The American Legion Dept. of NC: About the Department

Greetings Fellow Legionnaires:

Someone once said that all good things come to an end. My term as Department Commander is soon to be over and it was a good thing. Some 35 years ago when I was asked to join The American Legion I never had any idea that some day I would be a Department Commander. This was a very high honor and privilege that you the legionnaires bestowed upon me. I hope that I haven’t disappointed you. Both Sharon and I want to thank you for all the hospitality you have given us not only this past year but for all the times we have been with you.

We haven’t accomplished all the goals we set out to do but together we did really well. We can be proud of what we do together for The American Legion. We continue to do what was set out 89 years ago by those first legionaries. Know that those first members are proud of how The American Legion has grown and of all the programs that is now part of the American Legion. I want to thank all of you who serve on all of the committees. To take time and money to serve even more is dedication. The conferences and convention are where the businesses of the Department of North Carolina get done. I encourage all members to attend the committee meetings.

Congratulation to 14 District Commander Randy Brown for the first district to reach 100% in membership. I also know that Percy Sudsbury was right by his side helping. Thanks to PDC Jeff Joyner for the excellent job of being our Legislative Chairman. We had a successful visit in Washington, D.C. with the members of Congress representing North Carolina. Also thanks to PDC Jeff for all the help and advice he has given me this past year.

I want to thank my aid Bernie Boik for all that he has done fro me not only this year but for many. Special thanks to his daughter Sharon whom I married, who traveled with me, gave me advice, understanding and her love for all these years. I never could have been Department Commander without the help of so many. Thank you for the great year I will have many great memories to look back on. Thanks to our wonderful staff at headquarters, they do an excellent job.

It was my honor and privilege to be your Commander if I can be of any help to you just call.

For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

APRIL 2008

Greetings Fellow Legionnaires:

Spring is here as we wait to hear the familiarly sound of a bat hitting a ball thus starting the baseball season. Thanks to Baseball Hall of Fame Chairman Patrick O’Donnell, Jim Biggerstaff Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet Chairman and the committee for an outstanding job of putting on the Hall of Fame Banquet. Congratulations to the inductees to the hall of Fame. Jim Biggerstaff, Bobby Reynolds, Keith Waters and Douglas Watts. District Commander Ron Ambrose was a great Master of Ceremonies. All in all it was a great night, great hospitality, great food and a time to be with friends.

Congratulations to District 14 Commander Randy Brown for being the first District to achieve 100% in membership. Commander Randy and Vice Commander Percy Sudsbury worked very hard to put the 14th District on top. Well done. The Department needs only a little over 8% to be at 100%.We are close and I know the legionnaires of North Carolina can do it. Keep on going we will reach the top.

I want to thank Jeff Joyner for accepting the chairman position of our Legislative Committee. Jeff has hit the road running. This week we will be in Washington, D.C. to talk to our members of Congress. Jeff has set up all the appointments for us. Don’t forget May 14 (8:00am) is Legislative Day in Raleigh. We want as many Legionaries to be there to meet with North Carolina legislators.

I want to thank you for all that you do for the veterans, widows and children. You give of your time and money to help others. May God Bless you.

I am your Commander if there is any thing I can help with please call.

For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

MARCH 2008

Greetings Fellow Legionnaires:

March is the month we celebrate the birthday of The American Legion. I sometimes wonder if those first members ever envisioned that the organization they formed would grow into the largest veteran’s organization in the world. They put aside their own desires and dreams to take care of the veterans, the widows and their children. This is what we are continuing to do today. The programs have expanded from those first days but their spirit is still with us. I want to thank you for all that you do for The American Legion. Happy Birthday to The American Legion.

The membership round up that we did the first of February was a great success. Thanks to all who helped make it so. The hospitality you showed our National Vice Commander Randy Fisher was exceptional. A special thanks to the members that welcomed us to their Posts and all others who participated.

Soon Boys State and Student Trooper programs will be here. I hope that you will sponsor someone for both programs. I know that Boys State Director Roy would like to have 300 young men attend Boys State. The Student Trooper program would like to have 45 participating young men and women. Your Post can seek help from the community to help pay or ask the parents to pay for the youth to attend either or both programs.

Because of your participation at the Mid Winter Conference, it was a great success. We not only accomplished the work of The American Legion but it was a time to be with our friends and make new ones. Thanks to those who serve on committees and all who bring their ideals to our conferences. With your continuous help The American Legion will continue to help Veterans, Widows and Children.

It is my honor to be your Department Commander and if I or our staff can help you in any way please call.

For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

FEBRUARY 2008

Greetings’ fellow Legionnaires

Thanks to all post who did transfer members of Post 1981 (cost shares) into their Posts. We had the 75% goal on Saturday at Division II meeting at Garland N.C. Thanks to post 245 for putting the Department over the 75% goal. Special thanks to Rora Kellis and Patti Fleming fro all their hard work since June. I asked them to work on the cost share members to save The Department of NC lots of money. They deserve a big thank you from all of us.

The membership round up across our state with the National Vice Commander Randy Fisher starts Thursday, January 31, 2008. Hope we will see you on the trip and please turn in lots of membership. Anyone who would like to have a picture with National Vice Commander Fisher should meet us at one of the stops we will be making. We have attained one goal of the Cost Share transfer. Now lets all work on attaining 100% in membership for our Department.

District Oratorical Contests have started across our state. I congratulate each of the participants that take time to be part of this great program. Hope you will take time to attend the Department Final on March 1 at Albemarle high School. Our Chairman of the Oratorical Committee Rodney Plowman is working hard to make the Department Final a great event.

Our Mid - Winter Conference is coming up very soon. Please plan on attending for this is where we conduct the business of our Department. You can attend any committee meeting that you would like. Last year Past Department Commander Jeff Joyner brought back having a Banquet. We will be having a banquet again this Mid Winter Conference on Friday February 22, 2008 at 7:00PM.

The holidays are behind us now so lets all get back to work for the American Legion. We still have a ways to go. Wish all a happy Valentines Day and don’t you forget your sweetheart.

For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

JANUARY 2008

Happy New Year Fellow Legionaries

I hope that each of you had a blessed Christmas and were with loved ones. Now let us all work hard to achieve 100% in membership.
A very special thank you to Pattie Fleming and Rora Kellis for working so hard on our cost share D.M.S. list. There are approximately 800 members that still need to be transferred. With your help we will not end up paying $3.00 per member to National. This will save the Department of North Carolina a considerable amount of money.
Please use the D.M.S. list to get new members into your Post. We all like things to be easy and not have too spent a lot of time recruiting new members. The members on the 1981 D.M.S. list are already members of The American Legion--All you have to do is ask them to transfer to your Post. What could be easier?
I have visited the VA Hospitals and Nursing homes and I can report to you that our veterans are being taken care of. I am very proud of our Service Officer Verna and the Volunteer Service Officers for all they do for our veterans and The American Legion. If your Post has not already sent in your share for the Volunteer Service Fund, please do so as soon as possible. This money is provided to the Volunteer Service Officers for travel expenses. It is the only reimbursement they get for their time. As you know the price of gas has been going up and up for some time now and your contribution helps. James Luther who is our Volunteer Service Officer at Salisbury spends five days a week at the Hospital helping veterans. His dedication to helping veterans is above and beyond the call of duty. If you have the chance, please thank each of the volunteers: Jerry Tart- Fayetteville, Jerry Fowler-Asheville, James Luther-Salisbury and Jimmy Allred-Durham.
Let us all work together on membership and put the Department of North Carolina be on the top. Starting January 31 - February 3 with the help of National Vice Commander Randy Fisher we will be going across the state picking up membership. Have your membership ready and we will deliver it to Raleigh. Your Post Commander and Adjutant have the scheduled stops we will be making. Come and meet our National Vice Commander.

For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

DECEMBER 2007

Our American Legion Family

On behalf of Sharon, myself and the staff at Headquarters, We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Special thank you to all the volunteers who have helped at headquarters, conferences and our convention. Without your help we would not have accomplished everything that we did.

This is a time of the year when we all think of our families. The joy of being with them or talking with them. The fun we have in seeing and hearing from our friends. Those families who have a loved one serving in harm way, we ask that you say an extra prayer for them.

This year my project is the Legacy Fund. This fund is to help a child go to college whose parent was taken from them while serving in our military. If you, your Unit, Squadron, or Post would like to make a donation to The Legacy Fund please sent it to headquarters.

If you can spare some of your time, our Veterans Homes and Hospitals need volunteers. Please contact our VA Medical Center Services Officers if you can help.

Thank you for all the hard work you do for the American Legion. May God bless you and yours, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Dick, Sharon, Debbie, Patti, Carline and Frank

**Membership is Our Strength**

NOVEMBER 2007

Greetings fellow legionaries

Thanks to all who attended the Fall Conference and those that couldn’t attend we missed you. It takes the effort of many to conduct the business of The American Legion, Department of North Carolina. Thank you for taking time to serve.

Veterans Day will soon be here, a day to honor all who have served in our nations military. We think back to the Revolutionary War and those first veterans going to war against a larger well-trained army. The desire for independence was so great that they left families, their work to fight for independence. We are proud of all who are now serving and those who have served with dedication to protect this nation. For many veterans it was important enough to endure long separations from families, miss the birth of their children, freeze in sub-zero temperatures, bake in wild jungles, lose limbs and far too often lose their lives. We pray for the time when those who are serving in far away places will come home.

This Thanksgiving lets give thanks for all that we have in this great country. Do not take for granted that freedom is free. Remember those who gave their lives for us, and those who are protecting our country.

From Sharon, myself and the staff at headquarters we wish you a great Veterans Day and a happy Thanks giving.

For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

OCTOBER 2007

My Fellow Legionnaires
I bring you greetings from our National Commander Marty Conaster.

Fall is upon us but the hot weather is still here. Nothing you and I can do about the weather but complain. Some of us do the same about their home Post, and the American Legion. Maybe we should enjoy the hot weather and go about being thankful that we are able to. We should do the same with our involvement with The American Legion. We should be thankful that we can make a difference in some ones life. To carry on the traditions of The American legion and our programs. When you are involved and working you forget to complain and you get a good feeling inside you, from helping others.

October is the time to have your Posts go getter teams go to those who haven’t renewed. Take the members card with you and ask them to help their Post reach its goal of 100% Take a name off the DMS 1981 list and meet them and ask them to transfer to your Post. I feel that it is more personal to have someone talk to me than to receive a letter or a telephone call.

Our Fall Conference will soon be here hope to see you there. Please attend any committee meeting that interests you. Your ideas and input are valuable to The American Legion.

Thank you for the great privilege of being your Department Commander.
For God and Country

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

SEPTEMBER 2007

My Fellow Legionnaires: I bring you greetings from our National Commander Martin “Marty” Conaster. Commander Conaster was elected National Commander at The American Legion 89th National Convention Reno, Nevada. Commander Conaster will be visiting North Carolina at our Department Convention June 13-15, 2008. I know that all members of the American Legion family wish him the best for his year as our National Commander.
I want to thank all who attended the National Convention. I know that you took your time and money to attend. Even with airline delays, cancellations, closing airports, being stranded and twenty minute bus rides, we had a good turn out. I am glad to report that our Delegation Chairman Jeff Joyner is recovering well with his eye problem. Marie Hedrick is also doing better from our last report from Jerry. It was nice to visit with old friends and make new friends at the National Convention. Thanks to Frank and Debbie for all their hard work.
While at the convention we received good news from our Membership Coordinator Patti Fleming, that our membership was more than 50%. We know that this is a great start but the next 50% will require work from all of us. So now is the time to get your Go-Getters going. Membership Chairman Lou Cook has reported that there is now a new Post in North Carolina, thanks to Division Commander Bud Conner and Department Historian Larry Rozier for forming a Post in Knightdale. The Membership Committee is working to revitalize several other posts at this time. Please use the DMS (1981) list to get new members into your Post. The veterans who are on these lists are already members of the American Legion. All you have to do is ask them to transfer and pay their dues to you Post. I know that everyone gets tired of hearing about membership but without membership we are not a strong veteran’s organization. We would not be able to help anyone without a strong base of membership. North Carolina was in the top five once, there is no reason we should not be there again. Working together we can accomplish anything we want.
Soon our Fall Conference will be here. I am asking that each Department Chairman of a Committee or Commission call each member of their Committee or Commission and remind them of the Fall Conference. Remember also that there will be a Special Convention to change one item in our Constitution: to be able if we want, to invest our money in stocks or bonds instead of FDIC accounts only. If you have any questions about this, call me or any member of our Department Administration Committee, our Department Vice Commanders or District Commanders.
I am your Department Commander and if I can be of any service to you please contact me. My motto for this year is “To Protect and Serve.” To protect the Veterans rights and to serve veterans, widows and children. For God and Country.

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

AUGUST 2007

Congratulations to Cherryville American Legion Baseball Team who are the 2007 North Carolina Champions. If you didn’t attend the playoffs you missed some great baseball. Thanks to Roy Walters and all the Baseball Commissioners for doing an outstanding job throughout the year.

Our membership number this year is 48,000 this includes the D.M.S. members for 2008. This number is an attainable number if all of us just work at it. Lets move North Carolina to the top, we were there and we can be again. Remember if we start strong we will finished strong.

It was sad that our executive secretary Debbie Rose’s mother passed away this month. Our sympathy and condolences to Debbie and her family.

Our 18 District Commander David Shore’s wife was taken from us in an automobile accident near Boonville. Our sympathy and condolences to David and his family. So far I have been busy but I am enjoying every day, meeting so many great men and women across our great state.

I met with John Little of Wendell, who is with the Armed Forces Baptist Missions. He will send you cases of the St James Version Bible, New Testament with each branch of our military insignia on the cover for distribution to veterans and those serving now. Free, if you are interested call him at 919-365-0188. John is A World War II veteran and a member of Wendell American Legion.

Thanks again for this great opportunity to be your Commander.

Dick Neville

**Membership is Our Strength**

Thank you

I would like to thank all for the support you have given me in electing me your Department Commander. Working together we can have a great year.
Thank you,

Dick Neville, Commander
The American Legion
Department of North Carolina

**Membership is Our Strength**