July 2026 Newsletter
- MN Third District
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
View the highlights or download the full PDF below
The Commander's Corner
I’m James Entinger, the new incoming 3rd District Commander. I have been a District Officer for 13 years; I’m not a newbie.
I have put together a great team. We are here to help you and yours post any way we can. Happy 250th Birthday America and God Bless us all.
P.S. Hope to see at the Department Convention this week.
Membership Update
Hello, Thundering Third! It’s July already! Happy 250th Birthday to the United States of America!
Attached are our end-of-year membership numbers as of June 30, 2026. The Third District finished 3rd in membership with 95.47%, just 0.55% out of 1st place. That is an accomplishment we can all be proud of. Thank you to every Post, Membership Director, Commander, Adjutant, and Legionnaire who worked so hard throughout the year.
We had 11 Posts reach 100% membership or better:
Post 3 - Jordan
Post 65 - Rosemount
Post 74 - Henderson
Post 150 - Waconia
Post 184 - Pine Island
Post 380 - Kilkenny
Post 407 - Winsted
Post 586 - Lonsdale
Post 598 - Bellechester
Post 620 - Hugo
Post 1995 - Victoria
Congratulations to each of these Posts on an outstanding achievement! Two of these Posts also reached the level necessary to earn a National Membership Ribbon.
District Commander Entinger and I are looking for two Posts that would like additional assistance with their membership program. If your Post is struggling with membership or would simply like some extra help, we are ready to assist. We will gladly come to your Post and work with your membership team.
Please contact me at 952-686-3311 or jebares@yahoo.com to schedule a visit.
I am also looking for two Posts interested in hosting a District Membership Workshop. Topics will include:
Finding 1982 and 1982AD At-Large members
Processing membership transfers
Sample renewal letters
Sample letters for recruiting and retaining members
Effective membership phone calls, including conversation starters and questions
Calling 1982 and 1982AD members to transfer them into your Post or another Post within the Third District
Whether you are an experienced Post commander, Membership Director, Post officer, or just getting started, these workshops are designed to share ideas, answer questions, and help every Post become more successful.
If your Post would like to host a weekend workshop, please get in touch with me. Together, we can strengthen membership throughout the Third District.
If your Post needs officer or Legion training in any area, please reach out to the Department Training Committee. They are available to help your Post succeed.
Thank you again for everything you do for our veterans, our communities, and The American Legion. Let’s keep the momentum going as we begin another membership year!
For God and Country,
Joe Bares Third District Membership Director
Sons of the American Legion (SAL)
Happy 4th of July everyone, 250 years strong. My name is Glen Neville, and I am the newly elected Commander for the 3rd District Sons of the American Legion. I am looking forward to having a great year and helping to make the American Legion Family stronger with the help of all the squadrons in the 3rd District. During the convention we held the yearly elections and here are the newly elected officers for the Sons of the American Legion.
Commander Glen Neville
Adjutant Dave Arend
Vice Commanders Kirtby Olesen, Tom Koch, Dave Vulcan, Gregg Wilwert
Membership Casey Lenort
Finance Gregg Wilwert
Sgt-at-Arms Dave Vulcan
Historian Casey Lenort
Chaplin Casey Lenort
Vice Commanders for the District are being assigned shortly and will be delivering Membership Card to you when we get them from National. As of this writing, we have not heard when Membership cards will be delivered. As soon as we get them, they will be sent out.
Have a great and safe 4th of July, enjoy the celebration of our nation with all your family and friends. Keep our deployed service members in your thoughts. Talk to you next month,
Glen
CALENDAR of EVENTS
July 9 – 11 Department Convention Willmar, MN
National Convention Delegates
1. Amy Larsen
2. Jim Entinger
3. Nathan Olson
4. Don Pankake
5. Mark Dvorak
6. Cindy Yanchury
7. Don Skow
8. Pat Logan
9. Terry Larsen
National Convention Alternante
Rod Reifsteck
2. Carla Tappainner
3. Joe Tappainner
Comments