Message from the Commander

My motto this year is “Proud to be a member”. I am proud to be a member of the American Legion. I believe the American Legion has represented veterans well from the early days after World War I, through the fight for the GI Bill and during every important issue since. I believe Legion members should be proud to be a member of the organization that stands up for veterans. I hope you are “Proud to be a member”. With this attitude, we can achieve our goals.

Texas Legionaires are currently participating in the national convention in Cincinnati as I write this article. As we interact with our fellow Legionaires, we gain new insight into the various contributions each member is able to make. This might be a new idea or merely helping to accomplish our tasks.

We sometimes have disagreements concerning plans to improve our posts, spending Post funds or strategies to increase Post membership. Listening to ideas proposed by others and including them in our plans can unite members in the effort to achieve the best outcome. Working together for the good of the Legion should be fun. Trying to make a point or insisting that a suggested action plan is better may cause resentment. Members should consider all options and then let the majority rule. As soon as a plan has been chosen, let’s all get on board and commit to achieve the best outcome.

During my campaign, I promised to unite the Department of Texas so that we can work together to turn our membership around and get it heading in the right direction. This is a critical time when the national American Legion must grow in order to sustain the traditional programs. At the Department level, we have some flexibility and we can adapt, but everyone will be happier and reaching our goals will be easier when membership is growing. It is possible. Please join me in this effort.

The Strategic Plan for the Department of Texas includes a goal to start a new Post and revitalize a Post in every District each year. When I was 10th District Commander, we started a post in Hutto, another in Cedar Park and recently the Pflugerville post was started. These three posts now have almost 250 members. When there is a need for a post, a new post will grow rapidly. Look in the suburbs where new subdivision are being built and there will be veterans ready to join.

To grow our membership we need to renew those members who have let their membership expire and to enlist new members. When you deliver the message face to face, they will join. If they are not home, leave a door hanger to let them know we cared enough to come talk to them. Ask them to call and follow up with a call. Let’s get out and knock on some doors.

Thank you in advance for all you do for the good of the Legion.

Walter Ivie Department Commander 2016-2017

CONTENTS

Message from the Commander 1

Hints from Hince 2

National Commanders Eagle Award 4

Message from the Vice Commander 5

National PR update 5

Girlscouts AppreciateFirst Responders 6

Chaplain’s Corner 7

Post 17 Fundraiser for Greenville PD 8

Mansfield Post 624 Helping Veterans 8

HINTS FROM HINCE

Writing this enroute to the National Convention and hope that you are all excited about the new Legion Year. The convention schedule tires this ole gal out just looking at it but it will be a great week of getting together with veterans from all over.

Looks like Texas might have a shot at hosting another National gathering in the next five years…the rest of the nation loved their last visit to Houston! Every level of Legion conferences offers opportunities to grow, to learn more about our programs and to serve each other better.

HINT: Attend training conferences / meetings at all levels and encourage others to do the same. Every district and division should now have a training chair so take advantage of classes for your members… from our youth programs, our insurance programs, Veterans rights classes to legislation updates.

District and Division Leaders- Make your training leaders earn those big bucks (!!!!!) and offer classes. An educated Legion is a growing Legion.

School is back in session and our Boys and Girl State alumnae are spreading the word about their great experience. I am working on an article to submit to National so I welcome any pictures, quotes or stories. Plan to have it in prior to the 2017 May issues to get everyone fired up so get me your ideas! So many have great stories, share them!

HINT: Write a short thank you to your Boys State and Girls State sponsors…in the newspaper if possible. If not, hand written notes will work.

Also share the word to all your high schools and home school associations telling them 2016 was great and 2017 will be better. THANK YOUS WORK.

Our Legion programs are super and meet many of the needs of our communities but we need to take advantage of new ideas and never be afraid to try something new.

My home Legion Family in Bryan hosts weekly veteran coffee and donuts for veterans and their families. It is an amazing sight to see 70-90 folks talking and relaxing over sugar donuts and java! The vets and the media love it! Where else can you start a day with heroes on a weekly basis?

HINT: Don’t be afraid to give new programs a try. I fought the above idea but the wiser members of our Legion family went on with it and it is a winner!

Who would have thought people would come out at 8 a.m. on a weekly basis? Thank goodness for persuasive ALA members! I eat crow weekly! Just because we have never done it…doesn’t mean we shouldn’t!

Fall is the setting for many District meetings and it is a chance to get ideas from other Posts. The majority of the gatherings are one day conferences and offer a look at various programs and ongoing concerns. Anyone can be a delegate and the distances are usually manageable.

HINT: Conferences are in Sept and Oct so check your District and Division websites! PUT YOUR CAP ON AND GO!

Membership is a challenge and 2016-2017 is no exception. Get a plan ready for marketing and membership.Hit renewals.Hit renewals.

HINT: Get a membership committee together and have a plan that will enable you to get the word out that the Legion is alive and well in Texas! Man (or woman!) tables at football games, home-comings, veteran reunions etc. Every activity is a recruiting opportunity!

GOD BLESSGerry Hince

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The Legion Times

VoLume 98, issue 2 sepTember 2016

Executive DirectorWilliam West

EditorG. Adams

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We hope you enjoy this issue, and hope you continue to help us grow The Legion Times!

Walter Ivie, Department CommanderLloyd Buckmaster, Department Vice CommanderC.W. Sparks, National Executive CommitteemanKenneth Mueller, Alternate National Executive CommitteemanWilliam West, Department AdjutantHarvey Klee, Department ChaplainDavid Paris, Department Treasurer Bryan Coleman, Department Judge AdvocateSusan Marty, Department HistorianJim Forbus, Department Sergeant-at-ArmsKimberly Biggerstaff, Assistant Sergeant-at-ArmsJohn McKinny, Immediate Past Department Commander Michael Simon, Director of Internal AffairsEdward Reyes, Department Service OfficerMichael Lacy, Department Service Officer Ron Peterson, Department Service OfficerAllen Sharp, Department Service Officer

DIVISION COMMANDERS

David Harvey, 1st Division CommanderSteve Cook, 2nd Division CommanderJerome Iltis, 3rd Division CommanderCharlie Baker, 4th Division Commander

DISTRICT COMMANDERS

Andy Lowen, 1st District CommanderMark McClelland, 2nd District CommanderGerald Holsworth, 3rd District CommanderGene Toohey, 4th District CommanderLarry Taylor, 5th District CommanderGary Towers, 6th District CommanderEd Jarvis, 7th District CommanderRuth Sholler, 8th District CommanderBea Trevino, 9th District CommanderTed Weeks, 10th District Commander Ricky Wilson, 11th District Commander William Deal, 12th District Commander Greg Garland, 13th District Commander Tom Harlan, 14th District Commander Gus Garcia, 15th District CommanderThomas Bowe, 16th District CommanderKenneth Simonton, 17th District Commander Donald Sherman, 18th District Commander Johnny Franklin, 19th District Commander Garnel Alford, 20th District Commander BJ Seider, 21st District Commander Jimmy Mitchell, 22nd District Commander Hector Alva, 23rd District Commander

3

ARTICLE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

2016-2017 DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

4

Past Department Commander John McKinny and Past Department Vice Commander accept the National Commanders Eagle Award for Greatest Membership Improvement in Category II for the 2015 – 2016 membership year, during the 98thNational Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This is the 3rd consecutive year that the Department of Texas has earned this award.

Pictured left to right: National Membership Chairman Ken Orrick, Past Department Commander John McKinny, Past Department Vice Commander John Hince, National Commander Dale Barnett, National Vice Commander Jimmy Lane.

National Commanders Eagle Award

5

First, I want to thank the membership for electing me to be your vice commander for the next year. I promise I will not disappoint you for your selection.

Membership is the main job of the vice commander I hope to see the Department of Texas reach goal for 2017. We can do so by doing several different things. “Just ask” is one. Ask those people you meet if they are veterans and if so give them a membership application and ask them to join our great organi-zation. Also, I encourage every post to participate in as many programs as you can. I firmly believe that if veteran see and hear about our programs and the good things we are doing in the community, they will have a desire to be a part of these programs and will join.

I challenge every member to recruit one new member this year. If this occurs we will double our mem-bership.

My plans are to visit as many posts tithing the state as possible. I will also attempt to have an article in every newsletter.

Lloyd Buckmaster Department Vice Commander

National PR Update

The Texas American Legion Delegation to the 2016 National American Legion Convention recently returned to the Lone Star state following the weeklong gathering in Ohio.

In addition to workshops and committee work, the 30 plus Legion family saw the installation of the 98th Commander and the passing of more than 200 resolutions dealing with veteran issues. These included VA concerns; increased research into PTSD treatment; flag desecration and the recent NFL player protest. Commander John McKinny of Dripping Springs lead the group and all were treated to excellent speakers and entertainment. These included the Gatlin Brothers, Pittsburgh Rocky Blier (a Vietnam vet) and both Presidential candidates.

Among the awards Texas returned with were the Eagle award given for member retention. Vice Commander John Hince of Bryan and Commander McKinny received the trophy as one of only 4 states to reach this goal. In addition, Texas took 3 out of 6 employer awards and Kimberly Biggerstaff of Spring took first place in social media for her Legion Facebook Page.

Connie Jo Popham of Floresville was elected as Area Director for the National American Legion Press Association.

For more information on the American Legion Family, please contact your local Legion Post or Public Relations Chair Gerry Hince at 979 778-1835.

Message from the Vice Commander

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Girl Scouts appreciate First Responders

Girl Scout Troop 1152, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 655, visited the Watauga Police Deptas a show of support and caring for all they do.

They delivered Thank You cards and cookies, visited with them and gave out, “Hugs”!

God Bless all of the Police men and women for keeping us safe!

OPERATION COMFORT WARRIORS BENEFIT CRUISE

Cruise Line: CarnivalCruise Ship: Carnival FreedomDestination: 7-Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)Departs from: Galveston, TexasDeparture Date: Saturday, October 8, 2016

Carnival Cruise line will donate to OCW $35.00 for every passenger booked under this cruise.Come join your fellow veterans, family and friends for a great cruise and help support our veter-ans through OCW.

For more information go to: http://llarrew.cruiseonegroups.com/OCWBenefitCruise

7

Thank you Texas Legionnaires for your endorsement of me for the high office of National Chaplain. By the time you read this, I will have been sworn in to that position during the National Executive Committee meeting immediately following the adjournment of the 98th National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio last month. I am both honored and humbled by the appointment and thank God for the blessing.

I also thank Commander Walter Ivie for my appointment as Department Chaplain 2016-2017 and the approval of the Department Executive Committee of his appointment. I look forward to continuing with this monthly column of The Chaplain’s Corner.

September contains two important events that are nationally observed: Patriot’s Day and Constitution Day. Without question, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, stunned our country. We Americans acquired a new found sense of our own vulnerability. We were swept away by a surge of patriotism – one that is built on instincts for self-defense, righteousness and the desire to bring to justice those responsible for that horrendous attack on 9/11.

Since then, thousands of American lives have been lost and many thousands more have been seriously wounded in the global war on terror – so that countless millions around the world can one day live in freedom and peace. Let us never forget them and those who are sure to follow. Perhaps we will wake up to the fact that all of the political bickering and posturing that has gone on since 9/11 is aiding and abetting the enemy and encouraging them to commit even more horrific acts of violence.

Remember: “For no man, women or child is an Island, entire of itself; everyone is a piece of the land, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, our country is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any person’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”

Let us honor those men and women now serving in our military and who are paying the ultimate price. For those not with us today, may their souls rest in peace. For those protecting us today, we pray that God will always be at their side to protect them and keep them safe.

A Patriot Day prayer:

Almighty God, the past ten years will be indelibly inscribed in our memories. We looked with horror on the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001,but we looked with honor on acts of courage by ordinary people who sacrificed themselves to prevent further death and destruction.

We shed our tears in a common bond of grief for those we loved and lost. We journeyed through a dark valley, but your light has led us to a place of hope. You have turned our grief into determination. We are resolved to do what is good, and right, and just.

Help us to remember what it means to be Americans— a people endowed with abundant blessings. Help us to cherish the freedoms we enjoy and inspire us to stand with courage, united as one Nation in the midst of any adversity. Amen.

Harvey H. Klee, Department Chaplain 2016-2017National Chaplain 2016-2017www.texaschaplains.org

Chaplain’s Corner

Harvey H. Klee, Department Chaplain 2016-2017

8

Fundraiser nets $1,500 for Greenville Police Department Otho Morgan Post 17 partnered with Mike Castleberry to host a “BACK THE BLUE” Helping Hands Jam on August 19th to raise money and show their support to the Greenville Police Department.

Mike Castleberry along with Larry K. Barney, Thomas Chaney, Geary Cason and Blake Pressley played good ole rock and blues. The post served BBQ brisket sandwiches and conducted a raffle and auction. The proceeds from the event went to the Greenville Police Department.

“You guys do so much for us by putting your lives on the line every day; we want to show our support for you” said George Dierking Post 17 Commander. That is exactly what happened the legion and the citizens of Greenville came together and were able to raise $1,508 dollars from the auction and raffle. “We want to thank everyone involved from our sponsors who donated gift cards and baked goods to the officers and volunteer staff who organized the event” said George.

The American Legion along with Mike Castleberry will be hosting another Helping Hands Jam on September 23rd from 8 to 11PM. Everyone is invited to attend.

Mansfield Texas Post 624 Family helping Veterans

Thank you ALR for escorting American Legion Auxiliary Unit 624 members to deliver the 20+ “move out baskets”, kitchen items and clothing to the Presbyterian Night Shelter on Saturday, August 27, 2016.

A special thank you to Harriott for letting us tour the facility and taking us to the Patriot House and being able to thank Our Vets for their service.

TEXAS VETERANS FREE VEHICLE LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM EXPANDEDA bill was introduced in the Texas Legislation and passed that expanded the free vehicle license plate program for Veterans last summer. The program now includes free plates for more of the military medals that are awarded our servicemen. We encourage you to look into this as you may now qualify. It does require you to have your DD214 to send into Texas Department of Motor Vehicles(SPB), 4000 Jackson Ave, Austin, TX 78731. This takes about 4 weeks to process. For more information call them at 512-374-5010

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