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The 86th Annual High School Oratorical Regional and Final Contests will be on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at Ripon College. For more informatio, check out this wilegion.org webpage: https://wilegion.org/oratorical-scholarships/

The opening ceremony begins promptly at 8:30.

Here’s what’s at stake:

Scholarship Opportunities

  • Participants eliminated from competition at the Regional level receive $600
  • 3 Regional Winners receive $1,000 and compete for the State title
  • State 2nd runner-up receives an additional $1,000
  • State 1st runner-up receives an additional $1,500

Department winner receives an additional $2,000The Department Winner also competes for additional scholarship money at the National level in Indianapolis, IN.

  • Every contestant that participates in the first round receives $2,000
  • Second round eliminations from competition receive an additional $2,000
  • National 2nd runner-up receives $20,000
  • National 1st runner-up receives $22,500

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If you have never been to an American Legion Oratorical Contest, you might consider attending. The dedication the young contestants show is very impressive, and their talks are always worth a listen. Please join us at:

Mukwonago Post 375
627 E. Veterans Way
Mukwonago, WI 53149

Doors open at 12:30 — Program beginning at 1:00

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Do you want to improve your Post? Do you want to take your American Legion membership to the next level? If so, consider attending the Department of Wisconsin’s MidWinter Conference.

There is a small admission fee of just $20 if you send in the Registration before January.  The training classes, interesting meetings, and camaraderie more than make up for it. Not to mention the pins and doo-dads available at the vendor tables.  It won’t hurt to click this Midwinter Conference link to see what they have to offer.  Also, it will give you a chance to take a look at the Department’s website!

You and your Post will be better for going!

By the way, did you know that the Department has a Facebook Page!

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Commander Bond made time to attend the Kenosha County Common Council monthly meeting and holiday party hosted by Twin Lakes Post 544.   He talked fondly about one of his long time Legion mentors, Past Department Commander Bud Mautz, who transferred to Post Everlasting recently.

The Commander discussed membership and it’s importance to the Legion. Also of great importance were the members themselves. He beseeched everyone to “Call Some One” as it is the season for buddy checks.  He summed up his talk stating that our fellow veterans need us, and to “Make sure that we are there for them”.

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On December 23rd Post 522 will be host a Tom & Jerry Party at David Leet Post 522, Village of Somers. Bring a friend and celebrate the holidays!

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Good Afternoon,

I just wanted to let you know that the sponsorship packets for Badger Boys State were mailed out today!

The 80th session of Badger Boys State will be held June 11-17, 2023 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The cost of sponsorship for the 2023 session will be $400 per delegate. Your generous donation ensures that we can welcome citizens to our program at no cost to them.

Attached is an electronic copy of the sponsorship materials. If you know of anyone who might be interested in sponsoring a student to Badger Boys State please feel free to share this information with them. We always have students in need of a sponsor.

If you have any questions or need a sponsorship packet mailed to someone who did not receive one please contact Sheri Hicks at Legion HQ at (608) 745-1090.

Your sponsorship and support of Badger Boys State are greatly appreciated.

Bill Cosh

Director
Badger Boys State
(608) 770-1282
billcosh@hotmail.com

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Greetings,

If you haven’t signed up for the Digital Dispatch yet, I urge you to do so.  There is always interesting information!

This dispatch includes a “ROAD MAP TO MYLEGION” that every Legionnaire should read and take action on.

Membership: Numbers don’t matter, its the people that they represent that matter!  Our numbers don’t lie though.  County Commanders, please look at those Posts that are falling back.  We can’t wait for Legionnaires to come to us.  We must go out and recruit them, and we must remind our current members why they joined.

Regards,
Bond
D1 Commander

Do you know what myLegion.org is? If you don’t you are really missing out on some great information about your membership. There are five main sections of the website:

  1. My Account – This is where you update the personal information that you would like to share with the Legion. Among many other things, you can print your membership card.
  2. Member Discounts – Discounts have never been easier to research as they are organized by type, for example Medical, Auto Rental, Moving & Relocation, Travel, and other sections
  3. Subscriptions – You can view a digital version of The American Legion Magazine, The Dispatch, and you can Opt in or out of email for various merchandise offers, media newsletters, and Membership news. You can even sign up for a Flag Alert that lets you know when the US Flag should be lowered to half mast.
  4. There is a section that allows you to Donate to your favorite Legion initiative. There are probably a few that you didn’t know about.
  5. There is also a Contact section that has all the important Legion phone numbers and email addresses.

Click this link to get started. It’s Free with your membership.

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The 1st District Fall Conference this past weekend was hosted by Waterford Post 20.

Department of Wisconsin Commander Julie Muhlie Addressing the 2022 Fall Conference

Commander Nathan Bond talked again about the 72,400 veterans in the 1st District that are not members of The American Legion, and our goal as a district is to get just 5233 of those people to renew / join this membership year, the “most important veterans organization that ever existed” The Commander stressed that the numbers are not important, it’s the people that they represent that are the reason that The American Legion exists. During his talk, he mentioned some of The American Legion’s accomplishments including some from this list…

Pushed for a Federal Veterans Bureau that became the forerunner of today’s Department of Veterans Affairs

Began sponsoring Boy Scout troops

Drafted the first flag code in 1923

At the forefront of efforts to gain a constitutional amendment to protect the Flag from physical desecration

Drafted the original GI Bill of Rights

Championed the GI Bill of the 21st century

Established a youth baseball program in 1925 where 65 percent of professional baseball players today got their start

Created Boys State and Boys Nation

Fosters a greater understanding of the U. S. Constitution through a High School Oratorical Scholarship Program

Spoke out as early as 1966 about the fate of American POWs and MIAs in Vietnam

Was the largest single financial contributor to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington

Raised over 4.5 million dollars for the World War II Memorial

Took the federal government to court for its failure to pursue the effects of agent orange on Vietnam Veterans

Formed the “Family Support Network” to assist families of service men and women

Formed a special task force to assist Persian Gulf Veterans and their families for undiagnosed illnesses

Presented Congress with a dramatic new plan to reform and revitalize the VA health care system by calling for the VA to accept Medicare and opening it up to all veterans

Offers free advice and representation on VA benefits and claims

Fought for veterans benefits; a strong military; moral upbringing of this nation’s youth; a strong national defense; Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation; children and youth Americanism

One important announcement was the new First District webpage, https://1dwilegion.org. Commander Bond’s wishes that department business have a home base on the internet have resulted In the website where you are probably reading this article. In the coming days, all reports and documents will be available here. Keep an eye on the “Document Repository” menu.

The facility picked by Post 20 was well suited to the conference, and the food and amenities were top notch. Thanks to Post 20 Commander James Cairo, IT Support and Social Media Officer, B. Shane Morris, and Post 20 Membership for all they did to make the conference a success.

Photographs of the event can be found under the Media menu.

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1st District Commander Nathan Bond with Kenosha County Commander Tom Visintainer addressing Kenosha County leadership.

72,400! Do you know what that number is and what it represents? First District Commander, Nathan Bond, wants you to know! This is the approximate number of veterans in First District.  “THE MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS DON’T MATTER! It is the veterans and their families that those numbers represent that matter,” said Cmdr Bond.

Cmdr Bond reiterated to the Kenosha County Post Commanders his dedication to increasing the membership of the “most important veterans organization that ever existed.” He continued, “Our membership mission is to let as many of the 72,400 know what we do. It’s not the number of times you ask someone to join, it’s them wanting to join that’s important, and you need to tell them why they want to join this winning team… It should be our goal to let every one of the 72,400 know, as often as possible, what we are doing.  Because, they want to know; they need to know. They want to continue their service to the country, and they want to be part of a winning team! Isn’t that why you joined?”