Winter 2023
In this issue:
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Legion Family
“Be the One”
Campaign
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It is the morning of Sunday January 22nd. I happened to turn on the morning news while enjoying my morning coffee, the news was all about two mass shooting which occurred overnight. And two more have happened between then and the printing of this newsletter. We, as a country continue to hurt and struggle to find the help we need. That is what the “Be the One” Campaign is all about. American Legion National Commander Troiola recently wrote the following about the Campaign:
- “As the nation’s largest veteran service organization, the American Legion Family has the ability to create positive change in the lives of veterans, servicemembers, their families, and our nation’s children and youth.
- The American Legion’s Be the One campaign has the potential to not only change lives, but save lives. This initiative aims to provide education and resources so that anyone—veteran, servicemember, or civilian—can take the appropriate action to intervene when a fellow community member’s life my be at risk.”
This program helps us prepare to help the people we interact with every day. Be the One is NOT a request to do anything extraordinary. It is a call to be aware of your surroundings, lend an ear/hand to those hurting in our community, and help them find the help they need.
See the Legion National Website to find more about the “Be the One Campaign and all the resources which are available to help you help the people in our community. Go to www.betheone.org.
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Homeless Veteran Fundraisers
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Last year two Squadrons held a Homeless Vet weekend Fund Raiser, 294 Hartland and 209 Orfordville. Both were very successful and received National Recognition. This year Squadrons 294 Hartland, 209 Orfordville, and 522 Hubertus are planning events (see upcoming events farther down for dates).
This is a great program, developed in Wisconsin, which we are hoping will expand to more locations/Squadrons. Please consider attending one of these events to see what they all about. You can also contact a Detachment Officer for more information on the event and how to plan your own event.
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2022 was a busy year for the A.L.F. program. A couple highlights include:
- A.L.F. was at multiple deployments around the state in 2022, helping the children of deploying soldiers cope with their parent being away for an extended period of time.
- A.L.F. was a front page story in a one of the “SAL Round Up” editions. This is a weekly national SAL Electronic Newsletter, great recognition for this great program.
- Several other Detachments are showing interest in adopting the program.
All indications are 2023 will be another busy year for this program; please consider
supporting this program.
- If you are aware of an upcoming deployment, contact one of the Detachment Officers and we will work with your squadron to try to have ALF at that deployment.
- Consider holding a fund raiser to help support this program so the ALF dogs can continue to be provided free of charge at every deployment.
See www.wisal.org/alf for more about the program
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New Sons of The American Legion Brand Mark
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2022 was a busy year for the A.L.F. program. A couple highlights include:
You may have noticed the new Brand Mark for the Sons of The American Legion. The following is the background on this new Brand Mark
- Purpose: The Sons of The American Legion brand mark was created to address the need to modernize the Sons of The American Legion brand to appeal to the next generation. Moreover, the new brand mark takes into consideration a host of applications that the original emblem could never have anticipated. Those include: digital and social Media, special event and sports marketing, lifestyle apparel, and more.
- Brand Mark versus Emblem: Going forward the brand mark can be used in marketing communication applications, while the emblem should be reserved for official documents and communications.
More about the proper use of the Brand Mark and Emblem can be found on our National
web site www.legion.org/brand/sons
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There are many new squadrons charted during the 2022/2023 membership campaign:
- 293 Silver Lake
- 145 Random Lake
- 215 Pardeville
- 240 Baldwin
- 291 Augusta
- 12 Spooner
- 521 Fox Lake
- 55 Hortonville
- 432 Hammond
Thank you to everyone who was instrumental in chartering these Squadrons. Please contact a Detachment officer if you know of a Post starting to start a squadron.
Lets keep growing by adding more squadrons!!!
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2023 Mid-Winter Training & DEC—Green Bay
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The Detachment would like to say “Thank You” to everyone who attending the Mid-Winter Conference in Green Bay the weekend of January 13th. We are always looking for feedback on what went well, what did not go well, and what else would
you like to see included in the next Mid-Winter.
Our next big event will be the 2023 Summer Convention the weekend of July 21st in Wausau, Wi. Be on the lookout for more information about the 2023 Summer Convention in the coming months, including a mailing for Submitting Squadron Delegates and Convention Registration Information. We hope to see you there!!!!
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Commander's & Adjutant's Corner
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A couple notes for the Commanders and Adjutants in each Squadron:
- Remember to continue to submit memberships is a timely manner.
- Squadron members can now renew online themselves online. First the members needs to register at www.myLegion.org to create their personal account. Once completed they can renew online through a Credit Card Payment. More information will be sent out in future communications.
- Remember to submit an Squadron/Officer Information form after elections are completed at your Squadron. This information is important for Communications as well as myLegion.org functions.
- It never too early to start to start to work on your Consolidated Squadron Report (CSR). These will be due in May, every Squadron is required to submit a CSR. See
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Homeless Veterans/Veterans in Distress Fundraiser—Hartland—Feb 10-12
State Oratorical Competition—Ripon—Feb 11th
Homeless Veterans/Veterans in Distress Fundraiser—Hubertus— March 4th-5th
Chili Cook Off—Milwaukee 537—March 12th
St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef/Cabbage dinner—Oak Creek— March 17th
Homeless Veterans/Veterans in Distress Fundraiser —Orfordville— March 25th
Spring DEC Meeting—Portage— April 22nd
Check out the Events Calendar on www.wisal.org for additional upcoming events!!!
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2022 - 2023 Detachment Officers & Contacts
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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.
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National Sons of The American Legion Web Site— www.legion.org/sons
Wisconsin Sons of The American Legion Web Site—www.wisal.org
Members Data and Membership Processing— www.mylegion.org
National Legion Web Site—www.legion.org
State Legion Web Site—www.wilegion.org
Emblem Sales—www.emblem.legion.org
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