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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?”

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If a Post Officer is able to mark a Member deceased in MyLegion.org, it is not necessary to notify HQ via paper or email of the status.  A bi-monthly report of the recently updated status will automatically notify HQ that the Member is deceased and will appear in a report run for the “Last Bugle” publication in the Badger Legionnaire.

An email or paper copy of the Member Data Form or “Last Bugle” notification form is only necessary if the Post Officers are unable to use MyLegion.org to complete the updates.  If the Member Data Form is used, please only use one-ply of the form (save the other 3-plys for other notifications).  HQ no longer needs multiple copies.

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The Headquarters Building will be CLOSED  from 9/26/2022-10/7/2022 for renovation.  HQ and ALA Staff will be available by phone, voice mail and/or email.  However, if you need anything, please let us know as soon as possible as our capabilities will be limited due to lack of access to files and supplies during the renovation.

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1st District Service Officer Richard Strehlow’s outstanding report is now available here. Check out the “Document Repository” menu for the page.

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This isn’t about numbers of members, but it is about what the numbers represent.  This is about serving our fellow Veterans and their families.  This is about maintaining the Legacy that has been passed on to us.  This is about service to our communities, the State, and Nation.

The Good News: We are on track and actually ahead of National’s membership goals for us.

The “Bad” News: We have less than 4% “market penetration.” Even when we hit the goals that Department and National have set for us, we will only have 7% of the Veterans in our 5 Counties belonging to this OUTSTANDING organization.  There are about 72,400 Veterans living in Kenosha, Racine, Rock, Walworth, and Waukesha Counties.  Those veterans and their families need us to lead them into this Legacy.  They need us to tell them the story of The American Legion.  They need us to remind them of their obligations to their community, State, and Nation.  They need us to bring them along into the future of The American Legion and the future of “…the real America, the America worth fighting for.”

So, NOW IS THE TIME! Now is the time to call and talk to our current members.  Challenge them to maintain their commitment to this organization.  Now is the time to call and talk to those who recently joined and are being carried on the 2930 list.  Now is the time to call those on the 2930 list from 2022 and 2021 and challenge them to renew their commitment; to remind them of the WIN that The American Legion just got for them out of Congress and the VA with the passage of the PACT Act.  Send letters, call on the phone, text message, and even knock on doors.

County Commanders, please elicit from your Posts the dates of their membership rallies that are to be held NLT November 13TH.  This can also be done by your County as a whole at the same time and location.  I am happy to be present and make calls along with the rest of your leadership team.  The more wins we have NOW, the easier March, April, and May will be.

Thank you for your hard work to date.  It isn’t about the membership numbers to me, except that they reflect our impact on the lives of Veterans, on the community, on America.  “To whom much is given, much is expected.” We have been given a legacy and we must not only maintain it, we must strengthen it and pass it on.

Bond

D1 Commander

262-215-3481

PS: Thanks again to all of you who were at the POW/MIA Silent March.  

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This year’s First District Silent March was in a beautiful place on a perfect day. We were joined by Local Police and the Elkhorn VFW. The following Posts participated in the march: 21, 24 45 135, 172, 183, 188, 327, Also participating were the Department ALA units 35 24 and 95, SAL Squadrons, and the Legion Rider Officers. Also participating were the Local VFW District officers. Commander Bond noted that Veterans from different organizations participating in events such as together is important to the Veteran Community.

Check out the “Media” menu above to get to a photo album of the event.

Commander Bond’s remarks follow:

There are One-thousand, five-hundred, four Wisconsinites unaccounted for from conflicts involving the United States since December 1941.

No group has invested more in The United States of America than her military veterans and their families.  We are the ones who have risked life and limb. We are the ones who have given blood, sweat, and tears. We are the ones who have been witness to the sacrifices of our comrades, even the ultimate sacrifice.  No one is more invested in America than we are.

We the members of The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars are here today because of those 1,504 Wisconsinites and the other nearly 80,000 unaccounted for US military-service members. We are here to remember them.  We are here to remember the families who do not know the fate of their Solider, Marine, Sailor, Airman, or Coast-Guardsman.

We are not just here to remember though.  We are here to insist that the efforts for a full accounting of these individuals be continued; that these families receive the closure they deserve.  We are here to insist that the efforts—both nationally and here in Wisconsin—to complete this noble effort, be fully funded.    We call upon the candidates for the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor’s office to commit to fully funding The University of Wisconsin Missing-In-Action Recovery and Identification Project.  The Project’s team members recover, identify, and repatriate the remains of U.S. service members by conducting annual field excavations and year-round research assistance to families of missing service members. The project consists of an interdisciplinary team of academic experts and student volunteers in the fields of history, archaeology, forensic anthropology, and biology, all collaborating to make the mission a success.  Our Wisconsin Leaders must fully fund this project’s mission.

So, thank you all for being here today, and thank you in advance for calling your preferred candidate and asking for their commitment to funding the UW’s MIA Recovery and Identification Project.

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On Saturday, 13 August at Lake Geneva Post 24 the Legion Wisconsin 1st District had their officer installation ceremony and annual Christmas party. Check out photo’s of the event from the “Media” Menu.

Commander Len Jegerski’s Post 24 put on a very nice event. The company and the food were top notch! Thank you Post 24 for your outstanding effort!

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Installation Ceremony Speech, August 13, 2022, Lake Geneva Post 24

Greetings Fellow Legionnaires,

No group has invested more in The United States of America than her military veterans and their families.  We are the ones who have risked life and limb. We are the ones who have given blood, sweat, and tears. We are the ones who have been witness to the sacrifices of our comrades, even the ultimate sacrifice.  No one is more invested in America than we are.

LEGACY: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Since even before World War One, the idea of The American Legion began to take shape.  Theodore Roosevelt Jr recognized the need to not only prepare America for the coming war in Europe, but for its aftermath as well.  The American Legion has led the way in not only caring for veterans and their families, but in promoting a strong National Defense, maintaining Law and Order, and preparing our Nation’s youth to be the leaders of tomorrow.  We have been given a tremendously successful organization. Now what will we do to ensure it remains successful after we are gone?  How are we preparing future veterans take on the duties of the American Legion? What systems are we putting in place at each of our Posts so the next leader can take over and carry the organization forward?  What are YOU doing to make sure the next Legionnaire is ready and has the tools to be successful?

EDUCATION: Whether you have been a Legionnaire for 5 days or 55 years, there is always more to learn about The American Legion. There is always more to learn about how to adapt past successes and make them future successes. There is always more to learn; there is always more to teach.  We must educate ourselves.  Everyone should take the “Basic Training Course” and the Wisconsin American Legion College’s “Basic—Intermediate—Advance” courses, plus look into the other courses available through the College.  Just as important as educating ourselves, we must educate our communities about who we are and what we do.  “Acta non Verba” Deeds not Words! It is by doing Legion Programs in our communities that we best educate our friends, neighbors, and fellow veterans about The American Legion.  But, we must also learn to share our story. We must “be ready both in season and out” to teach our communities who we are and what we do.  “Words without deeds are hollow and useless, but deeds without words are forgotten.”

ASSISTANCE: “…to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.” If we don’t take care of our fellow veterans and their families, how can we expect anyone else to?  I joined the American Legion to do just that, take care of my fellow veterans and their families. This is my priority.  I ask that you make it yours as well.

DUTY: We are, of course, all volunteers.  We have taken on these obligations of our own free will.  Your fellow Legionnaires are counting on YOU and me to keep our programs strong; to keep The American Legion Legacy alive.  The most important duty YOU have is finding and preparing your replacement. I suggest you start by making a list of all the things you personally do for your Post.  Then make a checklist of the tasks you take to get those things done. Then share that checklist with others, so the duties you have assumed can be passed on.

So the bottom line is this: I am asking each of you to LEAD!

Lead by example.  Take the Basic Training Course (https://www.legion.org/alei).  Send me your Certificate and paid invoice for your pin and I will pay—out of my own pocket—for it.  Then take the Wisconsin American Legion College courses.

Lead by example.  Make sure your contact information is up to date; that you have a functioning email account that you routinely check.  Younger veterans consider email a normal (old fashion) way of communicating and expect to get emails from you.  If you can’t communicate, you can’t lead.

Lead by example. Download the Administrative Manual (https://wilegion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021-2022-Admin-Membership-Manual-Final-2.pdf), and use it.  Be sure to courtesy copy both your County Adjutant and the District Adjutant on your communications with Department.

Lead by example.  Treat your American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion as equal partners in achieving the mission.  They want your Post to be successful!  Help them to help you by including them in the planning of your events and the decision making about what direction to go in.

Lead by example. Attend your County Council meetings.  If you as the Commander can’t make it—none of us can make every meeting—be sure to send one of your Vice-Commanders or your Adjutant.  You should also plan to host a County Council meeting.

Lead by example.  Get your house in order first. There are many problems at the County, District, Department, and National levels of the American Legion.  We are aware of them.  Let’s get our houses in order first, before we complain about what is going wrong elsewhere.  We can’t fix other people’s problems, but we can make sure that we fix our own.  “Remove the spec of sawdust from your own eye before trying to remove the log from your brother’s eye.”

Lead by example. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

“To whom much is given, much is expected.”  I expect great things from you.  I believe in your ability to keep the American Legion Legacy alive and well.  I believe in your ability to be educated and educate others about the American Legion.  I believe you will do great things to provide for the needs of our fellow veterans and their loved ones.  I believe you will rise to the challenges your Duty poses.  

Now, please share with me your expectations of ME and my officers.  I respond best to emails (nmorganbond@gmail.com), and I can be reached at my cell-phone too (262-215-3481).

Thank you,

Nathan M. Bond
District 1 Commander