Department Convention debates where resolutions should come from

By Tim Engstrom
Department Judge Advocate Greg Colby said on Thursday, July 11, that it is good to debate rules, because it is healthy for the organization to study its own bylaws and procedures.

WILLMAR — The 105th American Legion Department of Minnesota Convention dealt with a process issue on its opening day, July 11.

In the end, the convention system worked itself out.

Citing how one of the resolutions this year alters a mandate from 1949, Al Davis of Beroun Post 347 said founding fathers of the Minnesota American Legion had strict thoughts about resolutions emanating from districts. He said there are 17 resolutions this convention, of which 16 are not from districts. They are from standing committees or Minnesota American Legion College.

He moved that the convention rule all of them out of order except the one from a district.

First District Commander Mark Maloney gives his two cents on the matter of resolutions, saying that they need to come out sooner rather than later.

After debate from both sides, the convention approved Davis’ motion and the sole surviving resolution of the convention was Resolution 2024-12, which was out of the 3rd District. The resolution seeks to remove language from The American Legion Officer Guide & Manual of Ceremonies on how females wear Legionnaire caps, considering that the U.S. Armed Forces does not make gender considerations for wearing of caps. It is written by Kelley Adelsman of Pine Island Post 184.

Past National Commander Dan Ludwig of Red Wing Post 45 weighed in on the issue. He noted there are two sides to the issue.

“Resolutions by and large shouldn’t come up at a department convention as the first place,” he said.

Past National Commander Dan Ludwig argues for more resolutions to go through districts.

Mary Jo York of Forest Lake Post 225 countered, saying standing committees regularly bring resolutions to department. Some of the posts and district aren’t always able to recognize needed changes at the department level.

She is on the Department Finance Committee and pointed how its two resolutions involve matters at the statewide level — department dues and evening up how allotments are distributed to national convention delegates.

Judge Advocate Greg Colby cited a 1968 mandate on requirements for resolutions.

He said tradition holds they come through districts, but it does not require it.

“It doesn’t clearly state it has to go through districts,” he said.

Several others shared their views, including a secondary debate about a motion cannot be rescinded at the same convention once approved.

A recess was called for the purposes of time, as the Memorial Service was next, followed by a lunch hour.

The convention reconvened at 1 p.m.

Colby reread Davis’ motion and said Robert’s Rules of Order does allow an amendment to an approved motion. He said seven of the 17 resolutions are crucial for conducting business at the department in the coming year.

Ludwig moved to amend the motion to exclude the two Finance Committee resolutions and the five relating to Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation.

The convention approved the motion, then finished for the day.

Besides 2024-12 mentioned above, the other surviving resolutions are:
2024-2: Call for VA to research anthrax shot
2024-11: Department dues increase
2024-13: Allotments for national convention delegates
2024-15: VA pension program having a 5-year lookback at income and retroactively applying it
2024-17: Provide a minimum compensable rating with service-connected hearing loss requiring hearing aids
2024-19: Advocating for the increase of Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant rates