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Commander’s Corner

Rick Johnson, Department Commander

June 2020

I hope this finds everyone safe and in place. May has been a very busy month from the Department and staff trying to do the right thing for the Legion family. I have been in constant contact weekly with the family leadership during these trying times that we have been facing. A lot of great information has been discussed and done as a team.

We are doing well on membership as a state and a team. The chairman have been doing their best to assist the District Commanders to accomplish their goals. , some District do not want any help and the numbers show that.

There has been numerous Post around the state that have opened up during Phase one which they are putting their post in jeopardy of fines and jail time. I pray that no one gets sick from these premature openings and god forbid passes away. We have put out the guidelines given to us from the Governor statewide and please follow those guidelines.

I have written the Governor in regards to us to try to reopen, but have not got a response back yet. Do not put your charter in jeopardy and most of all your members. We will all get there together and as a team will be even stronger.

PLEASE get your CPR, s done before June 15th and if you need any help, please ask for it and we will assist you in getting the reports done. We will be having a virtual awards ceremony to announce all the winners in different categories that has received awards for the 2019-2020 year. Membership cards are in and a plan will be put together very soon to get those out NO cards will be sent out until all the paperwork has been filled out and submitted to Department.

Congrats to the 6th District and the 15th District for being race to the top winners for their categories, they will be recognized at the 20201 National Convention. Job well done. You have a great team behind the scenes who are constantly working to keep us going. A big round of applause to all of them. As we move forward to another year, let’s please work together to assist everyone who needs guidance and help to reopen and return to somewhat normalcy in our lives.

Please be safe out there and as we will reopen soon, please use common sense and do not put anybody in jeopardy. Do the right thing in good faith and we will not have a problem out there. PLEASE stay safe as me and my wife are praying for this to end and get back to some normalcy in the future.

God speed to everyone and God Bless the World through these hard times. Way too many lives had been lost and prayers to all the families.

Stay calm and calm will follow you. I look forward to seeing everyone again real soon.

Service Honor Sacrifice

Tank Out

November 5, 2019
To: Members of The American Legion, Department of Florida

On Friday June 28, 2019 at the American Legion Department of Florida Convention a motion was made to form a committee for National Commissions/Committee Appointments and Call-in selections from the Department of Florida.

The committee consists of the National Executive Committee Member (NEC), Department Commander, Department Adjutant, a Past Department Commander appointed by the National Executive Committee Member Alternate (NECA) and a member appointed by the Department Commander. The motion was seconded and passed by the Department of Florida membership.

Below you will find a document entitled Appointments to National Commissions and Committees. You will see two (2) columns one titled “Committee Selection” which represents the work of the committee, you, the Department membership created by the above motion. The second column defined as “NEC Selection” defines the individuals appointed to the committee. NEC Boland submitted his list ignoring the list you, the membership demanded. The National Executive Committee Member (NEC) Dennis Boland states he has nothing to do with appointments.

Seems Past National Commander Jake Comer disagrees. In his message to our Alternate National Executive Committee member Art Schwabe, PNC Mr. Comer states” Disappointing to realize that you as ALT. NEC would not get up and remind the “haters of the national constitution” regarding NEC recommendations to the natl. cmdr (National Commander) who is the only one eligible to make appointments. Why is PNC Jake Comer involved? What position does he hold?

Long and the short of it, 72% of your Committee for National Commissions/Committee Appointments and Call-in selections were ignored by your National Executive Committee Member Mr. Boland. This is just to let you know how much your collective opinion means to NEC member Boland.

Click image to enlarge

William “Rick” Johnson
Commander
American Legion Department of Florida
Service – Honor – Sacrifice