Washington (Sept. 29, 2010) – Dan Dellinger, former chairman of The American Legion’s Economic Commission, has been appointed to the Obama administration’s Interagency Task Force on Federal Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses.According to an April 26 White House press release, the task force was established in order to “coordinate executive departments’ and agencies’ efforts towards ensuring that all small businesses have a fair chance to participate in federal contracting opportunities.”
Dellinger, who owned a construction management and general contracting company for more than 20 years, currently serves as chairman of the Legion’s national security commission. His military background and extensive experience with small businesses make him a perfect addition to the task force, according to a colleague.
“He’s a veteran and business owner, so he understands the challenges that both groups go through,” said Joe Sharpe, director of The American Legion’s economic division. “He is in a unique position to speak for the veterans community, he understands the issues, and it is great for him to be on this task force and ensure that veterans receive a fair amount of government contracts.”
Sharpe says that Dellinger will focus on getting federal contractors to work more effectively with service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs), awarding them the amount of contracting dollars they are supposed to be receiving.
“Right now, there’s a law that says that three percent of federal dollars will go to service-disabled veteran small business owners, and that mandate has never been reached,” said Mark Walker, deputy director of the Legion’s economic division. “Having Dellinger on the agency task force will help the White House understand these issues and ensure that these agencies will uphold their mandates to fulfill these promises to veteran servicemen and women.”
Dellinger was raised in Vienna, Va., and is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a company commander, and was promoted to captain while serving in the Army Reserve. A member of The American Legion for 29 years, Dellinger is a former Vienna town councilman and currently serves as judge advocate for American Legion Post 180. He lives in Vienna with his wife, Margaret. They have two children, Scott and Anne.
By Lauren Maffeo
The American Legion is sponsoring a College Fair to help shrink the costs of college for students and their families. This college fair is unique because it’s hosted by veterans. The men and women who have served our country by protecting our freedoms is now working to help the young men and women of our state attend college.
Click Here for the informative flyer
The American Legion presented over $5 Million in awards in 2009 around the country.
The American Legion invites you and your family to Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland, Allegheny County on November 15, 2010 for scholarship opportunities.
These scholarship opportunities include:
- Regional and local presented by veterans organizations
- Government programs like ROTC (Army, Navy and Air Force), the 5 Military Academies, the GI Bill, USAR and the National Guard
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Contests including written, spoken and participated in (including Legion Baseball, Scouting, Boys and Girls State, Essay and Speech Contests)
There is money out there, let us help you find it.
We are leaders!
More information coming soon - check back!!
Survival in an emergency
To prevent acts of terrorism on American soil, we must enlist all of our intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security capabilities. These threats and hazards include terrorism, natural disasters, large-scale cyber attacks, and pandemics. To protect our homeland we should continue to integrate and leverage state and major urban area fusion centers that have the capability to share classified information; establish a nationwide framework for reporting suspicious activity, and implement and integrated approach to our counter terrorism information systems to ensure that the analyst, agents, and officers who protect us have access to all relevant intelligence throughout the government. As we do everything within our power to prevent these dangers, we also recognize that we will not be able to deter or prevent every threat.
That is why we must also enhance our resilience-the ability to adapt to changing conditions and prepare for, withstand, and rapidly recover from disruption. To keep Americans safe at home, we are also integrating our homeland security efforts seamlessly with other aspects of our national security approach, by strengthening our preparedness and resilience.
By effectively managing emergencies, we are building our capability to prepare for disasters to reduce or eliminate long term effects to people and their property from hazards and to respond to and recover from major incidents. You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days.
In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days or weeks. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kid and developing a family communications plan.
There are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. You should learn more about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them. In addition, learn about the emergency plan that have been established in your area by your state and local government. Emergency preparedness is no longer the sole concern of earthquake prone Californians and those who live in the part of the country known as “Tornado Alley.” For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.
In closing, a reminder that September is National Preparedness Month and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. There are three simple steps in accomplishing this: Get Prepared, Get Trained and Get Involved!
Written by Eugene R. Paul National Security Chairman Department of Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2010) – While loudly applauding its intent, leaders of The American Legion say that new federal legislation designed to bolster small business may not do enough to support veteran-owned enterprises.
The legislation being questioned by The American Legion is H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010. Introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) this past May, H.R. 5297 would create a $30 billion small business lending fund to be administered by the Secretary of the Treasury, as well as provide $12 billion in tax breaks to help small businesses.
“The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act is a terrific piece of legislation in its purpose,” says Joe Sharpe, director of The American Legion’s economic commission, “but it does very little, if anything, to correct the sorry circumstances facing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses today.”
Government regulations require that three percent of all appropriate government contract money be awarded to eligible small businesses owned by service-disabled military veterans. Yet, to date, awards have totaled only about half that mandate.
“We are not asking for preferential treatment, but simply some legislative language that levels the playing field,” says Sharpe. “Without going into minute detail, let’s just say the current wording does not do the job.”
Jimmie Foster, national commander of The American Legion, says “Historically, the federal government has done very poorly with regards to implementing veteran preference rules on contracts. This time, from our point of view, things must be different. When implementation of this law is accomplished, veteran-owned businesses must finally be able to gain the recognition – and contracts – they deserve. The American Legion will campaign hard to make sure that happens.”
Do you know someone whose enlistment was involuntarily extended by stop/loss?
Do you know someone whose enlistment was involuntarily extended between September 11, 2001 - September 30, 2009?
If so, do them a favor and tell them that they have until October 21, 2010 to file a claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay (RSLSP). The $500 a month payment for each month they were involuntarily extended was part of the 2009 War Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Over $127 million has already been paid to approximately 30,000 Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy members, veterans or beneficiaries but there are thousands of others who have not filed claims.
It is estimated that there are approximately 80,000 eligible Soldiers, 12,000 eligible Airmen, and 5,000 eligible Marines who have not filed. While approximately 250 Sailors are eligible only 18 have filed so far.
To file a claim tell your friends (or children) to go to http://www.defense.gov/stoploss. There you can find links to get the claims forms and service links to get instructions on how to file. The average payment has been $3700. This should not be ignored.
This fall, members of your Post, Unit Squadron or Chapter can take one day and learn about the many different programs and projects concerning the Pennsylvania American Legion. For a $15 registration fee, “students” choose one of eight courses, which will be filled on a first come first served basis.
The General Course provides information on all Department programs, activities and more.
The Adjutant Course is a 1/2 day course which covers membership, various forms as well as other information. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
The Auxiliary Course is an all day class that covers issues pertaining to the Pennsylvania American Legion Auxiliary.
There will also be a 1/2 day SAL Course. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course
The Service Officer Course is an all day class that will give insight on filing claims and assisting veterans in need.
The Home Association Course is an all day class that will educate attendees on bookkeeping, IRS forms, small games of chance and the Home Association’s relationship to the Post.
Another class is the Legion Riders Course for the entire day. This will inform the students about the different aspects of the Legion Riders.
The final program is the Chaplain Course for those who are or may want to become a Chaplain and will explain your obligations and duties within your Post as the Chaplain. The first half of the day will be spent in the General Course.
For your convenience Department offers tow “colleges”. Choose to attend October 30, 2010 at Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, PA) or November 6, 2010 at the Latrobe High School in Latrobe PA. Opening program begins at 8:30 am with all classes starting at 9:00 am.
Registration fee includes course material, a full course lunch and a Legion College pin.
Both facilities are non smoking.
Click Here for the Legion College application
View a video of the 2009/2010 year in review.
The 2010 Department Convention held at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel was a great success. View the great pictures below.
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.
In contrast to other veterans organizations, the Legion offers a number of local programs and activities to strengthen its commitment to our nation’s grass roots and the people we serve. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs; it continues to educate youths on the importance of sportsmanship and develops the quality of our country’s citizenship. The Heroes to Hometowns program is the only nationwide reintegration assistance service for wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, millions of dollars in donations have been given to fellow veterans and their families in times of grief, and various scholarship opportunities ensure the future success of our youth.
The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvements in the legislation process. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to their community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands not behind politics, but the issues and people that institute progress by focusing on veterans rights and quality of life.
The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
The Four Pillars of The American Legion Booklet (PDF)
Need a Lift? To educational opportunities, scholarships, grants, student loans, careers and employment.
The American Legion publishes a comprehensive roundup of educational opportunities – including state and federal education benefits for veterans – in a booklet titled “Need a Lift?” Nearly 30,000 copies are distributed to educational institutions each year. It contains up-to-date information on:
- The basics of higher-education funding
- A listing of federal education benefits and programs, including loans, grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, tax benefits and educational IRAs
- A listing of state education benefits and programs
- Scholarships, grants and loans administered or supported by The American Legion
- Military resources
- Private funding sources
- An index of books and e-newsletters on education benefits
- Basic information on four-year colleges around the United States
- Contact information