The Department of Louisiana of the American Legion

94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT CONVENTION BEST WESTERN INN – ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA June 7, 8, 9, 10, 2012

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

08:00 a.m. Department Headquarters……………………….……………...…….Pelican Room 12:00 p.m. Registration Legion & Auxiliary………….…………...……...... Solarium 1:00 p.m. Commission on Internal Affairs……………….……...……..….…....…Rattan Room 1:00 p.m. Commission on Children & Youth …………………………...... …Bamboo Room 2:00 p.m. Commission on VA & R ………………..……………….…..…..…..…Rattan Room 3:00 p.m. Commission on Americanism……………………………….….…….Bamboo Room 3:30 p.m. Contract Planning & Signing for Mid-Winter 2013….….……..……... Pelican Room 5:00 p.m. Commission on Finance ………………..…………...……………..…...Rattan Room 6:00 p.m. Department Executive Committee………….…………..……….…..…Garden Room

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012

08:00 a.m. Department Headquarters……………………….……………………..Pelican Room 08:00 a.m. Registration Legion & Auxiliary & SAL…..……………………….……...Solarium 08:00 a.m. Credentials Committee………………………….……………….……Room BR103

09:00 a.m. Opening Session……………………………….…………….…….….Garden Room

Presentation of Gavel & Welcome ………..………….…… Harold M. “Bud” Teal President of CEN-LA Convention Corporation Call to Order………………..…….………….……………………Larry J. Abshire Department Commander Advance of Colors…………………….………………..…..….….…Joe N. Malone Department Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Strother & Daniel Nunez Department Color Bearers Advance of District Colors.…..……….……………….……..District Commanders District Color Bearers Invocation……………………………………………………….…..Gerald Theriot Department Chaplain Pledge of Allegiance……………………………………….………Billy Ray Foley

All persons are reminded that the Official Conference Badge or other approved credential is required to enter all General Conference Sessions

1 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention Department Vice Commander

2 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention

POW/MIA Chair …(Gerald Theriot)…... Billy Ray Foley & H.T. “Terry” Sharp Department Vice Commanders Preamble………………………………………….….….….….H.T. “Terry” Sharp Department Vice Commander Memorial Service…..……………..………….……………………..Gerald Theriot Department Chaplain Greetings:

Introduction of Honored Guests……………...... …Larry J. Abshire Department Commander City of Pineville………………..……………....…..Honorable Clarence R. Fields Mayor City of Alexandria……………………………………….Honorable Jacques Roy Mayor 40& 8 ………………………………………….…………..….. Kenneth C. Lafleur Grand Chef de Gare Louisiana Military Department……….……………...... …..BG Glenn H. Curtis Adjutant General, National Guard LDVA ……………………………………………………………..….. Lane Carson Secretary DAV ……………………………………………………………………….. Jeff Lee Commander VFW………………………………………………..……………..Kenneth P. Koval Commander American Legion…………….……….………………….……....Charles D. Aucoin National Executive Committeemen Reports & Awards:

Department JROTC Cadet of the Year……….………...... Forrest A. Travirca, III Chairman Department Eagle Scout of the Year……….………...... Forrest A. Travirca, III Committee Chairman

Department 4H & FFA Scholarship Awards………………………...... H. T. Sharp Chairman 4-H: Colleen Manuel FFA: Adam Thibodeaux Reports

Report of Credentials Committee…………….………….…...... William J. Meyer

3 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention Chairman

Recess 2:00 p.m. Constitution & Bylaws………………………………………………..Bamboo Room 4:00 p.m. Joint Children & Youth…(Plantation Room)……………..………….Herbie Petite Chairman

6:00 p.m. Cash Bar…………………………………………….……………..….Garden Room 7:00 p.m. Combined Testimonial Dinner……………………………………..…Garden Room

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012

07:00 a.m. Past Post Commander’s Breakfast……………………...……………..…Solarium

08:00 a.m. Registration Legion, Auxiliary & SAL..………….……….…....………..Solarium Department Headquarters………………..…………….……….…..Pelican Room

09:00 a.m. Credentials Committee………………………………...……………Room BR103

09:30 a.m. Reconvene …………………..…….………….……………………Garden Room

Call to Order…………………………………………….…….Larry. J. Abshire Department Commander Greetings:

Introduction of Honored Guest …..….……..………………….…Barbara White National Executive Committeewoman American Legion Auxiliary …..…….……..……………….…Winnie Broussard National Auxiliary Vice President American Legion Auxiliary ……….….…..……………….……Monique Batiste Department President Honorary Junior American Legion Auxiliary……..….………… Shelbilyn Mott Honorary Junior Department President Honorary Junior American Legion Auxiliary…….……….…… Brittany Watts Honorary National President 8 & 40 ……………………………………………………..….….. Joanne Meyer Le Chapeau Departmental Sons of the American Legion………….………….………………....Ernest Hoitt National Executive Committeemen

Sons of The American Legion……… ….………………Camille A. LeJeune, Jr.

4 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention Detachment Commander Sons of the Year Award…………………………………..….Camille A. LeJeune Detachment Commander

At this time The Auxiliary and The Son’s are dismissed for their Conferences

Introduction of Honored Guest.……………...... …Charles Aucoin National Executive Committeeman

Address…………………………..……………………...... …Fang A. Wong National Commander

Reports & Awards:

Commission on Public Information……...…………...…….……….I. J. Deshotel Chairman Commission on Ways & Means….…….…….…………...….....…Eldon O’Neill Chairma n Commission on Department Convention………………………..…Russell Henry Chairman Constitution & By Laws Committee……………..……..S. G. “Bubbie” Messina Chairman Commission on Boys State……..……………………...………....Harold Burson Chairman (Governor of Louisiana Boys State 2011-(Hunter Benoit)

(State Oratorical Contest Winner 2012–(Justin Magrath)………….Les Cromwell Chairman

Commission on Baseball……………………..….…………………....A. J. Jones

Chairman Commission on National Security & Governmental Affairs……………………….…..……...Forrest A. Travirca III Chairman Fireman of the Year Policeman of the Year

5 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention Membership Awards…………..…….…...Billy Ray Foley & H. T. Terry Sharp Department Vice Commanders Report of Credentials Committee……….……………………..William J. Meyer

Chairman

11:30 a.m. Recess

12:00 noon Past Department Commander’s Luncheon…………………………………TBD

1:30 p.m. Reconvene………………………………...... Garden Room

Call to Order………………………...... Larry J. Abshire Department Commander

VETERANS BENEFIT SESSION

This is an open meeting for those interested in Veterans Affairs, Veterans Rehabilitation problems, and Veterans Legislation.

Commission on Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation………..…….Julius H. Walsh Chairman

2:30 p.m. M.C. “Mike” Gehr Blue Cap Club……….………..…………..….Bamboo Room

Chairman

Dogwood, Sunflower, Azalea and Orchid Rooms are available for District Caucuses starting at 3:30 p.m.

Department Headquarters has set up the following reservations. 3:30 p.m. 1st District…………..…………..………….…………..…………Dogwood Room 3rd District…………..…….………………………….…...……..Sunflower Room 5th District……………..…………………………………………….Azalea Room 7th District…….…………..………………………………………...Orchid Room

6 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention 4:00 p.m. 2nd District……..………………………….…………….………..Dogwood Room 4th District………………..……………………………….……..Sunflower Room 6th District…………………..……………………………….……....Azalea Room 8th District……………………..……………………………….…...Orchid Room

6:00 p.m. Department Auxiliary President Elect Reception….…….………..Bamboo Room

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2012

07:00 a.m. Breakfast in the Atrium.

08:00 a.m. Department Headquarters………….……...... …….……... Pelican Room Registration Legion, Auxiliary & SAL……………..……………………Solarium Credentials Committee………..……………….……………………Room BR103

08:30 a.m. Credentials Committee……………………...…………………..CLOSED……

09:00 a.m. Reconvene for Final Session……………..…………..…………....Garden Room

Call to Order………………………………….……………….... Larry J.Abshire Department Commander Invocation………………………………………………………..Gerald Theriot Department Chaplain Report of Commission on Finance………………………..William “Bill” Detweiler Chairman Judge Advocate’s Report………………………………..…..Hank Kwaitkowski Department Judge Advocate Report of Department Adjutant……………...………..……...…Matthew Farlow Department Adjutant Report of Department Vice Commanders…………...... ………....Billy Ray Foley H.T. “Terry” Sharp Report of Department Commander……..……………..…….… Larry J. Abshire Commander M.C. “Mike” Gehr Blue Cap Award …..…………….....……..Rodney J. Trahan Chairma n Introduction of New Detachment Commander……………..…..Larry J. Abshire Commander Other Business requiring action of Convention…….…………. Larry J. Abshire Commander

7 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention Presentation of Caps to New District Commanders/DEC………. Charles Aucoin National Executive Committeeman

8 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention

Introduction/Installation of New District Commanders/DEC Larry J. Abshire Commander Presentation of Caps to Outgoing Officers……………...... …...Charles Aucoin National Executive Committeeman Final Report of Credentials Committee…………………...……William J. Meyer

Chairman

Election of Department Officers

(2) Color Bearers (1) Sergeant-at-Arms (2) Vice Commanders (1) Commander

Election of Delegates (10) & Alternates (5) to National Convention

Presentation of Caps to Newly Elected Department Officers…... Charles Aucoin National Executive Committeeman Installation of Newly Elected Department Officers…….……... Larry J. Abshire Commander Pinning of Department Commander and Vice Commanders

Colors remain in place.

Adjourn

POST CONVENTION DEC MEETING

The Post-Department Convention Department Executive Committee (DEC) meeting will be held immediately following adjournment of Department Convention.

9 94th Annual Louisiana Department Convention Call to Order & Salute the Colors………….……….…Department Commander

Invocation……………………………………...... Department Chaplain

Recommendation on Reappointment of Department Adjutant Larry J. Abshire Junior Past Department Commander Recommendation on Reappointment of Department Assistant Adjutant………… ………………………………………….Larry J. Abshire Junior Past Department Commander Appointment of Other Department Officers…..………Department Commander

Appointment of Commissions Chairpersons ….……...Department Commander

Other Business for the DEC…….……….……...... Department Commander

Benediction……………………………..……...... Department Chaplain

Adjourn