IMPORTANT NEWS AND INFORMATION

Commander Alva's Memorial Day Message

DETACHMENT CONVENTION
July 11-13, 2025
Renaissance Austin Hotel
9721 Arboretum Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78759
(512) 343-2626

Call To Order

Good afternoon to all. The Friends to Elect Thom Skelley Campaign Committee is sponsoring a fund raiser that will begin on June 2, 2025. The flyer and rule sheets are attached and are pretty self-explanatory, however, if anyone has questions, please direct them to either Ray or Ann Hartline, Jean "Max" Maxwell or me. If you wish to purchase tickets prior to the start date of June 2, please contact Ray or Ann and they will assist you in the purchase. Only 300 tickets will be sold, no exceptions. Winning tickets are worth $500.00 on Saturdays and Sundays and there is 3 tickets drawn every day, Monday thru Friday, that are worth $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00 each day. There will be a total of 30 days drawn. Providing all tickets are sold by Detachment Convention, July 12, 2025, the first and second drawings will take place that Saturday and Sunday of the convention. If all tickets are not sold, we will continue until all remaining tickets have been purchased, and then we will begin the drawings, immediately after the last ticket is sold. As you can tell by the rule sheet, once a ticket has been drawn and the winner announced, the ticket goes back in the tumbler for a possibility of winning again. Tickets can be purchased by cash, check, credit card (3% fee will be added to credit card purchases) and Zelle. Please follow all instructions so there will be no instances of any confusion. All proceeds will go into the campaign fund for Thom Skelley for National Commander 2026-2027. You do not need to be a member of The American Legion Family to purchase a ticket. If anyone loses this attachment or their flyer and rules, just let me know and I can send out another attachment. This is our time to work and shine for our good friend Thom and to make sure his campaign moves forward to the next level. GO THOM!

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

Thom Skelley Campaign Fundraiser

Morning to all. Yesterday, 4th Division Commander Ken Dorsett experienced a situation with the mother of a young member wanting to renew his dues. She had received a phone call from a hacker stating his name was Lewis Elam and proceeded to ask for credit card information to pay for the dues. First of all, "WE DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR PAYMENT OF DUES". This is an immediate RED FLAG. Once the lady declined, this hacker became belligerent and started using profanity and harsh words toward this lady. Commander Dorsett then received a phone call from this lady and that is how I became aware of the situation. Gentlemen, please pay attention to any calls like this. I believe that since most of us use the on-line system of paying dues, the hackers are finding ways to infiltrate the national data base for membership. What worries me even more, is that your Squadron's bank account is also out there. I am asking each one of you to first, spread the word concerning this email and next, check your bank accounts regularly to make sure the hackers have not gotten into your account. If and when I receive more information, I will send it out to everyone. We are all in this together, so we all have to protect each other's back.

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

You will find attached a memo from the 100th Anniversary Ad-Hoc committee. The SAL 100th anniversary is in 2032, which is just seven years away.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Chairman Vanice.

Tyler Vanice (VA), Chairman
100th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee
Sons of The American Legion
tyler.vanice@gmail.com

SAL 100th Anniversary Ad-hoc Committee Planning

To all members, please see below, read carefully and disseminate to all members. Your help is appreciated. To the Americanism Committee, get on board with this information, work it and present it in an email as soon as you can. This should be one of your programs in your Committee to work on. VA & R, this may be another topic/program to discuss. Reach out to the Americanism Committe and join forces. Now is the time for all of us to step up, get involved and work our Committees to the max!

National Emergency Fund (NEF) and Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) Information

Kevin Winkelmann
Detachment Adjutant

Legislative-Bills-2025

April Issue SAL National Newsletter, The Millennium

The SAL Squadron Commander of the Year - Award Criteria and Nomination Form have been revised/posted on the national SAL website that can be downloaded by clicking
www.legion.org/about/american-legion-family/sons-of-the-american-legion/publications-and-forms
or Attached PDF.
SAL Squadron Commander of the Year - Award Criteria and Nomination Form

2025 Boys State Application Process

Check out our new feature "Thom's Travels, flyers, activities and pictures while on his campaign.

Thom's Travels
We also have started a facebook group to document his activities.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thomstravels

Thom's travel schedule for the upcoming events: East Region Gathering, Maryland; Detachment of Arizona Campout; Detachment of Arizona Tour; SAL National Commander's Homecoming, New Mexico; Spring NEC, Indianapolis, IN; Detachment of Oklahoma Boys State; Detachment of North Carolina; and Detachment Convention.

Note

Attend the Spring NEC

Participate in the Detachment of Arizona Campout

Attend Detachment of Illinois Convention

Join the Detachment of Arizona Tour

Attend Detachment of North Carolina Convention

Return to New Mexico for SAL National Commander's Homecoming

Participate in Detachment of Oklahoma Boys State

Attend the East Region Gathering

Check out the 2025 Detachment of Texas Shirts, Caps and more