Minutes - April, 2013

Legion Report

by Fred Lee (fotofred4u@q.com)

The William H Crippen Post 62 held their regular meeting on Monday, April 1, with fourteen members present. We had the salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes and treasurer’s report from the previous meeting were read and approved. Our Service Officer was not present, and no one was reported on sick call.

Commander Jerry Corey welcomed our guest and new member, Robert Moore. We also had another new member, Robert Schulte, but he was not present at the meeting.

Fred Lee reported on the County meeting held in Colton this past month. He told everyone that it was a short meeting, and a new County Commander would be elected at the upcoming District Spring meeting in Humboldt on April 7th. The next County meeting would be in Dell Rapids on April 30th.

Americanism Officer Charles Dubbe told everyone present that the Boys Staters had been picked, but he didn’t have any names yet. He also stated that he had not completed his research regarding a raffle and would be giving us a report in the next few months. Patrick Ordal volunteered to help him with this.

There was discussion regarding paying Bob Kueter something for mowing our north side memorial and this was done.

Dave Froke wanted to get a POW flag for our clubrooms and a motion was made to get this done.

There was a motion to give the Schartz family money for travel expenses when they accompany Rachel to the National Oratory contest in Indianapolis in April.

We also discussed the possibility of digging more flag pole holes in the local cemeteries.

Before the meeting ended, Past Commander Francis Sieverding installed the officers for the new Legion year.

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, April 4th. The meeting was called to order by President Connie Meyer with ten members present. Peggy Begeman was our guest. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang our National Anthem and recited the Preamble of our Constitution. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were given.

A donation will be given to Children’s Care Hospital and School. Money will be given to Fred Lee for newsletter expenses and to the Frank Schartz family for expenses for their trip to the National Legion Oratory contest in Indianapolis.

We will sponsor two girls to Girls State. They are Jenna Mammenga and Alanna Schmeichel. The District 7 Girls State tea will be April 14 in Sioux Falls.

Plans for the District 7 Spring meeting which we are hosting were finalized. Several members offered to bring bars. A gift of cash will be given to the District President and State President. We will set up at 12:30 on Sunday.

The Mother’s Tea will be Thursday, May 9, in the Community Center.
Barb Bassett, Agnes Even, and Ann Schartz are on the Memorial Day committee. Six Auxiliary grave markers will be ordered.

The meeting was adjourned. Arlis Hentges won the door prize. Lunch was served by Peggy Begeman, Arlis Hentges and Wanda Artz.

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Minutes - March 2013

Legion Report

by Fred Lee (fotofred4u@q.com)

The William H Crippen Post 62 held their regular meeting on Monday, March 4th, with fourteen members present. The meeting followed a pot luck supper with the Auxiliary members to celebrate the Legion’s 94th Birthday.

We had the salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes and treasurer’s report from the previous meeting were read and approved. Service Officer Ken Struck told those present that Nick Hoek and Francis Grace had been in the hospital and were at home. Commander Corey mentioned that we had had two funerals since our last meeting and thanked those who helped at them. The funerals were for Lawrence Kapaun and Leo Gaspar.
Communications included a letter from Rachel Schartz thanking the post for our support. The Commander read a letter from VA Hospital representative Donna Beck inviting everyone to come to the VA Hospital on Saturday, March 9th, to celebrate the Legion’s 94th birthday with the veterans there.
Fred Lee reported on the County meeting in Brandon this past month. He told everyone that election of new county officers will be next month in Colton at the County meeting on April 26th.
We discussed the State Oratory contest held recently in Oacoma. A photo of the winners was passed around for everyone to see. Rachel Schartz won First Place in the Oratory contest and will compete in the National contest in Indianapolis. Neal & Agnes Even contributed $500 to the Oratory Scholarship fund in their grandchildren’s honor.
Charles Dubbe told the membership of his ideas for a fundraiser and he will get some further ideas on this to report at our next meeting. We need to raise funds to promote the programs of the American Legion.
Before the meeting ended, we held our election of officers. Jerry Corey was elected new Commander; Charles Dubbe, First Vice Commander; Dennis Erickson, Second Vice Commander; Adjutant & Historian, Fred Lee; Finance Officer, Tom Sieverding; Chaplain, Charles Beck; Americanism Officer, Charles Dubbe; Service Officer, Ken Struck; Sergeant-at-Arms, Dave Froke; and Athletic Officer, Tom Puthoff. Ken Struck and Bryon Hahn were elected to three year terms on the Executive Board.
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, March 4th. The meeting was preceded by a pot luck supper in observance of the American Legion’s 94th birthday. The meeting was called to order with eleven members present. Joyce Corey was our guest. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang our National Anthem and recited the Preamble to our Constitution. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were given.
An invitation to the American Legion’s birthday party at the VA Medical Center March 9th was read. The District 7 president’s letter stated a unit is needed to host the Girls State Tea April 14 and reminded us the Americanism poem and essay winners need to be in to her by March 25. A thank you was received from the VA Medical Center for the food trays, hospice baskets and the money for personal care items for the veterans.
Connie Meyer and Donna Beck reported on the Mid-Winter Conference.
Our unit will give $100 to the West Central Athletic Booster’s scholarship.
We will meet March 12 at 7 pm to begin redoing our poppy wreaths.
The Sunshine Committee reported we furnished cakes for the Leo Gaspar funeral and a fruit basket will be taken to Amber Anaeson and children.
Our unit will host the District 7 Spring Meeting on Sunday, April 7, at 2:30 pm. We will plan for one hundred people and serve ham sandwiches, bars, chips and pickles.
The meeting was adjourned. Shirley Price won the door prize.
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2013 State Oratory Contest

The snowstorm on Sunday, February 10th shortened the MidWinter Conference in Chamberlain.
Because of this storm, the State Oratory finals were rescheduled to  the next weekend.
Here are the participants. Click on the photo for a larger image.

 Shown above are our 2013 State Oratorical participants

with their trophies. From left; State Commander Bryon Callies,

Rachel Schartz of Humboldt, First Place winner;

Lauren Fuhr of Spearfish, Second Place winner;

Kimberly Chow of Dakota Dunes, Third Place winner;

Abby Boner of Castlewood, Fourth Place winner;

Logan Welker of Colome, Fifth Place winner;

Cody Gunther of Aberdeen, Sixth Place winner;

and Fred Nelson, State Americanism Chairman.

State Oratorical Contest Winner

By Elizabeth “Sam” Grosz

Sophomore Rachel Schartz, West Central High School, took first place Sunday in the South Dakota American Legion Oratorical Contest, held in Oacoma.

Schartz, the daughter of Frank and Ann Schartz, Humboldt, was one of six students who earlier had won in their districts. She now has the National American Legion Oratorical Contest ahead of her in April, to be held in Indianapolis, Ind.

Second place was Lauren Fuhr, Spearfish, and third was Kimberly Chou, Dakota Dunes. Fuhr will compete nationally if, for some reason, Schartz is unable to do so, said State Americanism Chairman Fred Nelson, Spearfish.

Other winners named were Abbie Boner, Castlewood, fourth; Logan Welker, Colome, fifth; and Cody Gunther, sixth, Aberdeen.

Prizes awarded at this level are scholarships, with Schartz winning $1,000; Fuhr, $500; and Chou, $300. The remaining three each won a $100 scholarship.

Schartz now can look forward to receiving another $1,500 scholarship for participating in the first round of the national contest. Each first-round winner who advances, but does not qualify for the finals receives an additional $1,500 scholarship. However, the three finalists nationally receive $18,000 for the first place, $16,000 for second; and $14,000 for third place.

West Central High School government teacher JoAnn Bohl was instrumental in organizing the local level of the contest, but she, as well as other school officials, was unavailable for comment at press time, due to a school holiday. Eight students participated locally in a two-tier contest that involved all four grades of high school.

The local contest was coordinated by Charles Dubbe, Americanism Officer, William H. Crippen American Legion Post 62. The Humboldt Post also awarded prizes for winners, with Schartz winning a total of $500 between the two local contests. The district competition was held in Humboldt in January, coordinated by District Americanism Officer Doug Meyer, Humboldt.

Joe Schartz, Rachel’s older brother, also competed nationally as a sophomore and as a junior. Rachel Schartz noted that seeing her brother compete had helped her know what to expect. Her speech, which lasted exactly 10 minutes on Sunday, centered on the theme of Betsy Ross and her courage to create the first United States flag. The flag as a symbol of the American Constitution was central to her speech.

Besides the 8-10 minute prepared speech, competitors Sunday were asked to speak 3-5 minutes on one of three Constitutional Amendments. The Amendment drawn was the one dealing with the terms of the presidency. Schartz’s speech lasted 4 minutes and 16 seconds.

Rachel won’t be resting on her laurels, noted her mother. “Now the work begins,” Ann Schartz said, with the polishing and tweaking of her speech that will be delivered again in April in Indianapolis.

MidWinter Conference 2013

Here's a few shots from the weather-shortened MidWinter Conference at Cedar Shores in Chamberlain.

(Click on the photo for a better view.)

National Vice Commander Glenn A Hickman

gives some opening remarks.

Here's a shot of those present Saturday morning

before the weather changed.

Dan Dellinger from the State of Virginia,

Leading Candidate for National Commander 2013-2014

Color Guard from Chamberlain sets up

to bring the Colors forward to start the conference

The calm before the storm

Minutes - February 2013

                                           Legion Report
                                                       by Fred Lee (fotofred4u@q.com)
The William H Crippen Post 62 held their regular meeting on Monday, February 4, with ten members present.
We had the salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes and treasurer’s report from the previous meeting were read and approved. Service Officer Ken Struck was not at the meeting, but left his report with the adjutant, who gave the report. Get well cards and fruit baskets were sent to Dan Pressler, Neal Even and Leonard Meyer. The Commander passed the thank-you card received from Leonard Meyer and he also thanked those who had helped at the funeral detail for Monte Foltz this morning.
Communications included a letter from the Close-Up program at West Central High School. After some discussion on this, a motion was made to donate $100 to this program.
District Americanism officer Douglas Meyer reported on the District 7 Oratory contest that was held in Humboldt recently. There was two contestants and Rachel Schartz, sponsored by the William H Crippen of Humboldt, received 1st Place, and Hope Goode, sponsored by Garretson Post 23, received 2nd Place. Rachel will be our District’s entry at the State Oratory contest in Oacoma on Sunday, February 10th. The Post made a motion to help with some of Rachel’s travel expenses to that contest.
The funeral detail this morning was discussed and everyone was given a new phone listing that will help getting that news to members in the future. We also discussed the possibility of getting and giving mutual help at funerals to surrounding Posts.
We also did some brainstorming about ways to raise needed monies for our various programs. Charles Dubbe had some ideas on a raffle and will report at our next meeting. Others present also will bring ideas to our next meeting.
Next month is the Legion’s birthday and we will have a pot-luck supper at 7 pm to celebrate it. We will also have our election of officers and an election committee was formed for this.
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                                      Auxiliary Report
                                            by Donna Beck
The William H Crippen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 held their regular meeting Monday, February 4th. The meeting was called to order by President Connie Meyer with nine members present. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang our National Anthem and recited the Preamble to our Constitution. The regular reports were given.
We welcomed our new member, Dawn Hahn.
A letter was received from The Dictionary Project thanking us for being part in this great program. It stated our unit has given dictionaries to 888 third grade students over the years.
The Sunshine Committee sent get-well cards to Leonard Meyer and Dan Pressler and visited Neal Even.
A cookbook will be taken to the Mid-Winter Conference for the silent auction. We will donate two boxes of food trays to recreation therapy at the VA Medical Center.
Commander Jerry Corey thanked us for serving lunch at the District 7 Oratory Contest.
A date to redo the Poppy wreath will be set at our next meeting.
We will observe the American Legion’s 94th birthday at our next meeting with a pot luck supper at 7 pm. The Executive board is in charge and dessert will be furnished.
The meeting was adjourned. Barb Bassett won the door prize. Lunch was served by Sheryl Siemonsma and Shirley Price.
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Minutes - January 2013

Legion Report

by Fred Lee (fotofred4u@q.com)

The William H Crippen Post 62 held their regular meeting on Monday, January 7, with ten members present. 

We had the salute to the Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. We welcomed Bryon Hahn to our meeting and he transferred his membership to our Post. Minutes and treasurer’s report from the previous meeting were read and approved. Service Officer Ken Struck was not at the meeting, but left his report with the commander. The Commander said Douglas Meyer had been in the VA hospital recently and he was at the meeting. Doug thanked the Legion for the card and fruit basket that was sent. No one else was reported on sick call.

Communications included a thank-you note from the family of Betty Gaspar for our sympathies.

Commander Jerry Corey announced dates for upcoming events. The next County meeting will be in Baltic on January 29 and the Mid-Winter Conference will be in Oacoma on Feb 8-10. He also thanked those in attendance and the others who had visited Loren Even and Leon Lee at Leisure Living in Hartford in December.

Americanism Officer Charles Dubbe brought everyone up to date on our Oratory contest held recently at West Central High School. He said we had eight contestants for the contest that was held in two stages, finalizing on Friday, January 4, when Rachel Schartz received First Place and will compete in the District 7 Oratory contest on January 13 in the Community Center in Humboldt, starting at 2 pm. The winner of this contest will go on to the State Oratory finals in February in Oacoma. After this discussion a motion was made by Fred Lee, seconded by Derwood Eisenberg, to set up an Oratory committee* to assist the Americanism Officer. 

Charles stated anyone could volunteer to help with this committee.
Douglas Meyer told the membership he will need some help from them at the District Oratory contest that will be held in Humboldt on Sunday, January 13. Those offering to help need to be here prior to 1 pm to set up chairs.

After these discussions, the meeting was adjourned.

*We would really appreciate anyone interested to be on the Oratory committee to contact our Americanism Officer, Charles Dubbe. Your input would make this “Children and Youth” program a great success in the coming years.
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Auxiliary Report

by Donna Beck

The William H Crippen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 held their regular meeting Monday, January 7th. The meeting was called to order by President Connie Meyer with twelve members present. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang our National Anthem and recited the Preamble to our Constitution. The minutes of the previous meeting and treasurer’s reports were given.

A thank-you was received from the town of Humboldt for our part in the successful Turkey Day. The Betty Gaspar family sent a thank-you for the memorial.

The Humboldt Legion will host the District 7 Oratory contest on Sunday, January 13. Our unit will serve bars, coffee and juice. About thirty people are expected.

The Mid-Winter Conference will be in Chamberlain on February 8-10.

The meeting was adjourned. Jean Erickson won the door prize. Lunch was served by Agnes Even and Ann Schartz.
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Oratory Finals

The William H Crippen American Legion Post of Humboldt held the finals for our local Oratory contest recently at West Central High School.
Three students who each received First Place in their respective class contests competed for the Grand Prize of $400 and will compete on Sunday, January 13, in Humboldt at the District 7 Oratory contest. That winner will advance to the State Oratory finals after the Mid-Winter American Legion Conference at the Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma.

 Rachel Schartz, center, was our winner this year and will be our candidate at the District contest. Elizabeth Renner, left, was the second place winner and Melissa Voss, right, was the third place winner. We thank them all for their efforts and interest in the Constitution.