Here is a presentation of images and history of the Normandy Landing:
Declassified Normandy Landing Photos
Hurricane Relief Efforts
To all concerned:
We are witnessing a swift change by the local, state, and federal agencies that are embedded in the disaster prone areas on how non-registered volunteer organizations are being treated and prevented from attempting to provide logistical needs to those affected.
Mexico Beach is off limits as of 6 am 10/23/18 unless you’re a registered organization through Tallahassee or a Federal entity authorized to operate within. A special armband is required to be worn for access.
Port St. Joe is potentially next on the list as it too received devastating destruction.
Outlying areas are receiving the support required and folks know where to get aid/relief.
Bill Hoppner and I were shunned when we offered our service and support. The Supply Center controlled by a Red Cross team advised us that our American Legion resources and services were not required, that they had everything they needed, and that we should go talk with the County EOC.
Today I was called and informed that tractor trailers, large trailers, large trucks with hurricane aid supplies will be turned away from all (POD) Point of Distribution sites and Designated Supply Centers. They will be referred / advised to take their loads to a designated warehouse in the Tallahassee area to off load. There the supplies will be segregated, stored, and shipped to the PODs or Supply Centers when commodities are requested.
As a State EOC representative implied, we are considered “Amateurs” and they do not want us in their way, providing services or support to those that are in need.
The material shift is rapidly changing and those registered organizations are not prepared to support those endeavors. When they begin to pack up and go back to where they came from, the local residents will begin seeking organizations such as The American Legion to assist with some of their needs and we must be ready.
Our final push of basic necessities will continue over the next three weeks thru November 17th. Those American Legion Posts in the affected areas who are willing to accept and distribute supplies to their veterans and communities are requested to contact either William “Bill” Hoppner at gonepost1@aol.com / (305) 968-7979 or Stephen Shuga at shugaste1057@gmail.com / (407) 394-5534 to coordinate your request.
We will alert all who have given to stop acquiring the typical support currently being provided as they are swamped with supplies. We will request that all further shipments beyond November 17th stop until further notice.
Due to the rapid response of the local, state, federal agencies and programs that have overwhelmed the affected areas, support continues to press on. The utility companies have been feverishly working to turn on power, water, sewage, and communications. Boil water notices are lifting, and soon the curfews will end. Students are returning to school and the local infrastructure is springing back to life. All that’s left is the cleanup and rebuilding.
Just remember this: “ Our Veterans are Our #1 Concern and We Will Take Care of Our Veterans! “
For God and Country.
PDC Stephen Shuga
Biketoberfest Daytona Event
The American Legion has joined forces with AbbVie Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company, to launch TAKE ON HEP C, a nationwide movement to bring free hepatitis C (hep C) testing to veterans and their communities. Taking center stage of the TAKE ON HEP C campaign is a 45-foot tour bus that is used as a mobile veteran outreach command center known as “The Legion One.” The bus offers free hep C testing, on-the-spot results and information for how to seek treatment, if needed.
This project also provides a great opportunity for local posts to staff a membership outreach tent setup with the bus. We provide the tent, you engage your community AND GROW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
| EVENT: | Biketoberfest Daytona |
| DATE(S): | Thursday, October 18 – Sunday, October 21 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday |
| LOCATION: | 307 N Beach St • Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (Adjacent to Indian Motorcycle Daytona Beach) |
| REQUEST: | Please send up to four (4) volunteers who can engage those attending the event. Share information about the benefits of being an American Legion member and encourage them to participate in the free hep C testing.
Volunteers should be scheduled in four-hour shifts. Duties include support with light set-up/tear down (tents, tables, chairs). Free parking is available onsite. However, please plan ahead and allow extra travel time as parking is limited. Staff shirts will be provided for all volunteers to wear upon check-in at the event. One shirt per person. This is a casual, outdoor event so jeans or shorts of an appropriate length are recommended with Legion logo items and cap. |
| ABOUT BIKETOBERFEST: |
This annual Daytona Beach motorcycle rally draws more than 100,000 visitors. Bikers, motorcycle enthusiasts and curious travel seekers will enjoy beautiful fall weather, live music and more. |
| ABOUT HEP C: | Testing for hep C is especially important for veterans, specifically those who served in the Vietnam conflict between 1964 and 1975. One out of every 20 veterans enrolled with the Veterans Health Administration has hep C, more than three times the infection rate of the general U.S. population. |
Thank you in advance for your consideration in supporting this important effort. If you’d like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact Dave Baughman at 317-517-4161 or DBaughman@legion.org.
Fla. Stat. § 205.055
Fla. Stat. § 205.055
The Florida code and constitution are current through the 2018 Second Regular Session of the 25th Legislature.
LexisNexis® Florida Annotated Statutes > Title XIV. Taxation and Finance. (Chs. 192 — 221) > Chapter 205. Local Business Taxes. (§§ 205.013 — 205.1975)
§ 205.055. Exemptions; veterans, spouses of veterans and certain servicemembers, and low-income persons.
(1) The following persons are entitled to an exemption from a business tax and any fees imposed under this chapter:
(a) A veteran of the United States Armed Forces who was honorably discharged upon separation from service, or the spouse or unremarried surviving spouse of such a veteran.
(b) The spouse of an active duty military servicemember who has relocated to the county or municipality pursuant to a permanent change of station order.
(c) A person who is receiving public assistance as defined in s. 409.2554.
(d) A person whose household income is below 130 percent of the federal poverty level based on the current year’s federal poverty guidelines.
(2) A person must complete and sign, under penalty of perjury, a Request for Fee Exemption to be furnished by the local governing authority and provide written documentation in support of his or her request for an exemption under subsection (1).
(3) If a person who is exempt under subsection (1) owns a majority interest in a business with fewer than 100 employees, the business is exempt. Such person must complete and sign, under penalty of perjury, a Request for Fee Exemption to be furnished by the local governing authority and provide written documentation in support of his or her request for an exemption for the business under this subsection.
History
- 24, ch. 2018-118, eff. July 1, 2018.
LexisNexis® Florida Annotated Statutes
Copyright © 2018 Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. a member of the LexisNexis Group. All rights reserved.
An urgent matter needs your help
| Dear American Legion Family and Friends,
I had wanted my first email communication to you to be about Team 100 — my theme for this historic year as The American Legion transcends its first century of service into its next. There will be plenty of opportunities in my year as national commander to discuss Team 100, pay tribute to the Legion’s century of accomplishments and celebrate our rise into the next 100 years. But I learned of an urgent matter today that has a potentially significant impact on The American Legion and all its members. I am asking for your support. The United States Postal Service has proposed a rule that would prevent The American Legion (and other nonprofits) from sending merchandise or goods like calendars, stickers, etc. in nonprofit marketing mail. Instead, the USPS would classify these mailings as first-class mail. This is not a simple change in the category of how mail is sent. This change would eliminate the use of premiums in nonprofit fundraising mail — and would increase The American Legion’s mailing cost by 200 percent. That significant increase would critically impact our programs dedicated to helping and advocating for veterans, mentoring children, assisting transitioning servicemembers, providing scholarships for students, comforting the afflicted throughout every community in our great nation. We must quickly work together to let the USPS know this proposal is unreasonable. My team has prepared a sample templated letter. I encourage you to download the template, personalize it with your information and email it to the USPS (ProductClassification@usps.gov) with the subject line: USPS Marketing Mail Content Eligibility. Please don’t delay. This is an urgent matter and the letters must be emailed no later than Friday, Sept. 14. Thank you for your assistance, and for what you do every day on behalf of our nation’s veterans, servicemembers and their families. #Team100. |
| Brett Reistad National Commander |
Vets Invade the Canyon
The American Legion will be celebrating its 100th year of service to our Veterans, Communities and Nation in the coming year. As such, Legion Posts’ throughout our “Great Nation” will be hosting a variety of events in honor of this centennial milestone.
The State of Florida is planning a two-day Concert Birthday Celebration, hosted by American Legion Post #155 of Crystal River, Florida and supported by fellow Legion Posts 237, 166, and 77. This event is known as “Vets Invade the Canyon” and is scheduled to take place January 18th and 19th, 2019. There will be two shows, one on Friday night (January 18th) and one on Saturday night (January 19th). Each night of the event will have two feature acts with a short ceremony between each act paying tribute to our Veterans.
The proceeds from the “Vets Invade the Canyon” Concert Birthday Celebration will be donated to the Florida American Legion Program called “PROJECT: VETRELIEF”, which is a 501c3 charitable organization. The mission of “PROJECT: VETRELIEF” is to provide support for our service men and women as they transition into civilian life, with the vision of one day to live in a nation where no service member stands alone. All funds raised from this event are slated for Veterans of Florida. The American Legion of Florida supports Florida’s service members whether they are active duty, newly returned, or have been honorably separated for years, in addition to their immediate family, at no cost.
Should you have any questions regarding the “Vets Invade the Canyon” Concert Birthday Celebration or PROJECT: VETRELIEF please contact Gerry Kaufman at (407) 218-9139, Doug Hockenberry at (727) 514-3742 or me directly at (352) 212-8750.
Larry White
Finance Officer
American Legion Post 155
Packing Event at Post 273
“Tampa Bay Troop Support held another packing event at Post 273, and will be able to ship 210 boxes to our troops overseas!
Thank you Dave & Sharon Dabney. Their purpose is to make a difference in the lives of our Soldiers by sending care packages to different units in different places. We want them to know that they are in our thoughts, and we appreciate everything they do.
Thank you also to all the volunteers who helped out, and to Commander White and our Post 273 Auxiliary.”
Submitted by:
Anthony Torregrossa
2nd Vice Commander, Post 273
Post 273 Presents $15,000 Donation to Fisher House
Commander Jim White(right) presents a $15,000 donation to Shentrela Diggins, manager of Fisher House at the Bay Pines V.A. on behalf of the Post 273 Legion, SAL & Auxiliary. Also pictured are Executive Officer Dick Karol(left) who led this year’s fundraising drive, and Finance Officer Dick Gifford(center). Post 273 has now donated a total of $50,000 to our local Fisher House at Bay Pines in the past three years to help them out with their finances. Luckily their management team knows how to handle and correctly use these finances accordingly, for those who need help like these veterans to handling their large financial income, consider learning more about cash management at https://www.wecu.com/business-banking/.
Fisher Houses are onsite residences where military & veterans families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. They have private bedrooms and baths, and families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room.
Submitted by:
Anthony Torregrossa
2nd Vice Commander
Gov. Scott Announces 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the release of the 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide. The annual guide, created by the Florida Defense Support Task Force, offers a summary of Florida’s laws, programs and services benefitting military service members and their families. It also highlights Florida’s low tax and financial advantages, educational benefits, professional licensure opportunities and fee waivers for service men, women and their families stationed in Florida. A digital copy of the 2018 Florida Military-Friendly Guide is available HERE.
Governor Scott said, “As a proud Navy veteran, and the son of a World War II veteran, I want to make sure our military and their families have access to the services they need. Florida is the most military and veteran friendly state in the nation, and since I took office, we’ve invested hundreds of millions in funding for services and benefits for our military and veterans. Our Florida Military-Friendly Guide is another great resource for our military members to learn more about these great benefits and everything Florida has to offer to those who serve.”
Florida is home to more than 1.5 million veterans, 20 major military installations and three unified commands. Since 2011, under the leadership of Governor Scott, Florida has invested hundreds of millions in funding to support active military, veterans and their families – including more than $180 million in this year’s budget. Governor Scott’s focus on serving those that serve our nation has also helped drive down the unemployment rate for veterans in Florida to a low 2.9 percent – nearly an entire percent lower than the national average and a decrease of more than six percent since 2010. To foster enhanced cooperation between state agencies and Florida’s military installations, Governor Scott holds regular meetings with Florida’s base commanders and heads of state agencies.
Representative Jay Trumbull of Panama City, Chair of the Florida Defense Support Task Force, said, “The Florida Military-Friendly Guide is a great resource for military service men, women and their families in the Sunshine State. Enterprise Florida and the Florida Defense Support Task Force will continue to support military members and their families, and work to maintain Florida’s status as the most military-friendly state in the nation.”
The defense industry provides an annual economic impact of $84.9 billion and accounts for more than 801,000 jobs in Florida. Defense continues to be the fourth largest contributor to the state economy behind agriculture and tourism. The Florida Military-Friendly Guide is distributed annually to Florida’s military bases and defense communities.
Governor Signs 2018 Florida Purple Heart Day Proclamation
Gov. Rick Scott has signed the annual Florida Purple Heart Day Proclamation. The governor calls upon Floridians to pay special tribute to those members of the Armed Forces who have received the Purple Heart, while also honoring the families of the fallen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018 is Florida Purple Heart Day.
Click here to print proclamation.
2018 Freedom Raffle Winners Announced
We are pleased to announce the WINNERS of the 2018 Freedom Raffle as follows:
- Grand Prize winner of $10,000 – Frank Klimekoski
- 2nd Place winner of $2,500 – Jose Cintron
- 3rd Place winner of $1,000 – James Allbrook
- 4th – 5th Place winners of $500 – William Coopy, Barry Murante
- 6th – 10th Place winners of $100 – David LeRoy, James Handly, John McCoy, William Walz, Steven Pommer
All recipients will be notified within the coming week by The American Legion, Department of Florida.
To watch the live footage of the drawing, click here. The Raffle is featured at the 6:00:36 time mark.
Member Verification Post Cards & Emails
The American Legion Department of Florida 100th Anniversary Member Directory Project is about to begin!
The American legion Department of Florida has contracted with Publishing Concepts (PCI), a trusted partner, to create this special member publication.
Watch for postcards and emails from PCI with instructions to update your information so we can take advantage of this great opportunity to celebrate our rich history and heritage!
Work has begun on the The American Legion Department of Florida 100th Anniversary Membership Directory. Directory questionnaires are being sent to all Members, some via email and some via USPS. Information on purchasing the directory is not included in this initial mailing, as the goal is simply to gather the directory listing information from those that want to be included. Only those members that provide information for their directory listing will be included in the directory.This is a great opportunity for Department to get updated contact information for our members, we urge you to participate.
As privacy is a concern for many of our members, it’s important to note that only those members that provide their directory listing information will be included in the printed directory. The publisher works under a very strict confidentiality agreement and will only use the information provided for the purpose of contacting members to gather data and to sell the directory. Only American Legion, Department of Florida members can purchase this directory. It is copyrighted and cannot be used by any member for solicitation purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information. They said they were working on a directory for The American Legion, Department of Florida. Is this a legitimate project, or is it a scam? We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce our new members directory. PCI is a company located in Dallas, TX that publishes directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities and military organizations across the nation. This project allows The American Legion, Department of Florida to receive important updates to our database so we know more about our members and how we can better serve you and future members.
- How do I know my information will only be used for directory purposes? The American Legion, Department of Florida has a contractual agreement with PCI that states:
- The names, addresses and information provided to PCI by The American Legion, Department of Florida for the publication of the Directory will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the Directory and except as required by court order or law.
- The Directory will be made available only to members of The American Legion, Department of Florida. Upon completion of the project, PCI will return to The American Legion, Department of Florida any and all electronic files that have been supplied by The American Legion, Department of Florida or produced by PCI in connection with the production of the Directory.
- I would like to verify and update my information. How may I do this? If you have received a postcard or an email with a telephone number, you may call the number to speak with a dedicated representative for The American Legion, Department of Florida project. The representative will verify all the information we have on file for you and make any updates where needed.If you have received an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information. If you have questions, you may call PCI’s customer service desk at 1.800.982.1590.
- Can anyone purchase a directory? The American Legion, Department of Florida members Directory is available for sale only to The American Legion, Department of Florida members.
- When will I receive my directory? The total duration of the directory project is about 12 months. Since we began the project in April 2018, the directories will be distributed in April 2019.
- Can I choose some or all of my information not to be printed in the directory? When you call to update your information, you can tell the representative what information you would prefer to have excluded. You may also communicate this information to the PCI customer service desk (1.800.982.1590) or to the Department.
- I ordered a directory/package over the phone and would like to cancel my order. How do I do this? Call the PCI customer service help desk at 1.800.982.1590, and they will take care of this for you.
Sample Post Cards:
Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Post Office
PFC Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., Medal of Honor
Company C 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (Rein)
Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force Pacific
Fire Support Base Argonne
Republic of Vietnam
The 3rd Recon Association, a non-profit war veteran’s group of over 1,700 former Marines and Navy Corpsmen, is extending an invitation to you and others in your Units to join with us at the United States Post Office Interlachen, FL on Friday, June 15, 2018 at 10:00 AM for the naming/dedication of the post office as the, “Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Post Office, Interlachen, FL 32148”.
That afternoon, June 15th at 3:00 PM, we will be holding a service at Robert’s grave located in the SISTER SPRING BAPTIST CEMETERY. 137 Hickory Road , Interlachen , FL 32148 . From the intersection of SR 20 and CR 315 in Interlachen, take CR 315 north approximately 2.2 miles, to Holiday Drive. Turn right on Holiday Drive and then turn right on Hickory Road.
Robert was one of four Medal of Honor recipients our battalion, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, had during the battalion’s involvement while serving in the Republic of Vietnam, all posthumous..
Join us as we gather at the Post Office located at 100 Mathe Avenue in Interlachen, FL 32148 in our celebration honoring Robert’s sacrificing his life to save another’s.
Feel free in copying and posting the attached pages for forwarding to the American Legion Districts and individual American Legion Posts.
Please let me know if you will be able to join us for this celebration. If you have any questions; please… Contact: Len Rapuano 1526 NW 24th Terrace Cape Coral, FL 33993,
ph 239-772-7217 or cell 239-314-6206., Email 3C23rdRecon@centurylink.net
Commander Sets New Goal
WE DID IT! – We helped the Commander reach his initial fundraising goal of $50,000 for PROJECT: VetRelief.
Additional monies collected for his project will now go towards ALL Florida Legion programs. Donations can still be made to PROJECT: VetRelief, just be sure to indicate where you’d like the funds to be applied in the memo of the check, or by making your check directly to PROJECT: VetRelief.
At the beginning of the year, the Commander set a goal to collect $50,000 during his one-year term as Department Commander for PROJECT: VetRelief. Once the goal of $50,000 has been met, he decided that any additional donations submitted and made payable to “The American Legion, Department of Florida” and indicating “Commander’s Project” in the memo line will go towards other Florida Legion Programs. However, the Legion Family can still contribute to PVR by making donations directly payable to PROEJCT: VetRelief, but be sure to include “Commander’s Project” in the memo.
Commander Shuga has decided to raise his fundraising goal to $75,000 to continue his efforts in providing funds for our Legion programs. He knows that with the generosity of the Legion Family and the passion they have for the Florida Legion programs, this goal is very attainable! Let’s help him reach his secondary goal, and ultimately help veterans and their families through our various programs!
Voting Clarification
The question has come up pertaining to a “number or percentage of votes required to win a contest during our Department elections”. According to Department ByLaws, Article I, Section 14, “The candidate for each office that receives the most votes shall be declared the winner.” And the Rules of Procedure #22 “…The Candidate for each office that receives the most votes shall be declared the winner…”
Here are pages from the Constitution & ByLaws and Rules of Procedure, from 2016 and 2017, which clarify this question:
- 2016 Constitution & ByLaws
- 2017 Constitution & ByLaws
- 2016 Rules of Procedure
- 2017 Rules of Procedure
We hope this clears up any confusion. If you still have questions about this or any of the voting process, please email our Department Assistant Adjutant, Bruce Comer at bcomer@floridalegion.org.
2018 State Oratorical Winners
The American Legion, Department of Florida is proud to announce the winners from the State Oratorical Contest held, March 10, 2018:
1st Place – $2,500 and representing Florida at National Oratorical Contest
Caleb Wilson, Western Area, Post 84
2nd Place – $1,500
Greta Dieck, Central Area, Post 8
3rd Place – $1,000
Holly Stidham, Northern Area, Post 27
$500 Winners
- Ricardo Barrios, Eastern Area, Post 63
- Chika Ojukwu, Southern Area, Post 385
- Sheyla Ravelo Perez, Southwestern Area, Post 323
We’d like to extend a special thank you to All the Posts, Districts, and Area Chairmen that helped support these students with their journey to the State Contest; Department Oratorical Chairman, Meri West, for her dedication and support for the Oratorical Program; The Judges, Tabulators, and Time Keepers for your help and support at the State Contest; and to our contestants and all attendees for your support and participation.
Boat Replica Donated to Post Officer
A replica of PT Boat 562 recently was dedicated and presented to American Legion Post 273. Pictured, from left, are first vice commander Mike Haygood; post member Harry Mulder, who donated the boat to the post; Monte Palmer; Commander Jim White and Adjutant Dan Koker. [Photo courtesy of Anthony Torregrossa]
Source:Tampa Bay Times http://www.tampabay.com/news/briefs/Hometown-Pinellas_165518110
Groundbreaking Set for New State Veterans’ Nursing Home
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs is hosting a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie on March 20, 2018 at 2 p.m.
The new 120-bed state veterans’ home will be located near 10700 SW Tradition Parkway in the Port St. Lucie community of Tradition. Parking will be adjacent to the ceremony site.
A reception will immediately follow the ceremony at Tradition Town Hall, 10799 SW Civic Lane. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony and reception will take place at Tradition Town Hall.
Legion Family Cruise
Rick Johnson – All Aboard!!! It’s official, the Legion Family cruise is a go! It’s been about eight years since the Legion Family cruised together, and it’s high-tide we do it again.
There are limited spaces, based on a first-come-first-serve basis. You’ll need $100 per person to book now, and during the next couple of months various promotions will be offered. Don’t delay and miss out on this opportunity.
We will be boarding the Carnival Liberty from Port Canaveral on September 13, 2018, journeying to Nassau, and returning to Port Canaveral on September 16, 2018. Please see the attached flyer for complete details and full pricing information.
To make your reservations, please contact Maureen Williams PVP, at 800-819-3902 ext 85931, be sure to mention the American Legion Group Code 1KNQ25 to take advantage of our special rates.
Please note, this is not an official “Department of Florida” organized event. For all questions and requests for additional information, contact Rick Johnson, 2nd Vice Commander at 954-242-4496 or rickjtank@hotmail.com.
2018 Convention Voting Guide
During the 2017 Department Convention, the membership voted to adopt a new method for voting for Department Officers. All voting for Department Officers will now take place via ballots and scanned with electronic tabulation machines. This will provide a private setting in which to cast secret ballots and expedite the voting process. This guide will provide some pertinent information for the voting process at your 2018 Department Convention.
The annual election of Department officers shall be by special order of business, the results of which should be announced at 1:00 P.M., or as soon as practical thereafter, on the day set for adjournment of the Convention or at the call of the Chair.
Voting for all elected Department Officers shall be by official ballot provided upon registration to any Posts so registered based on paid delegate strength. All official ballots are the responsibility of the acting chairman of each delegation and shall not be replaced for any reason under any circumstances.
How does Department come up with delegate strength? Each Post shall be entitled to two (2) delegates and two (2) alternates and to one (1) additional delegate and alternate for each additional (100) one hundred members provided that the per capita tax is paid fifteen (15) days prior to the Department Convention.
Additionally, according to Section 6, Article 5 of the Department Constitution, a member of the Department Executive Committee shall be a delegate Therefore, the Post that they are a member of will receive one additional vote.
Each Post will receive one (1) official ballot for every paid delegate at the time of registration with the exception of the Past Department Commander’s ballot, which will be provided on the floor at the time of voting as detailed in Section 6, Article V of the Department Constitution. Ballots may either be voted collectively by the acting chairman of each delegation or individually by Post delegates to the Convention. The vote of any delegate absent and not represented by an alternate shall be cast by the majority of the delegates present from the Post.
Those candidates having an endorsement on file at Department by May 30, 2018, will be pre-printed on the ballot. The ballots shall provide for a write-in candidate for each office, should one be nominated off the Convention floor without prior endorsement by their respective Post.
Nominations for Department Officers shall be from the floor of the Convention. Nominating speeches shall be limited to five (5) minutes each. No more than two (2) seconding speeches shall be made for each candidate, each of which shall not exceed two (2) minutes.
Immediately following nominations, ballot voting shall begin on electronic scanning equipment provided by the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. All ballot voting shall be completed by 1:00 p.m. except Posts still in line to vote at that time. Once all the votes have been scanned the election is closed and tally begins.
A team of election officials will oversee the election process. These officials shall consist of an employee of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, the Assistant Department Adjutant, and the Department Assistant Judge Advocate or a representative appointed by the Department Commander in his/her absence.
The election officials will examine any ballot rejections to determine the intent of the ballot. If a ballot reflects votes for two (2) candidates for the same office that ballot will have that one (1) office’s vote cancelled and the balance of the ballot cast as presented. Should duplicate ballots be presented, the scanners will reject the votes from both ballots.
The election officials will supervise the vote tally collected by the scanners. The candidate for each office that receives the most votes shall be declared the winner. The results will be placed in an envelope which will be presented to the Secretary of the Convention (Department Adjutant) on the Convention stage to be announced.
In cases of a tie vote, a roll call of Posts for the purpose of casting their votes for the tied candidates shall continue until one candidate receives the majority of votes cast, the roll call is complete or until there shall be only one candidate for a particular Department office.
All official ballots will be retained as permanent record of the Department for a period of two (2) years.