1 | "Serving Those Who Served...Full Steam Ahead" | Round-Up

Round-Up The Newsletter of Sons of The American Legion Central Region

Volume 2 – Issue 46 – September 20, 2020 Gentlemen, When we look at the September 17 National Mem-bership Report, we will see that the Central Region leads the nation in the number of members paid, with 20,198. This is an impressive feat and is in line with what we did last year. Because of our size, we do not hold the same distinction when it comes to our percentage, which is 15.22 and a third-place ranking. How can we change this? One way is to keep plugging away at our renewals. Get your members to pay now. Remind them that dues are now payable, and that waiting is not how we do things anymore. Let’s work hard to spread the word and change how we do business. For the 2021 membership year, I plan to set up vis-its where we can have membership round-ups. I will visit as many Detachments as I can, and hope we can get a lot of cards turned in. This does not mean that we should hold cards and wait for the round-up. If you have cards, turn them using MySAL. Another area we need to look at is which Squadrons have not filed an Officer Certification Form or a Consolidated Squadron Report. In some Detach-ments, Squadrons cannot receive their new mem-bership cards without hiving filed these two very important documents. These forms are not sugges-tions. The national organization requires them. If you know of any Squadrons that have not met their requirements, please print the two forms, and go visit the Commander. Ask that they be completed and send them in yourself. This will help with our reporting to The American Legion, and in some cases will enable Squadrons to begin their member-ship program. With football returning to the Big Ten Conference, many of our Posts that can be will be the gathering

place to watch our favorite college teams. This is a great opportunity to work on our membership pro-gram, as many Sons will be in attendance. For those to come to watch who haven’t paid their 2021 dues, maybe make it a contest. Get as many as you can to pay that day and have a drawing for them. Maybe the winner gets a small prize, a drink at the canteen, or whatever fits your situation. Let every-one know your plans to gain greater attendance (following health guidelines) and see how it goes. If successful, continue having similar events to help retain and grow your membership. Who’s next? Please let us know how your membership program is going so the entire Central Region can celebrate your accomplishments. As always, please do not hesitate to contact NVC Doc Pfeiffer or me if you need help with anything. Thanks for your support of this publication! Continue “Serving those who served…full steam ahead!” Who’s next? Proud Possessor of a Priceless Heritage,

#SALSTRONG

Jeff Vrabel, Sr. Central Region Chairman

Sons of The American Legion National Membership Committee

jeffvrabelsr@gmail.com

Serving Those Who Served… Full Steam Ahead

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2021 Membership Report

09/17/20

Region Goal Actual

Needed

for Quota Percent DifferenceSouthern 42,775 9,266 (33,509) 21.662% 33,509 Midwest 30,377 5,463 (24,914) 17.984% 24,914 Central 132,706 20,198 (112,508) 15.220% 112,508 Western 26,405 3,728 (22,677) 14.119% 22,677 Eastern 146,287 10,886 (135,401) 7.442% 135,401 TOTALS 378,550 49,541 (329,009) 13.087% 329,009

4,787

Detachment Goal Actual

Needed

for Quota Percent Difference1 Illinois * 14,547 4,802 (9,745) 33.010% 9,745 2 Wisconsin * 3,745 1,122 (2,623) 29.960% 2,623 3 Iowa * 4,376 807 (3,569) 18.441% 3,569 4 Indiana * 39,365 5,677 (33,688) 14.421% 33,688 5 Minnesota * 11,749 1,642 (10,107) 13.976% 10,107 6 Ohio 31,134 4,056 (27,078) 13.028% 27,078 7 Michigan 24,084 1,935 (22,149) 8.034% 22,149 8 Missouri 3,706 157 (3,549) 4.236% 3,549

TOTALS 132,706 20,198 112,508 15.220% 112,508 * Met Sept. 10, 2020 goal of 10%

Detachment Goal Actual

Needed

for Quota Percent DifferenceWisconsin 3,745 1,122 (2,623) 29.960% 2,623 Iowa 4,376 807 (3,569) 18.441% 3,569 Missouri 3,706 157 (3,549) 4.236% 3,549 TOTALS 11,827 2,086 (9,741) 52.638% 9,741

Detachment Goal Actual

Needed

for Quota Percent DifferenceIllinois 14,547 4,802 (9,745) 33.010% 9,745 Minnesota 11,749 1,642 (10,107) 13.976% 10,107 TOTALS 26,296 6,444 (19,852) 46.986% 19,852

Detachment Goal Actual

Needed

for Quota Percent DifferenceIndiana 39,365 5,677 (33,688) 14.421% 33,688 Ohio 31,134 4,056 (27,078) 13.028% 27,078 Michigan 24,084 1,935 (22,149) 8.034% 22,149 TOTALS 94,583 11,668 (82,915) 35.483% 82,915

2020 - 2021 MEMBERSHIP

Membership ahead of 2020

Red Division

White Division

Blue Division

2021 Renewal Report

09/14/20

Region

2020

Total

2021

Renewed Percent DifferenceSouthern 42,862 7,183 16.76% 35,679 Midwest 28,449 4,183 14.70% 24,266 Central 125,864 15,198 12.07% 110,666 Western 25,639 2,659 10.37% 22,980 Eastern 135,673 7,536 5.55% 128,137 TOTALS 358,487 36,759 10.25% 321,728

Detachment

2020

Total

2021

Renewed Percent Difference1 Illinois 14,414 4,550 31.57% 9,864 2 Wisconsin 3,962 856 21.61% 3,106 3 Iowa 4,631 503 10.86% 4,128 4 Indiana 36,245 4,008 11.06% 32,237 5 Minnesota 11,056 1,421 12.85% 9,635 6 Ohio 29,705 2,656 8.94% 27,049 7 Michigan 22,807 1,088 4.77% 21,719 8 Missouri 3,044 116 3.81% 2,928

TOTALS 125,864 15,198 12.07% 110,666

Detachment

2020

Total

2021

Renewed Percent DifferenceWisconsin 3,962 856 21.61% 3,106 Iowa 4,631 503 10.86% 4,128 Missouri 3,044 116 3.81% 2,928 TOTALS 8,593 1,359 32.47% 7,234

Detachment

2020

Total

2021

Renewed Percent DifferenceIllinois 14,414 4,550 31.57% 9,864 Minnesota 11,056 1,421 12.85% 9,635 TOTALS 25,470 5,971 44.42% 19,499

Detachment

2020

Total

2021

Renewed Percent DifferenceIndiana 36,245 4,008 11.06% 32,237 Ohio 29,705 2,656 8.94% 27,049 Michigan 22,807 1,088 4.77% 21,719 TOTALS 88,757 7,752 24.77% 81,005

2020 - 2021 RENEWALS

Red Division

White Division

Blue Division

COVER PHOTO: United State Supreme Court https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Supreme_Court_Building

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2021 National Target Date

October 15, 2020

25%

Sons of The American Legion Membership Committee Call

6:00 PM MST Call in # (515) 604-9644 Access Code: 889133

http://join.freeconferencecall.com/jrnavarr The National Membership Committee holds its monthly Conference Calls on the third Tuesday of each month. It is important that we get the message out to as many Membership Chairmen as possible. Please share this with your District and Squadron leadership and ask them to join us.

Birthday Wishes The Detachment of Michigan is asking for your help. Mr. Veldman turns 99 on September 29. Post 9 has arranged for a birthday drive by at his house that day. They are also having as many peo-ple as possible send a card to Mr. V. to the Post ad-dress: Muskegon Post 9, PO Box 4186, Muskegon, Michigan 49444. Let’s all try to send a card and completely over-whelm him on his 99th!

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JOIN DONATE RENEW

Dear American Legion Family Members and Friends, It’s been a little more than a year since the LEGION Act was signed into law, which extended the ongoing de-clared period of war back to Dec. 7, 1941. The act paved the way to honor thousands of veterans who were killed or wounded on duty during periods not previously con-sidered wartime.

Notably for The American Le-gion the LEGION Act — Let Everyone Get Involved in Op-portunities for National Service Act — filled in the gaps of mem-bership eligibility. What that means for us is that any veteran with an honorable discharge who served since the day Pearl Harbor was attacked is now eli-

gible to join The American Legion. For these newly eligible members — roughly 4.2 million — it means they can now join the nation’s largest and most influential veterans service organization and enjoy the rewards of membership. But many of these now-eligible members don’t yet real-ize they can join. They have tried to sign up in the past, only to learn they were not eligible due to the previous definitions of war periods. So, it is up to us to spread the word and let these deserv-ing veterans know that we are now allowed to welcome them into our family. And what better of a time to do that than this week — American Legion Day is Sept. 16. As you reach out to these non-members, here are some things to know about the LEGION Act.

But communicating with these eligible members is not limited to just today or this week. I know that many of you are planning Veterans Day activities at your post or elsewhere in your community. Be sure to invite these eligible members to these events. What a wonderful opportunity to welcome them and demonstrate how we continue to serve our great nation, states, and communities. And now, these newly eligible members are not only able to observe the great commu-nity service we provide, they can serve with us. Stay safe, my friends and comrades. For God and country,

James W. “Bill” Oxford National Commander The American Legion

Veterans Employment & Education Commission

Gentlemen, I would like to ask all Central Re-gion Commanders and Adjutants to send their Detachment Veterans Employment & Education and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation representatives to me as soon as you can. Thank you!!!

Thom Skelley, Chairman Sons of The American Legion Veterans Employment & Education Commission (818) 810-0109 thomskelley@twc.com

"Serving Those Who Served... Full Steam Ahead”

VE&E Monthly Conference Third Wednesday @ 8:00 p.m. eastern

(605) 313-4111 – Pin 893821

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2020 Detachment Membership Standings as of September 14, 2020

DET GOAL ACTUAL %

IA Q1 4,375 4,631 105.851

WI Q2 3,744 3,962 105.823

IL 14,546 14,414 99.093

OH 31,133 29,705 95.413

MI 24,083 22,807 94.702

MN 11,748 11,056 94.110

IN 39,364 36,245 92.077

MO 3,705 23,044 82.159

TOTALS 132,698 125,864 94.850 Q = QUOTA – CONGRATULATIONS!!! = All Time High

2020 National Membership Standings

as of September 14, 2020

REGION GOAL ACTUAL %

Southern Q 42,763 42,862 100.232

Western 26,395 25,639 97.136

Central 132,698 125,864 94.850

Midwest 30,366 28,449 93.687

Eastern 146,273 135,673 92.753

TOTALS 378,495 358,487 94.714 Q = QUOTA – CONGRATULATIONS!!!

-13,384 ahead of last year

2020 Detachment Renewal Rates as of September 15, 2020

DET 2019 RENEWED %

IA 4,452 4,122 92.59

IL 14,431 13,253 91.84

OH 30,456 27,431 90.07

WI 3,945 3,500 88.72

MN 11,565 10,173 87.96

MI 24,126 20,786 86.16

IN 38,876 33,007 84.90

MO 3,485 2,761 79.23

TOTALS 131,336 114,960 87.59

2020 National Renewal Rates

as of September 15, 2020

REGION 2019 RENEWED %

Central 131,317 115,033 87.59

Eastern 144,840 124,641 86.04

Southern 42,858 36,416 84.93

Midwest 29,920 25,061 83.74

Western 26,524 21,467 80.91

TOTALS 375,540 322,387 85.85