Badger
“For God & Country”
&“Wisconsin”
aire
October 20, 2016 Vol. 93, No. 9
Official Publications of The Wisconsin American Legion Family
www.wilegion.org
The mission of The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin is to provide service to veterans, their families and their communities.
National Commander Charles Schmidt to Tour Northern Wisconsin in October National Vice Commander to Visit Milwaukee and Fox River Valley in November
National Commander Charles E. Schmidt of Oregon is scheduled to arrive in Eau Claire on the evening of Sunday, October 23rd to begin a tour of Northern Wisconsin that will end with his departure from Appleton on Wednesday, October 26th. Commander Schmidt, who served in the US Air Force from 1965 to 1993, is slated to join Department Commander Daniel Seehafer on a tour of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls on Monday, October 24th. His travel itinerary includes visits to Eau Claire, Wausau, Shawano, Green Bay and Appleton. Department Commander Seehafer and National Executive Committeeman Ken Rynes will accompany him. The tour corresponds with Membership outreach efforts by the 8th, 9th and 10th Districts. Membership renewal and recruiting events are scheduled for
1PM on Sunday, October 23rd at Bracket Post No. 550; Monday, October 24th at Eau Claire Post No. 53 and at Wausau Post No. 10 from 10AM to 4PM ; Tuesday, October 25th at Wausau Post No. 10, Marshfield Post No. 54, Shawano Post No. 117 and Green Bay Post No. 11 from 10AM to 4PM; and on Wednesday, October 26th at Appleton Post No 38 from 10AM to 4PM. Department Vice Commanders Frank Kostka and Laurel Clewell will lead the membership efforts along with Department Membership Chair Darla Porter of Wausau Post No. 11 and 9th District Commander Clarence Davister. National Vice Commander Paul Martel of Florida will visit Wisconsin and will be the Guest of Honor at Oak Creek Post No. 434 for a Fish Fry at 6PM on Friday, November 4th. He will join Commander Dan Seehafer
and Alternate National Executive Committeeman Bob Shappell at the Milwaukee Veterans Day Parade the following day. A member of American Legion Post No. 120 in Holly Hill, Florida, Martel served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army as a UH-1 helicopter crew chief in a Medivac unit. He has held various positions at every level of The American Legion, including Department of Florida commander. At the National level he served as a member of the National Security Commission and National Legislative Council. Vice Commander Martel also was National sergeant-at-arms in 2009-2010. His tour coincides with Membership outreach efforts by the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th Districts. Sunday, November 6th will be a busy day in Milwaukee County with HA Todd Post No. 537 hosting a Pancake breakfast
from 8AM to 12 Noon at the post located at 9159 W Beloit Rd in Milwaukee. Membership renewal and recruiting events will take place that day at North Shore Post No. 331 of the 5th District and Greendale Post No. 416 of the 4th District from 12 Noon to 4PM. The 2nd and 6th Districts will work membership in Sheboygan and Manitowoc Counties on Monday, November 7th and Tuesday, November 8th from Post No. 243 in Plymouth during the hours of 10AM to 4PM. Fond du Lac Post No. 75 will conduct a Membership outreach on Tuesday, November 8th from 10AM to 4PM at the post located at 500 Fond du Lac Avenue. Vice Commander Martel’s tour will culminate in the 9th District at Appleton Post No. 38 on Tuesday, November 8th with Membership outreach from 10AM to 4PM.
Legionnaire Charles Schmidt of Oregon was installed as the 2016-17 National Commander on Thursday, September 1st at the close of the 98th Annual National Convention in Cincinnati. Commander Schmidt will be travelling in late October and visiting Eau Claire, Wausau, Green Bay and other locations in north central Wisconsin to work with members of The American Legion family.
Membership Resource Center and Wisconsin Legion College to Highlight Midwinter Color Guard Training Returns with Funeral Honors Program
The 2017 Midwinter Conference will feature exciting new training and exhibits along with special guests. Highlighting the event will be a Membership Resource Center designed to provide effective tools to Posts and new Wisconsin American Legion College courses. The Conference will once again be held at the Ho-Chunk Hotel, Casino and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells, running from Thursday, January 19th through Sunday, January 22nd. Register and reserve your hotel room now online at www.wilegion.org.
The Membership Resource Center will provide attendees with actual lists of prospective members in your local area along with mailing labels, post cards and telephone scripts that can be used in outreach efforts at the local level. Department Commander Dan Seehafer is encouraging all Legionnaires to “make it personal” and reach out to veterans in our local neighborhoods and encourage them to join a local post. Qualified veterans are reminded that, even if they do not become “active” members in the post, they can support all 4 Pillars of The American Legion by joining a local post
and renewing their membership. Recruiters can once again cash in at Midwinter. Legion members who sign up a new member, or renew any former member who has not paid for 2 years (since 2014) can qualify to win $1,000 at the Conference. Simply sign up a new member, or renew any former member and enter you name through Department headquarters. The drawing will take place on Saturday at the Ho-Chunk Hotel, Casino and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells. There is no limit to the number of times an individual can qualify – recruiters get one chance for every new
member they recruit. Contact Chris Schmidt at (608) 745-1090 or chris@wilegion.org. Please mark your calendars and save the dates of January 19 through January 22, 2017. Bring your family and enjoy the indoor water parks, attractions and many activities offered in the Wisconsin Dells. Register and reserve your hotel room now online at www.wilegion.org and watch for more details in the next edition of the Badger Legionnaire.
National Vice Commander Paul Martel of Florida was also installed in office on Thursday, September 1st at the National Convention in Cincinnati. Vice Commander Martel will visit Milwaukee, Plymouth, Fond du Lac and Appleton in early November to assist in Membership outreach efforts.
2017 Membership Goal: 56,739 • Oct 13th Total: 39,067 – 68.85% District
6
70.16% 1st PLACE
District
11
69.14% 2nd PLACE
District
9
68.86% 3rd PLACE
District
3
District
2
68.17%
67.89%
4th PLACE
5th PLACE
District
10
65.97% 6th PLACE
District
8
District
12
65.54%
64.83%
7th PLACE
8th PLACE
District
7
63.08% 9th PLACE
District
4
62.76%
District
1
61.93%
District
5
57.63%
10th PLACE 11th PLACE 12th PLACE