NEC seats to shuffle
Barbknecht, Moon are not running for re-election
CHANHASSEN — National Executive Committeeman Bill Barbknecht of Fergus Falls Post 30 has been in his red-cap role since 2019, traveling back and forth to the top floor of the American Legion Headquarters in Indianapolis for NEC meetings.
“It’s time to go home and do things there,” he told the Department Executive Committee at Chanhassen Post 580 on March 8. “I’m not here to pick a successor.”
Barbknecht, out of the 9th District, has had to deal with a succession of health issues, which has limited his ability to travel and exhausts him when he decides to go.
Department Commander Carl Moon has announced his intention to run for NECman at the department convention in July in Willmar. Moon is with Zimmerman Post 560 in the 6th District and lives in Walker.
His wife, Peggy Moon, also of Post 560, is the current alternate NECman, and she withdrew plans to seek re-election because of health concerns. (See her letter on Page 4.)
Her decision has resulted in two past department commanders, Tom Fernlund and Paul Hassing, seeking the alternate NEC spot. They will be on the ballot at the fall convention.
Hassing is with Bloomington Post 550 in the 10th District and lives in Montgomery. He was department commander in 2023-24.
Fernlund is with Waite Park Post 428 in the 6th District and lives in Saint Cloud. He was department commander in 2021-22.
Both of their endorsements with full bios are in this issue.
Barbknecht’s announcement was a touching departure, and Legionnaires in the room applauded and hugged him. He was alternate NECman for four years prior to becoming NECman. He spoke of how Minnesota is respected at the national level.
In other news, Department Adjutant Mike Maxa announced that Microsoft Dynamic 365 will replace Personify ThreeSixty as the software behind MyLegion.org, the online database of American Legion membership. National will begin rolling it out with Emblem Sales first.
He said The American Legion no longer will sponsor an Indy Car.
The response to the books documenting the stories of military veterans has been phenomenal, Maxa said. Publishing Concepts Inc. will ship them by late spring.
At the rally itself, Membership Director Carla Tappainer announced that the 1st District led the way with 91.97 percent, with 6th District in second at 90.4 and 2nd District in third at 90.1.
Tappainer also mentioned Minnesota was in 17th place nationally percentage-wise, at 87.25.
In the Auxiliary, Membership Director Hope Wilson announced the 6th District placed first, with 89.39 percent. In second was the 3rd, at 87.88, and in third was the 1st at 87.73.
Sons of The American Legion Membership Director Gary Richardson said the 1st District took first place at 88.74. The 4th District was second at 86.49, and the 7th District was third at 86.46.
