Column: If you want it done, give it to a Son

By Shawn Davis
Sons of The American Legion members John Weiss, Gary Richardson, Chuck Stone, Dave Arend Jr., Leroy Gonzalez and Matt Verkuilen stand with membership certificates at the Pearl Harbor Rally in December.

If April showers bring May flowers, then what does March bring?

A lot.

March brings the need for squadrons to start preparing for a lot of reporting. Squadron Data Reports are required to be filled by Tax Day, April 15. The form is simple but it impacts a lot about membership. The membership amounts due for the squadron. The means of contacting the squadron if a member (or prospective member) has a question. The ability of members to renew online. The ability to find you online.

Important stuff especially for our prospective or newer members. Just a reminder that if you have tiered membership rates (separate rates for youth, dual members and past commanders) those will have to be managed at the squadron level and not through national.

March also brings our yearly Spring Conference. This year it will be at Forest Lake American Legion Post 225, sponsored by SAL Squadron 225. This will be on Friday, March 15 (Finance and Executive Board meetings) and Saturday, March 16 for general membership. Registration cost is $20 and includes lunch.

There will be a Child Welfare Foundation auction, and Joseph Navarette of New Mexico, the leading candidate for SAL national commander 2024-2025 will be our special guest. It is a lot of fun, and we look forward to seeing you there.

We also continue to support the “Be the One” program of the American Legion. Every month we should be helping the rest of the American Legion Family to destigmatize asking for mental health support, provide peer-to-peer support and resources, and educate everyone on how they can “Be the One.” There is a focus on this on the first of every month to raise awareness of this program. But in March we also celebrate The American Legion’s birthday on March 15. This is another great opportunity to get “Be the One” out into your community.

As we work our way through March, look forward to the additional work that is coming. Start to prepare your squadron for the upcoming squadron elections. Begin to complete the Consolidated Squadron Reports, which will be due in June.

There is so much more to do. We will get it done.

So, remember a phrase heard throughout this organization, if you want to get it done, give it to a Son. And do just that, get it done.