We are still looking for Boy Staters and Police State candidates, please contact me if you need any help. We need to keep our programs going, and there is still time. Submit the "Police and Firefighters of the Year" to Department. Any questions please call me.
We are going to have a blow out Department Convention this year, it’s going to be the best we’re ever had with the Hospitality Room. I would like to have every District in the First Division with me on this as we have a great Division. The best in the State, lets show them that we are a family. So let us have a family reunion. You know me, everything is going to be top shelf. If you would contact Ronnie Boehm at 773-848-6333 or George Kotrba at 773-445-1192 to let them know what you will be bringing.
All District Commanders, Senior Vice and Junior Vice Commanders and Adjutants, also Delegate and Alternates, please make our Division Convention it would be nice to see all of you attend. I want to thank everyone that worked with me this year. It was a great year thanks to all of you. Convention call is enclosed.

JR. VICE COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
KENNETH PENN

The Past Commanders Luncheon will be held at the European Chalet, 5400 S. Harlem Av. On Sunday, June 1, 2008. Cocktails, 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be 2:00 p.m.. It will be family style menu, entree, soup, salad and dessert. Open Bar. Cost is $30.00 per person. Tables of ten. Call Patricia Novotny at 312-957-0135 for reservations there is still time.
The American Legion Premier Boy State will be held June 7 to 13, 2008. The Tuition for sponsoring the boys is $200.00 per boy. Send to the Department. Send Transportation Fee of $50.00 per boy to: Patricia Novotny, 801 S. Plymouth Court #519, Chicago, IL 60605. Call her at 312-957-0135 if any questions concerning the program or bus.
This Memorial Day we remembered our fallen heroes. Chicago had their annual Memorial Day Parade and a ceremony at the Eternal Flame, Legionnaires and Auxiliary members participated. Also, on Sunday there was a luncheon with 6th and 7th District Auxiliary and FDR Post had a Memorial Mass at St. Mary of the Angels Church. Chicago Nisei Post had a memorial at Montrose Cemetery and GAR Memorial Parade that went to Graceland Cemetery. Mc Kinley Park Post had a memorial dedication and parade for veterans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan that were from the Cook County area on Monday, May 26th.
 

SR. VICE COMMANDER'S MESSAGE
AL COUGHLIN

I was honored to be asked to go along with the Department Caravan leading up to the Armed Forces Day Dinner. It was great to be with National Commander Marty Conatser, Department Commander Myron Kirby, Department Senior Vice Bill Hudson and NEC Ken Trumbull. We started out on Tuesday down at the Haven in Marion, headed north to Springfield, Peoria, Belvedere, Rockford and ending in Elgin for the cocktail party for the National Commander that Friday evening. Department Membership Director Frank Prosser was busy finishing up his projects prior to his leaving to become Department Adjutant for the Department of Missouri on June 2nd, so I was asked to pick up and handle any membership turned in at our stops. Eighty membership cards were collected at the various Posts we visited.
Regarding membership, it was announced at the Spring DEC that from now until the June Department "close of books" that the Department of Illinois is offering a "Special Incentive." This information has been mailed to each Post Adjutant, for every new member mailed in, the Department per capita charge will be $35.00 for two years (that will pay for their 2008 and 2009 dues). Just note it on the card sent to Department for processing. Don’t stop now! I ask that you continue to recruit new members. Also, please continue to work on getting your renewals in.
It was decided by Department to mail out "Final Renewal" notices out to every member that has not renewed as of now. They will be informed to remit $25.00 to the Department for processing. Your Post will be notified if the renewal is received and your Post will be credited with $1.75. This may not be your dues’ amount but, the feeling is that your Post has had 11 months to track down your renewals and this is one last effort to get the Department to 100%. My suggestion is to try to get to your members prior to them receiving this notice.
An "American Legion Extension Institute" class was held on May 3rd in the 3rd District at George L. Giles Post and I’m happy to report that we had 18 Legion and Auxiliary members in attendance. If you want more information on this and the other training programs that can be presented, please contact me. We need to utilize this program, to show the Department that their investment was worth it.
We’re planning a barbeque sometime in September or October with the Second Division to be held at the Genoa Post, and it should prove fun! More information will follow.
The First Division Installation of Officers will be held on Sunday, August 17th at La Villa from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendars for this event, the cost will be $32.00 per person. Reservation Forms will be available at the First Division Convention and on our First Division Website.
Please note that the June 7, 2008 First Division Convention will be held at: Franklin Park Post #974, 9757 W. Pacific Ave., Franklin Park, Il. Convention will start at 8:00 A.M. Information will be handed out to the incoming District Commanders at the First Division Convention. The packet will include the form for you to certify your District Officers. This needs to be returned to Department and to me prior to the Department Convention in July.
 

Raymond Toczek: VA&R

Your Department VA&R Office in Chicago wants to remind you that when you were in the service you were considered on active duty 24/7. This means that if you injured yourself after normal duty hours that could still be considered a service-related condition. Examples are sports injuries on the weekends, injuries working around the barracks or at your off post housing and even injuries from car or bicycle accidents while on leave. Please contact me if you have any questions and I will be glad to assist you in filing a claim with the VA.