PRIDE

PAGE 7SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 THE BADGER LEGIONNAIRE

There’s no denying it – it’s the end of September and that means that most kids have been back in school for nearly a month now. What better time to refresh your memory and begin promoting all of the school-aged based programs available through The American Legion! Programs like Badger Boys State, County Youth Govern-ment Day, Junior Shooting Sports, the Oratorical Scholarship Compe-tition, Americanism and Govern-ment Testing, Scouting, Legion Baseball, and other scholarship opportunities – not to mention pro-grams that individual Posts may sponsor.

Department Headquarters has contacted school guidance offi ces across the state regarding these programs but you can help by visiting your local schools and re-minding them of the opportunities for their students through your lo-cal post and the Department.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

Regional and State Oratorical Finals

February 13, 2016 at Ripon College – Students should be pre-paring for local Oratorical competi-tions now – Posts need to complete their competitions prior to Decem-ber so that County and District County competitions can also be completed before the February 13th Regional and State Finals.

Jr. Shooting Sports Postal Match ends March 1, 2016Local teams can begin formingand practicing now

Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship deadline – March 1, 2016

Schneider-Emanuel Scholarship Application Deadline – March 1, 2016

Americanism and Government Scholarship Testwill be available online April 4 through April 15, 2016

Badger Boys State2016 session will be held June 11, 2016 through June 18, 2016

County Youth Government Pro-gramsongoing throughout the year – check with your Post, school and local government offi ces

Detailed information and ap-plications can be found in your Administrative Manual, Appen-dix A - Americanism Programs. If you do not have access to your Post’s Manual, you can fi nd it online at www.wilegion.org, or by calling Dawn Brauner at Department Headquarters at (608) 745-1090 or by email at dawn@wilegion.org.

Members of Fall Creek Post No. 376 presenting the colors on Patriot Day. The unit was led by Commander Norm Brunkow. Post No. 376 has presented the colors at all home football games since 2005.

Department Commander Dale Oatman of the Anderson – Sather Post No. 524 in White Lake is “Double Dale” daring Legion-naires across Wisconsin to get out and renew their 2016 membership before Veteran’s Day 2015. Ev-ery post’s fi rst goal should be last year’s total membership PLUS 1. Each post that achieves growth and becomes eligible for the National Post Excellence Award in 2016 will be recognized in the Badger Legionnaire.

DOUBLE DALE DARE NO. 1 Post Membership Incentives

and AwardsRenew 100% of those 2015 mem-

bers who renewed after January 1st by Veterans Day and your post will be eligible to win $500 in a draw-ing to be held at the 2016 Midwin-ter Conference at the Ho-Chunk Hotel, Casino and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells. Ev-ery post that renews 100% of those members who paid their 2015 dues after January 1, 2015 will qualify!

Three categories will be awarded;Posts under 50 members;Posts from 50 to 99 members;Posts over 100 membersATTENTION: Post Commanders

– Qualify to Win a custom Jacket, Baseball cap or cash prizes! Reach 100% of your 2016 goal by Vet-

Commander Dale Oatman incentives for membership renewals - “Get One” Bounty remains at $1,000erans Day on Tuesday, Novem-ber 11th and you’ll qualify for a drawing to determine the winner. A customized jacket with the win-ner’s name and post along with a baseball cap featuring branch of service will be awarded.

County Commanders - Win cash or a custom American Legion Commander Shirt!

ALL County Commanders who achieve 100% of their 2016 goal by December 31st will receive a custom County Commander Uni-form Shirt embroidered with your name!

DOUBLE DALE DARE NO. 2 Individual Membership Awards

To grow at the local level, each post needs to rely on their mem-bers being active recruiters. For the individual Legionnaire, mem-bership recruiting can lead to a big reward! Legion members can sim-ply sign up a new member, or re-new any former member who has not paid for two years (since 2013) and their name will be entered in a drawing. Those that qualify have a chance to win $1,000 at the 2016 Midwinter Conference at the Ho-Chunk Hotel, Casino and Convention Center in the Wiscon-sin Dells. There is no limit to the number of times an individual can qualify – recruiters get one chance for every new member they re-

cruit. Anyone who recruits a new member qualifi es!

Legionnaires who renew and recruit multiple Legionnaires can earn several individual member-ship awards.

THE 3/5 PRIDE PATROL Renew 3 members for 2016

and Recruit 2 new members and join Commander Dale Oatman’s “Pride Patrol”. Every member of the Pride Patrol will receive a spe-cial limited edition pin to mark the achievement.

BADGER “BIG 10”Recruit 10 new members – The

Badger Big 10 recognition award can be earned by signing up ten (10) new members. Join this ex-clusive group of Legionnaires! Badger Big 10 recruiters receive a pin and a patch to wear with pride.

The National American Legion is also encouraging recruitment with the Silver Brigade (25 new members) and Gold Brigade (50 new members) awards for Le-gionnaires who recruit 25 and 50 new members respectively.

We can reach new heights in Membership for 2016. Contact Chris Schmidt at chris@wilegion.org or call headquarters at (608) 745-1090 with any questions.

Roman Broechert of the Wag-ner – Eberle - Sukowaty Post No. 477 in St. Nazianz recently re-ceived a certifi cate honoring his 70 years of continuous member-ship in the post. Roman, who is 92 years old, joined The Ameri-

Walter Zehm of Post No. 500 in West Allis was recently presented a 70 Year Continuous Member-ship Certifi cate by 4th District Commander Mark Sandow. Wal-ter has belonged to a number of different posts over the years in-cluding the Bay View Post No. 180, Henrizi - Schneider Post No. 382 and Allis Chalmers Post No. 500.

He has held many different Offi -cer positions including Waukesha County Commander, post Com-

OF MEM BERSHIP

O

P

70 YEARS

AMERICAN LEGI0N

to Achieve 2016 Membership Goals

can Legion in 1945 after return-ing home from service in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Pictured from left to right is post member Pete Olig, Roman Broechert and Post Commander Chuck Augustine.

mander and 100% Membership chairman. Post transfers have been due to relocations within the Milwaukee metropolitan area but he has always taken his knowledge and abilities with him and served The American Legion in many ways. Walter is a dedicated Legion Member. Pictured from left to right are 4th District Commander Mark Sandow, Walter Zehm and Post No. 500 Commander Edward Schuh.