Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Floirda Newsletter

November 2004

The Source

Volume 12, Issue 4

I would like to start off by saying thanks to Herbert Swoope, Allen Holley, Richard Crooker, Larry Gerhinger, and James Roberts for a job well done on the Hurricane Relief Fund and getting the supplies and donations to those that needed them. Also, to all of the squadrons that donated supplies and money, a BIG thank you. During those troubled times we all came together for each other. We are truly family!

The Fall Conference was not as well attended as I would have liked. However, I feel that this was due to all of the hurricanes and such. Our workshops are going well, and I feel that we should keep doing them as we go along. I just wish there could have been more SAL members at the Fall Conference because you learn a lot at the workshops.

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and like with hurricane season I know our time will be divided between shopping and family, but we need to focus on our membership. We are down considerably from last year. Again, I know this is partly from the hurricanes, but they are behind us now. We need to get out and round up as many outlaws as we can. Our jails are overcrowded, let's make our outlaws honest men.

Don't forget the Spring Conference coming up in March. Let's have a better turnout.

The First Annual Fall Conference is behind us. We had forty people that attended the training sessions. I wish to thank each and every one of you that attended. There was a lot of important information presented to the attendees, including printed handouts for them to take back to their respective squadrons. This being the first conference with a new format, I feel that things went very well. Yes, attendance could have been higher, but overall it was very successful.

I would like to thank Palmer Williams, Director of the Florida American Legion Boys State Program, and Julien Maynard, current Boys State Governor, for their time in addressing the Fall Conference and putting on a program about Boys State. This is a very worthwhile program that the SAL can work with in conjunction with your post. In addition to the monetary support, we can also supply man power.

I also need to thank David Bradbury for presenting the program on Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation. We need to spend more time working on this program. Many squadrons do not even know what the program is about. This is why we have workshops.

During the upcoming Spring Conference, we will once again have a training course after our meetings. We had hoped to work a program on Public Relations into the Fall Conference, but we ran out of time. So, during the Spring Conference we will address the Public Relations aspect of the Organization.

With the holidays starting at the end of this month, I would like to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Let us remember the families in our communities that need our help. Let us also remember our veterans, and last but not least, let us remember our service men and women who are fighting the War on Terrorism. Please keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

Now is the time to work hard at selling your Ball Drop tickets. Remember the deadline to send in your sold ticket stubs and remaining unsold tickets is December 15, 2004. If you have any questions please call me at (904) 241-4030. This is the best promotion I have ever seen. It cost us nothing and yet we keep half the money. Get to work and fill your squadron's bank account for 2005! We have many worthwhile programs and this can help us fund many of them.

It is the policy of the Detachment that no endorsements for Detachment or District office be published before the annual Fall Conference. All endorsements must be sent in writing to the Detachment Adjutant. All endorsements must include the Post Commander or Post Adjutant's signature and the signature of the Squadron Commander and Adjutant. All endorsements will be published starting in December, space permitting.

Last Updated: November 25, 2004