COMMANDER'S COLUMN
Michael Miller, Detachment Commander

Well May is here and before you know it July will be here. The months are going too fast. I hope that everyone is working on membership and the final push for our programs. We have but a short time to reach the final round up and the CORRAL is still not full. Come on guys, SADDLE UP AND GIT ‘ER DONE!!!

I would like to take the time to thank the Department President Maureen Costello, Department Commander Tom Seitzinger , and Past Department Commander Reggie Beverly for attending my homecoming. Also, thanks to Detachment Adjutant Ed Sheubrooks for being the Master of Ceremonies, and we can’t forget our National Southern Vice Commander James Roberts for a great job.

I would also like to thank our 16^th District SAL Commander for taking pictures and making a CD out of them; it’s beautiful. Also, I would like to give my Squadron #104 thanks for doing a great job putting this homecoming together for me. I cannot forget the unit for serving our great guests and our own Department Junior Vice President Lindsey Cox.

ADJUTANT'S CORNER
Ed Sheubrooks, Detachment Adjutant

Gentlemen,

Having just returned from the Spring NEC meeting in Indianapolis , I would like to state that Florida was well represented. Congratulations to “Senior”, Allen Holley for graduating the National Management Institute and receiving his diploma. There are now four graduates of the National Management Institute in the Detachment. Welcome to the club, Allen!

Squadron adjutants have received a packet in the mail that contains all of the Year-End Reports for the Detachment to be completed by the squadrons. Take a moment to complete the reports and mail them back as soon as they are completed. All reports are tabulated for our report to National Headquarters. If your squadron had no activity during the past year, still send the reports with NO ACTIVITY written on them. In addition, the new Squadron Officers Report is included. After your elections, complete the form and mail one copy to Department Headquarters and one copy to me. The Detachment Roster is compiled from this report.

Convention is just two short months away. Please see the schedule for the convention in this issue of The Source. Registration will start on Friday, July 8^th at 9:00am. We will be having a joint installation this year with the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. This will take place on Saturday evening starting at 6:00pm. There will be a dinner after the installation for anyone that wishes to attend. The cost of the dinner has not yet been determined.

Please keep in mind our continued support of Florida Special Olympics. If any squadron have donations for Florida Special Olympics, please bring them with you to the Convention. Anyone not planning on attending the Convention can mail the checks to me and I will present them on behalf of those squadrons. We will have a representative with us from Florida Special Olympics to accept all checks and to hand out awards to all squadrons that have donated. We will also be collecting for the Children’s Miracle Network, NEF, Child Welfare Foundation, and the Florida Children and Youth Fund. Until next month…Keep up the Good Work!!

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Stan Viergutz, Detachment Chairman

What an Experience! I just arrived home an hour ago from the Spring Special Olympics Games in Tampa . We had only 12 Legion Family volunteers, but we managed to keep 3000 Special Olympians safe and secure. A very special thank you to those who helped. Bob & Donna Borton and Brian from #141, Dick & Dianne Thibodeau from #268, John Rose & Mark from #284, Jeff Durden from #129, Georgie & Dee from #148 (these two ladies helped both days all day) and my wife Bonnie who has helped me at every Special Olympics Games I have worked for the past 10 years. I’d like to give another special thank you to Department Historian, Linda and Sargent-at-Arms, Mary Lou for representing the Auxiliary at the President’s Reception and Opening Ceremonies. I’d also like to thank Department Commander, Tom Seitzinger for representing the Legion at the President’s Reception.

Convention is only a couple of months away. Please be thinking about your Special Olympics Donations. Your help is so badly needed!

VICE COMMANDERS REVUE

Richard Crooker, Central Area Vice Commander

Gentlemen,

Regarding membership, the Central Area is lacking about 180 cards to reach our goal of 100%. We still have time to achieve this before the delegate cut-off date. We can and will accomplish this! I want to thank the squadrons and the districts that have achieved their goals.

 Please remember to send in your year-end reports. Please note the date that all forms are due back to the Adjutant. They are most important to the Detachment, especially the Squadron Officers Report. I would like to see 100% sent in on time. If you need help with membership or completing the forms, please do not hesitate to contact me. See you in Orlando in July!

ENDORSEMENTS TO DATE

For Detachment Commander – Michael Miller, Squadron #104

For Detachment Commander – Mark Davis, Squadron #57

For NEC – Allen Holley, Squadron #139

For NEC – John Crawford, Squadron #120

For Alt. NEC – Larry Smith, Squadron #336

For Det. Vice Cmdr. North – Tom Lemrow, Squadron #252

For Det. Vice Cmdr. North – John Rose, Squadron #284

For Det. Vice Cmdr. Central – Richard Crooker, Squadron #139

For Det. Vice Cmdr. SW – George Talbott, Squadron #323

For Det. Vice Cmdr. South – Brian Tyrkas, Squadron #180

For Det. Vice Cmdr. East – Gary Scott, Squadron #1

For Det. Chaplain – Herbert Swoope, Squadron #148

For Det. Historian – Larry Gerhinger, Squadron #4

For Det. Sgt-at-Arms – Don (Butch) Clarke, Squadron #38

For 7^th Dist. Cmdr. – John Jennings, Squadron #72

For 8^th Dist. Vice Cmdr. – Dale Worrall, Squadron #325

For 12^th Dist. Cmdr. – Robert Carney, Squadron #348

For 13^th Dist. Cmdr. – Paul Pryce, Squadron #103

For 13^th Dist. Vice Cmdr. - Michael Dooley, Squadron #38

For 15^th Dist. Cmdr. – Herbert Swoope, Squadron $148

DISTRICT CONFERENCES TO DATE

Dist.    Date        Registration    Meeting        Location

7          6/4/05     12:30pm         1:00pm        Post #72

8          6/11/05    8:00am          9:00am         Post #24

12        5/21/05    9:00am          10:00am       Post #358

CONVENTION AGENDA

Friday July 8^th, 2005

9:00am – 4:00pm       Registration – Dept. HQ Registration Site

5:00pm – 7:00pm       Registration outside of meeting room

5:00pm – 6:00pm       Past Commanders Club Meeting

6:00pm – 7:00pm       Department Advisory Committee Meeting

7:00pm – 8:00pm       Detachment Executive Committee Meeting

Saturday July 9^th, 2005

7:30am – 12:00pm      Registration

8:00am                         Opening Session

9:00am – 9:30am        Committee and Commission Meetings

9:30am – 12:00pm      Reports of Committee and Commissions

                                      Detachment Officers Reports

                                      General Business

                                      Address of Keynote Speaker:

                                      National Vice Cmdr. South – James K. Roberts III

                                     Awards

12:00pm – 1:00pm      Recess for Lunch

1:15pm – 3:00m           Area Caucuses

                                      Election of Detachment Officers

                                      Ratification of District Commanders

                                      And Vice Commanders

                                      Installation of Officers

3:00pm – 3:15pm        Detachment Executive Committee Meeting

3:30pm – 4:30pm        Detachment Membership Workshop