2022 Jan News
In this issue:
|
|
This year the National Commander’s Project is Flying Flags for Heroes. The goal of this project is to place 1 million flags to honor our Nation’s deceased veterans. You can read more about the project at www.flyingflagsforheroes.com.
Many Posts/Units/Squadrons already place flags at the gravestones of veterans in local cemeteries for Memorial Day, July 4th, and/or Veterans Day. Those activities will count towards the 1 million goal. Please record the number of flags placed on the website noted above so they can be included in the 1 Million Goal.
There are also Post/Units/Squadron which may not be placing flags at the gravestones of local veterans for Memorial Day, July 4th or Veterans Day. Please consider taking up this activity, the web site provides suggestions on how to start the effort. And then record your efforts on the website.
Finally, placing of the flags does not only have to occur at Memorial Day, July 4th, or Veterans Day. There are many possible reasons to have a ceremony, and there are many other organizations to help with this effort (local military units, Scouts, Fire/Police Departments).
Lets help our communities remember our deceased hero’s by participating in this Project.
|
|
Vets Roll - Detachment Commander’s Project
|
|
Most people have heard about Honor Flights, which allow veterans to visit Washington DC to visit the war memorials. But what about those vets who have significant anxiety about flying? Or possibly they are not able to fly to see these memorials?
That is where Vets Roll is filling an important void and need.
Vets Roll is a non-profit organization which provides veterans the opportunity to visit and experience their memorials and help with any closure which is needed. While longer in trip duration, Vets Roll uses coach buses which offer the flexibility of socializing, moving around, plays cards/board games, restrooms, and more during the trip. Trips are planned so any single leg is no more than three hours to allow time to walk out side and stretch the legs.
Please consider giving to Vets Roll this year, as part of Commander David’s Special Project. To make a donation, visit www.wisal.org. Under “Resources”, “Forms, Manuals, Awards, Links” you can find a Donation Form. Fill out this form, note this is for “Detachment Commander’s Project” and mail the form/donation per the form.
|
|
Online Membership Renewals coming - need updated Squadron Information
|
|
|
Plans are being made to allow members to renew their dues online this fall at www.myLegion.org. But for this to be successful and beneficial to a squadron the following two pieces of information need to be provided by each Squadron:
- Current Squadron Officer Information
- Current Squadron Dues.
Current Squadron Dues is vitally important!
The amount to report is the TOTAL amount collected per member: National ($5) + State ($7) + what the Squadron keeps.
So if your Squadron dues is $20.00, show it as $20.00 so your Squadron will receive back $8.00 per member.
If we do not have your dues, when your members renew online the system will only collect $12.00. Your Squadron will be out the extra you charge, or you will have to separately contact your members to collect the difference.
All this information can be provided to Detachment Headquarters via an on-line form. Go to “www.wisal.org”, hover over “Resources” to show the drop down menu, select “Squadron Information Form”. Fill out that form and submit. Thank you in advance for updating this important information.
|
|
State Convention - Green Bay
|
|
|
This year the Wisconsin State Convention will be held July 15-17th at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center in Green Bay, Wi. All members of the Wisconsin Sons of The American Legion are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
During the Convention we will:
- Have plenty of time for fellowship and socializing (Thursday Night informal socials, Friday Night Hospitality Rooms, Sat Night Banquet)
- Recognized some of the great accomplishments which Squadrons and Individuals have achieved (see Adjutant Corner for a little more information on the awards which are presented)
- Be a gracious host to our current National Commander, Michael Fox, who is planning to attend
- Conduct quarterly Committee Meetings
- Elect new Detachment State Officers
- Conduct a Detachment Executive Committee Meeting
Each squadron will be receiving more information this spring, including sending it a list of Squadron Delegates for the Convention. Please do all you can to have your squadron represented at this year’s State Convention!!
|
|
Upcoming Squadron Activities
|
|
|
- Operation Homeless Veterans—Post 294 Hartland, Feb 11th/12th, 2022
- State Oratorical Contest—Ripon College, Feb 12th 2022
- Valentine’s Day Dance w/ Eric Diamond—Post 375 Mukwonago, Feb 12th 2022
- St. Patricks Day Meal/Festivities—Post 434 Oak Creek, March 17th 2022
- Homeless Veterans Program—Post 209 Ordfordville, March 18th-20th
- Soup Suppers—2nd Thursday of each month, Oct thru April, 4-7 pm, Cazenovia 491
- Eucher/Sheepshead Tournament, 2nd Sunday of each month, Oct thru April, 1:30 pm Start, Cazenovia 491
Contact Allen Watry (awatry@mindspring.com) if you would like to include any upcoming Post/Squadron Activities to this list.
|
|
Commander's & Adjutant's Corner
|
|
|
- Continue to recruit and renew any members who have not yet renewed for 2022. Remember there are many programs/opportunities which are only available to current members. If a person has not yet renewed they are no longer a current member and may no longer be eligible for those programs/opportunities. These includes being a member of the Legion Riders and may of the Discounts/Insurance opportunities which are available to Legion Family members.
- There are many Legion Sponsored awards for our Local Heros. These include Fire Fighter of the year, Law Enforcement of the Year, First Responder of the Year, and Eagle Scout of the year. Please work with your Posts to nominate someone from your communities for these awards.
- Remind local high school students of the scholarship opportunities which are available through the American Legion. These opportunities include scholarships from your local Post/Squadron/Units, Americanism & Government Scholarship Testing program, Eagle Scout of the Year, and many more. Again please work with your Post to ensure the youth in your area are aware of these opportunities and applying.
- Spring is typically the time each Squadron should be holding elections. Please ensure you are updating your list of Officers and other Squadron Information this spring after elections have occurred and officers have been installed. See www.wisal.org, under “Resources”, “Forms Manuals Awards Link” for the online form.
- It is never too early to start to think about Squadron Consolidated Reports, which will be due May 31st. Make sure your squadron is reporting all the great activities you are doing. The Squadron Consolidation Reports is one of the key pieces of information to determine the Squadron Awards being handed out at our State Convention. The list is at www.wisal.org, “Resources”, “Forms Manuals Awards Links”
- There are also several individual awards which are presented at our State Convention. They are listed, along with links to the form to submit nominations, at the same location as the Squadron Awards List.
|
|
National Convention - Milwaukee
|
|
Just over a month after our State Convention, the Detachment of Wisconsin will have the honor of being the Host Detachment for the 2022 National Convention. The goals/activities of the National Convention are very similar to a State Convention.
There will be:
- Fellowship and socializing including the 50th Convention Banquet Saturday Night, Sunday afternoon Legion Family Gathering at the Veterans Park, and multiple nights of Hospitality Suites.
- Recognition of the great accomplishments which Detachments, Squadrons and Individuals have achieved.
- Conduct Quarterly Committee Meetings
- Elect new National Officers
- Conduct a National Executive Committee Meeting
We hope many of you are able to attend this Convention. More information will be provided as we get closer to the Convention.
|
|
- 2022 Spring Detachment DEC – April 23rd @ State Headquarters (Portage, Wi)
- 2022 State Convention— July 15th-17th @ Green Bay, Wi
- 2022 National Convention— Aug 26th and 27th @ Milwaukee, Wi
- 2022 Celebration of Freedom—Sept 23rd and 24th @ Portage, Wi
- 2022 Fall Detachment DEC—October 22nd @ State Headquarters (Portage, Wi)
** Attendance to National Conventions need to be to be coordinated through Detachment Adjutant David Faust
|
|
2021 - 2022 Detachment Officers & Contacts
|
|
Detachment Officers have multiple responsibilities, the most responsibilities involve supporting Squadrons in any way they can.
Whether this is helping fill out a Consolidate Squadron Report, updating the Squadron Information (officers and general information), learning how to utilize mySAL.org, general training, helping promote an upcoming Squadron event, working on membership, or any other needs a Squadron has we are here to help. Officer info can be found at www.wisal.org/leadership
Please do not hesitate to reach one of us with any needs you and/or your Squadron has.
Also, please forward any feeback or suggestions for future newsletter items to Allen Watry.
|
|
National Sons of The American Legion Web Site — www.legion.org/sons
Wisconsin Sons of The American Legion Web Site — www.wisal.org
National Legion Web Site — www.legion.org
State Legion Web Site — www.wilegion.org
Emblem Sales — www.emblem.legion.org
Member Data Processing — www.mylegion.org
|
|
|
|
