The American Legion, Department of Minnesota

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AWARD FORMS, OR APPLICATIONS, CONTACT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.

For information on programs of The American Legion, click on the area of interest below, or if you cannot find a particular program, contact us at Department Headquarters.  As information is added and updated regarding these programs, the links will become active.

Armed Forces Service Center

Established in 1970 by a group of concerned citizens, the Armed Forces Service Center (formerly the Serviceman's Center) offers an attractive main lounge, modern kitchenette and bunk rooms for active duty men and women and their dependents. Staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by two volunteers (working 4-hour shifts), the Center offers sandwiches, bakery goods, coffee, soft drinks, shaving supplies, sewing kits, stationary, and stamps at no charge. Comfortable furniture, a large screen color television, magazines/books, iron/ironing board, and games are available.

We have a computer and internet accessibility.  Supervised storage of baggage and wake-up service is available on request. Everything is free to active duty service people and their dependents. The Center is a one-of-a-kind organization (we are not a USO) funded solely by donations from veteran, fraternal, military, and other organizations and their auxiliaries (along with private business and individual contributions).

Your help is welcome through either financial contributions in any amount, donated funds designated for needed items (furnishings, food, magazine subscriptions, etc.), or volunteering your time for a four-hour shift.

The center is located in the Linbergh Terminal on the East Mezzanine level above Door 1 of the ticketing level.

(Address:  Armed Forces Service Center, 4300 Glumack Drive
Admin Office, MSP IAP, St. Paul, MN  55111)

You can call the Executive Director at (612) 726-9156 with any specific questions or email her at afsc_msp@qwest.net.    TOP

Minnesota American Legion Foundation

A Foundation originated by The American Legion, Department of Minnesota to assist needy Minnesota Veterans and their families.

MISSION STATEMENT

"To accumulate a trust and receive funds for direct assistance, to fund programs for Minnesota Veterans and their families not already funded from traditional revenue sources."

Grants will be awarded to needy Veterans to assist them with transportation for treatments at VA medical centers, providing these costs are not already funded by other sources. All expenditures must be in keeping with Foundation Policies and applicable State and Federal law.

Your Gift is Tax Exempt. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the Minnesota American Legion Foundation as an organization exempt from federal Income Tax under sectin 501(A) of the Internal Revenue code as an organizationdescribed in Section 501 (C) (3).

Your contribution is therefore exempt to the mazimum permitted by law.

If your Post or organization conducts charitable gambling, The Minnesota American Legion Foundation qualifies as arecipient of charitable gambling funds as described in Minnesota Statues 349.12 Subdivision 25 (a) (1) and contributio are reported as on Schedule C of the monthly gambling report forms.

Your Gift Can Make a Difference

Foundation Policies

1. The Department of Minnesota Headquarters staff deposits and accounts for all Foundation contributions.

2. The foundation operation expenses are paid only from investment income threby assuring that trust donations will be held in trust and allocated only for Foundation grants.

3. All Foundtaion policies and actions must stricly adhere to the guidelines and rules for continuing exemption from Federal and State Income Taxes as a non-profit foundation.

4. To maintain a network of advisors and advisory committees to the Foundation Board of Directors from each of the ten districts in Department of Minnesota Rehabilitation and finance committees.

Together We can HelpYour financial assistance is needed to help Minnesota Veterans and their families. By pooling our resources, we can make a difference.

For more information, or to send a contribution, contact:  The Minnesota American Legion Foundation,  American Legion Headquarters,   State Veterans Service Building,       St. Paul, MN 55155-2069 TOP

Blood Program

• Healthy volunteer donors contribute 98% of blood and blood products transfuse in the United States
• Donors cannot contract AIDS by donating blood.
• Volunteer blood donors contribute between 11 and 12 donations of blood resulting in the availability of nearly 15 million components for transfusion annually.
• Each day, 15,000 donors are needed to meet the ongoing need for blood nad components.
• Tghe number of donors volunteering to commit 2-3 hours to donate platlets by spheresis is increasing steadily.
• Many lives have been saved by blood voluntarily donated by caring individuals.
• appoximately 40% of the population are medically eligible to be donors, however, less than 10% are the "quite heroes and heroines" that provide the blood needed for the entire population.
• Blood donors come from all walks of life. The are people just like you.
• Teenage donations have increased rapidly in the past ten years, due to state legislation lowering the age requirement to 17 years.
• Thousands of blood donors discuss with their families their desire to be an organ and tissue donor. TOP

 WHERE CAN BLOOD BE DONATED?

Persons interested in donating blood should contact their community blood center or hospital blood bank, or talk to their doctor.

Slightly over 200 community blood centers thoughout the US collect 85% of all voluntarily donated blood. The widespread use of mobile donor untis helps make donating blood simple and convenient. The country's several thousand hospitals are a major factor in the blood  service system in terms of blood transf usions, but their importance in collectging blood has been decreasing over the past several years. The American Legion sponsors blood donations at the VAMC in Minneapolis, and other blood banks in association with the Red Cross. Blood is life, pass it on. TOP

Brain Science Foundation

The American Legion, in cooperation with the University of Minnesota, and the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis funds a research chair for the investigation of brain, and brain related disease. TOP

Education - American Education Week

The American Legion annually sponsors American Education Week to show appreciation for area teachers.

If you are a member of The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of The American Legion, or participated in an American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program, then you are eligible to apply for an Option Four Education Loan.  To receive an educational load packet call:  1-800- LOAD USA TOP

Heart Research Foundation.

Law and Order

Minnesota American Legion  Family Hospital Association

Organization and History:

The Minnesota American Legion Hospital Association was organized as a result of action taken by its fourth annual department convention in 1922 to provide financial assistance to World War I veterans who needed specialized medical care, but lacked funds to pay for such care.  Following World War II, the services of the association were accorded to veterans of that conflict, and subsequently to veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam, etc.

In 1961 The Department Commander, Auxiliary President and the Department Legion Finance Chairman were added to the board.

In 1979, the eligibility rules were amended to make Auxiliary members eligible for assistance.  At that time, the name was changed to the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary Hospital Association.

In 1993, At the annual meeting of the association at the department convention at Bloomington, it was voted to limit assistance to members of the American Legion Hospital Association, and to provide for the payment of "hospital and doctor bills incurred during hospitalization (in-patient or out-patient) at any duly licensed hospital within or adjacent to the State of Minnesota," so that doctor's bills, previously not included, are now included, as are bills incurred at local hospitals, not just those for "specialized care" at certain medical centers.

In 1999 Action was taken to add the Son's of the American Legion into the association with their financial contribution the same as the American Legion and Auxiliary.  It was also voted to include one S.A.L. member to the board.   The name of the association was again changed to the American Legion Family Hospital Association.

In 2004 the membership voted to add the Son's of the American Legion Detachment Commander to the board and remove the American Legion Finance Chairman.   The fiscal year of the Association was changed to August 1^st-July 31.  The annual meeting of the Association was changed from the Department convention to the Department Fall conference, to begin in 2005.

Who is a member?

     Today, the association is officially incorporated as The American Legion Family Hospital Association.  All members of The Minnesota American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and The Sons of The American Legion, are members of the association.

Funding

Revenue for carrying on the work of the association consists of donations received from Posts, Squadrons, and Units, memorial and personal donations, an annual silent auction, twenty five cents from membership dues and interest from investments.  The American Legion Family Hospital Association is a 501C3 so gaming funds can be used to make a donation.  Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated to continue assisting members with unpaid medical bills.

Eligibility

     All members of the association and their eligible dependents, regardless of their place of residence, are eligible for benefits provided by the association, provided they have been members in good standing for 12 months prior to application for assistance. By a dependent is meant one who receives his or her entire support from the member and is not eligible to belong to the American Legion, Auxiliary or The Son's of the American Legion.

Financial Aid

     Financial aid is available to all eligible members of the association for payment of medical bills incurred for services provided by any duly licensed medical facility provided the need for financial assistance has been determined.
     Before applying to the association for aid, veterans should take advantage of the services offered them by the government at Veterans Hospitals. The member's dependents should make all possible use of other available medical assistance programs

        The Association does not pay for the following:

• Transportation to and from the hospital (unless by ambulance)
• Hotel-Motel bills for anyone accompanying a patient unless an attendant is deemed necessary and authorized by the association.
• Telephone bills incurred by the patient
• Personal services
• Hearing Aids
• Eyewear
• Chiropractic services
• Dental work
• Medical supplies or prosthetics
• Prescriptions

• How do I apply

• Obtain an application one of 3 ways:
• Print the application from the web site or
• Call Department Headquarters at 866-259-9163 or 651-291-1800 or
• Contact your Post or County Veterans Service Officer
   
• Completing application process:
• Fill our the application completely
• Include copies of current medical bills
• Give provider written permission to discuss your medical bills with the Association by signing and dating the application
• Mail the completed application and copies of medical bills to the address on the application

Listed below are the current members of the board.  Please feel free to contact any of them with and questions or comments.

President           Dean Knutson
 15389 Cty Rd 26
 Dalton, 56324
 218-747-2724

Vice President   Dennis Blue
 11227 Crocus St. NW
 Coon Rapids, 55433
 763-755-2237

Secretary        Betty Snyder
 10551 182^nd Ave. NW, 
 Elk River, 55330
 763-561-3308

Trustee         Michael D Neubarth
602 South Lincoln St.
Redwood Falls, MN 56283-
507-430-1221

Trustee       Nick Kakos
 3240 Humboldt Ave So.,
 Minneapolis, MN 55408
 612-825-9709

Trustee       Kris Nelson
 14678 Fairway Dr., 
 Baxter, MN 56425
 218-825-7007

* The Department Commander, Department President and
   Detachment Commander are members of the Board.TOP

Legionnaire Insurance Trust

National Emergency Fund

National Security Foreign Relations

ROTC -- The Reserve Officer Training Corps, established in 1916, has long been the largest source of junior officers for all branches of the military. The American Legion traditionally has supported ROTC and has remained at the forefront of legislative efforts to retain and expand the program. During the Vietnam War era, The American Legion curbed efforts to eliminate the Junior ROTC program and lobbied to increase the number of college ROTC scholarships and subsistence payments to ROTC students. In addition to legislative support, the Legion sponsors ROTC medals as an incentive for outstanding ROTC cadets. Last year, 7,224 cadets were recognized with medals from local American Legion Posts. TOP

POLICE CADETS -- In cooperation with the state police and highway patrol, several American Legion Departments conduct annual training sessions to acquaint teenagers with law enforcement procedures and concerns. The week-long sessions feature training in firearms and water safety, instruction on legal codes and techniques, as well as other equipment. Participants in the program learn the responsibilities of law-abiding citizens and many develop an interest in law enforcement as a career. TOP

CRIME PREVENTION -- Many Posts have a crime prevention chairperson who works with the National Crime Prevention Council and local law enforcement agencies to set up effective crime prevention programs in their communities. Also, the Legion recognizes outstanding law enforcement officers and firefighters for their service to the community. Free crime prevention tips are available through The American Legion's National Security-Foreign Relations Division, 1608 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006. TOP

FOREIGN RELATIONS -- The American Legion, as a grassroots organization reaching throughout the land, recognizes the unprecedented changes sweeping the world and urges the U.S. government to adopt a bipartisan national security/foreign relations policy of "Democratic Activism" promoting democratic values, maintaining adequate military strength to deter or defeat aggression, cooperating with allies, encouraging free and fair trade, and assisting developing nations. Since the world operates on a national basis, U.S. sovereignty must not be abridged unless required by important U.S. national security interests. TOP