March 2011 Editors: Brad Koch & Joe Hollomon Inside this issue: Detachment Commander 1 Chaplain 2 1st Zone Commander 2 Sons of The American Legion 2nd Zone Commander 3 3rd Zone Commander 3-4 4th Zone Commander 5 Detachment of Michigan Newsletter 5th Zone Commander 5 Welcome Home 5K & DETACHMENT COMMANDER DAVE MENNEL [email protected] LZ Michigan 6 there isn't a service in your Boys State 7 way. Get out there! Support our veterans! Don't lose part of our state, you have Rainbow Connection 7 lots of time to get one go- sight of who we are, Proud District Meeting Dates 8-9 ing. Again, PDC1 Pustay was Sons. Adjutant 10 a very gracious host helping Community Service 10 I'm sure there will be pic- is visit more posts/ tures out there from our squadrons. He‟s also a good Legislative Chairman 11-12 visit to Cedar Springs, and cook! Thanks Pat & Anita. National Convention 12 the Red Flannel. That was a MIAP 13 Our February DEC, which is busy weekend, and I enjoyed Public Relations 14 Greetings Fellow Sons. also during the Legion/ having our PDC 1 running us Pictures 15 around and visiting the local Auxiliary Mid-Winter Meeting, Publications 16 Wow, it is already the end of posts. The UP Tour and Con- went well. We will have February! Time is just fly- ference was more of a some work to finish at our Alternate NEC / PDC 2 16 ing. How are you doing on whirlwind than a tour, but convention. Our National Make-A-Wish 17 participating in your squad- still most enjoyable. We Commander, David L. Dew, Student Trooper 17 ron, or supporting your post visited a lot of posts, and I was present. He was Membership 18 or your district? What part pleased to give us a 'pat on am proud to share that Child Welfare 19 of the body are YOU? Are the back' and was "not here there are some very good PDC 1 19 you a WISHBONE, JAWBONE, cooks in our S.A.L.! The tour to beat us up". Thanks for VA & R 20 OR BACKBONE? The ended at the UP Winter Con- all our teamwork. Again, it wishbone, wishes things ference, with a very nice "sit was wind and he recalled he Joint Testimonial 20 would get done, but doesn't -down'' dinner involving the was grateful to not spend Judge Advocate 21 manage to get out and Jr. R.O.T.C., and again great hours out in the night Convention/Crowne Plaza 22 help. The jawbone, talks weather without certain key S.A.L. cooks! There was a Convention Ad Book Info 23 about it, sometimes in a bad necessities and not los- visit by many 'ladies', includ- Convention Registration 24 sense, but still, never gets ing Ms. Mennillie - again, I'm ing electricity. He enjoyed Upcoming Events 25-27 out and helps. The back- sure there will be pictures the gifts: a bag of "made in bone, gets out there, and floating around. Thank you Michigan", and the coat es- puts his all into it, seeing all for your hospitality. pecially handy for those that whatever "it" is gets trips outside. done. Which are I was honored to attend the you? Let's all strive to be 5th District Four Chaplains I have and will be attending the backbone! When we all Service. If you don't know Americanism Dinners work together, we can make about this, look it up. And if throughout our state. What things happen in a good (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Sons of The American Legion DETACHMENT COMMANDER - continued (Continued from page 1) I would be amiss if I didn't mention mem- We all have so much to be proud of! And I an honor to see the work being done in bership. Keep up the hard work, and for thank you all for your hard work in con- each community. those who are lagging, GET OUT AND RETAIN tinuing to make the Sons of the American as well as recruit. Don't forget to get Legion, a group of loyal Sons! As this is written, your First Lady and I those Consolidated Squadron Reports com- are preparing for the Washington D.C. pleted and sent in. Thank you to all the I remain available to you for any need. legislative conference. We are also look- Zone Commanders for your hard For God and country, and a proud son of a ing forward to the 6th District Tour. work. Each one of you has unique issues veteran, and, you are doing a fantastic job. Dave Mennel 810-343-9494 CHAPLAIN DANNY J. POOLE [email protected] We thank Thee for each day. Evermore in heart and mind we shall sing praises of joy and we shall show our love by our thoughts, words and deeds, our helpful service to others, and faithful performance of all our obligations . We ask Thee to bless and preserve all whom we love, comfort and aid all in trouble and distress. We offer thanks for all graces and favors we have received. Amen. 1ST ZONE COMMANDER JEREMY BELL [email protected] precedence. With that being said I'm asking detachment events the first thing we do is all S.A.L. members to do me a favor: reach shake each other‟s hand, or give one an- out to your squadron, legion, auxiliary and other a hug and ask how they are doing, I riders members as we are a family! If you hope we never lose focus of that because see a member having a problem talk with if we do I believe that will be the downfall them try to help as much as you can. of our organization. Sometimes they just need a friend to talk to. I hope to see everyone at the 16th District meeting at Headman Post 217 on Friday We are a wonderful organization for sev- March 4 at 7:30 p.m. and the Detachment I know this is unheard of, but I would like eral reasons: yes, we support our veterans, Convention in Novi June 3,4 and 5. to formally apologize to the members of yes, we donate money to many very worthy the 1st Zone and the Detachment of MI. I causes, yes, we support our children and Thank you to all my brothers! don't feel I have been a good leader over youth, but in my eyes what makes this or- the past year. I have had a lot of hurdles ganization so wonderful is FAMILY! I know with work and personal issues that took by going to different squadron, district and Page 3 Sons of The American Legion 2ND ZONE COMMANDER RODNEY TOLBERT [email protected] districts are working hard at this so keep please get a hold of me as I would be glad up the good work. We will present a patch to help. The Detachment is looking for all to all the Squadron Commanders that have squadrons to send in their constitution 100% membership by May 1. and bylaws. Please send to Lou Scott at 6509 Hamburg Road, Brighton, MI 48116 or The Four Chaplains Service in Grand Rapids e-mail [email protected]. Let‟s be the was great again, and I would like to see first zone to accomplish this. If you have more of you there next year. It is well any questions about this, contact me or worth the time and effort and the fellow- Lou Scott. ship afterwards is always great. The Con- Greetings SAL and Legion family, it was solidated Squadron Report forms are com- Thanks for making me feel at home at great to see everyone at the DEC meeting ing out soon, if you need help with these your post and district meetings. Let‟s in Flint. National Commander David Dew please let me or your District Commander remember we are here for the veterans from Texas was there, and he talked some know. These forms are very important and and for veterans programs so please help about how good the SAL from Michigan is need to be filled out even if you‟ve only a veteran out today. For this reason, we doing. The reason for that is all of you done one thing that‟s recordable. Every- can take pride in the SAL! guys, and I thank you. I would like to thank thing counts. If you need help with any- the 5th District for being the first with no thing, for fund raisers or any questions For God and Country. zero memberships in the 2nd Zone. Way to about your squadron officer duties are, RODNEY TOLBERT GO BLUE work hard for that goal. I know all the RD 3 ZONE COMMANDER JOSEPH P. LAFNEAR, SR. [email protected] District Sons. As your Zone Commander, I am available to By now, your squadron should have received each and every squadron, district and most information about the convention and the reg- importantly the members of thieZone. I am istration forms. If you plan to attend or if your available to answer any questions, attend squadron plans to send delegates please make your functions, meetings or for general guid- your reservations as soon as you can. It will ance. However, I can only do this if I am con- make it easier on the hosting committee. tacted, because I do not know your needs until you let me know. If I cannot help you or do not You can make it better for your next Zone Com- know the answer to your question, I will find mander.