Executive Committee report

The Department Executive Committee met just before the state convention in Bloomington, and heard a report by Legionville Corporation President Joe Bayer on the status of the youth camp near Brainerd.
Bayer also presented his report to the delegates of the convention two days later.
Bayer traced the history of the Legionville Safety Patrol Camp back to 1921 when school patrols were first used in Minnesota. The camp itself was begun in 1935, and the North Long Lake site was developed in 1948.
At the present time, Bayer said, there are a series of negative issues affecting the future of the camp. Revenues are down, costs are up, enrollment by students at the camp are shrinking, and the buildings and infrastructure at the camp are in need of repair or replacement.
Revenues, he said, used to average about $100,000 a year and now are in the $30,000 to $35,000 range. Most of the revenue comes from donations by posts, Legionnaires and individuals.
In the last eight years, attendance at Legionville has dropped from 1,584 to 1,111 this past year. "Are we marketing this program or not?" Bayer asked the Legion members.
This year, the camp expects a $20,000 to $25,000 loss.
All those conditions, he said, have led the Legionville Corporation to consider selling part of the 600 acres of land and use the money for the future of the camp.
"Nothing is set in stone," he said. "Until the full board votes, no decision will be made."
The board consists of 10 members appointed by the districts, plus other officers from the Legion, Auxiliary and SAL.
At this time there are two possibilities with the land. A section of land not part of the present camp could be sold to refurbish the present facilities.
More likely, the part of the land that now includes the Legionville facilities could be sold and a whole new camp could be developed on another part of the land, north of the present site.
A plan that Bayer presented showed all the Legionville facilities – dorms, kitchen, dining room, and meeting rooms – all combined in one large building. He said it would be possible for the building to be used for other purposes, and to be used year around.
"It would all be high tech. We want to make sure the kids have the best week of their year," he said.
Bayer said a problem with selling the land is that "this is the worst real estate market in the last 40 years."
Bayer said the corporation is considering changing the mission of the camp somewhat (since in general Safety Patrols are used less in the state), and emphasizing other aspects such as Americanism, safety and other new programs.
"If we don't change, we are going to die," Bayer said.
In other business, the Executive Committee:
-- Heard from Family Hospital Association President Kris Nelson on the changes in the organization. She noted that all the paperwork is now being done by Department Comptroller Roger Myren at no cost to the association. In the past the association would pay out over $12,000 a year to have someone handle the administration. So far this year, the association has paid out over $47,000 in claims to Legion, Auxiliary and SAL members.
-- Heard from Finance Chairman Dave Nelson that the Legionnaire Insurance Trust will be presenting the Department with a bonus payment this year of over $100,000. He noted that an office renovation at Department Headquarters cost $69,000. And he said the Department expected to come out about $300,000 ahead of last year overall.
-- Heard a report from Mike Danielson of Wachovia, where the Department's investments are held. He said the Department has two-thirds of its money in bonds and one-third in stocks. He called the investment strategy conservative, and it is helping the Department weather the stock market downturn.
-- Roger Olson, representing the LIT committee, said only 35,000 of the 100,000 plus members of the Minnesota Legion have signed up for the free $1,000 accidental death policy. He encouraged more Minnesota members to sign up and to consider other LIT products.
-- The membership for the year has thus far hit about 94.24 percent of goal, Membership Director Mike Schaffer said. Minnesota made all of its targets until April, and again this year was the best of the Big 12 departments nationwide, and it won the Commander's Pledge again this year.
-- Approved a recommendation from Department Treasurer Dick Horn that the Ely Fishing Trip be taken from the Department umbrella and be given back to the Ely Fishing Trip Corporation at Ely. The $1,700 remaining in the fund will be turned over to the corporation.
-- Approved the revocation of the charter for Kasota Post 348. The 13 or so remaining members have transferred to the St. Peter Post.  The $400 in the post's treasury will be turned over to be used in the National Emergency Fund.
-- Approved a resolution that had been laid over from March concerning the establishment of a new Department committee to oversee training and education – particularly the implementation of the Fall Conference and the spring training meeting. The resolution was sent to the floor of the convention, but was referred back to the Finance Committee for further study.
 -- Approved a resolution from the Sons of the American Legion calling for the Minnesota Detachment Guard to be a voice but not a voting member of the Detachment Executive Committee.