Words from the Adjutant

3/20/2025

This email concerns the upcoming Fall DEC at the Austin Southpark in September.

Kevin Winkelmann Detachment Adjutant From: Marriott Guest Relations Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 4:30 PM To: knwink@msn.com Subject: PLEASE READ: Important Information Regarding Your Stay at the Austin Southpark Hotel

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March 19, 2025

Dear Kevin Winkelmann,

Confirmation number: xxxxxxxx

Effective March 20, 2025, the Austin Southpark Hotel will no longer be associated with Marriott but will continue operations as the Austin Southpark Hotel. Your reservation and rate will be honored at the property.

ACTION REQUIRED:

Prior to March 6, 2025, if you wish to cancel your reservation or seek alternate accommodations; utilize www.marriott.com or within the Marriott Bonvoy App.

Any questions regarding your reservation after March 6, 2025, must be directed to the hotel at (804) 520-5880.

For guests wishing to utilize Marriott gift certificates or gift cards, this property will be unable to accept these as a method of payment beyond March 19, 2025.

MARRIOTT BONVOY MEMBERS:

Since the hotel will no longer be affiliated with Marriott, points and Elite night credits will not be earned. Membership amenities and benefits will not be honored.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us directly at Global.GuestRelations@marriott.com.

Sincerely,
Marriott Guest Relations

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

3/18/2025

The 2026 SDR is being mailed out, from Department Headquarters, starting today. The form is being mailed to the same address as were your 2025 Membership Cards. Please keep an eye out for this form and follow the instructions. I need all, and I mean ALL, Squadrons to cc me whether you submit a new form and/or if there are no changes. This is very important. Thank you.

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Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

3/18/2025

Here is my question, your response is important. Whay if we set up an account where all donations can be sent and then mail out the individual donations to each entity as requested by the sender of the donation? For example, if a squadron donates $1,000.00 (one check) and request that it be divided into 4 donations to 4 entities, then the donation account sends out 4 separate checks. This way we can keep a more detailed report of what is being sent out as donations. I look forward to your replies and comments.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

3/6/2025

I have attached the list of appointments for the various Committees for 2025-2026. This has been completed with candidate Ken Dorsett's approval and help. As you can tell, we have made some changes. We have eliminated the Convention City Committee (since we are going to have all 3 meetings in the same hotel for the next 5 years) and also the CWF Committee (combined with Children & Youth). Starting in 2025, the candidate for Detachment Commander will chair the Membership since this should be a priority for him and the immediate Detachment Commander will chair the Finance Committe since he has now learned about our expenses. There will be more changes coming and I will continue to send you emails for your response, agree or disagree and your comments. I would like to have all of these changes completed before our Detachment Convention. There will be no need for By-Law changes since these are all in-house procedures. I look forward to everyone's response and if possible, try to have your comments to me by March 11, 2025. Thank you.

2025-2026 Appointments

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

3/2/2025

I would personally like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year Morning to all members with the Detachment of Texas. I am reaching out to all SAL members, District Commanders, Detachment Officers and friends of the Detachment, concerning the candidacy of Thom Skelley for the high office of SAL National Commander for the year 2026-2027. As everyone knows, when you run for an office of this magnitude, it takes a large amount of funds to put on a campaign of this type. I am asking each of you, and please spread the word throughout the Detachment, to do what you can to help raise funds for the "THOM SKELLEY FOR NATIONAL COMMANDER 2026-2027 CAMPAIGN FUND". Any amount of donation, personal, business and/or American Legion Family related, will help. Please do not send cash! Please make all checks and money orders payable to either FRIENDS TO ELECT THOM SKELLEY or RAY HARTLINE and mail all contributions to Ray Hartline, 614 Rains CR 1531, Point, TX 75472. Thank you. I will be sending more emails as time elapses and will provide updated information concerning this enormous task of fund raising and getting out great friend, Thom Skelley, elected.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

1/2/2025

I would personally like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and I hope that your New Year's Eve was fun but safe. I look forward to seeing everyone in about 2 plus weeks at our Mid-Winter Conference.

We have a lot of work to get done and hopefully good ideas and good news to bring to the meeting. I will be sending out a flier/notice of our Detachment Commander's Homecoming event coming up on February 15, 2025. You should be seeing the flier either Thursday or Friday.

If anyone needs any assistance with Membership or other areas of the SAL, please feel free to contact me. One item to remember, especially for the Committee Chairmen, there will no using the phrase, " NO REPORT".

Let's get focused and make this the best Detachment at National.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

12/24/2024

Members of the Detachment, I know everyone gets excited and wants to fill out the CSR and send it in to National Immediately. Please slow down! Wait until after Memorial Day, if you can, to fill out the form. PLEASE REMEMBER, you must send me a copy if you want your Squadron and/or District to be in the running for our Detachment Awards. If I do not receive your CSR, National will not send me a copy. PERIOD! District and Division Commanders, please spread this information to all Squadrons in your area

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

10/7/2024

Morning to all members of the Great Detachment of Texas. This past weekend, a delegation from the Detachment of Texas attended the SAL National Executive Committee meetings in Indianapolis. Learning, knowledge and fun was had by everyone. There was also a meet and greet night for our candidate for SAL National Commander Thom Skelley. The food and decorations, prepared and placed by Ray and Ann Hartline, were absolutely fantastic. The entire delegation helped with the decorations, serving of the food and cleanup, less yours truly.

Now, the important and good news. The SAL National Committee and Commission list was presented, at the close of Sundays meeting for the upcoming 2025 year. Here are your Detachment of Texas members:

Juan Torres—-------National Internal Affairs Commission (2026)
George Alva—------National Legislative Commission (2027)
Eddy Seegers—----National VA & R Commission (2025)
Tom Arista—--------National Children & Youth Committee (2025)
Gary Winters—-----National Convention Committee (2025)
Ray Hartline—-------National Convention Committee (2025)
Lewis Elam—---------National Membership Committee (2025)

And of course, our candidate for SAL National Commander 2026-2027

Thom Skelley

Congratulations to all of these outstanding individuals on obtaining these positions. If any other members would like to join some of these Commissions/Committees, please let me know as soon as possible. You must commit yourself from 1 to 3 years, depending on what Committee/Commission, by attending 2 meetings in Indianapolis and the National Convention each year. You must also deliver to me a SAL resume and the Committee/Commission you would like to serve on. If you have any questions or need further information, please reach out to me via email or text (817-994-7394).

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

9/16/2024

In the Blue Book, please make the following correction:

Nick Arcevo
9th District Commander
2209 22nd Ave N
Texas City, TX 77590
409-996-5415
nickridesamlr2@gmail.com

Thank you.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

9/16/2024

To all, I will be in our Detachment Office on Friday, from approx. 11:30-1:30 (hours may change) if anyone needs to stop by to discuss any ongoing items, make copies or just to visit and chat. Thank you

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

9/2/2024

I was in Austin over the weekend and have retrieved the remainder of the PUFL Dual Member cards. I will be processing then and mailing out the cards over the next week. I ask for your patience. There were only 4 newsletters returned and have been sent to their perspective American Legion Post. If anyone needs further information or help, please feel free to contact me. On behalf on Detachment Commander George Alva and myself, we hope everyone has a safe and fantastic Labor Day Holiday. Remember, the Fall DEC is in 3 weeks. All rooms at the old Omni have been booked under the block. There will be no special guest at this meeting. If you were one of the newly elected Detachment Officers and are waiting on your new cap, they are going in the mail today.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant
9235 Mcdade Houston, TX 77080

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

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8/28/2024

It has come to my attention that there are some PUFL applications out there that have the wrong name and address for submitting. If any of you, and I know Squadron 504 has some, have a PUFL application with Steve Slaughter's name and address on it, dispose of them now. They are not to be used at any time. The only address to be used is mine. Otherwise, your application will be returned.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant
9235 Mcdade Houston, TX 77080

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

Note from Webmaster
I have scanned the website and can find only the correct version of the PUFL Application. If you have found it via the web please email me at thumper_mia231@yahoo.com and let me know where you foound it.

From Department Headquarters:

From this day forward, all dues that are paid for, 2024 or 2025, are now $17.00. Even though 2024 was $15.00, you now must pay $17.00.

No options.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

Many of you have asked about a report that shows dues rates.

Below is a new report for the departments to monitor post/squadron dues rates. It ultimately answers the question: "Has the post's new dues rate been recorded by national?"



If your Squadron is unsure of whether National has the correct dues listed, contact me. Please do not call Department, I will handle request for you.

Thank you,

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant