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CONVENTION COMMISSION

James V. Demarest, New York, Chairman

William H. Miller, Oregon, Director

If you could compare The American Legion to a business corporation, the National Convention might be considered the annual meeting of the stockholders. Delegates, of which there are more than 3,000, are elected from their home States. Assembled in annual convention, they are the highest governing body of the organization. They elect the National Commander, Chaplain, and five Vice Commanders. They dispose of more than 500 resolutions and set the policies and programs for the coming year, including the legislative proposals which the Legion will make to Congress.

Handling the National Convention is a man-sized undertaking for any city and its local Legionnaires. The selection of convention sites and the broad planning of the annual reunion are the responsibility of the National Convention Commission. However, local arrangements, including financing, are managed by convention corporations, formed in each host State for this sole purpose.

The National Convention Commission in meetings held since the last convention in Miami Beach, Fla., has received bids from the following cities interested in hosting the National Convention: Philadelphia, New York City, Honolulu, District of Columbia, Detroit, Boston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Atlantic City. A tentative award had been in effect to the city of Philadelphia to host the 1965 convention, and tentative awards had also been given to Portland, Oreg., for 1966 and New York City for 1967. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Department of Pennsylvania, it was necessary for that department to withdraw its invitation to host the 1965 convention in Philadelphia, and in view of this situation the Convention Commission moved the timetable up and awarded the 1965 convention to the city of Portland. To fill the void created by this change in schedule, the Convention Commission subsequently gave a tentative award for the 1966 convention to Washington, D.C. The Convention Commission is constantly updating its outline of requirements for National Conventions to keep cities that are interested in bidding for a convention completely informed on the current housing and facility needs for this great annual gathering.

CONTEST SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

Harold J. Dillon, Minnesota, Chairman

Bud Johnson, Washington, Secretary

The National Contests Supervisory Committee, known since its inception in 1929 as the supervisory agency of all contests held during the National Convention of The American Legion, and for making available information on organization, management, and other general know-how relative to musical organizations, can point with pride to its outstanding record over the years.

Until 1936 this committee was a subcommittee of the National Trophies and Awards Committee. In 1936 it was reestablished as an independent committee; in 1946, its membership was increased; in 1947, the National Executive Committee assigned it to the Convention Commission for purposes of supervision and coordination.

Today the National Contests Supervisory Committee with its 25 fully qualified members has an increasingly important duty to perform. The thousands of uniformed groups competing under The American Legion banner prove beyond a doubt this organization leads the field in this colorful peagantry. The committee has worked long and hard to retain this leadership. The "Parade of Champions"-truly an outstanding public relations venture in its own right—

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brings together the finest musical and drill units from throughout the United States, involving a competing membership of approximately 6,000 persons-boys, girls, and senior Legionnaires.

Judges

A complete revamping of the committee's system of selecting national contest judges was one of the projects started in 1960. Today a complete file on every competent judge in the country, in all categories, is maintained in Indianapolis.

1964 Contest

Each year the Contest Committee strives for bigger and better contests. This year's convention in Dallas, Tex., will see a change in the drum and buglecorps competiton in that five (5) senior corps and five (5) junior corps will make up the final contest. Juniors will not compete against seniors, but will compete against other juniors for top honors. The same to be true in the case of the Seniors.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS COMMITTEE

A. L. Starshak, Illinois, Chairman

(No report received)

ECONOMIC COMMISSION

John J. Flynn, California, Chairman

Clarence W. Bird, Vermont, Director

The following report covers the programs, activities, and accomplishments of the Economic Commission and its three affiliated committees Employment, Housing, and Veterans' Preference for The American Legion year 1963-64.

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Subsequent to our last annual report there has been assigned or referred to the Commission a total of 24 resolutions relative to the Economic Program. analysis of these resolutions as to source and type follows:

Seventeen approved resolutions from the 1963 National Convention; Three approved resolutions from the National Executive Committee Meeting of April 30-May 2, 1964;

One referred resolution from the National Executive Committee Meeting of October 16-18, 1963;

One referred resolution from the National Executive Committee Meeting of April 30-May 2, 1964; and

Two register resolutions from the National Adjutant.

The status of each resolution is set forth below commencing with those approved by the 1963 National Convention and spring 1964 NEC Meeting followed by those referred by NEC action and register resolutions referred by the National Adjutant for study and recommendation. On approved resolutions requiring legislative action, additional information as to the progress of all bills may be found in the report of the Legislative Commission.

Approved Resolutions

Employment and Veterans' Preference

Resolution 2-1963: Supports congressional appropriation of sufficient funds to insure adequate service to veterans through the Bureau of Employment Security, U.S. Employment Service, Veterans Employment Service, and Public Employment Services.

We submitted testimony on March 18, 1964, to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Education, and Welfare, House Committee on Appropriations, in connection with funds for the Veterans Employment Service. The amount of $1,605,000 was approved in H.R. 10809 which passed the House of Representatives, April 14, 1964. Staff members of the Economic and Legislative Commissions also testified on June 25, 1964, before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Education, and Welfare, Senate Committee on Appropriations in connection with H.R. 10809. More detailed information relative to appropriations for the Veterans Employment Service will be set forth later in this report under the Employment Committee.

Resolution 43-1963: Reaffirms The American Legion's endorsement of the program of public education that is carried on by The President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, the Governors' Committee and the various community committees dedicated to this effort, and endorsement of the Department of Labor's program of education and placement of the handicapped with preference for disabled war veterans.

The Director of the Economic Commission for the past year has served as Chairman of the Committee on Disabled Veterans of The President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. The Director also serves as an Executive Member of The President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, and during the year we have worked in close cooperation with that Committee. Activities in conjunction with the annual observance of National Employ the Handicapped Week will be contained in the Employment Committee's Report.

Resolution 77-1963: Reaffirms The American Legion's support of all programs for employment of the disabled veterans and calls upon all employers to cooperate with all Federal, State, and local committees working on the problem of employing the handicapped, and further calls upon the military service to make full utilization of the talents of the blind on vending stands and all other handicapped persons for employment to fit their skills.

This resolution has been handled administratively in conjunction with Resolution 43 also of the 1963 National Convention.

Resolution 196-1963: Resolves that The American Legion oppose any efforts to weaken or reduce veterans' rights and benefits in Federal employment as provided by the Veterans' Preference Act.

This resolution reaffirms The American Legion's policy of long standing. In connection with this resolution we have vigorously opposed several bills in the second session of the 88th Congress which, if enacted into law, would eliminate or at least weaken veterans' preference in certain areas. As an example, we strenuously opposed S. 622, a bill which, if enacted, would repeal veterans' preference retention rights for all veterans employed by the Alaska Railroad. If this legislation should become law it could well be the opening wedge for attack on veterans' rights in other Federal areas. However, at this writing, it is our understanding that the bill is to lie dormant and expire at the end of the 88th Congress. Other bills as they relate to this resolution will be reported under the Veterans' Preference Committee.

Resolution 197-1963: Recommends that The American Legion departments carry out an annual promotional campaign designated to insure the older job seeker of a fair opportunity to obtain gainful employment to include the selection of an outstanding employer of older workers and the award to such employer of a national citation by The American Legion. This resolution further designates responsibility for organization and function of this program upon the Department Commander or his designate.

This resolution has been handled administratively and The American Legion again this year designated the first full week in May as, "Employ the Older Worker Week." For more detailed information regarding this program see the Employment Committee's Report.

Resolution 361-1963: Requests Congress to provide the U.S. Bureau of Veterans Reemployment Rights with adequate funds to enable it to give prompt and effective service to all persons having rights and obligations under the reemployment statutes and urges Congress to approve legislation (H.R. 4271) to amend the Universal Military Training and Service Act to clarify the rights of employees who leave employment on probation for military service or training and to enable this Bureau to protect reservists and guardsmen from any disadvantage in their employment because of their military training obligation or draft status.

We submitted testimony on March 18, 1964, to the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Education, and Welfare, House Committee on Appropriations, in connection with funds for the Bureau of Veterans Reemployment Rights and related programs for fiscal year 1965. The sum of $731,000 as requested was approved in H.R. 10809 which passed the House of Representatives on April 14, 1964. On June 25, 1964, staff members from the Economic and Legislative Commissions testified before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Education, and Welfare and related agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations, in connection with H.R. 10809.

Resolution 407-1963: Petitions all Federal and State Administrators to take all necessary steps to insure that the designated Veterans Employment Representative in each local employment service office be allowed sufficient time to adequately perform the primary duties in connection with services to veterans. This resolution was referred to the Secretary of Labor for appropriate action. We quote below two paragraphs of a letter dated January 7, 1964, directed to all State Employment Security Agencies by the Administrator, Bureau of Employment Security, U.S. Department of Labor.

"We wish to reemphasize the program of services to veterans and the preference to which they are entitled in referral to job openings and training projects. The State VER is responsible for functional supervision and evaluation of the veterans' program. His efforts can accomplish little without the support and cooperation of the State Administrator and his staff.

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