THE AMERICAN LEGION We’re on the web at: www.calegiondistrict22.org
Department of California, 22nd District
July/August 2009 Newsletter (shown below for your convenience or click here)
THE COMMANDER’S CORNER
Ted Pasnak
Thank you for electing me as your District 22 Commander again. I really did not want to do this again, but as the District was desperate for someone to step up and take hold of the reins, and my fellow Past District Commanders ganged up on me, I decided that maybe for God, Country and the Legionnaires of the District, I would go into this with an open mind and keep working for The American Legion.
Now for the serious business. Membership is the number one priority; without membership we are like a ship without a crew or a foot soldier without a rifle. I know that First Vice Jim will be working membership as hard as he can, but he will need our help and encouragement. So let us get on the band wagon and recruit, recruit, and recruit.
The E Board members will be there to assist and visit their Posts to offer suggestions and ideas, if asked by the Posts they visit. I will be visiting each and every Post this year to offer help, if needed.
Protocol should be a watch word of all Posts. Remember to recognize dignitaries, including Legion officers, flag officers, military commanders, military heroes, governmental leaders, and other dignitaries who visit your post or events. More information can be found in the Officers Guide and Manual of Ceremonies, which is on National’s website: http://www.legion.org/documents/legion/pdf/pog_09.pdf
INCORPORATION OF POSTS: The Department Adjutant sent a list of Posts that need to incorporate or are in suspension. If your Post is not incorporated, or if your Post is on suspension, you need to file a Statement of Information Form SI-100 with a $20 check made payable to the Secretary of State.
You can do that in one of three ways: (1) Call to request the form from the Secretary of State’s San Diego office at 619-525-4113; (2) Visit their San Diego office at 1350 Front Street, Room 2010; or (3) go to website http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/corp/pdf/so/corp_so100.pdf and follow the directions for filing online or completing the form online and printing it for mailing. They have made it very easy to do online.
You are required to update the information every two years and send the $20 payment. There is no filing fee if you are only amending a previously filed statement and it is outside the applicable filing period (i.e., one year after filing for incorporation or submitting your biennial Statement of Information Form SI-100, you are amending your three corporate officers as a result of your annual election of officers). Remember, a suspended corporation loses all rights and privileges of a corporation, so be sure to submit your biennial reports in a timely fashion along with the $20 fee.
Why incorporate? If a member or guest is injured at the Post, or if a member causes an accident on the way home and the injured party feels the Post served the member too many drinks, a lawsuit might be filed against the Post and individual officers of the Post. Individual officers of incorporated Posts are protected from being personally sued. If the Post is not incorporated, or it is on suspension, the individuals within the Post may not be protected from lawsuits filed against the Post. I have contacted the Commanders of the Posts that are on suspension or are not incorporated. I strongly urge you to quickly complete your incorporation.
Finally, I will be gone from August 18th to September 17th, 2009, visiting family in New York. I have not seen my brothers for 4 years, and I made plans to do that when my brother, Nick, came to visit me last year. Contact First Vice Commander Jim Coatney for assistance in my absence.
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FIRST VICE COMMANDER
Jim Coatney
We are now into our American Legion 2010 membership year. 2009 was a very good year for the 22nd District; we finished at 98.41% of quota for 6th place district in the Department of California.
We all know that inviting and signing new members is an important function for all members, always be ready to sell American Legion to eligible prospects whenever and whenever the opportunity presents itself. Carry at least one membership application at all times.
I believe that of more importance than new membership is keeping our current members happy with the service they receive regarding the processing of membership renewals. I would like to suggest that all membership chairmen for their posts do the following;
1. Process and issue the members card immediately (same or next day).
2. Turn in all checks to the finance officer as soon as possible.
(Most people do not like to have outstanding checks)
3. Finance Officer make timely deposits of checks, (same reason)
4. Transmit regularly; you need not wait until a transmittal sheet is full.
(As our current transmittal process is fairly slow, snail mail from us to Department and I’m not sure but possibly snail mail to National, members get additional renewal notices from National which many find annoying). I know that all of us who have been membership chairmen have received many complaints from members about this issue. There is the disclaimer on the bottom of the renewal notice to; (Disregard this notice if you have already paid your dues)
I have noticed from the transmittal reports I have received so far this year, that several posts are already doing most if not all that I am suggesting,. To those posts: Please Disregard My Suggestions!
We have not yet received our quota figures for 2010, as I don’t expect any significant changes to 2009 quota figures, just use that figure until Department gives us an update.
If you have any need of assistance in any matter pertaining to membership, obtaining/ filling out forms etc. that’s what I’m here for. Don’t hesitate to call.
Home: 858-277-5038
Cell: 858-337-0770
Email: jcoatney@gmail.com
Post Membership Chairs should send a copy of each of their Department Member Transmittals to me at the following address: 6460 Convoy Ct., #63, San Diego CA 92117.
ADJUTANT
Ralph Huskey
The Department Convention was held June 19-21, 2009 at Riverside: We had 17 Posts present giving us 189 votes.; Standing Committee members attended their meetings and gave reports at District Caucus; Written reports on file.
Election of new Department Officers: Commander Dennis Fercho; NEC Fred Walton; Alt NEC Roy Nichols; Sgt-at-Arms Marilyn Rideaux; VC Area 5 Diana Drake
Some of the District 22 awards received:
Oldest Active Legionnaire in the Department: Mary Lindner, Post 451 – 101 years.
Oldest Legionnaire in the Department (and nation!!) who holds the Medal of Honor and oldest Legionnaire in the Department (and the nation!!) who is a Pearl Harbor Day Survivor who holds the Medal of Honor: John Finn, Alpine Post 258 – 99 years.
Community Service: Most Man- Hours: Trophy to Post 6; Most Money Donated: Trophy to Post 255
Children & Youth: District 22: 100% reporting; CAT I: First place plaque to Post 867; Third place plaque to Post 451; CAT II: First place plaque to Post 6; CAT III: Third place plaque to Post 310; CAT IV: Second place plaque to Post 149
Scouting: Area 5 winner: Post 479
Public Relations: Best Radio: Post ??
Blood Donor Awards: Post 146 (210 units), Post 149 (3), Post 303 (16 units & 4 individual awards), and Post 201 (6 units & 1 individual award)
History Books: Third place: Post 552
Membership Awards: Gold Brigade: Ed Landis Post 149; 111%: Posts 303 and 310
Resolutions were read and voted.
CHILDREN & YOUTH
Ann Marie Pina-Brown
Another Legion Year is beginning. District 22 did well in Department with Awards for Youth Activities. I submitted excellent reports from posts in the district, all with supplemental reports. Some were first time winners, and it was heartwarming to see what our posts are doing for children, We were 100% in reporting , and every post reported activity. 5 reports will be recognized at the August meeting.
CONVENTION HOUSING
Ed Grimsley
Now would be a good time to start planning for next year’s Department Convention which will be held in Fresno June 24-27, 2010.
District 22 has reserved 20 rooms. I will give information about the location and room rate at our August 2nd District meeting. All requests for housing must be sent to me with a check for the first night’s lodging, made payable to: District 22. Call me for rate.
VA&R
Frank Manthei
The American Legion District 22 sponsors BINGO the second Saturday of every month at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in La Jolla. BINGO starts at 1 p.m. and is over by 4 p.m. Post, Auxiliary and SAL volunteers are always needed. The next BINGO events are August 9th and September 13th. It helps the patients’ recovery for us to be there with them and give them a social activity. Please join us.
PAST DISTRICT COMMANDERS CLUB
Carl Asher, President
District 22 Past Commanders will meet briefly following the District meeting at Post 149 on August 2. The purpose is to elect the officers for the ensuing year, collect dues, initiate our newbie, reminisce of days gone by and to generally irritate one another with "when I was Commander" stories.
LEADERSHIP
Ralph Huskey
I will use this column to pass on information to help our comrades have a better understanding of The American Legion and their Post. To start, here is the section of the National Constitution of The American Legion that gives authority to set up a Post and delineate the Post’s responsibilities.
CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, ARTICLE IX - POST ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Those who desire to form a Post shall make application for a temporary charter to the Commander of the Department in which they reside. The temporary charter shall be issued by the National Commander and National Adjutant upon receipt of the application properly executed by the charter members of the projected Post, but only when such application is approved by the Commander of the Department or by the Department Executive Committee.
Section 2. The minimum membership of a Post shall be determined by the Executive Committee of the Department in whose area it lies.
Section 3. No Post shall be named after any living person.
Section 4. A temporary charter shall be granted and shall state that it is granted on the recommendation of the Department and on the following terms and conditions:
1. All acts heretofore duly and properly taken for the formation of the above named Post are recognized and confirmed by the National Executive Committee.
2. The above named Post shall uphold the declared principles of THE AMERICAN LEGION and shall conform to and abide by the regulations and decisions of the Department and of the National Executive Committee, or other duly constituted national governing body of THE AMERICAN LEGION.
3. This charter is subject to revocation by the National Executive Committee on the recommendation of the Department, or by such authority that may hereafter be established by the National Convention.
Section 5. After a temporary charter has been in effect for a probationary period of at least ninety days, application for a permanent charter may be made. Such probationary period shall not exceed one year upon the termination of which the Department shall determine whether or not a permanent charter shall be issued or denied and the action of the Department shall be final.
Section 6. All charters shall be countersigned by the Commander and the Adjutant of the Department.
Section 7. Each Department may prescribe the Constitution of its Posts. Permanent charters may be suspended, cancelled or revoked by the Department Executive Committee as provided in the By-Laws
Be sure your Post is represented at our next District meeting to be held at 9 a.m. on Sunday, August 2nd at J B Clark Post 149, Escondido. We are required by our by-laws to approve the budget for this coming year. Bring your ideas for fundraising with you.
FALL DEC: August 8-9, 2009 at Post 22, Lodi
SPRING DEC: March 13-14, 2010 at Post 56, Santa Maria DEPARTMENT CONVENTION: June 24-27, 2010 in Fresno IMPORTANT DATES ON THE HORIZON: August 2, 2009 9 a.m. – District 22 Meeting at J B Clark Post 149 Escondido **August 2, 2009 – (following District 22 Meeting) Past District Commanders meeting Post 149 August 8, 2009 1-4 p.m. – District Bingo at VAMC La Jolla August 21-27, 2009 – The American Legion National Convention, Louisville, KY August 29, 2009 – 9 a.m. - PCC meeting at Post 731 September 12, 2009 1-4 p.m. – District Bingo at VAMC La Jolla September 19, 2009 10 a.m. – District E Board mtg at Albert J Hickman Post 460 October 2-4, 2009 – Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar. District 22 will have a booth October 11, 2009 9 a.m. – District 22 Meeting at La Mesa Post 282 |
