Greetings from the New County Commander

Greetings Gang:

Now that August is here, it is time to stop procrastinating and start the 2010 Legion Year! I am both pleased and excited to be "your" Commander again. Attached please find this year's meeting schedule and the listing of officers in case you missed it. We do have some new people this year, so let's not discourage them too much or too early!

Some things you need to be aware of in advance of our first meeting next month:

- All posts should have received the Public Safety Awards submission package by now for this year. Please note that our due date to the Department has been moved up by an entire month! Therefore, if you are doing this, your people need to get busy NOW! I will need your submissions NLT 19 October!!!! OCTOBER 19..... BTW, SMD plans on protesting this change!!

- Our Oratorical Contest is tentatively scheduled for February 6, 2010. School starts in the county on 31 August. So, this should be started NLT the middle of September. Again, IF you plan to pursue it. PDC Gail is the chair this year and the final will be at Towson University on my 60th birthday, March 7.

- Many of you received an email from Clarence looking for warm bodies to go to Capitol Hill to support the new National Commander as he speaks to Congress (Joint Vets Affairs Committee). This will occur on September 10, beginning at 0930. They have asked DC, MD, and VA to send folks because of our close proximity. Believing a show of force from the largest VSO might help with Vets funding in the coming cycle. As humorist Will Rogers once said, "Why pay to go to the circus when you can watch Congress for free!" They want a list of names, probably by early September. I do plan to be there. _ AND speaking of Congress, House Resolution 679, currently in the hopper, would designate September 16 as "American Legion Day." The list of co-sponsors does NOT include Bartlett or Van Hollen. Please write a letter to them asking them to be co-sponsors. I will send you mine later this week and you can just change the name and use it too!

- Judge Cohen sends his regards and we will be bringing the Library naming to the forefront again this year. As you may know, he has been sidelined by his wife's battle with cancer. He may attend our November Meeting for an update.

- I will be visiting everyone soon! I will have a schedule in a day or two. I plan on doing our usual stuff this year: Super Bowl; Youth Camp; Oratorical; Public Safety; etc. Here's to a great year! I look forward to seeing the usual suspects in Lusby on this Sunday and Parkville Next Sunday!! Will Trotter