News and notes from the Fall Conference
ST. CLOUD — At the DEC meeting, candidates had the opportunity to announce. The 2025 candidates so far are:
- Bill Barbknecht, two-year term as National Executive Committeeman.
- Peggy Moon, two-year term as alternate NECman.
- Linda Dvorak, one-year term as commander.
- Steve NaSalle, one-year term as vice commander for districts 6 and 9.
- Karen Welander, one-year term as vice commander for districts 2 and 7.
Finance Committee
The total department budget for 2024-25 was set at $1,314,260, with a projected income of $1,263,220 and a deficit of $50.40. The committee voted to leave the deficit in place because not all of the committees spend their entire budgets.
Plus, other sources of income, such as sponsorships, may come in, said Carl Hendrickson, who gave the Finance Committee report.
The department’s investment portfolio, he said, stands at $3,015,996.
Legionville
Legionville President Carl Moon reported that it has been operating at a deficit between $45,000 and $50,000 for the last two years. The budget projection for 2024-25 is $48,350. As of Sept. 30, its operating balance was $89,845. The board voted to take $50,000 from the operating balance to balance the budget.
There will be six weeklong sessions of summer camp beginning June 15 and running through Aug. 1, with the possibility of expanding to Aug. 8 if necessary.
Other upcoming events are Work & Play Weekend May 15-18, Junior Fun Weekend Aug. 8-10, Camporee Sept. 4-7, Romp Sept. 11-14, Zgoda Deer Hunt Sept. 30-Oct. 5, and a new SAL Turkey Hunt two days prior to the deer hunt.
Foundation
The Minnesota American Legion Foundation has a net worth of $1,848,540, said Foundation Board President Lloyd Ricker.
The foundation made $60,000 from interest and investments, and it distributed the money among its programs: $1,000 to Minnesota American Legion Baseball, $1,000 to the Fund for Hospitalized Veterans, $200 to the John Zgoda Memorial Deer Hunt, $1,000 to the Scouts Scholarships, $1,000 to Minnesota American Legion Fastpitch Softball, $700 to ROTC Scholarship, $1,500 to the Pheasant Dinner, $1,500 to Nurses Scholarship, $500 to Oratorical Scholarship, $1,000 to Memorial Scholarship, $2,000 to Minnesota Boys State, $800 to Minnesota Disaster Relief, $1,000 to Scout Council Assistance, $6,000 to Minnesota Veterans Assistance Fund, $1,000 to the Disabled Veterans Outdoor Fund and $500 to Junior Shooting Sports.
The foundation underwrites the Oratorical Contest for $2,000, Ricker added.
He said the foundation gave $4,000 for a huge umbrella at the new Montevideo Veterans Home to replace little umbrellas the wind blew away. It also donated $4,000 for a big umbrella at the Bemidji Veterans Home to replace the little ones. To even things out, the foundation gave $4,000 to the Preston Veterans Home for miscellaneous needs.
Ricker said the foundation received a request from Montevideo. The architects and engineers put in tables that won’t go up for wheelchairs. The foundation purchased four tables that will go up and down for the recreation area and dining.
Minnesota Veterans Assistance Fund
Better known as Minnesota American Legion Foundation Fund 85, the MVAF gave out $142,549 in assistance to Minnesota veterans in the past fiscal year, Ricker said.
Adjutant Mike Maxa added that around 53 veterans were helped.
The program has given more than $380,000 in aid to Minnesota veterans since its inception in fall 2021, Maxa said.
Assistant Department Service Officer Janet Lorenzo said the application is found at the department website (mnlegion.org) under “Veteran Services.” She said all required documents must be sent in to be approved.
“A lot of people worked hard to raise this money,” she said. “We need to be guardians of this fund.”
Posts that donate to Fund 85 can count it as Code A2 under the Gambling Control Board’s codes for lawful purpose expenditures. A2 is for offsetting the effects of poverty, homelessness or disability.
Membership
Minnesota sits in fifth place nationally, said Membership Director Carla Tappainer. She wore waders because she was “fishin’ for veterans.” She noted Commander Moon’s pin is fishing, too.
She said districts at 75 percent by the Pearl Harbor Rally Dec. 7 will get the Crappie Award. If they are lower, they get the Carp Award.
Tappainer has a bet with the Wisconsin membership director: Whoever is behind by the Dec. 29 Vikings-Packers game has to come to the other’s convention and tell them how wonderful the other state is.
Chaplain Kelley Adelsman said a reason to belong to The American Legion is it is the only organization that was able to unite north and south. She said many had tried and failed in the decades after the Civil War. It wasn’t until The American Legion came along in 1919 that the country came together behind support for veterans who had fought in World War I.
PUFL credits
Letters will go out in mid-November to post membership directors regarding credits posts receive for PUFL members.
“Posts that exclusively process membership online will be provided a form to complete to request a check to pay out their credit balance,” said Membership Coordinator Misty Padilla. “Those that mail in transmittals will be able to deduct their credit from the transmittal total.”
She encouraged membership directors to watch the mail for the letters.
Grouper
It was announced there is a social fitness platform called Grouper aiming to enhance mental and physical health among veterans. It will pay people who enroll $50, which can be used to cover American Legion memberships, by staying active and socializing with friends.
Grouper has partnered with The American Legion. Members can enroll at hellogrouper.com/al.
“The whole purpose is to get members out and about,” said Commander Carl Moon.
Blood drive
The chairman of the Blood Committee, Terry Larson of Forest Lake Post 225, organized a blood drive for the Thursday afternoon when people arrived for the conference. The drive had a goal of 25 units. Thirty-one people donated for a total of 29 units.
He said the Blood Committee intends to make the Thursday afternoon blood drive a regular feature of the Fall Conference.
Minnesota Boys State
The program in 2024 had 159 delegates and 34 staff. Giving the report was Joe Bares of Jordan Post 3. He said the program continues to recover from reduced attendance during the pandemic, which is in line with other Boys State programs across the nation.
The programs’ board is looking at building additional time for camaraderie among delegates and other ways to improve Boys State.
Charter turn-ins
The DEC accepted the charter turn-ins for Gilbert Post 138 and Euclid Post 539.
Board of Publications
The DEC appointed Steve Fosness, commander of Fairmont Post 36, to fill a vacant spot on the Board of Publications, which oversees The Minnesota Legionnaire.
Leading candidate
Dan Wiley is a district court judge in Kansas who, on the side, raises Angus cattle. He is an Air Force veteran, a member of Leavenworth, Kan., Post 23, a member of Oskaloosa, Kan., Squadron 36 and the leading candidate for American Legion national commander.
He is a past Department of Kansas commander and currently the NECman from Kansas. He has served in several roles at the post, district, department and national levels.
His wife, Sonia, and their children, Austin and Christy, are all members of the Legion Family.
Wiley said it is important for candidates to make visits and learn from Legionnaires across the country. He encouraged commanders of all levels to tour their area.
“Be the leader that communicates. It elevates the people around them, which elevates the post, the district, the department,” Wiley said. “You cannot put out enough information for people who crave knowledge.”
He encouraged members to be aware of veterans in crisis. Be the one to prevent suicides.
“People say we’re not going to save everybody. True. We are not going to save everybody. But we are going to save somebody, and that somebody is worth saving,” Wiley said.
The American Legion is the leading voice for veterans in Congress. He said no bill on veterans gets passed without the support of the Legion. He encouraged people to go to legion.org/action and tell their senators and representatives how they feel on veterans issues.
The next national commander election is in late August at the 106th National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
SAL national vice commander
Sons of The American Legion National Vice Commander Mike Monserud of Iowa was impressed that the SAL Detachment of Minnesota holds an annual disabled veterans deer hunt.
He pointed his time at the podium toward the Be the One campaign. He said the Legion and Columbia University have partnered to provide online training for veteran suicide prevention. Search for “Be the One training,” and the first result should pop up.
Legionnaire of the Year, Rider of the Year
Each year, the SAL Detachment of Minnesota awards a Legionnaire of the Year and a Rider of the Year.
Tenth District Commander Kristy Janigo of Osseo-Maple Grove Post 172 was announced as Legionnaire of the Year. She is the chairwoman of the Department Legislative Committee.
Ted Berg of Springfield Post 257 was named the Rider of the Year. He is the immediate past director of the Minnesota American Legion Riders and presently serves as road captain.
Minnesota Legion College
The Training Committee’s Paul Edwards encouraged members to send new Legionnaires and potential officers to Minnesota American Legion College. The next session is at Camp Ripley April 24-27. The deadline to register is April 1.
Participants must first take American Legion Basic Training for free at legion.org/alei.
Visit mnlegion.org/legion-college/ to apply for Minnesota Legion College.
Edwards said the Training Committee also can come to posts to give instructions about Legion matters. His email is pdedwards@charter.net.
