Department of California Programs
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for the Commission and Committee Programs with on-line information

Department of California Commissions
 Department Commission e-mail contacts

Aerospace - Mission Statement
To promote Aerospace Research and Education to the members of The American Legion and the Citizens of California. The Aerospace Commission keeps the members of The American Legion advised of all activities in the field of Aerospace.
The Aerospace Commission has become an educational resource to the schools of California, coordinating teacher and educator workshops, awarding scholarships, and facilitating activities in the Aerospace Educational field.
  - Program weblinks: Aerospace

Agriculture, Natural Resource and Energy - Mission Statement
To promote the development, supply, quality and environmental conservation, applicable to food, agriculture and natural resources, through study of conditions andproblems, and by working and counciling with State agencies and leaders in their respective fields; to implement an active forestry and environmental youth orientation program. To monitor the energy policies applicable to the state, promote energy conservation and circulate to the Districts and/or Posts energy policies as a program of  The American Legion.
  - Program weblinks:

Amateur Radio - Mission Statement
To assist in the development of amateur radio, and to that end, establish an amateur radio chain among volunteer radio enthusiasts.

Americanism - Mission Statement
To develop and maintain the spirit of 100 percent Americanism among the Legion and residents of the State of California.  To put into effect programs of The American Legion; to coordinate any overlapping of plans dealing with Americanism; and to establish an overall policy of Americanism.  To act as liaison between the organization known as Boys and Girls Club of America and assist in sponsoring the activity throughout the state.  To coordinate the programs of the Posts and Districts of the Department with the public schools.
 - Program weblink: James Fisk Award Report
                 1. Chairman's Instructions
                   MS Word - 39KB  PDF format - 19KB
                 2. Annual Report Form - Page 1
                   MS Word - 34KB  PDF format - 30KB
                 3. District / Area Chairman Report Selection Form
                   MS Word - 31KB  PDF format - 8KB

American Legion Riders: To support and promote The American Legion Riders as a program of The American Legion Department of California.
  - Program weblinks: 1. California Legion Riders Home Page
                    website URL: www.alrdoc.com

Baseball - Mission Statement
To foster the program of The American Legion in regard to baseball; it shall prepare an annual budget of all its operations and shall include all funds received and expended to be presented to the Finance Commission which will be presented with the Department budget to the Convention.
  - Program weblink: California’s Baseball Program

Boys State - Mission Statement
To operate Boys State for the development of good citizenship in the communities.  Said commission shall prepare an annual budget of all its operations and shall include all funds received and expended to be presented to the Finance Commission which, in turn, will be presented with the Department budget to the Convention.
  - Program weblinks: Golden Boys State
                                  Photos by Carlo Floors

Children and Youth - Mission Statement
To carry on the welfare program of The American Legion.
To promote the program of the education of war orphans.
  - Program weblink: Children & Youth

Community Service - Mission Statement
To structure, produce, and carry on the Community Service Commission betterment program for The American Legion local community in which a post is situated and represents; to identify, promote, support and encourage those programs, activities and events not undertaken by posts throughout the Department, not covered by other Commissions and Committees.

Constitution and By-Laws - Mission Statement
To recommend to Department changes necessary or advisable for the better operation of the Department and such other duties as are delegated to it by the By-Laws of the Department.

Convention City - Mission Statement
To investigate the facilities and financial ability of cities placing a bid for a Department Convention; to recommend to the Department Convention the city best qualified to hold a Department Convention; and upon the Convention being awarded to a city by the Department Convention, the Department Commission may become the Commander's official representative, with the duties of coordinating all phases of Convention activities with the convention city or corporation
  - Program weblink: Convention City Bulletin

Counter Subversive Activities - Mission Statement
To study and recommend the necessary action to be taken from time to time for the purpose of resisting un-American activities and subversive movements, preventing terrorist attacks within the United States, its territories and possessions.

Disaster and Emergency Services - Mission Statement
To organize the membership of the Department into a cohesive unit so that in time of disaster the membership of the Department may be available for duty and to cooperate with all law enforcement agencies in their plans concerning disaster relief.
  - Program weblink: PR tool kit for Disaster Preparedness Month

Finance - Mission Statement
To perform such duties as are delegated to it by the Department By-Laws; to generally care for the finances of the Department and make recommendations to the Department Convention and to the Department Executive Committee concerning the finances of the Department.  The Finance Commission shall prepare a proposed budget for each Commission and Committee before each Department Convention and shall submit same to the Convention Finance Committee, using the annual report of the Personnel Committee to establish salaries and benefits for all Department employees.  Said annual report of the Personnel Committee is advisory only and not in any way binding on the Finance Committee

Foreign Relations and National Security - Mission Statement
To promote the program of The American Legion in regard to Foreign Relations in all its phases. To promote the program of The American Legion in regard to national defense in all its phases.
  - Program weblink: Foreign Relations and National Security

Housing
(Veterans) - Mission Statement
To assist veterans of this state in their present and future housing problems.

Law and Order - Mission Statement
To foster within the scope of The American Legion principles and policies an affirmative program of respect for and support of law and order in general and law enforcement agencies and officers and duties, and further that a subcommittee be appointed to formulate American legion policies concerning the use of narcotics and dangerous drugs.

Leadership - Mission Statement
To encourage members to utilize their innate potentials, and develop within the potentials the enthusiasm to function for the best interest of  The American Legion at all levels.
  - Program weblinks: Leadership Commission

Legislative - Mission Statement
To consider legislative matters, making recommendations to the Department Convention and the Executive Committee, and generally supervise the legislative program of the Department during the session of the State Legislature.
  - Program weblinks: 1. Legislative Commission
                                  2. Representative to the California Legislature - Al Menshew

Naturalization - Mission Statement
To promote naturalization among unnaturalized residents of the State of California; to urge the broadening of the program now established in schools for the education of naturalization, including the teaching of the history and background of the United States of America, and through the Posts and Districts to cooperate with the officials of the Naturalization Department of the United States and the courts when classes of persons are naturalized.

Oratorical Contests - Mission Statement
To promote Department Oratorical contests at Post, District and Department levels and to conduct the Department finals of such contests.
  - Program weblink: California Oratorical Contests

Public Relations - Mission Statement
Through the medium of newspaper, radio and other means of dissemination of news to spread the program of  The American Legion; to foster and maintain an adequate speakers bureau.
  - Program weblink: Public Relations Commission

Publishing - Mission Statement
The Publishing Commission shall be totally responsible for setting the criteria of what will be published in The California Legionnaire; its content will reflect the policies and activities of The American Legion.  The term of employment of the editor will extend one issue past the Department Convention.  All editorials will be signed or approved by the Department Commander.  All advertising consistent with The American Legion policy will be accepted.  The commission shall be totally responsible for soliciting of competitive bids for the printing of The California Legionnaire, keeping in mind the financial aspects for the benefit of all California Legion members.  It shall be responsible for documenting all policy and administrative decisions made by the commission which shall be forwarded in writing to the Department Adjutant as a matter of record.  Candidates for statewide Legion office shall be given equal space in the columns of The California Legionnaire.  Commissions paid to individuals or companies for advertising in the paper will be made known upon request of any member in good standing of The American Legion.
  - Program weblink: California Legionnaire
                Official Publication of the Department of California

Ritual - Mission Statement
To promote and teach the use of the ritual in all Legion meetings as described in official National publications, e.g. Officer's Guide, to foster teams in Posts and Districts for initiation and installation at meetings, and to lend color to Legion functions, particularly parades at state and national conventions and to supervise contests of uniform bodies.

Scouting - Mission Statement
To foster and promote the scouting program throughout the state, especially among the Posts of The American Legion of this Department, including such activities as the Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Air Scouts, Cub Packs and Girl Scouts.
  - Program weblink: Annual BSA State Camporee

Sons of theAmerican Legion - Mission Statement
To promote the program of  The American Legion with the sons of the Legionnaires.
  - Program weblink: Detachment of California - State Website

Valley Forge Workshop - Mission Statement
This program is designed to send qualified California educators to Valley Forge for a one week intensive workshop which enables them to develop a prospectus to ensure the "American Way" so that our youth of today may have a better understanding of both the historic origins of their liberty and the responsibilities of good citizenship required of them.
  - Program weblink: Valley Forge Teachers Workshop

Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation - Mission Statement
The Rehabilitation program of the Department shall be carried on under the supervision of the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission throughout the entire Department.  There shall be a Department Service Officer, who shall be responsible of supervision of the Department's Service Program.  This officer shall act in advisory capacity to the Commission and shall coordinate the work of the staff in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego Offices respectively and such other cities as may be designated by the Commission.  The officer or designated members of the staff shall be official contacts and representatives of The American Legion, Department of California, with the Veterans Administration at regional offices, and Veterans Administration Hospitals.  The duties of the Service Officer and staff shall be generally that of prosecuting claims and protecting the rights and privileges of all veterans, their dependents, and survivors and to handle such other matters as may properly be considered service work.  The Service Officer and staff shall cooperate with County Service Officers, the Los Angeles County Service Department and the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs.  It shall be the policy of the Commission to encourage Posts and Districts to select qualified and able members to serve as Post and District Officers and to provide assistance to help them carry out their duties.

Veterans Employment - Mission Statement
To coordinate the program(s) of employment of veterans and to implement and to insure that veterans recieve due consideration when applying for jobs for which they have earned preferential consideration through their honorable service to God and Country.

Ways and Means - Mission Statement
The duties of this commission shall be, and confined to, the development of plans, ideas, and promotions to secure additional funds by and for the Department.  All plans, ideas, and promotions of said Commission must be presented to the Department Commander and his Executive Committee for approval.
  - Program weblink: Rehab Program Fundraiser

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Department of California Committees

American Flag Display and Sales
To promote interest in flag etiquette and display; to promote sales of American flags throughout the Department and to promote participation by civic groups in the display and sales of our flag.

Blood Donor
To emphasize the importance of each Post having a blood bank committee and to assure that there will be an adequate supply of blood in the various blood banks so the same can be utilized by Legionnaires. To develop a strong plan requesting blood donations from our members and other sources.
  - Program weblink: Blood Donor Program

Distinguished Guests
To assist, if called upon, at the various meetings of the Post, District, and Department levels, in the proper presentation of distinguished guests.

Insurance
To analyze and recommend all matters of insurance pertaining to the Department and to the individual members.

Inter-Post Relations
To foster the exchange of ideas and programs between Posts which are unique to a Post or District, to encourage members attendance at various Legion social events, and to strive to develop inter-Posts participation in civic and national holiday festivals and parades.

Membership
To foster and promote membership in The American Legion, Department of California.
  - Program weblink: Membership Team Section

Military Affairs
To contact and establish a program of cooperation between
the Department and the various military branches.

Narcotics
To liaison with the State of California offices concerning narcotics.

New Posts
To develop and recommend programs assisting Districts in the creation and operation of various programs.

Personnel
To study job classification and salary schedules and benefits for all personnel of the Department and shall present each year to the Finance Commission a report of its findings.

Post Activities
To increase membership in The American Legion.  To stimulate interest and participation in the affairs of The American Legion.  Through the use of the above to establish a positive program of leadership training to the end that there are members trained and ready to insure a constant source of personnel to safeguard the future of the Legion.  To take steps to insure that The American Legion will continue to be an active and well-known organization in the community.

POW / MIA
The purpose of this committee is to assist former P.O.W.'s and the families of M.I.A.'s and to formulate some ideas relative to their benefits.

Religious Emphasis
To develop a firm program toward promotion of religious programs and emphasizing our long standing policy of a "Back To God" movement.

Speakers Bureau
To speak before civic groups regarding Legion programs and activities upon request.
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Questions?
David L Eby
calegion@pacific.net
State Commander 1998-99
Department Webmaster

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last update
11-08-07

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