"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

The Purpose of the Americanism Committee is to develop the spirit of Americanism among The American Legion and citizens and residents of the State of Wisconsin. To put into effect Americanism policies and programs of The American Legion. To coordinate any overlapping of programs dealing with Americanism. To oversee and report on programs that relate to Americanism and many youth programs. The Committee meets 3 times a year at Fall Meetings, Midwinter and Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jerry Lauby, Chair 

Tom Visintainer, Vice Chair, County Youth Government Day Chair 

Mark Degner, Member 

Craig Blumke, Member 

Paul Scharnweber, A&G Scholarship Chairman 

Bill Cosh, Badger Boys State Representative 

Karl Stuvengen, Baseball Commissioner 

John Edelblute, IV, Boy Scout Chairman 

Chris Dannenmann, Department SAL Chairman 

Norm Bednarek, Education & Scholarship Chairman 

Robert Stone, Oratorical Chairman 

DuWayne Wieck, Shooting Sports Chairman 

Corey Doehrmann, American Legion Riders Director 

John Wolfe, WALLECA Chairman 

Larry Larson, DEC Liaison

The purpose of the Camp American Legion Committee is to oversee and make recommendations on the operations of Camp American Legion, located at Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin, to the Department Executive Committee. The Committee meets 3 times a year at Fall Meetings, Midwinter and Spring Meetings. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jeff Zwiers, Chair 

Denise Jamrozy, Vice Chair

Victor Ambrose, Member 

Kathryn Vander Molen, Member 

Greg Helgeson, Member 

George Heck, Member 

Dan O'Brien, DEC Liaison

Sue Hembrook, Auxiliary Consultant 

Chris Dannenmann, SAL Consultant 

TBD, Riders Consultant 

Consultants: Department Service Officer, VA&R Chairman, Camp Director, Immediate PDC

The purpose of the Children & Youth Committee is to insure that any child of a veteran in need of care and protection shall receive proper and timely service and aid; to strengthen the family unit; extend support; extend support to sound organizations and facilities that provide services for children and youth; and to maintain a well-rounded program that meets the needs of the young people in their respective communities. The Committee meets 2 times a year at Midwinter and Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Deb Thomas, Chair 

Terry Barrington, Vice Chair 

Ginny Russell, Member 

Michael Hellquist, Member 

Harry Bauer, Member

Shelly Hoffman, Member 

Ken Flock, DEC Liaison

This commission shall be empowered to make the necessary investigation and recommendations for the holding of the annual Department Convention and shall make such further investigation and recommendations for such other annual events of the Department as requested by the Department Executive Committee, and shall make their recommendations after such investigation to the Department Executive Committee, which shall be empowered thereafter to select the time and place for such annual Conventions and annual events. The Commission meets 4 times a year, at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings and the Department Convention.

COMMISSION MEMBERS

Jim Schmidt, Chair 

Jim Kell, Vice Chair 

Lisa Fauster, Member 

Adam Klapperich, Member 

Chris Chinander, Member 

Tom Carlson, Member 

Felicia Decker, DEC Liaison 

The purpose of The Department Finance Committee shall be to approve, budget and audit the expenditures of the Department, its decisions being final unless overruled by a majority of the members present at a regular or special meeting of the Department Executive Committee. The Department Finance Committee shall have the authority to engage the auditors for Department Funds. The committee meets at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings, Department Convention, Annual Budget Meeting and at the call of the Commander.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Phil Green, Chair 

Ken Rynes, Vice Chair 

Jay Tousey, Member 

Mike Feirer, Member 

Gail Johnson-Daveau, Member

Renee Jackson, Member 

Fundraising Chair is a consultant.

Steve Kohnke, DEC Liaison

The purpose of the Fundraising committee is to oversee accounting and reporting of all fundraising activities within the Department as directed by the Department Executive Committee. The Committee meets 4 times a year, at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings and the Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Frank Kostka, Chair 

Harold Rihn, Vice Chair 

Gene Hembrook, Member 

Miguel Babino, Member 

Paul Reilly, Member 

Rosanna Bogle, Member 

David Steinert, DEC Liaison

The purpose of the Hospital Committee is to provide entertainment and recreational programs at all Federal VA Hospitals and State Veteran’s Homes in Wisconsin, to work in close cooperation with the Department Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee, and to assist existing hospital facilities to aid in making the Veteran’s stay in the hospital as pleasant as possible. The committee meets 2 times a year, at Midwinter and Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jeremy Nordie, Chair

Brad Cramlet, Vice Chair &Union Grove Representative

Dan Hildebrandt, Member 

James Young, King Representative 

Ken Schoolcraft, Tomah Representative 

Joseph Hodgson, Middleton Representative 

Donna Swenson, Minneapolis VA Representative

Carl Krenn, Iron Mountain VA Representative 

Brad Cramlet, Union Grove Representative 

Ross Auna, Chippewa Falls Representative 

Dan Jakubczyk, Zablocki VA Representative

Penny Peeters, DEC Liaison 

The Department Service Officer is a Consultant to the Committee.

The purpose of the Internal Affairs Committee is to study, recommend, and formulate policies that will be beneficial to the Department on all matters that will tend to increase the prestige of The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin and to advance the best interests of The American Legion. No recommendation shall be considered as final unless approved by the Department Executive Committee or a Department Convention. The Committee meets at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings, Resolution Meeting, the Department Convention and at the call of the Commander.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Roy Helms, Member 

Wayne Jensen, Member 

Ted DeMicchi, Member 

David Gough, Member 

Bob Batty, Member 

Al Richards, Member

Denise Rohan, PNC, Ex-Officio 

Daniel Seehafer, PNC, Ex-Officio 

Bob Shappell, NECman, DEC Liaison 

The Department Judge Advocate is a Consultant to this committee.

The purpose of the Legislative Committee is to represent The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin with the State Legislature, and contact Congress on matters of interest to Wisconsin Veterans as long as the contact does not conflict with the National American Legion policy. This committee shall make recommendations to the Department Convention and to the Department Executive Committee, and in general supervise the legislative program of the Department. This committee has exclusive responsibility for petitioning the State Legislature on behalf of or in opposition to all legislation in which The American Legion, Department of Wisconsin is interested. This committee shall select the Department Legislator of the Year. The Committee meets 3 times a year, at the Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings and the Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Nathan Coward, Chair 

Paul Fisk, Vice Chair 

Cathy Gorst, Member 

Kelly Globes, Member

Chuck Roessler, Member 

Morris Sadicario, Member 

Candace Rothering, DEC Liaison 

The Department Judge Advocate is a Consultant to the Committee.

The Marketing & Communications Committee shall work with all Department Wisconsin American Legion commissions and committees to build awareness and support for the mission and programs of The American Legion. Promote the same to active-duty military, Guard and Reserve components, military veterans and retirees, and the general public; to strategize and execute the organization’s activities to promote membership growth, strengthen the fundraising program, maximize merchandising opportunities, nurture corporate alliances and achieve greater brand awareness. The Committee serves as the voice of Veterans by enhancing public perceptions of The American Legion, America’s Veterans and their families. It is the responsibility of the committee to maintain the image of The American Legion and to communicate our various messages to the public promoting and publicizing projects, events, programs and accomplishments of The American Legion. The committee will be responsible for recommending policy changes in the publication of the official Department paper, “The Badger Legionnaire”. The Department Historian will serve as a consultant to the Committee, and there will be one (1) Auxiliary Liaison Member.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Becky Stankevitz, Chair 

Nancy Rivera, Vice Chair 

Jim Schmidt, Member 

John Argust, Member 

Michelle Adams, Member 

Allen Nohl, Member 

Morris Sadicario, Department Historian 

Bonnie Dorniak, Auxiliary Liaison 

Joe Roberts, DEC Liaison 

The purpose of the Membership Committee is to promote an increase of membership in the Department, to ascertain the causes for failure of former members to renew their membership, and generally, to assist the Posts in a program working toward increasing the numerical strength of the Department. Also, to recommend programs to Posts for the promotion of such activities as would stimulate interest in The American Legion and its programs in all communities. The Committee meets 4 times a year, at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings and the Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Jerry Hook, Chair 

John Polzin, Vice Chair 

John Stoczynski, Member 

Scott Markle, Member 

Gail Minks, Member 

Alan McCormick, Member 

Larry Larson, Member, Department Vice Commander

Steve Kohnke, Member, Department Vice Commander

David Steinert, Member, Department Vice Commander

Rita Rindahl, Member, Department Vice Commander, 

Joe Leone, Member, 2nd District Commander

Andrew Minch, Member, 4th District Commander

Ken Flock, Member, 6th District Commander

Penny Peeters, Member, 8th District Commander

Felicia Decker, Member, 10th District Commander

Joe Roberts, Member, 12th District Commander

The purpose of the National & Homeland Security Committee is to organize the membership in support of national or civilian defense projects in the communities. To organize the department and to assist in organizing the communities for readiness to meet any emergency. The Committee meets 4 times a year, at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings and the Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

David Wischer, Chair 

Bob Bohr, Vice Chair & POW/MIA Chair

Steve Isensee, Member & Blood Donor Chair 

Jay Anderson, Member 

Jeff Puddy, Member 

Steve Kolodij, Member 

Andrew Minch, DEC Liaison 

The purpose of the Religious Emphasis Committee is to promote Spiritual growth of our membership at all levels of The American Legion,  Department of Wisconsin and to provide training and mentors to Legionnaires who desire to be a Chaplain. The Committee meets 2 times a year, at the Midwinter and the Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Darrel "AJ" Feucht, Chair 

Daniel Workenaour, Vice Chair 

Virgil Smith, DEC Liaison 

Dennis Jaeger, Immediate Past Department Chaplain

The purpose of the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Committee is to formulate policies in coordination with the Department Service Officer, subject to approval by the Department Executive Committee or a Department Convention, of all the different phases of the rehabilitation problems of veterans and their dependents of all wartime conflict as defined by the U.S. Congress. The Committee meets 4 times a year, at the Department Fall Meetings, Midwinter, Department Spring Meetings and the Department Convention.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Curtis Peck, Chair 

Steve Conto, Vice Chair, Cremated Remains Task Force Chair

Michael Bennett, Member 

Dale Oatman, Member 

Kris Bergh, Member

Terry Haney, Member 

Ken Patterson, Member

Allen Watry, Employment Chair 

Chris Sherman, Homeless Vets Task Force Chair

Jeremy Nordie, Hospital Chair 

Chet Faith, DEC Liaison 

The Camp American Legion Committee Chair and the Department Service Officer are both Consultant's to this committee.