SAL Commander: Turn in Consolidated Squadron Reports

By John Weiss

Happy New Year American Legion Family! My hope and wish for all of you, is a healthy, happy and prosperous 2025.

The past year has been a bit of a trying time, but I am dealing with it. Thank you to all of you who have expressed your concern for me, I do appreciate it.

John Weiss

I would like to remind all of the squadrons that they should be tracking the volunteerism that their squadron members are doing. And the donations that you are making. It should be an ongoing process.

After all, it’s a good thing to get recognized for all of the good things that you SAL members are doing. And besides those numbers count. They count to our detachment and the national SAL organization as well as to The American Legion. When the leadership and our team reports those numbers to the Congress, we demonstrate to our elected representatives that we are a force in this great nation and in our state — a force for good and community service.

It’s one of the things that we as an organization needs to do, toot our horn a bit about the many good things that we do in our community, state and nation. And the way that those wonderful numbers and information are passed up the chain is by filling out the Consolidated Squadron Report forms.

I know that I would be asking a lot, but I would love to see the percentage of Consolidated Squadron Report forms (CSRs) turned in increase by a large margin over the past few years. I don’t remember (at this point) the percentage of CSR’s turned in, but I do remember seeing the number and percentage of squadrons turning them in was very low compared to the number of squadrons in the detachment, and I was very disappointed.

Let’s see if we can improve that number. If your squadron needs assistance filling the CSR out please send me an email or speak with your district commander or the detachment vice commander who is responsible for your district. They are in the position to help you and your squadron.

I would like to also say, thank you for all of your hard work over the last year.

Be well and be safe in your travels.

Yours in service.

John Weiss of St Paul Arcade-Phalen Squadron 577 is the commander of the Detachment of Minnesota for the Sons of The American Legion. His theme is “Stepping Up For Veterans.”