near the end of a long year I want to take this time to think everyone for the hard work that you have put in this year. We all know membership is a tough job and it takes everyone to make it happen. Without membership our programs will not happen. So I would like to see each of you to look at your neighbors, friends and family members. Future members of The American Legion family are out there we just need to ask.

HOOSIER HAPPENINGS HOOSIER HAPPENINGS

CONFERENCE INFORMATION CONFERENCE INFORMATION

The amount of cards a post receives is one for each member on your roster plus ten percent. This upcoming year we have requested an increase to twenty percent due to the amount of blank cards some post are using. So if you have preprinted cards that you do not use due to deaths, transfers or someone not renewing, you would have to recruit a new member to make up for these members.

tors from the commander. This number is then split between the eleven districts. Once this is done the district commanders split the goal to the posts within their district. So if your post goal is 150 and you only have 148 printed cards then you would have to recruit two members to reach your goal. ***

send it in. This will insure the information is complete in the database and the post information is printed in the directory.

DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS

*** I would like to take a moment and clear up some misconception some of you might have about your goal and the amount of cards you are issued. Some of you might think once you issued all of your cards you have reached your goal. This is not the case.

The goal now is set by your Department Commander and Department Membership Chairman based on National’s goal and other fac-

FALL CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE

Post commanders and adjutants, it’s that time of year where there are a few forms that have deadlines soon approaching. Please take a look at each and have them to the department before this date. These forms are what the department used to update our membership database.

The Post Officer Certification Form is one that we always seem to get in late. As your elections are completed please fill this form out and

*** Elsewhere in this issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire, you will find a fairly detailed description of the statewide smoking ban that was signed into laws in March by Governor Mitch Daniels. I encourage you to take a careful look at it, and understand the effects this legislation may have on your post – and particularly on your membership. Regardless of what decision your post makes on the issue of smoking, make no mistake. It will have an effect. If your post decides to prohibit all smoking in your post home, you most likely will lose members – among them,

Posts And Committees Keep DEC Busy with Resolutions

perhaps, members who have been stalwart, loyal and actively involved in the programs and activities of your post. You will most certainly lose some of your best club room customers -- those for whom the post is primarily a social center – to other private clubs and organizations where smoking is allowed.

If you choose to permit smoking, you will have an increasingly difficult time recruiting new members from among the youngest group of veterans. Research and study has shown them to be very unlikely to join a post where smoking is commonplace. In fact, the Department’s own focus group research finds smoking to be among the most commonly stated reason for younger veterans and their families to avoid Legion posts.

Ask Aubrey

This choice is not one to be taken lightly, and I can assure you that the Department of Indiana will continue to work with legislators to find a way to resolve this dilemma. There is no one segment of the veteran population that is more important than another, so the path out of this will be complex and require thoughtful consideration and perhaps statesmanlike compromise. Your ideas are welcome and encouraged. Let us know what you think or how you have handled the issue.

In closing I want to think everyone for their hospitality during my travels this year. Also a special thanks to the department staff for all the hard work they do each and every day. Let’s continue to work hard and get the department back on top.

CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

CONVENTION NEWS

CONFERENCE NEWS

The Department Executive Committee, in a busy regular session held immediately following the Joint Spring Conference April 15, considered and acted on resolutions submitted by posts and permanent committees of The American Legion.

CONFERENCE NEWS CONVENTION NEWS

DEPARTMENT IN ACTION IN ACTION

by the Department Finance Committee. The Resolution was approved on a motion recommended by the Resolutions Screening Committee.

arrange appropriate presentations. The Resolution originated in Post 22 and was approved on a motion recommended by the Resolutions Screening Committee.

Resolutions ranged from the routine – seeking the endorsement of candidates for future Department Office – to the complex. Those resolutions, along with their disposition, included:

Resolution 12SP-11 formally recognizes the Department’s post-level Americanism and Government Testing Program for 5th and 6th grade students as a part of the regular recognized program of the American Legion Department of Indiana beginning in November 2012. The resolution originated in the Americanism and Government Committee and was approved by the Children and Youth Commission. It was approved by the DEC on a motion recommended by the Resolution Screening Committee.

Resolution 12SP-10 authorizes The American Le-

You Don’t Like Mikey?

First District Commander Gail Galich joined Membership Chairman Bill Clark on the platform during the recently concluded Spring Conference where Chairman Clark pointed out to those in the audience that once again, Commander Galich would be taking Little Mikey home again following the membership turn-in at the conference. Only Little Mikey seemed amused.

gion to support alternatives to US Postal Service proposals to close distribution centers and lay off hundreds of employees, the majority of whom are veterans. The Resolution, which was approved on a motion recommended by the Resolutions Screening Committee, originated in the Department Employment Committee and was approved by the Rehabilitation Commission. It has been forwarded to the National Organization for consideration at the May National Executive Committee meetings.

In other action, the DEC received and recorded five additional resolutions endorsing Legionnaires for Department office, and tabled one. Those resolutions are:

Resolution 12SP-1, endorsing Dan Lee for Third District Commander.

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH

Resolution 12SP-9 authorizes the establishment of the Indiana Disaster Assistance Fund, which will provide mid-and long-term assistance to those who suffer catastrophic loss from natural and other disasters.

The Resolution originated in the Department Finance Committee in response to the overwhelming support of Legionnaires to a call for assistance to those communities devastated by the March 2012 tornadoes in Southern Indiana. The Fund will be administered by the Community Involvement Committee with financial oversight

Resolution 12SP-8 establishes a Men’s Auxiliary to accommodate the spouses of female veterans and other male non-veterans who are related to them. The Resolution originated in American Legion Post 161 in Mishawaka, and was approved on a motion that came without a recommendation from the Resolution Screening Committee. Resolution 12SP-8 has been forwarded to the National Organization for consideration at the May NEC meeting.

Resolution 12SP-7 endorses a plan by the District Commanders to assist with the distribution of Memorial Quilts manufactured by offenders incarcerated at the Department of Corrections Facility in . Under the plan, members of the Seventh District will collect the quilts and distribute them to the district commanders in whose districts the families of those killed in action reside. Those district commanders will

Booklet And Video Available To Train New Post Adjutants

Resolution 12SP-2, endorsing Kevin Hinton for Seventh District Commander

Resolution 12SP-3, endorsing Jere J. Riggs for Tenth District Commander.

Resolution 12SP-4, endorsing Bob Oeth for Department Commander. Because the resolution does not contain a date specific, the resolution was tabled to allow its sponsor to prepare an amendment, which the DEC expects to take up at its Fall session.

Resolution 12SP-5, endorsing Mike Comerford for Northern Vice Commander.

Resolution 12SP-6, endorsing Jerry D. Stevens for Department Sergeant-atArms.

One Hundred Percent Posts

All but one district of the Department’s eleven districts have at least one Post at the one hundred percent mark for the current membership year.

The Sixth District leads the pack with nine posts at goal as of April 1, the latest date on which a count was made. District 8 is a close second with eight posts at 100 percent, while overall, the Department has 54 posts at one hundred percent or higher.

The First District, temporary home to Little Mikey, the patron saint of last place finishers, brings up the rear with no posts at goal.

Here is district numeric order, at the posts that have attained their 2012 membership goal, so far:

Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Ask Aubrey is a question and answer column prepared by the Department Membership Staff. Here you will find reliable information to help you manage your own membership and that of your post. The questions are representative of those the office receives via the phone, email and USPS every day. Please send your questions to Aubrey Real c/o Department Headquarters, to areal@legion.org, or phone them in to (317) 630-1300. Don’t be surprised to see one of your questions here some day.

Dear Aubrey: I am a new Post Adjutant. Is there any type of manual or training for new Adjutants?

Quick Study

Dear Mr. Quick: Yes and yes. Department Headquarters has copies of a ‘Post Adjutant’s Manual’, as well as other publications for post officers if you need them. Department has also put together a Web-Based training video for new Adjutants/Membership Chairmen, and it can be accessed on our website at www.hoosierlegionnaire.org under Members, Weekly Reports and other forms, Membership Management. This is a highly informational video, and we encourage you to use this as a tool in helping you process and understand membership.

Dear Aubrey: I would like to transfer my membership to another post. How do I go about doing this?

On the Move

Dear On the Move: All you need to do is go the post you want to transfer to, and let them know that you would like to transfer in. They will ask to see your membership card, and possibly, your DD-214, depending on the Post. The post will fill out what is called a Member Data Form. You will sign the bottom, and the post will send the form in to Department Headquarters.

Dear Aubrey: I renewed online, but have not yet received my card. What should I do?

Thomas

Dear Thomas: Posts get a listing of their members that have renewed online about once a month. Only after receiving the listing are they notified of your payment. The posts have been instructed to mail your membership card upon receipt of these listings. You may, however, mail the post the “receipt” that you should

have printed off after your payment was confirmed.

Dear Aubrey:

Could you clarify how to determine the number of Delegates our post is able to claim?

William

Dear William:

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 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.

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.

Commander’s

CONFERENCE FALL CONFERENCE DEPARTMENT NEWS DEPARTMENT NEWS CONFERENCE INFORMATION INFORMATION

CONVENTION AWARDS CONVENTION AWARDS

Your Generosity Assures The Legacy Of Education Persists

As the 2011-2012 Legion year begins to wind down, it is tempting to relax, let up, and look back over what I consider to be a pretty good year. Of course, it isn’t over yet, and I certainly am not looking forward to the end of it. But the fact is, there is already much to be proud of, and I hope you will indulge me now as I let up on the accelerator just a bit.

CONVENTION NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONVENTION NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS

Mike Miller Department Commander

been managed to present up to three significant scholarships every year since it was founded without touching the principle.

the legacy of PDC Michalski persists. I am proud to have had a small role in this, and proud beyond words that so many of you responded to the call.

AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH AMERICANISM AND CHILDREN & YOUTH DEPARTMENT IN ACTION DEPARTMENT IN ACTION

One of the most significant achievements, of course, has been the way in which you all have responded to my special project. As you know, more than a decade ago my good friend and predecessor in the Commander’s office, John Michalski, had a vision. He saw the day when

the sons and daughters, the grandsons and granddaughters of The Legion Family had an opportunity similar to those we offer to so many other young people – the opportunity to further their education. With that in mind – and the conviction that not all higher education means college – PDC Michalski launched the American Legion Family Scholarship Program. It has been a great success, and has

From The Adjutant’s Desk

With your help we now can increase the value of these unrestricted-use scholarships for young people to attend technical schools, vocation schools, and colleges. Not the number of scholarships, but the dollar value.

Through your generosity, we collected $17,349 dollars for the ALFS – at the spring conference alone. This kind of generosity means that the fund is sound, that we will continue to encourage young Legion Family members with educational assistance, and that long into the future

As a matter of fact, the just-concluded Spring Conference was, if not a recordsetter in contributions, then at least near the top. Members of The American Legion Family contributed a total of $51,683.85 to a variety of Legion causes. Be sure to see the list of contributions included in the page 1 article on the conference for a complete breakdown.

Unexpected Challenges Make The Adjutant’s Job Interesting

One of the most interesting things about serving as a member of an American Legion staff is that there is never time to sit back and wait for the next big event. Most are planned, but enough come out of left field to keep us on our toes. The tornadoes that devastated parts of the Eighth and Ninth Districts last month are just the latest example. We have devoted an entire page (8) in this issue to the disaster and the Department of Indiana’s response to it. Reading the article, you will get a sense of how the Legion Family pulled together for those communities – not only for our fellow Legionnaires but also for their friends and neighbors. As you look at the photos, you will get an idea of the devastation the storms left in their wake.

What you may never read about is the way in which posts and Legionnaires in or near the stricken areas leaped into action to provide shelter, meals, organization centers, and first aid facilities to their neighbors. What you will likely never see is the flood of cash, goods, food, and emergency supplies that flowed into Department Headquarters from individuals, posts and district hundreds of miles away from the devastation. And what will never make its way into Department lore is the way in which our leadership -- from the Department Finance Committee to the DEC – encouraged and supported your efforts. It never occurred to any of them to ask for help, reimbursement,

National Perspective

It has been a busy March as Sharon and I have traveled the state during The American Legion birthday celebrations. What nice reception and hospitality was afforded us. In one of my speeches, I commented that even at 93 years old, our organization is alive and doing well. Even with declining membership, our members are active. Think about the number of activities that happen at the Post level. It seems as if every post is sponsoring some sort of children and youth activity through scholarship programs, school programs, and post involvement. At one district meeting I mentioned how the Legion was alive and well because of the efforts of those in attendance. Most chairmen/ women have activities going.

Hugh Dagley Department Adjutant

publicity, or thanks. They did what they did because what they did is what the Legion does. I continue to be honored and humbled to serve the kind of people you are -- generous, compassionate and unselfish. And I am glad that the staff and I had an opportunity to assist in this great undertaking. If you ever wanted for an answer to the question, “Why should I join the Legion,” you’ll never have a better one than this.

***

The Finance Committee approved some minor remodeling of the mail room and computer center at Department Headquarters. Within the next few weeks, Asst. Adjutant Dewayne Dunn, Activities Support Specialist Buzz Smith and I will be installing new base cabinets, countertops and wall cabinets to replace the antiquated and, frankly, unsafe storage and work surfaces.

The Department provides expensive and complex equipment for completing necessary tasks on your behalf, and it is no longer an acceptable risk to store or operate our machines on rickety World War II era tables and shelves.

The three of us will complete the installation the

weekend of May 19-20. We encourage you to inspect our handiwork the next time your are here.

***

We are putting the final touches on the new website. The majority of work has been completed, but we still have some fine-tuning to do on the home page, the newscrawl, and the Veterans Service and Rehabilitation section. I appreciate the positive reaction we have received from many of you concerning the new look and new functionality, and I hope you will find the site very helpful in managing your Legion affairs, informing potential new members, and assisting veterans in need.

***

During the District Commanders’ brief session at the start of the Spring Conference this year, one of the commitments I made to them is one that I would like to repeat to you. That is this: Your staff and I have committed to being in the office and on duty during all the hours we say we will be.

Too often, Legionnaires have made the trip to Department Headquarters only to find the doors locked and windows darkened – with still more hours to go in the announced schedule. Too often, Legionnaires have called with important questions only to find the phones unanswered and still more hours to go in the day. That is not what you expect from your staff, and that is not what you will receive.

Our commitment to you is that if we say we’re going

Auxiliary News

to be here, we’re going to be here.

I will not jeopardize the health and well-being of the staff in true emergencies, of course, but those are very few and far between. Decisions to close the building will not be taken lightly, and will be taken only in consultation with the Department Commander. Moreover, to the extent possible, plans for early closings, will be posted on line as soon as the decision is made. ***

During the Commander’s Party recently, and occasionally in previous convention and conference parties, it has been necessary for the Department Adjutant or Assistant Adjutant to ask some party-goers to moderate their behavior. Sometimes it is a matter of attire. Sometimes it involves violation of our hotel contract concerning carry-in drinks. And sometimes, it is a matter of behavior that is offensive to other folks.

We will continue to do that. I encourage all of you to be aware of the guests – the very young, the very prominent, and the very ordinary -- folks around you, and to behave as if your mother was watching. I encourage you to recognize the extraordinary courtesies the Marriott Hotel extends to us, and do all in your power to see that those courtesies remain long into the future. And I encourage you to check with your District Commander or any of the Department Officers ahead of time if you have any questions about your plans for the conferences.

Hoosiers’ Disaster Response A Source Of Pride For All

that our numbers are down again this year. This is true despite the hard work and determination of our Membership Chairman and the 11 District Commanders who have been out nearly every weekend shaking the bushes for members. This time of year, however, is time for a change in strategy. Now is the time for all of us to contact directly and personally every member who has not yet renewed.

Why is that so important?

It is important not only because you will very likely

Chaplain’s Corner

pick up many more renewals, but also because you will learn of the personal circumstances of some of our comrades – circumstances that may be preventing him or her from renewal. It could be a matter of health, or limited income, or a sense of not being wanted or welcome in the post any more. A visit from you can alleviate every one of those possibilities. The benefit to the member will outweigh the benefit to the Legion, I can assure you. But both will be better off for the effort.

Spiritual Season Serves As Reminder Of Divine Intervention

At this writing I am as close to reliving the military as I can. Lisa and I are living with our Marine daughter in Okinawa, Japan to assist her and her newborn son while her husband serves with the Marines in Afghanistan. Our eldest son lives here and is a contractor with the Marines.

So we are enjoying time with our grandchildren – most recently, our eldest grandson’s fourth birthday.

Daily we are immersed in the military world by shopping in the PX at Camp Foster, the BX at Kadena and the commissaries. The family’s medical care is at the Naval Hospital at Camp Lester. We have been banking at Navy Federal on Futenma. We drove through the Army’s Tori Station to visit an old WWII bunker. We are constantly meeting with military personnel from privates to colonels and military contractors along with their families. We are learning about the positive and negative side of today’s military life. We are also seeing the courage, strength and sacrifice that they are making to serve our country.

It is fascinating to be immersed in another culture and to see the world from the left side of the road, using different language, currency, customs and food. We are enjoying seeing historic sites from old battlefields of WWII while reading and listening to audio books about the significant battles that took place here. Okinawa has been strategically important to the United States from WWII to the present.

SAL News

Darrell Hansel NEC

Along with the Department’s every day efforts, there are special procedures being implemented at the state level to enhance VA claims processing. I had a conversation in February with National Commander Fang Wong, about national policies. I can assure you that the National Organization is working hard for you and for veterans.

Check out the rest of this publication, check out the Dispatch, check out your Legion Magazine, and check out your local and district activities and it will prove my point that The American Legion is alive and well.

Happy Spring everyone. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of Indiana’s response to the tornados Indiana suffered last month. The Legion family’s response was fantastic. Thank you.

Disasters put life into perspective. Our prayers and thoughts are with all the ones whot suffered damage and injuries not only in Indiana, but more recently in Texas. It is times like that which remind us why we are part of the Legion family: service to our veterans and community.

Membership is mostly going great, but there is always room for improvement. We are the largest veterans’ organization in the world and we need to continue growing. With so many new potential members, we need to contact them and let them know we are here, what all we do, and that we are here for them. We are here to help. Go get them!

Billie Bubala Auxiliary President

It has been a year of changes, all interesting. Again, thanks for all the cards and prayers I received after my stroke. The worst part is the field cut to my vision. That really restricts driving. But, life is about changes and I definitely had to make some changes.

I hope I got to see most of you at Spring Conference, but if I missed you, I will be doing a lot of running around for the next couple of months. Thank goodness for my Sergeants-at-Arms, I don’t know what I would do without Mary and Brenda.

Hope to see you soon. Billie.

Norris Keirn Department Chaplain

We are visiting historical battle sights placing visual landscape and ruins with historical data. It always leaves a profound impact to see firsthand where the battles for freedom took place and to learn of the high cost of human lives along with the heroic actions that took place. Our historic relationship with Japan since the war bears witness to how peace can come out of great adversity. I find a biblical fulfillment from Isaiah’s prophecy of turning spears into pruning hooks and swords into plowshares.

We stay in constant awareness of the hostilities in our world with our son-in-law’s communications from Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan and our eldest son’s close friend and co-worker who is preparing to go to Camp Leatherneck for six months within a couple of weeks. We are around men and women who have recently served or are preparing to serve. North Korea threatens to shoot a nuclear capable missile, which will pass over Okinawa. Sometimes peace is held together by only thin threads.

Once again in this season of the year we celebrate the major religious festivals

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Membership On Track For New All-Time High

It is again my privilege to bring greetings to all the members of The American Legion Family on behalf of Detachment of Indiana. As we near the end of the Legion/SAL year for 2011-2012, we can look back with great pride on our many successes.

On the membership front we are on track for a new all time high. But as Department Commander Mike Miller likes to remind, us the year is not over yet. We still have time to get that member who has not renewed his membership. Now is not the time to stop working. Now is the time to make the big push if some one has not paid his dues; call him or go to his door, See him. Let him know what his membership dues do.

I am very proud of all the members of the Detachment of Indiana who help with the National Oratorical Contest. More than thirty hard work-

David Hanson SAL Detachment Commander

ing members were downtown the morning of Spring Conference. We have been involved with the Oratorical Contest almost twenty years on the Detachment level. What a great time it has been.

Also thank you to all who have donated to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. Indiana’s Sons have stood tall over the years and answered challenge after challenge in support of CWF and this year is no different. Also we have raised over $4,500 for my Commander’s project, the Indiana National

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Hoosier Legionnaire