33rd Annual Mid-Winter Conference Program
Pullman Plaza Hotel, Huntington, West Virginia
Friday, February 7, 2014 Tentative Agenda
3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Registration – Lower Mezzanine
1:00 p.m. Department Convention Commission Committee Meeting-Boardroom
1:30 p.m. Department Finance Committee Meeting –Boardroom
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Opening Joint Session - Miles Epling, Adjutant – Grand Theater
Posting of Colors – Dept. Sgt.-At-Arms Bruce Grimes &
Dept. Asst. Sgt.-At-Arms-Ralph Fox, Robert Bragg & Richard Battista
Invocation - Department Chaplain Fred Buchanan
Pledge of Allegiance – Shannon Harshbarger, Americanism Chairman
POW/MIA – Robbie Robinson, Martinsburg
Welcome - Charles Smoot, Post Commander Huntington Post 16
Tom Hayes, Post Commander Ceredo-Kenova Post 93
George H. Cart, Post Commander Milton Post 139
Larry J. Bowen, Post Commander Barboursville Post 177
Kenneth Smith, 5th District Commander
Beth Kilgore, 5th District President
Debbie Fox, Department President
Rocky Fox, SAL Detachment Commander
Roy Johnston, Department Vice-Commander
Frank Nicholson, Department Commander
Introductions:
Mike Ayers (IN), AGIA
Convention Commission Report – Bill Kile
Honorable William Lambert, VFW State Commander
Presentation of Blue Cap Legionnaire of the Year Award- Robbie Robinson
Michael W. Immel from Berkley Post 14; Martinsburg, West Virginia
Presentation of Ben I. Golden Award –Robbie Robinson
Charles B. Stanley from Berkeley Post 14; Martinsburg, West Virginia
Presentation Educator of the Year Award – Robbie Robinson
K through 12 Teacher of The Year is Bonita Faith-Wilcox from Hampshire County School-Board of Education; Romney, West Virginia
Presentation of Distinguished Service Award – Robbie Robinson
Jacob McCarty from Martinsburg, West Virginia
Scrapbook and History Awards – Brooke Russell
American Legion Baseball National Diamond Scholarship-
Shane Christopher Wellman from Moundsville, West Virginia
Debbie Fox, Auxiliary President
Rocky Fox, SAL Commander
Frank Nicholson, Department Commander
Anne Montegue, Director of Rosie the Riveter Project Presentation
Debbie Fox, Purpose of Introduction
Nancy Brown-Park, National President Palm Desert, California
Bill Kile, Purpose of Introduction
Dan Dellinger, National Commander (Virginia)
Saturday, February 8, 2014
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Registration- Lower Mezzanine
9:00 a.m. Opening Session – Frank Nicholson, Commander, - Grand Theater
Auxiliary Meeting- Virginia/Maryland Room
9:00 a.m. Son of The American Legion – Kentucky Room
9:00 a.m. Mara Boggs, State Director for Senator Joe Manchin
9:05 a.m. Dan Dellinger, National Commander, Virginia
9:15 a.m. Baseball-Dale Miller, Morgantown Baseball Chairman Area 2
9:25 a.m. Membership-Kenneth Smith, Membership Chairman and Membership Vice-Chairmen Theo Chambers and Barry Hogue; Report, Questions & Answers
9:45 a.m. Breakout-Group Session-Reconvene at 11:30 a.m. for overall review and any
other business to be discussed during Mid-Winter Conference.
Table One (1) -Americanism and Children & Youth – Shannon Harshbarger, Chairman; & Stacy Wehrle, Oratorical Chairman
Table Two (2) – Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation – Robbie Robinson, Chairman and Doug Robinson, Assistant Chairman
Table Three (3) - Mountaineer Boys State, Robbie Robinson, Chairman, along with Doug Robinson, Gary Wolfe and Jacob McCarty
Table Four (4) – Department Judge Advocate, Rick Davison
Table Five (5) – Sons of The American Legion, SAL Department Advisor Kenneth Smith & Theo Chambers
Table Six (6) – American Legion Riders-Brian Tolstyka
11:00 a.m. Baseball Meeting – Room #704
11:30 a.m. Reconvene
At Conclusion Mountaineer Boys State Board of Directors’ Meeting– (Workshop Following)
12:00 (noon) Break for Lunch
1:30 p.m. Department Executive Committee Meeting – Grand Theater (Reception for Past Dept. Commanders follows immediately afterwards) #704
2:15 p.m. Legion Riders Meeting – Grand Theater
4:00 p.m. Chapel Service-Grand Theater
Four Chaplain’s Program- Huntington Squadron 16
Chapel Services--Chaplain Fred Buchanan
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Commander and President’s Reception – Maryland/Pennsylvania/Ohio Room-
Cash Bar
9:00 p.m. - Midnight Dance & Karaoke by John-Grand Ballroom – Cash Bar