Happy New Year Legion Family members! As we enter 2011 there are some very important issues before us. Membership is our lifeblood! Efforts to retain and recruit members are of utmost importance for our posts, our Department and our National organization. We must stop the decline in membership! Our posts are the window through which our communities view The American Legion. We encourage all our readers to assist our posts in meeting their membership goals. As we’ve said many time before “membership is everyone’s business!” Get involved in making your post 100% this year.
An area of concern for our members, and especially our post homes, is what is happening with the “small games of chance” legislation. Department Commander Pete Wasco has met with Governor Elect Tom Corbett’s transitional team and discussed the need to address some real changes in the current small games of chance laws. The current law is 30-years old and falls short on realistic limits on prizes and how or what those funds can be legally expended on. The expectations are very high; we will see new legislation passed this year. We will keep you apprised of the process as the new legislation is introduced. We would appreciate if you would contact your local legislator and get them to support this needed change. For those with Internet access the information is on our website at www.pa-legion.com.
Another Pennsylvania General Assembly issue is increased funding for Act 66 (the service officers initiative). Our Pennsylvania American Legion should be very proud of the performance of our Department Service Officers. Collectively, in a twelve month period, our service officers have served over 6314 veterans, with new federal benefits awarded to these veterans totaling $68,426,503. We have also served at least one veteran in all 67 counties within Pennsylvania. One of the pillars of The American Legion is service to our veterans and we set the standard for maintaining this important legacy!
Posts should have contacted local schools for candidates in our Oratorical Contest. Contestants should already be working on their oration. We would like to see a large turnout for the Department finals in Harrisburg. These young men and women compete for more than $16,000 in scholarship money and the level of preparation at this level clearly establishes this program as the premier event of its kind. The contest is held in the Forum Building, a beautiful historic facility located in downtown Harrisburg, March 5, 2011 at 10 AM. It is the absolutely perfect venue for our event. Another plus is attending this contest it’s free! Try and be present at this event. You will be glad you attended.
The National Commander’s Tour is March 7 in the East at Lehighton; March 8 in Middletown and March 9 at Avalon. Dinner ticket and ad book information have been sent out and is also on our website. Let’s show National Commander Jimmie Foster that we are “Pennsylvania Proud”. Please plan on attending when the banquet is in your area. Also please support the ad booklet as this assists the sponsoring posts in offsetting the costs of planning this dinner.
Legion College was again a great success! Thanks to all committee members who made both events such a complete triumph! Thanks also to our Legion Family members who attended or helped get the word out about these events.
Our annual Holiday Hospital Tour went extremely well this year. Thanks to Hospital Entertainment Chairman Ed Connell for working so closely on the scheduling. We traveled 1328 miles without any glitches as we visited all six State Veterans Homes and ten VAMC’s across our Commonwealth. Thanks to all three of our Vice Commanders - Alex Dombrowsky, Earle “Spanky” McCarney and Joe Cocco - as they accompanied our Department Commander Pete Wasco when we were in their section. Thanks also to Department President Beverly Reinhard, Art Hollerman, NECman Richard Coccimiglio, and our own Past Department Commander Jim “Sammy Claus” Hales, who traveled to each stop and contributed to making the lives a little brighter for the residents and patients we visited. Last, but certainly not least, a “special thanks” to all our VAVS Representatives and all the volunteers who make the days a little brighter for our veterans and for representing our goals so well - we salute you!
A few 2011 dates to remember: The annual Allegheny County Youth Achievement dinner will be held at the Pittsburgh Soldiers & Sailors Hall April 10; February 2 is our 80% membership target date; March 3 is our 85% membership target date; April DEC will be April 1-3 at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East; Department Commanders Testimonial Dinner will be at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East April 2 and Department President Reinhard’s Testimonial Dinner will be in Allentown April 9. All testimonial dinner flyers have been mailed out and are on our website. Until next time…
Newly Elected State Commander Wasco is working for the Legionnaires of Pennsylvania from the start! Four hours after he was elected Pennsylvania American Legion Department Commander Pete Wasco met with State Representative from the 88th District, Sheryl M. Delozier. Commander Wasco emphasized needing continued support for Act 66, The Service Officer Funding initiative and also HB-169 small games of chance legislation.