The American Legion Department of Kansas
E-NEWSLETTER 1314 SW Topeka Blvd Topeka, KS, 66612-1886
The Voice for Today’s Veterans and Military February 2021
Department Commander Marri Krupco
Department Adjutant Jimmie L. Foster
Notes from the Department Commander
Greetings Kansas American Legion!
I would like to take a moment to thank the Independence American Legion Family and the City of Independence for their gracious hospitality during the Mid-Winter Forum. It is obvious that the city and the Legion Family have a great relationship, Memorial Hall is a wonderful facility and without that relationship we might not have had the good fortune to use the building. With that in mind, thank you again to the Independence American Legion Family, this time for all the hard work you do in your community throughout the year, it does not go unnoticed.
Even though we had good attendance at the event, there are still many that were unable to attend. I am going to explain a few of the things those people missed out on, as we had some exciting announcements. Before I get started on that I wanted to thank everyone that attended for being so generous with their time and with their money. The Children and Youth auction was a success raising over $2,000, over $800 was due to our very own Adjutant Jimmie Foster being such a good sport and taking a pie in the face from PDC Bob Munson. If you would like to see the video
evidence it can be found on various attendees Facebook pages. Although that had a lot of people laughing it wasn’t the only highlight of the weekend, here are a few more.
• At this time the Cadet Law Committee anticipates having a 2021 session. There may be a few extra restrictions but the Kansas Highway Patrol is currently willing to help with an in-person session.
• Boy’s State looks like it will be in-person, also with some extra precautions being taken and restrictions in place. Boy’s State Executive Director Tom Wierman mentioned that Girl’s State would be held virtually this year and that a virtual session was still possible for Boy’s State. The Committee and Boy’s State staff are making plans for both with the virtual session as a backup plan. Watch for more information about Boy’s State and possibly Cadet Law in a second eNewsletter this month.
• Kansas plans to have a Baseball Season even if National shuts down their portion. If that happens, we will go back to using the old-style paper forms. For more information about Kansas American Legion Baseball contact Jeff Bond at headquarters.
• There are currently two bills in the Kansas House of Representatives that will hopefully get the ball rolling on a new Veterans Home in North East Kansas. Currently Kansas has two homes for Veterans, one in Winfield and one at Fort Dodge, there isn’t one in the most populated part of the state. Please consider reaching out to your representatives and asking them to support both HB2020 and HB2021.
• Department Vice-Commander Ehart announced that there is now a new membership initiative, please read his letter for more information about that and check out the flyer attached to this eNewsletter.
• I am excited to announce we have a new tool to improve communication in the Department! We are providing an email address for all Department officers, Past Department Commanders, District Commanders, District Vice-Commanders, District Adjutants, Post Commanders, and Post Adjutants. This is free of charge to the Districts and Posts. Please encourage your Post Commanders and Adjutants to reach out to their District representatives for instructions on how to access this new tool. District Officers should be in touch, but why wait for them to contact you!
• To go along with the new email addresses there will be a new website. Within the first part of February the new and improved Department website will be live! Kansaslegion.org will be the new url and improvements will continue over the next several months. If you have any
suggestions please send me an email at [email protected]
Department Oratorical contest is right around the corner on March 13th at 9am at the Manhattan Post. I have found it’s much easier to explain to a youth about the program if you have been to a contest before so I encourage you to attend. I learn something new every year from these outstanding future leaders.
For God & Country
Marri Krupco
Department of Kansas Commander
Notes from the Department Vice-Commander and Membership Chairman
Greetings Legionnaires,
I am writing this as the Mid-Winter Forum in Independence has just been completed. I was
encouraged to see so many membership prizes still be won, for individual accomplishments, posts completed achievements, and several district memberships awards as well. I was encouraged because despite all the shutdowns, restrictions, and rules in place this last year, the members of The American Legion still stood strong and promoted this great organization. You all never cease to amaze me with your dedication, loyalty, and commitment to serving our area veterans and their families. Congratulations to all the winners of the prizes and awards that were achieved this weekend, well deserved by all.
I have written about our national quota target dates before, but not sure I have written of the significance of hitting those dates. Like individuals, posts, or districts within our Department win prizes and awards for hitting quota percentages by certain dates, our Department can also win prizes for hitting our target quota by certain dates. Good news is we made our January goal of 80% of our total quota. Mid-February is our next target date, and our goal is 85% of our total membership quota, with some work that goal is attainable also.
Attached this month is a flyer announcing this year’s membership campaign. If you recruit a new member between February 1, 2021 and May 1, 2021, you have a chance to enter a drawing to win $500, as does your post, and the new member. The total payout for this membership campaign will be $1800, so there are multiple ways you could win the drawing and win some serious cash at
Department Convention. Every new member between now and May 1st can be a chance to win, there is no limit so get out there and start recruiting.
We have great things going on around our State in The American Legion! If there is anything I can do for you, or an event or activity you would like me to attend, please let me know.
Semper Fi!
Jeremy Ehart
Department Vice-Commander
Department Adjutant's Newsletter February 2021
LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE: Call 1-800-432-3924 to learn the status of a bill or leave a message
for your State Senator or Representative.
RENEWAL TARGET #5: All unpaid and paid members whose membership cards are not
received in Topeka by February 10, 2021 will receive a national dues renewal notice around
March 1. All Posts are urged to conduct membership drives to help Kansas meet its nationally
assigned target. Do not hold members’ cards--transmit them to Headquarters at least every two
weeks. Please do your part.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications for the “Eagle Scout of the Year,” “Albert M. Lappin,” “Ted
and Nora Anderson,” “Hugh M. Smith,” “Music,” “Rosedale,” “Charles and Annette Hill” and
“Shooting Sports” are available on the Kansas American Legion website www.ksamlegion.org.
Click on Programs on the top and then Scholarships. The “S.A.L. Jay B. Thielen Scholarship”
and S.A.L. U. S. ‘Udie’ Grant Scholarship” are available on the S.A.L. website www.kssal.org.
These represent $14,800 in scholarships available to Kansas students. Make sure your
community knows about them. Deadline for applying is February 15, 2021.
CADET LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY: Information on the Cadet Law Enforcement
Academy is enclosed with this Adjutants Letter. Dates are June 6 - 11, 2021.
BOYS STATE will be held on the Kansas State University Campus, June 6 - 12, 2021.
Applications have been mailed to all Posts and High Schools and past sponsors. Deadline for
applying is April 30; additional applications are available online at www.kansasboysstate.org or
by calling 866-241-9920.
RENEWAL POST CARDS: Department Headquarters has a supply of the 2021 Membership
Renewal Post Cards. These post cards can be very effective when sent to delinquent members.
Contact Headquarters with the number that you need.
SERVICE OFFICER REPORTS have been mailed to all Post Service Officers. Reports must be
completed and returned to: The American Legion DSO, 1314 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS
66612 by March 1, 2021. An additional copy is enclosed.
CHILDREN & YOUTH REPORTS are due to your District Chairman no later than your District
Convention. Report forms have been mailed to District Chairmen for distribution to Posts.
POST CONSOLIDATED REPORTS will again be sent to the Posts by Department
Headquarters. They will be sent to the Post Adjutants shortly.
POST DATA FORM will be enclosed with the Consolidated Report. This report is very
important as it will contain the information for your Renewal Notices.
STATE CONVENTION: Dates for 2021 are May 14, 15, 16, 2021. This year’s State Convention
will be held at the Ramada Hotel, 420 SE 6th St., in Topeka.
STATE CONVENTION HOUSING: As in the past, Posts who reach or exceed their
membership quota by February 15, will be given priority housing at the State Convention. Posts
with priority housing status must exercise their option by March 15 after such time housing
availability is open to everyone on a first come, first served basis. Priority housing winners will
be notified when they start making their reservations.
POST ADJUTANTS be sure to notify Department Headquarters of any changes or corrections in
Post Officers or changes in their addresses. Notify Department Headquarters separately from the
Member Data form sent to National (Post Officers only).
POST HISTORIES AND SCRAPBOOKS must be certified by their respective District before
they can be considered for state and national competition. Certification forms are enclosed;
please see that your Post Historian receives it. Outlines are in the Post Officers Guide.
CONGRATULATIONS: To Barnes, Horton #7, Hanover, Highland, Fort Scott, Blue Mound,
Lenexa Alma, Abilene, Alta Vista, Beloit, Natoma, Ellsworth, Cunningham, Great Bend, Garden
City, Dodge City, Ulysses, Utica, Brownell, Agra and Selden for making QUOTA. (As of
January 27)
DISTRICT STANDINGS AS OF JANUARY 27, 2021: District VII, 1,447 - 93.96%; District
VIII, 769 - 93.21%; District II, 3,281 - 92.37%; District VI, 1,229 - 92.34; District IX, 912 -
89.15%; District I, 3,464 - 88.48%; District V, 2,548 – 87.59% District IV, 2,651 – 85.27% and
District III, 1,732 – 80.37%. Department Headquarters Post 58 (included in Dept. total) is 784.
Total membership is,18,817. Membership last year this date was 20,120. We are BEHIND
1,303 members.
IN ORDER TO AVOID RECEIVING THE NEXT RENEWAL NOTICE ALL PAID
MEMBERS’ CARDS MUST BE IN THIS OFFICE BY FEBRUARY 10, 2021.
Centennial Coin Raffle
Win a piece of American Legion History!
One person will win three
American Legion 100
th
Anniversary Commemorative Coins
1 Uncirculated $5 Gold Coin ($463 value)
1 Uncirculated Silver Dollar ($57 value)
1 Uncirculated Clad Half Dollar ($31 value)
($551 total value)
Tickets $5
5 tickets for $20
11 tickets for $40
Drawing to be held at Department of Kansas Leadership College in
June 2021 (need not be present to win)
To purchase tickets online contact: Jeremy Ehart at 1-620-899-0010
or [email protected]; or Marri Krupco at 1-620-224-7354 or
AMERICAN LEGION
TEAM KANSAS
ORDER FORM
+2.00 2x
+3.00 3X
+4.00 FOR 4X
+2.00 2x
+3.00 3X
+4.00 FOR 4X
Team Kansas T Shirt $______ each Team Kansas Polo $______ each
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Cash
Check
Credit
Other
Phone #
Post#
Ks Commanders Campaign Fund
No Pockets20.00
30.00
WIN UP TO $1800!!
For recruiting a new member of The American Legion
It’s simple, sign up a new member and be entered to win!
Drawing Rules:
1.
Every new member that joins The American Legion between February 1, 2021 and May 1, 2021 will be
eligible to be entered into a drawing to win.
2.
A new member is defined as any eligible Legionnaire whose membership was not paid in The American
Legion in 2020 that joins a Post in the Department of Kansas other than Post 58.
3.
The Recruiter must be a Legionnaire, other than the new member, whose membership is paid for 2021
in a Kansas Post. If the recruiter is not listed, the coupon will not be accepted.
4.
The coupon below must be included along with a membership transmittal to Kansas Department
Headquarters with the National and Department portions of the new members card and the necessary
dues. If the Post utilizes online transmittals at MyLegion.org, the invoice number and date of the
transmittal of the new membership must also be included on the coupon and sent to Department
Headquarters. All coupons must be received at Department Headquarters office by 4:00 pm on May 1,
2021,
to be eligible.
5.
One coupon will be drawn at The Kansas Department Convention from all entries properly received
and will be designated the winner.
6.
From the information contained on the winning coupon drawn, $500 will be awarded to the New
Member, $500 will be awarded to the Recruiter, and $500 to the recruiters Post.
7.
The Recruiter with the most New Member coupon entries will earn $100.
8.
The Post with the most New Member coupon entries will receive $100.
9.
The Post with the most New Member coupon entries as a percentage of that Post’s 2020 Membership
Quota will be awarded $100.
10.
In case of a tie the $100 will be split among those that tied.
New Member Drawing Coupon (Print Neatly)
New Members Name __________________________________________________________________
New Member’s Post City and Post Number_________________
________________________________
Recruiter’s Name and Membership Number_________________
_______________________________
Recruiter’s Post City and Post Number
____________________________________________________
Post Online Transmittal Number and Date _________________________________________________
New Member Drawing Coupon (Print Neatly)
New Members Name __________________________________________________________________
New Member’s Post City and Post Number_______________________________________
__________
Recruiter’s Name and Membership Number________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Post City and Post Number ____________________________________________________
Post Online Transmittal Number and Date _________________________________________________
New Member Drawing Coupon (Print Neatly)
New Members Name __________________________________________________________________
New Member’s Post City and Post Number_________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Name
and Membership Number________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Post City and Post Number ____________________________________________________
Post Online Transmittal Number and Date _________________________________________________
New Member Drawing Coupon (Print Neatly)
New Members Name __________________________________________________________________
New Member’s Post City and Post
Number_________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Name and Membership Number________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Post City and Post Number ____________________________________________________
Post Online Transmittal Number and Date _________________________________________________
New Member Drawing Coupon (Print Neatly)
New Members Name __________________________________________________________________
New Member’s Post City and Post Number______________________
___________________________
Recruiter’s Name and Membership Number________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Post City and Post Number ____________________________________________________
Post Online Transmittal Number and Date _________________________________________________
New Member Drawing Coupon (Print Neatly)
New Members Name __________________________________________________________________
New Member’s Post City and Post Number_________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Name and Membership Number________________________________________________
Recruiter’s Post City and Post Number ____________________________________________________
