Legion Report
by Fred Lee (fotofred4u@q.com)
The William H Crippen Post 62 held their regular meeting on Monday, December 2nd, with nine members present. This was after a Christmas pot-luck supper with the Auxiliary members. We had the salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer was not at the meeting. Service Officer Ken Struck was not present but others in attendance mentioned that Steve Pressler was feeling better, Myron Schievelbein was at home, Ken Lewin had been in and out of the hospital and Dennis Erickson was taking some rehab.
Fred Lee read a letter from the VAVS. We decided to table any contribution until our next meeting. We gave Charlie Beck a round of applause for his hours of volunteering at the VA Hospital. Fred had a picture of Francis Grace receiving his 50 year plaque and an idea for get well cards. Membership was mentioned and we have five people left to pay.
Charles Dubbe gave a report on the Oratory program. The first round of competition is coming up next week on December 12 in the afternoon at West Central High School. The finals will be on Saturday, January 4, starting at 1 pm. We discussed the rules we would be using in judging at the local level. We hope to have as many Legionnaires are there to help with this program.
Fred Lee discussed the recent County meeting held in Humboldt in November. We had a small turnout but those present did hear about the Sioux Falls school board meeting recently held regarding the Pledge of Allegiance. Bryon Hahn was our speaker and gave an interesting talk about the Humboldt Sharpshooters BB gun club. Our next County meeting will be on Jan 28 in Renner.
There was some discussion about the proposed Veterans memorial. There was some brainstorming on the subject.
After these discussions, the meeting was adjourned.
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Auxiliary Report
by Donna Beck
The William H Crippen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 held their regular meeting Monday, December 2nd in the Community Center. A potluck supper with the Legion preceded the meeting. President Connie Meyer called the informal meeting to order with ten members present. The minutes and treasures reports of the November meeting were given and approved. President Connie Meyer thanked the members for all that was done in November—apples for the teachers, the dictionary project, Give 10 to Education and the soup and pie lunch.
A thank-you was read from Molly Stensaas for the door prize she received on Veterans Day. Principal Mat Alley sent a thank you for acknowledging the teachers during American Education Week and the ten flash drives given to the school. The third grade students all signed a thank you for the dictionaries they received.
Joyce Helgeson is our new member. Membership is now at fifty-two.
Community Service Chairman, Wanda Artz, reported six gifts were sent to those in the military and she has gifts for seventeen shut-ins and nursing home residents. Several members offered to deliver some of the gifts. The Humboldt Blizzard Bazaar will be December 14th at the Trophy Room. There will be food, inflatables, chances on a quilt and other activities. All proceeds will go to support Humboldt’s 125th anniversary celebration.
The money given in lieu of a Christmas gift will be given to the VA Medical Center for the coffee fund. The meeting was adjourned.
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Continuous Membership Awards
Continuous Membership Awards were given out at our Veterans Day potluck supper. Twenty members received recognition for their continuous membership in the American Legion. Jerry Grace, Joni Langley and Dan Pressler had five years. Dale Papka and Joe Sieverding had ten years. Dave Froke had fifteen years. Dennis Burnett, Ed Hartle, David Hoon and John Mallinger had twenty years. Judy Saffell-Klima had twenty-five years. Eric Erickson had thirty years. Bob Mallinger had thirty-five years. Loren Even, Jim Ginsbach, and Bob Hanisch had forty years. Ken Struck had forty-five years. Francis Grace had fifty years and Neal Even and Nick Hoek Jr had sixty years. We congratulate all of them.
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