Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Volume 8, Issue 4 August/September 2017 Break away!...

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1 BLUE CAP NEWS Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Volume 8, Issue 4 August/September 2017 Break away!... Move beyond your boundaries are they really there? Having faith... Greetings fellow Sons. Thanks for my re-election as Detachment Chaplain at our recent State Convention. I hope that those of you that were able to attend had a good time and left with some new knowledge that will benefit your Squadron, Detachment or our charities. I also hope that I can live Inside this issue: Junior s message...pg 2 Detachment Vice Commanders...pgs 2 & 3 Membership notes...pg 3 Detachment Commander...pg 4 Detachment Adjutant... pgs 5, 10 & 11 SAL Calendar... pgs 6 & 7 Detachment Convention pic... pgs 8 & 9 Fall Conference Letter...pg Detachment Officer Roster... pgs 14 & Membership Numbers...pg 16 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona 4701 N. 19th Ave Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ Phone: saladjutant@azlegion.org National Website: Website: up to the faith that you have placed in me. As I have asked before, please keep me informed so that I might better serve you and fulfill my duties. For this edition of the Blue Cap News I d like to share with you two stories. Hopefully what follows will inspire you in your efforts for our great organization and in your relationship with our Creator give them some thought. The Elephant Rope As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds, but for some reason they did not. He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. Well, trainer said, when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free. The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn t, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life. Psalm 23 A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible -- Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little Bobby was excited about the task, but he just couldn t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Bobby was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, The Lord is my shepherd... and that s all I need to know! (Wisdom from the mouths of babes ) Jim Beischel Detachment Chaplain jrbeischel@yahoo.com

2 Page 2 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017 The last word? from our new Junior Greetings Sons! Just a quick thank you from Bubba to my Detachment Vice Commanders entire great job on membership!! POW Pete Palandri a whopping 107% in Area B an awesome job buddy!! Congratulations to the membership for standing tall I am very proud of you all!!! I would also like to thank National Commander Frain, Chuck Treat, Joe Roberts and my Chairmen and Committeemen you help move our Detachment to a new level and it was an honor to be your Commander for ! For God and Country Mike Bubba Talty, the new JUNIOR Detachment Vice Commander Area B message... Our campout will be at Dead Horse Ranch in The dates are: April 13th-14th and 15th. All of the spots that are available to us have been reserved for our use. If you are attending this year s Camp Out, we ask for your reservation and payment to be sent to the Detachment of Arizona Headquarters before Thursday, February 1st. We have 30 (thirty) campsites available at Quail Loop for Camp Out of which the reservations must be made through Detachment. After submitting and paying for Friday and Saturday nights you may want to arrive early on Wednesday or Thursday at which time you will need to make those arrangements directly with the park ranger. Please note: There are about ten campsites that are not booked by the Detachment and this means you need to reserve your space for the Camp Out weekend spots before adding extra nights! For your reservation, send in your money and we will set you up with a site where available. This will be the only way this will work: NO payment will be accepted at campout. Pay before the weekend at the time you make your reservation. Send ALL payments to Detachment and make your check payable to: Detachment of Arizona and make note in the memo section Camp Out 2018 There are Motels & Hotels around if you prefer to stay at one of them please feel free to make your own reservations. The Quality in of Cottonwood is located next to the American Legion Post 25 and seems to be favored by most over the last few years. Activities Please bring the kids! #1 Fishing (bring your fishing gear, permits available at Big 5 Sporting Goods) #2 Boating (bring your own or rent local) #3 Hiking (wear appropriate boots and clothing) #4 Kids games #5 Adult games (with or without quarters) #6 Swimming (Snakes are not provided, bring your own) What we need and where we stand on remaining plans will be discussed and organized informally from now until Camp Out. Any required votes for action or expenditures will be taken during Fall Conference and at the Camp Out coordination meeting during The Department s Annual Open House in the first week of January. The reservation forms for Camp Out will be in the next Blue Cap News and available for download at the Detachment s website on or after September 15th. Guests attending the meeting will need to complete the form the same as those attending as campers. Failing to do so will result in the Park Ranger assessing you a day rate at the gate for each day. Arrangements for day guests will be made with the Park Ranger on Thursday with the list that we have at that time. Stragglers will need to pay the Park Ranger directly. We will have the Camp Out 2018 Artwork completed with Camp Out 2018 shirt order forms available for the next Blue Cap News and we will begin receiving orders by October 1st. Please look for both forms in the next Blue Cap News in addition to maps of the park and more information on activities and schedules. Our goal is to have Camp Out reservations, food planning, entertainment and National Guest arrangements final and completed by February 12th, This means all shirt orders in and ready to distribute, ALL reservations paid for, ALL campsites reserved and waiting for the clock to run out for the run to Dead Horse Ranch. Don t waffle! If you think you may go sign up now. Come to Camp Out and enjoy the fun and comradery. Separately, as the New Detachment Vice Commander, Area B thank you for your vote of confidence and the opportunity to fill this officer position for I promise your trust in me will not be challenged and I look forward to responding to all Squadrons in Area A that request a visitation. It would be an honor to attend your meeting, event or occasion. Please let me know by or by letter and I will see to it the Detachment Commander and Adjutant receive their needed copies. For God and Country, Thomas W. Lucas II Detachment Vice Commander, Area B and 2018 Campout Chairman tttbucket@msn.com

3 Volume 8, Issue 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Page 3 The membership year is not over, yet! Fellow blue cappers, Here we are in a new year with new possibilities, new challenges and new leadership. I want to welcome Detachment Commander Matt Griffis as he takes the reins and puts his own signature on our policies and direction for the coming year. I know he will do a wonderful job, as he has done the last few years as Vice Commander. And I know all of you will do everything you can to support him and make this year a success. While a new year is upon us, I don t want to lose sight of the recently closed administrative year. As of the last report, we have exceeded 100% in membership and achieved yet another all-time high! Great work everyone! But we re not quite done with that. We can still transmit 2017 membership until December 31. Our goal is 105% and we are ever so close. As a matter of fact, according to our figures in Arizona, we have reached it. But we all know that what matters is what they record at National. So let s all keep pushing renewals and ensure we hit that 105% goal before the end of the year. Greetings to all my fellow SAL members. I would like to start off by introducing myself. My name is Ryan Harris. I have been a member of the Sons of The American Legion for five years and Squadron Commander for the last two years. I have loved every minute of it. This past Detachment Convention, I was elected to the position of Detachment Vice Commander, Area A. Thank you for your support. I am a SAL member under my Grandfather Charlie Moore. My three sons, Trenton age 12, Bryson age 10 and Julian age 8 are also SAL members. My sons are huge in my life and I pride myself on trying to raise the best Americans I can. I teach them that it is extremely important to do your civic duty any time possible. It s important to care for others who can t always care for themselves. It s important to protect our Veterans, our elders and our children. Being in this position with the Sons of The American Legion has given us many opportunities to serve our community and we are happy to oblige. Even when our schedules are hectic and our minds and body feel exhausted it is important that we Rise To The Occasion! So this will be my motto as I lead in this position... To Rise To The Occasion! I know what a struggle it can be to drive for membership, to be present in our Post, to spend the extra time away from home as we push for our common goals of making the Sons of The American Legion the best it can be. I will do everything I can to commit to and always provide you the support you need. I m here for you and want to hear and see all of your great accomplishments And now is also the time to start on your 2018 cards. Get renewals in early. The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes. New members will sign up, but getting existing members to renew is another story. Don t wait for National to send out postcards. Start sending letters or cards now. Make phone calls. Talk to members that frequent your club. If you have addresses, send out a blast. There are many ways to entice members to renew. Drawings, discounts, some other freebie like a dinner. Every Squadron has something that will bring back your members. Talk it over with your officers and find something that might work for you. You cannot succeed if you don t try. Thank you again for all you do for our membership, for your community, and for the Sons of The American Legion. Keep up the great work and let s all get there together. For God & Country Joe Roberts, Detachment Membership Chairman & PDC azmembership@yahoo.com Detachment Vice Commander Area A message... throughout this year. I m proud to call you my brothers in arms and I will never take that for granted. The opportunity to visit all of your Squadrons in Area A and get to know each of you on a personal level is an honor. The visits do require an invitation by your Squadron, so please remember to send the invitation to the Detachment Headquarters and myself so we may schedule an Official Visitation with you and your Squadron. Some of the things I want us to work toward this year are membership goals. The more members we have the stronger we are and the more help we can offer. Second, we will follow in our current Detachment Commander Matt Griffis footsteps by helping the Fisher House grow. What a great organization! They continue to need our support to be successful. continued on page 4

4 Page 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017 Detachment Commander s Message Greetings, This is my first Blue Cap News report as Detachment Commander. Thank you to Chuck Treat for is hard work again, for coordinating and putting together our recent 2017 Convention in Carefree. This convention was our largest turnout to date and we accomplished a lot, plus illustrated many new successes and honors. Additionally, a big thank you to Joe Roberts for sitting in as the Adjutant for the meeting, which allowed Chuck some extra time to take care of some behind the scenes business. Good teamwork. Now that I am holding the gavel, I have some really big shoes to fill, thank you Past Commander Mike Bubba Talty for your hard work and leadership during the past year. You most definitely set the bar very high for me to reach. And thank you to all the past Detachment Officers and Committee Chairs and your dedication to our Detachment....and now it is time to get to work! I started off my year with a road trip up to the Prescott area with the new Department Commander Domingo Bonilla and the new Auxiliary President Yolanda Bonilla. We met at Post 78 Humboldt regarding the active forest fire. The fire affected several American Legion members. One of those is a Squadron 78 member known as Big John whom lost his entire home and contents. I met Big John and offered him the American Legion Emergency Disaster Relief Fund application, which would payout up to $ to qualified members (a benefit available only to current paid membership). We also visited Post 6 and Post 90. On July 7, I visited Post 30 and met the new Squadron Commander at Squadron 30 in Springerville and earlier on July 1st at Squadron 86 in Overgaard. My project is Fisher House located at the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Medical Facility Campus. Chuck Treat and myself met with Kelly Laurich on July 10th in Tucson to discuss our involvement with supporting the Fisher House, as well as a on-site built reflection pool for the guests utilizing the Fisher House facilities while their loved ones are in the VA Hospital. We will have more information coming very soon about the direction of these 2 projects....membership! By now you should have received your new 2018 membership cards and have started your squadron membership renewals. Child Welfare Foundation! Thanks to Past Commander Talty, the Detachment Of Arizona brought in over $110, for our national charity...but the buck does not stop there! We still need to do our part and I am setting our goal at $50, So lets keep it going. My new address is SALazCMDR@GMAIL.COM, please me and invite me to your events and meetings and I will place you on my calendar. Your new Area Vice Commanders are up and running. Please keep in touch with these gentlemen and they will help you with any of your Squadron needs. Ask them to come over for a Squadron meeting and keep them in the know of what your Squadron is doing to reach your goals. Remember Communication is the key to Organization...best served hot! For God and Country, Matthew Griffis, Detachment Commander SALazCMDR@gmail.com Detachment Vice Commander Area A message... continued first page 3 Also, we will always make the Child Welfare Foundation one of our highest priorities. They are the future and I would like to see our continued focus on these issues. Obviously, all the great programs we have in place need some attention. These are just a few that will keep us all working on a common front to achieve stronger results. Please feel free to reach out to me for any assistance or communication you have, or just to say hello. Good luck to each and every one of you. You are important to the cause. I look forward to seeing you Rise To The Occasion! Respectfully, Ryan Harris Detachment Vice Commander, Area A Sal.az.vca2015@gmail.com Ryanharris520@hotmail.com ( I don t mind text messages, either)

5 Volume 8, Issue 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Page 5 From the Adjutant s corner... The action list for 2017 is nearly complete. First, thank you to those Squadrons and SAL Members that attended the Detachment Convention in Carefree this year. What a turn out! Second there is much left to be done a new Membership year has started and we still have many members that need to renew their 2017 cards, still! Please get on the phones and ask them for their renewal to keep their continuous years and let them know the new membership cards are in at the Squadron for Most everyone had supplied their Squadron Officers Report Form (SORF) prior to Convention that helped a lot since the Membership Cards didn t arrive until the day before we were due up at the Hotel for the first meeting. The late arrival of the 2018 membership cards made for a rushed effort to pull the Past Detachment Commander s membership cards before we could issue cards to the Squadrons. It wasn t just Arizona Legion and Sons that received their cards at the final hour it was the most of the nation s Legion and SAL receiving the cards late and in some cases, after their State Conventions. We were fortunate that a last minute phone call to National s distribution center found the Detachment of Arizona cards sitting off and away from where they needed to be. They corrected the situation to have them arrive before Convention and not after. With your membership cards and roster this year was a calendar for the 2018 Membership Year. This calendar is important for two reasons: Membership s; The timing required of each Squadron requires your officers to be aware of the shipping dates from Arizona SAL Headquarters. Our shipping dates ARE NOW SEPARATED from Department of Arizona s Legion membership shipping dates. This became necessary, as our reporting dates are different from the American Legions. If your membership arrives too late, your cards will be sitting in Phoenix and not included with the batch sent to National. We are publishing the Shipping Date to inform those who may not be aware that the processing of membership at headquarters takes time to get it right before it can ship. Those who accomplish their membership on time will not be penalized for lateness of others. So please, review the Membership Calendar and adjust accordingly. Additionally, make note of the date(s) your Squadron needs to send the membership for your particular circumstances and share it with your Squadron AND Post Officers so they can get their timing set. Since each Squadron has different issues on how they process and ship their membership, you may need to carefully review the calendar and the lead time to adjust your processing and mailing of membership. National Membership Reports data will be drawn the morning of Report Date and ed to the Detachments and National Officers that same day. We will pass those on to you by request only. The Detachment s Membership report will be sent to your Squadron Commander, Adjutant and Senior Vice Commander on the we ship to National Headquarters. Our Detachment report should mostly reflect what National is reporting, but if not, please reference the Transmittal Report attached with the Detachment s Membership Report. We are adding a copy of the Detachment (to National) Transmittal Report that we send with our Membership Batch so you may reference your numbers sent to National and if they do not reflect what you anticipated, please call myself or Joe Roberts. Adjustments may still be needed for your Squadron s membership to be processed in a timely manner. 2. Detachment Scheduled Events for the next year: Our meetings and hotels where we meet are known well enough in advance that you should have the information for the entire year. For some reason, it is always assumed everyone knows the conditions of which we set those dates and when those meetings are traditionally held. I get it it s the way we have always done it. Well that is fine for the old seasoned pro who knows this, but why can t it be shared for all the NEW members who might like to plan some time off from work to attend those events? So the 2018 Membership Year Calendar is mostly complete for your information and planning purposes. An updated version of the Calendar is included in the Blue Cap News this month for your reference. So, what are the scheduled events? Membership Shipping Dates with the associated Membership Reporting Dates each Month Detachment Conference Dates, the first Wednesday of each month, all Detachment Officers (requested) and Squadron Officers & members (you are invited to all Detachment conference calls) Blue Cap News Dates and Mailing Dates every other month (every 60 days) 2017 National Convention in Reno, Nevada August 2017 Fall NEC and Commanders Training in Indianapolis, Indiana 2017 Fall DEC Conference in Tucson, AZ October 2017 Open House at Department Headquarters in Phoenix, AZ January 2018 Western Region Rendezvous in Las Vegas, Nevada (Western Region SAL Unofficial Get Together) January 2018 continued on page 10

6 Page 6 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017 Month Month Sun Mon August August Sons of The American Legion Tues Wed Sun Thur Mon Tues Fri Wed Sat Thur Sun Mon Fri Tues Sat Wed Sun Thur Mon Tues Fri Wed Sat Thur Sun Mon Fri Tues Sat Wed Sun Thur Mon F 2018 SAL Detachment of Arizona Mem Shipping Dates, Report Dates, Regional Membership Due Dates at Detachment F September September H H Labor Labor 10% October October I I Fall NEC & Fall NEC & Commander 2017 Commander % 25% November November December December K L K SAL Detachment SAL Detachment Fall Conference Fall Conference M M L AZ Veterans Conf Veterans 35% 45% January January February February March March April 2018 April 2018 May 2018 May AZ Open Conf House Easter Sunday Q AZ Easter Conf Sunday O P Q Open House Spring NEC & NMI Spring NEC & NMI O P 90% 100% Nat Gsts Arrive SAL Detachment Camp Out % 100% Nat Gsts Arrive Ship by R 80% 75% SAL Detachment Camp Out % June 2018 June T TU U V July 2018 July A 4th of July A Start 2018 Membership B 4th of July Start 2018 Membership B C C Ship by 105% August August E E

7 mbership & Coordination Calendar for Cut-Off Da l Meetings, Detachment Meetings and National Me Wed Thur Mon Tues Fri Wed Sat Thur Sun Mon Fri Tues Sat Wed Sun Thur Mon Tues Fri Wed Sat Thur Sun Mon Fri Tues Sat Wed Sun Thur Mon Tues Fri Wed Sat Thur Sun Fri SAL National American SAL National Legion American National Legion National Convention ConventionReno Convention Nevada Reno Nevada G G % Legion N Rendezvous Las Rendezvous Las Vegas 2018 Vegas Yuma Run Yuma Run Æ Æ Æ Æ Æ Æ Æ Northern Run North National CMDR Nation V W X % 2018 Membership Year Headquarters and Event Dates 35% 45% R 10% 80% 75% 60% 105% D Legion Thanksgiving N W J Washington Conf Washington 2018 Conf SAL National American SAL National Legion American National Legion Natio Convention ConventionMinneapolis Minneapo X J Christmas Memorial Y Z Detachment & Department Detachment & Department Convention 2018 Convention 2018 D Thanksgiving Christmas S Memorial Y Z S Updated 06 August 2017 My Squadron s 100% Goal for 2018: My Squadron s 105% Goal for 2018: My Squadron s 2018 Membership Goals Each Month: September % q October % q November % q December % q January % q February % q March % q April % q May % q July % q Note: Using the calendar at left... Mark your Squadron s Membership Shipping Dates to meet the at Detachment. Your Squadron s membership needs to arrive the day before the Detachment of Arizona Shipping Date (identified as Red Box in calendar for each month)

8 Page 8 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017

9 Volume 8, Issue 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Page 9 Detachment Commander , Matthew Griffis Vice Commander Harris (A) Vice Commander Lucas (B) Vice Commander Pesek (C) Our newest Junior - PDC , Mike Talty

10 Page 10 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017 From the Adjutant s corner... continued from page 5 Washington DC Wreath Laying Ceremonies and Legislative Commission, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission (VA&R) and Veterans Employment and Education Commission (VE&E) Conferences in Washington, DC February 2018 The Yuma Run March 2018 The Northern Run March 2018 SAL Camp Out 2018, with visitation by our National Commander and the Leading Candidate for National Commander April 2018 Spring NEC & National Management Institute Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana May 2018 Detachment & Department Convention in Mesa, Arizona (a definite maybe?) June National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota August 2018 There are many more National and Detachment Activities that could be added to the Calendar, but then who would get any of the work done towards our Goals and the Four Pillars? And obviously, far much more when you add in what your Squadron is doing at your Post, and locally in your Community. We want each member and Squadron to be aware of the opportunities that exist on the State and National levels. It may interest you or maybe not, but at minimum you can understand and be aware of why the deadlines are set the way they are. If you are interested in what is involved with any of those events, please ask us. Squadron Commanders and Officers serve their Squadron s membership, so does the Detachment Commander and Officers they serve your Squadron and membership, too. The higher up you go the more people you answer to it is our responsibility to the offices we hold and the trust you place in us. And about membership again Are you aware that we have a couple of Squadrons that issue cards all year long but only send in one transmittal at the end of the year? Think of it as you may, this issue is a problem. When your members pay their dues, you are required to transmit their card to Detachment. There are no exceptions. Imagine the surprise someone has if they need Emergency Disaster Relief and they are not qualified because the Membership Card was issued but is not valid for some of the benefits because the State and National portions are sitting in a Squadron s desk drawer gathering dust. It is not fair to your members to sit on those portions of the membership renewal / new members applications and fail to complete the process. If you are having problems processing the membership, ask for help at the Detachment level we volunteered to assist our fellow members and this includes getting everything back to where it needs to be. A simple phone call can remove the problem! Plan on using the calendar already mentioned and regularly sending your membership in to Detachment headquarters. Don t let the problem pile up to crisis management. You will not be the Squadron s hero for lumping all the cards together in the final weeks before Convention. Keep it regular and keep it simple to meet your responsibilities. Does your Squadron need recognition? The Detachment of Arizona (you, the membership) is highly regarded nationally. This is because we have membership and Squadrons that do so much towards the Four Pillars in the normal course of business. When we group the achievements of our Squadrons together and review what has been accomplished each year by the entire Detachment, how incredible, the Squadrons and their membership humble me. Your Detachment Commander will come and visit your Squadron when asked, officially speaking. He should experience your efforts and successes in person. For the Detachment Commander to officially visit a Squadron, a written invitation (by US Mail or by ) by the Squadron Commander/Adjutant is required. The same goes for your Detachment Vice Commanders from your area. I can assure you the invitation extended to the Detachment Officer will be graciously received, promptly acknowledged and scheduled. Our Detachment Commander and Vice Commanders job is to visit and help our Squadrons. I am hard pressed to remember anything but the kudos for every visit made in the past four years for each Squadron by our Past Detachment Commanders. They have enjoyed the company of fellow Sons and really enjoyed learning about what your Squadron does throughout the year. It is a reminder of how Arizona achieves what it does and it is humbling and always well received. This is partially accomplished by visitations to Squadrons throughout the State. Pick a date and call to check for availability. Then, when the dates are good, send a letter of request. The shorter the better, but just enough details so the Commander doesn t get lost! What does your Squadron do for special fund raising events, their service to the Four Pillars, programs and regularly scheduled post activities? Shouldn t they be shared with the Blue Cap News? When you do so, you are adding reach outside of your city or town. I can personally say there are numerous events I have attended as an SAL Member with family in tow because the Squadron put it on my radar. That is, they asked for it to be in the Blue Cap News. I have even changed my travel dates to coordinate the opportunity to participate at Squadron events and bring others along to support those Squadrons. Why? Have you ever had the Prime Rib by Overgaard s Squadron on Sundays? Oh, how I wish they would bring that event back! continued on page 11

11 Volume 8, Issue 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Page 11 From the Adjutant s corner... continued from page 10 Fun times, great food and good company and supporting a Squadron in the process. What could be better? So send your information to the Blue Cap News so we can share with others your events they might be passing by a missed opportunity! Or send a special invite to the Detachment Commander or Vice Commanders. s are listed on the back page of the Blue Cap News for the next issue s deadline. We also have marked the Annual Membership Calendar with dates of and publication for your reference. The new 2018 membership cards. Does your Squadron struggle all the way up to June getting members to renew? Then, when the new cards arrive in July, they say something to the effect of But I just paid my dues! It has been suggested many times before get those renewals in early! Why? Because the concentrated effort to get as many renewals in and paid and seeking to hit 100% renewal rate before Christmas accomplishes many things. First, your membership card expires on January 1st. The old card is no longer any good as identification at a Legion Post or SAL function. Why wait until the expiration date has come and gone. Second, Many benefits available to SAL members rely on their membership being current (reference the Detachment Commanders Report and Temporary Financial Assistance available). This why it is important to regularly send in the transmittals to Detachment. The benefits are gone until the membership is renewed. You cannot retroactively make your card current. Third, participation by the membership. Renewal time is an opportunity to inform your members what the Squadron and Post has planned for the next year. Give them a calendar with as much information and set dates as you are able. Doing so will give them the opportunity to either (or both) support your regular and special events by either attending as a paying guest or by assisting with donated time and funds to achieve the goals for that event. If they don t know they won t show! Fourth, take the membership grind out of the last half of the year. Get a couple of members together and announce by calling your membership that the New membership cards are in! Any Squadron that hits 90% or more by Christmas gets one more present that they deserve.an easy run at surpassing your 100% and 105% benchmarks for the remaining year. Invest time and effort on your Membership Renewals in the front side of the year and free up a lot of time on the backside of the year. So we will suggest you pull out your Squadron s membership phone list and have a couple guys start making phone calls in August and September. Doing so will make for an easy January, February, March, April, May and June. Now you can spend more time on the projects you want to complete by the end of your term of office! And coincidentally, that is one incredible time to invite your Detachment Commander and Vice Commander to come visit. It will make your Post proud of your Squadron s accomplishments, if they aren t already. For God & Country Chuck Treat, Detachment Adjutant ChuckTreat@aol.com I can t figure it out...do I really have to read the instructions? Fisher House Tucson receives new Keurig Commercial Coffee Makers, Chuck Treat left, Kelly Laurich at right. Cmdr. Griffis in background.

12 Page 812 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Fa l 2017 Conference DoubleTree Hotel - Reid Park, Tucson, Arizona Detachment Meetings Start Saturday Morning, November 4th, 8:30am Fall Conference: November 3, 4 & 5th, 2017 Registration is $10.00 per SAL member attending. Registration fees are non-refundable. Registration after deadline subject to higher fees. Your Squadron #: Amount Enclosed: Check Number: PRINT or TYPE full name PRINT or TYPE Position/Title Check box if ALR rider q 2 q 3 q 4 q 5 q 6 q 7 q 8 q 9 q 10 q DEADLINE: SAL Conference Registration and Payment must be received at AZ Department Offices by close of business on Wednesday, October 25th, Make check payable to Department of Arizona. HOTEL: Reservations are made directly with the DoubleTree - Reid Park by October 18 to receive The American Legion Meeting Rate. Conference Dates Nov 3-5th, Send Conference Registration: Make your Hotel Reservations: MAIL Check and completed form to: Department of Arizona 4701 N. 19th Ave Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ DoubleTree Hotel Tucson Reid Park Mention: Legion Conference 445 S. Alvernon Way Tucson, Arizona, TEL:

13 Volume 8, Issue 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Page 9 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona 4701 N 19th Avenue, Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ Adjutant (480) SALadjutant@AZlegion.org ChuckTreat@aol.com Sons Of The American Legion Fall Conference Date: August 7, 2017 To: All Detachment Officers, Past Detachment Commanders Committee Chairmen Squadron Commanders Squadron Adjutants Department Adjutant, Angel Juarez From: Matthew Griffis, Detachment Commander Chuck Treat, Detachment Adjutant Official Fall Conference General Meeting Pursuant to Article VII, Section 1, of the Constitution of the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Arizona, I, Matthew Griffis, Detachment Commander, hereby call for the Fall Conference to be held Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Doubletree Reid Park, Tucson, Arizona. The Fall Conference is in accordance with the Uniform Code of Procedure and will convene at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, November 4, All Detachment of Arizona Officers are required to be present at this meeting. Detachment Executive Committee Meeting The Detachment Executive Meeting will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. All Detachment of Arizona Officers are required to be present at this meeting. Officers unable to attend are required to notify directly either the Detachment Commander, Matthew Griffis or the Detachment Adjutant, Chuck Treat prior to the Conference Dates. Dress code is Business Attire for Officers, casual for attendees. Please make note of the dates and post for general information for your Squadron Members. Registration is required to attend, please see the Fall Conference registration form and complete by the deadline on the form.

14 Page 14 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017 Detachment of Arizona Officers & Committee Contact Information as of 6 August 2017 Home Title Name Phone SQ SAL Detachment/Department Headquarters SALadjutant@Azlegion.org 4701 N 19th Ave #200, Phoenix, AZ "Junior" Immediate Past Detachment Commander Mike Talty miketalty@yahoo.com Detachment Commander Matthew Griffis SALazCMDR@gmail.com Detachment Vice Commander, Area A Ryan Harris RyanHarris520@hotmail.com Detachment Vice Commander, Area B Tom Lucas TTTbucket@msn.com Detachment Vice Commander, Area C Robert J Pesek Pesek_Bob@yahoo.com National Executive Committeeman Bob Hath HathR@earthlink.net Alternate National Executive Committeeman Joe Roberts AZmembership@yahoo.com Detachment Chaplain Jim Beischel jrbeischel@yahoo.com Executive Board Member / Campout Committee Member Ron Martin rmartin@al14.org Executive Board Member / Campout Committee Member Dan Ashley POTATO480@live.com Executive Board Member / Campout Committee Member Ed Wallace edmarwallace@yahoo.com Executive Board Member / Campout Committee Member Nolan McMullen NoahEMR@yahoo.com Executive Board Member / Campout Committee Member Keith Birkemeyer KeithVBirkemeyer107@cox.net Detachment Adjutant & Finance Officer Chuck Treat ChuckTreat@aol.com Detachment Judge Advocate Jeff Frain Jeff.Frain@aol.com Detachment Sgt at Arms Levi Brown aaccomm@cox.net Detachment Sgt at Arms, Assistant AJ McMullen NoahEMR@yahoo.com Detachment Historian Dale Brandt dbrandt107@hotmail.com Detachment Membership Chairman Joe Roberts AZmembership@yahoo.com Detachment Camp Out Chairman 2018 Tom Lucas TTTbucket@msn.com Detachment Camp Out Assistant Chairman 2018 Dan Ashley POTATO480@live.com Detachment Children & Youth Chairman Scott Gulli SGulli@cox.net Children & Youth - subcommittee CWF Co-Chairman Dan Ashley POTATO480@live.com Children & Youth - subcommittee CWF Co-Chairman Mike Talty miketalty@yahoo.com Children & Youth - subcommittee GI Josh Chairman Scott Gulli SGulli@cox.net Children & Youth - subcommittee GI Josh 2nd Chairman Levi Brown aaccomm@cox.net Trophy & Awards Bob Hath HathR@earthlink.net Detachment Finance Committee Chairman Jeff Frain Jeff.Frain@aol.com Detachment Finance Committee Member Pete Palandri s.a.l.petey@gmail. Detachment Finance Committee Member Dana Dobson dadobson@mpsaz.org Detachment Finance Committee Member (Adj & FinOff) Chuck Treat ChuckTreat@aol.com Detachment Finance Committee Member (Dept Adj) Angel Juarez adjutant@azlegion.org By-Laws & Resolutions Committee Chairman Jeff Frain Jeff.Frain@aol.com By-Laws & Resolutions Committee member Rob Pederson pdc86-88@al14.org

15 Volume 8, Issue 4 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona Page 15 Detachment of Arizona Officers & Committee Contact Information as of 6 August 2017 Home Title Name Phone SQ By-Laws & Resolutions Committee member Joe Roberts AZmembership@yahoo.com By-Laws & Resolutions Committee member Mike Talty miketalty@yahoo.com By-Laws & Resolutions Committee member (Adj) Chuck Treat ChuckTreat@aol.com Legislative Committee Chairman Americanism Committee Chairman Veterans Education & Employment Committee Open to Volunteers Open to Volunteers Open to Volunteers Veterans Affairs And Rehabilitation Chairman Ed Cleary Emcleary@cox.net Veterans Affairs And Rehabilitation Area-A Rep Joe Miller jpsc1971@comcast.net Veterans Affairs And Rehabilitation Area-B Rep Ed Cleary emcleary@cox.net Veterans Affairs And Rehabilitation Area-C Rep Ron Martin rmartin@al14.org Conv & Conf Committee Member Dan Ashley POTATO480@live.com Conv & Conf Committee Member Bob Hath HathR@earthlink.net Conv & Conf Committee Member (Det Cmdr) Mathew Griffis SALazCMDR@gmail.com Conv & Conf Committee Member (Det Adj) Chuck Treat ChuckTreat@aol.com SAL Detachment Liaison Dan Ashley POTATO480@live.com SAL National Commander Danny J. Smith ddjssmith@msn.com Leading Candidate for National Commander Gregg 'Doc' Gibbs ggibbs@sbu.edu Detachment has a website... Look to the website for copies of forms and information available in a downloadable & fillable PDF. We need your input: Events, calendars, and what you would like to see added in the future! Send to: SALazCMDR@gmail.com or SALadjutant@Azlegion.org

16 Page 16 Sons of The American Legion Detachment of Arizona August / September 2017 AZ Membership Goals Area Dist Sqd City 2016 Datum 31Jul 2016 ENDING 105% 105% 19 Jul 2017 NOW GOAL Actual + (-) %%% A 2 7 Tucson (13) 80.4% A 2 36 Tucson % A 2 59 Tucson (16) 71.4% A 2 66 Sahuarita % A 2 68 Tucson (14) 73.9% A 09 Vail (29) 92.9% A 25 Yoeme/Tucson % A 31 Green Valley % A 32 Oro Valley A 3 11 Douglas % A 3 24 Tombstone (10) 98.7% A 3 52 Sierra Vista (17) 86.7% A 4 8 Casa Grande (7) 0.0% A 4 9 Florence (11) 80.9% A 4 54 Coolidge % A Arizona City (2) 94.1% A 5 4 Globe (1) 103.1% A 5 28 Clifton % A 5 32 Safford % A 5 95 Soloman (1) 103.1% B 1 19 Yuma (2) 102.6% B 1 46 Bouse % B 1 56 Yuma % B 11 1 Phoenix (7) 101.9% B 11 5 Phoenix % B Wickenburg % B Glendale (4) 102.2% B Buckeye % B Avondale (3) 102.5% B Peoria (10) 100.8% B Surprise % B Phoenix % B Laveen (11) 0.0% B Goodyear (7) 96.4% B 12 2 Tempe (2) 103.4% B Mesa (1) 104.8% B Apache Junction % B Cave Creek % B Chandler (16) 100.0% B Gilbert (5) 101.9% B Phoenix % B Scottsdale GOAL 125 Actual (-) 105.7% %%% B Fountain Hills % B Phoenix % B Phoenix % B Chandler % B 107 Phoenix % B 117 Phoenix % B 138 Tempe (8) 85.4% C 6 15 Winslow (1) 100.0% C 6 30 Springerville % C 6 37 Holbrook (17) 82.4% C 6 69 Payson % C 6 86 Overgaard % C 7 3 Flagstaff % C 7 13 Williams % C 7 14 Kingman (12) 89.7% C 7 22 Golden Valley (2) 100.0% C 7 42 Grand Canyon (3) 97.0% C 7 57 Ash Fork (3) 103.4% C 7 81 Lake Havasu % C 7 87 Bull Head City % C 7 88 Dolan Springs (5) 100.0% C 8 6 Prescott (0) 104.9% C 8 25 Cottonwood (22) 64.8% C 8 40 Chino Valley (2) 102.3% C 8 78 Humbolt (22) 89.9% C 8 79 Yarnell % C 8 93 Camp Verde % C Crown King #DIV/0! H Detachment HQ % Detachment of Arizona Totals 6, ,789 7, % Blue Cap News is published every other month by the Sons of The American Legion, Detachment of Arizona. Squadrons are encouraged to share their success stories with the Detachment by sending stories to the Blue Cap News. Please your news copy to: BlueCapNews@aol.com If you have an event that you would like to promote with a flyer, please send 140 copies of your flyer for inclusion with the newsletter mailing. Separately send an with the flyer attached for inclusion with the Web edition. PDF s are requested, but we will work with you to get the word out! Please send the flyer as an attachment to your to: BlueCapNews@aol.com Next : September 15th, 2017 for the published issue: October/November 2017 Issue

17 8 th Annual Sons of American Legion Squadron #39 Casino Night Endorsed by the American Legion Riders of Post #39 Saturday, October 21nd Time: 6pm to 9pm No Host Happy Hour 5pm to 6pm Food Available 5pm to 8pm 1st Buy In $25 = $2000 In Poker Chips 2nd Buy In $20 = $1500 In Poker Chips All proceeds go to help fund our SAL Programs. 206 North Gilbert Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85234