Hospitality Room Guidelines

The Department of Indiana has issued guidelines for the operation of hospitality rooms at conference and conventions. They have been sent to all District Commanders, and are posted on the Department Website and Facebook. Text of the memorandum follows:

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After discussions with Department officers, district commanders, individual members, and the management and staff of the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel East, the Department of Indiana is issuing firm guidelines on the conduct of hospitality suites at Department-sponsored conferences and conventions.

A. These guidelines are the result of increasing concern by the Department of Indiana that:

1.) The safety and well-being of members was being compromised,
2.) Attendance at Department-sponsored meetings and events was being adversely affected,
3.) Cost to Districts was rising rapidly,
4.) State law, regulations and standards were being routinely violated,
5.) Costs of clean-up, repairs, and restoration were skyrocketing, and
6.) Property upgrades and improvements by the hotel were being damaged or misused.

B. Accordingly, the following guidelines are established and compliance with both the letter and the spirit is necessary:

1. Cooking and the maintenance of hot food in hospitality suites and guest rooms are prohibited.
2. Electric appliances other than those supplied by the hotel are prohibited.
3. Open flame devices of any kind are prohibited.
4. Removal of any furniture from the rooms is prohibited.
5. Staples, tacks, nails, or tape -- duct, masking and cellophane -- on the walls is prohibited.
6. Garbage disposal in toilets or sinks is prohibited.
7. Dishwashing in tubs or bathroom vanity sinks is prohibited.
8. Use of bathtubs as ice coolers is prohibited.
9. Removal of property of any kind from common areas, both indoor and outdoor, is prohibited.
10. Operation of hospitality suites during department sponsored activities is prohibited.
11. Food and beverages served in the hospitality rooms may not be carried into hotel common areas, restaurants, bars, and department-sponsored activities of any kind.
12. The hallways and common areas may not be obstructed by furniture, signage or other hospitality room activities spilling out of the rooms.

C. For clarification, the following is offered:

1. Cold foods, dry snacks, and drinks are permissible.
2. Coolers are permitted.
3. Beds will be removed and stored by the hotel on prior request.
4. Blue painters’ tape can be used to affix materials to the walls.
5. The patios and adjacent courtyard are exempt from the food and beverage carryout rule.
6. Hallway signage identifying hospitality rooms is permissible.
7. Collecting trash and garbage in large plastic bags and disposing of it in outdoor receptacles is permissible.

D. The Indianapolis Marriott Hotel has agreed to relax enforcement of certain standard policies, and offer certain enhancements and amenities to ease the transition to these new guidelines. They include:

1. Coffee service will be provided to all hospitality rooms at no charge to the Districts.
2. Large cigarette butt receptacles will be placed on all patios and throughout the courtyard area. 3. Normal noise restrictions after 11:00 p.m. will not be enforced – unless guest complaints require the enforcement.
4. Cash and carry fast-food service will be available as an alternative to restaurant service in the lounge area, with a simple menu of hot and cold sandwiches, soups, and salad available for approximately $5.00.

E. Additional rules of behavior are made necessary by law, regulation or hotel policy. They must be enforced by the hotel to protect its licenses and franchise and to prevent damage for which the Department of Indiana may be billed. They include:

1. Please do not use the swimming pool or workout area after posted hours.
2. Please do not carry glass containers or food of any kind into the pool area.
3. Please do not sit on furniture not designed for sitting, such as end tables, coffee tables, outdoor tables, trash containers, etc.
4. Please do not deplete the supply of coffee, etc. from the housekeeping cleaning carts.
5. Please do not damage the room entry doors when moving into the rooms.

F. Finally, a fair respect for your understanding requires a few notes on the reasons behind many of these rules:

Fire Marshall:
1. The hallways must be kept clear so guests can exit safely in case of fire and security and fire fighters can readily determine the location of a fire.
2. Extension cords can overheat and burn.
3. Electric devices overload circuits and trip breakers, which interrupt safety and warning devices. The hotel is liable for violations of the fire code.

Health Department:
1. In-room cooking for public consumption violates minimum temperature and cleanliness standards, and threatens public health.
2. Pool use regulations are set for all public pools by the Department of Health, and the hotel is liable for violations.
3. Glass containers pose a safety risk in areas designed for physical activity.

Indianapolis/Marion County Council:
1. Sets smoking and non-smoking policies and enforces its rules by sanctions and fines for which the hotel is liable.
2. A limited percentage of the rooms are authorized as smoking.

Alcoholic Beverage Commission:
1. Distribution and consumption affects licensure and must be controlled.

Hotel Policy:
1. The courtyard includes a Veterans Memorial established in honor of our service and that of our comrades at no small expense by the hotel. It should be treated with the same respect and solemnity we extend to all Veterans Memorials, and should not be vandalized, defaced or misused in any way.
2. Housecleaning staffing is based on a formula which allows 30 minutes per occupied room for cleaning, which means one cleaning staff person can clean 16 rooms during an eight-hour shift. Delays in cleaning cause additional expense to the hotel and inconvenience to arriving guests. Things that extend the room preparation time include excess trash, carpet stains, clogged plumbing, missing furniture, damaged walls and wallpaper, broken lamps, missing bed and bath linen, and cigarette burns in carpet and upholstery. Extraordinary measures, such as ozone fumigation, add additional cost and remove rooms from the hotel’s available inventory.

The management and staff of the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel East is authorized by law and its policies to impose charges for violations of its rules, but does so reluctantly and only in the case of flagrant and serious violations. It has not changed its policy of tolerance and forbearance for the men and women of The American Legion Family. The Department, however, in respect of the very positive business partnership between the Department of Indiana and the hotel, will continue to monitor compliance and seek the best interest of all involved. Comments or questions should be directed to officers or staff of The American Legion Department of Indiana.

Legion's Legislative Priorities

Department Commander Newman and the Indiana Contingent has returned from what was, by all accounts, a very successful 2010 Washington Conference. During the three-day conference, which included a Commander's Call on important issues, official commission and committee meetings, appearances by government and military officials, and visits with members of Congress in their Capitol Hill offices, Hoosier Legionnaires met for breakfast with three members of Indiana's congressional delegation: Senator Richard Lugar, Rep. Mike Pence, and Rep. Pete Visclosky. For nearly an hour, a frank exchange of views occurred, based primarily on issues of primary concern to The American Legion being confronted in the 111th Congress.

Those issues are included in the Legislative Priority Sheet, which was distributed to all Legion Family members who attended the conference. The Old Hoosier Legionnaire asked for, and received, a copy of those priorities, and it is presented below.

Please look it over closely, consider it carefully, and use it as the basis for your own commuications with your Senator and Congressman.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY SHEET

VA Appropriations for FY 2011 -- The American Legion agrees with the majority of the funding levels proposed for the Department of Veterans Affairs within the President’s budget request of $125 billion in FY 2011, as they are consistent with the recommendations offered by National Commander Clarence Hill before a joint session of the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. With the enactment of Public Law 111-81, advance appropriations for VA medical accounts are now included in the budget request.

VA Claims and Adjudication Process -- The American Legion intends to continue working with VA to improve the timeliness and accuracy of VA disability claims. Congress has provided additional funding to hire and train more claims representatives and adjudicators in order to aggressively meet the challenging claims backlog. The American Legion believes quality initial training of new hires, continuing education of qualified adjudicators, and retention of trained adjudicators are the key elements in achieving timely and accurate claims decisions. The American Legion feels that critical to the process is a renewed focus on credit for quality work rather than volume of work by adjudicators. Another critical component is making sure claims are properly developed before they are given to VA for a decision. This is an important role for our Department Service Officers when assisting veterans with their initial claims.

Medicare Reimbursement for VA -- The American Legion supports legislation to authorize VA to collect third-party reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the treatment of allowable, nonservice-connected medical conditions of enrolled Medicare-eligible veterans within VA medical facilities. VA is a national integrated health care delivery system authorized to collect third-party reimbursements from private health insurers, to include Medicare supplemental coverage, for veterans receiving treatment in VA medical facilities. Medicare is a Federally-mandated, public health insurance program. Unlike the Department of Defense (DoD) Medical System and Indian Health Services, VA is prohibited from collecting reimbursements from CMS. In essence, scarce discretionary appropriations are being expended by VA to provide timely access to quality health care for Medicare-eligible veterans without receiving any reimbursement from the nation’s largest health care insurer.

Enhancements for the Post-911 GI Bill Educational Benefits – The American Legion supports legislation to expand the benefits of this landmark legislation to include those veterans opting for vocational education, rather than attending a public or private institute of higher education, with appropriate financial assistance to achieve their employment goals. Not all veterans want to attend college; however, they do want to obtain marketable job skill sets that require extensive vocational training. The American Legion supports providing these veterans with tuition, housing allowance and annual book-stipend to cover the cost of vocational training.

Repeal of the Disabled Veterans’ Tax (Concurrent Receipt) – The American Legion supports a complete repeal of the Disabled Veterans’ Tax. Service-connected disabled military retirees should not have their retiree pay offset, dollar-for-dollar, by their VA disability compensation.

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  Repeal of the Military Widows’ Tax (Survivors Benefit Program Offset) – The American Legion supports legislation to repeal this current injustice that offsets a military retiree’s surviving spouse’s monthly annuity payment by the amount, dollar-for-dollar, of VA’s awarded Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to surviving spouses of service-connected disabled veterans who died due to their service-connected medical condition(s). The Survivors Benefit Program (SBP) is an optional annuity insurance program available to military retirees because when military retirees die, their retiree pay is terminated. Military retirees, who opt to participate in SBP, make monthly payments in order to participate in this annuity program. This personal financial investment should not be offset by a Federal benefit awarded to the survivors of service-connected disabled veterans.
  
  VETS Appropriations for FY 2011 – The American Legion supports increased funding for programs administered by the Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training Services to better serve veterans facing unemployment or underemployment. Meaningful employment is the key to fulfilling the American dream and the eradication of homelessness within the veterans’ community. The American Legion strongly recommends congressional oversight hearings to evaluate the achievements and shortcomings of VETS.
  
  Fully Fund and Increase the Size of the Armed Forces -- The American Legion recognizes that a strain exists on many service members in the Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve, as well as on their equipment and training needs, which is caused by the continuing overseas contingencies conducted against global terrorism. The American Legion urges Congress to fully fund the Armed Forces; to reset units with new equipment and replacement parts; and to provide training for specific skills that are required for critical mission performance across the full spectrum of conflict. The American Legion urges an increase in military personnel endstrengths to levels that reduce the frequency of deployments on service members, to reduce the stress on service members and their families, and to reduce the risk to national security that results from conventional warfare missions being relegated to a lower priority for training, planning and resourcing purposes.
  
  Quality of Life for Service Members, Military Retirees and their Military Families -- The American Legion supports recent initiatives and funding provided to improve military quality of life for the All Volunteer Armed Forces. The American Legion urges Congress to provide full funding for:
  -- achieving civilian equivalency in military salaries,
  -- quality military health care,
  -- TRICARE and TRICARE for Life without fee increases,
  -- quality military housing on well maintained military installations,
  --wounded warrior care,
  --effective transition assistance programs,
  --the Military Family Readiness program, and
  --fairness and timeliness in the DoD Disability Evaluation System.

Rehabilitating Americanism

(This is the Old Hoosier Legionnaire's Opinion. It is not necessarily that of the Department of Indiana, the Officers and members, or the newspaper The Hoosier Legionnaire.)

The Old Hoosier Legionnaire thinks it's about time to rehabilitate a term that seems to have fallen into disuse, if not disrepute, over the past several decades, at least among those outside The American Legion Family: Americanism.

Americanism is not a jingoistic anachronism. It is a term with solid meaning behind it, a term that once defined the attitudes, traditions, and culture that the people of this nation deemed appropriate and necessary for transmittal to subsequent generations.

Most of those attitudes, traditions and attributes of culture are under assault -- at the highest levels of government, in higher education, in the news organizations and the entertainment industry. Most egregious, in the view of the Old Hoosier Leigonnaire, is the assault now under way by agents of the federal government.

One instance in particular prompts these thoughts: the idea enunciated by our President during his summit on health care that the process is not important, that the time for process has passed, that results are what matter now.

With all due deference to the President, he could not be further off base.

Perhaps in other nations, in other systems, the process is not important, only the ends. But not in America. In this nation, the process is the very essence of American representative democracy. "...governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." as set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

It follows from that phrase that powers assumed without the consent of the governed are not just, and are therefore an usurpation of power that rightfully belong to the governed, to be by them reserved to themselves or delegated to agents of their own choice.

The current battle over health care is not a battle over health care, and it's not a battle over insurance reform. It is a battle over whether or not the consent of the governed still matters in matters of public policy. There is no indication that the governed have agreed to the government assuming the power it seeks to assume.

The issue is not one of right opinion or wrong opinion, correct remedy or incorrect remedy, potential abuse of the minority or misuse of the majority. It is not an issue of elected representatives voting their conscience or voting their constitutents. These objections are smokescreens to cover what is a conscious effort to govern by standards other than those set forth in our founding documents.

What say you?

Washington Conference

The Old Hoosier Legionnaire is not making the trip to the Washington Conference this year. Just as well. He kept getting into shouting matches with members of Congress last year.

However, the Department Commander and a full contingent of better behaved Hoosier are on their way to the nation's capital to present the Legislative Priorities of the organization. The itinerary calls for breakfast with the Indiana delegation, the general legislative session Tuesday morning and visits with Senators and Representatives throughout the balance of the day. That would be March 1 to March 3, 2010.

Lots of important issues, not the least among which is the effect of health care reform on veterans' health care delivery, will be discussed. The worst case is the mainstreaming of veterans and allowing the system to devolve into an entitlement program.

The Old Hoosier Legionnaire will be in contact with the contingent during its time in Washington and will put up reports on happenings of significance during the week.
Come back now and then.

Your Dues Pay For More Than Your Membership

The cost of membership in The American Legion continues to be a matter of concern to members and prospective members alike. It might be helpful to provide some perspective on the annual cost -- and more important, what a member is really buying when he or she pays the annual dues.

Membership dues are a combination of per capita fees assessed by the Department of Indiana and the National Organization, plus a fee added by the local post. In Indiana, the most common total is about $35.00 per year. Of that amount, $13.50 goes to the Department, $13.50 goes to the National Organization, and the difference remains at the Post. That means most posts are trying to operate on $8.00 or less per member per year.

The department assessment pays the cost of occupying the historic headquarters builing in downtown Indianapolis; the salaries of a small staff; the cost of providing veterans counseling and representation by the service office; contributions to the rehabilition fund; convention and conference expenses; district commanders' travel expenses; program expenses for such activities as the Oratorical Contest, Flag Education, and scholarships; membership recruitment and records management; data systems; and supplies and transportation for the officers to the many district and post activities around the state. The total income from dues is insufficient to meet the demands of our members, our officers, and veterans we serve.

The national assessment helps fund the operation of a world-wide headquarters, all similar in nature to those described above but far more extensive. Many of those expenses are fixed, but the source of revenue -- membership renewal and recruitment -- continues to fall short. Membership income is insufficient to meet the the demands of a 21st Century organization.

The remainder of the annual dues -- $8.00 in most cases -- is all that remains at your post to cover the cost of operations. Regardless of the number of members, the utility bills still have to be paid, repairs still have to be made, supplies still have to be purchased, meeting space -- whether owned, leased or rented -- still has to be paid for, and the myriad other fixed expenses have to be covered.

Members of The American Legion would do good to remember that they are not buying a club membership. Many of them get that along with their membership in the Post, but the fundamental purpose of membership is to support the aims and purposes of the organization as outlined in the preamble.

It is not about what you get for your $35.00. It really is about your willingness to give of what little you may have to support the work of the Legion on behalf of those who may have even less than you.

Legion dues increases over the years have been few and far between, for the most part. There have been exceptions, of course, but in fact, Legion membership remains among the least costly social memberships available to you. The mistake may have been in keeping dues so low for so long that we became accustomed to paying far below comparable value. Nevertheless, what you are paying for is far more important and far more worthy than the right to sit on a bar stool and drink dollar beer. What you are paying for is the welfare of comrades who need your help.

You didn't complain about the cost in danger, fear and exhaustion when a wounded comrade needed to be humped to safety; why would you complain about the cost of helping make such a comrade whole again?

And to those of you who have never joined a veterans' service organization and swear you never will... you may not have that choice someday. If you continue to stay away in droves, consider what it will be like when your benefits are nothing more than entitlement programs competing for and depending on the compassion of your government. You certainly don't think the benefits you have earned are there today because of the indifference of earlier generations of veterans, do you? Will such indifference assure your own well-being 20 or 30 years from now? Will it assure your sons and daugthers that they will receive the rehabilitation, the education and the opportunities they need and for which they may have paid a high price?

Let's talk about it.

Lincoln Pilgrimage, Family Emergency, Shadow of Shades

Commander Newman and a contingent of Hoosier Legionnaires recently returned from a traditional visit to our comrades to the west -- the Department of Illinois and its the 76th annual Lincoln Pilgrimage, honoring the martyred president on the anniversary of his birth.

As usual, the Indiana contingent was the largest among several visiting from other Midwest states. Commander Newman, Auxiliary President Janet Barnaby and SAL Commander Steve Tansel placed memorial wreathes on the gravesite inside the tomb, while the rest of the group gathered in the anteroom and hallways to listen to National Commander Clarence Hill deliver the memorial address.

Two top post commanders attended the pilgrimage as reward for topping the latest membership standings --Dave Espich, Post 182 in New Palestine in the 10th District, and Chuck Duke, Post 155 in Carmel in the 6th District.

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Department Adjutant Steve Short is away from the office on a family emergency. Steve's brother Bill is gravely ill; the family was encouraged to get home as quickly as possible, so at this hour Steve is en route to Georgia. Prayers for Bill and for Steve's safe travel are in order.

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The next issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire, the department's award-winning newspaper, is hot off the press and should be in your mailboxes in the next few days. Be sure and catch archivist Joe Hovish's feature on Shades State Park. In the article, he details how one of the largest state parks in Indiana became a reality -- and an American Legion namesake -- only to have its history and its identity lost in less than a half a century. A cautionary tale, you will find it on page 1.

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That's it for now.

Let the old Hoosier Legionnaire know what's on your mind.

Why Let The Legion Work Your VA Claim? Read On.

The old Hoosier Legionnaire regular publishes comments by John Hickey, the Department of Indiana's superb Service Officer, concerning issues that affect the receipt and delivery of VA benefits. His commentary is immense value to all veterans -- those with active claims, those considering filing claims, and those whose claims are already adjudicated. The following information is scheduled for publication in the upcoming issue of the Hoosier Legionnaire, Indiana's award-winning department newspaper.

"Why should I ask The American Legion to help with my VA claim?

"After all, the nice VA people explained all this claims stuff to me at my service discharge briefing. In fact; I’ve gotten so much literature about veterans benefits, I bet I could teach veterans service officers a few thing. Besides, I think involving a third party would just slow down the processing of my claim. I know how these service organizations work. All they want is my membership dues to help support parties at their posts!

"Wow! It’s hard to believe, but we have talked to veterans who had previously entertained such thoughts – usually after VA denies their claims. That’s when we explain to them that yes, the local American Legion post is a fun place and most of them do have club rooms. However, The American Legion is much more. American Legion posts also participate in activities contributing to the community and support events assisting veterans and their dependents. After discussing The Legion’s four foundational pillars – Americanism, Children and Youth, National Security, and Veterans Assistance and Rehabilitation (VA&R) – we then explain claims representation.

"VA claims processors have a duty to balance the interest of the government with that of the claimant, but American Legion service officers represent the claimant. Claimants may therefore explain all the circumstance of their claims with an American Legion accredited claims representative (department service officer) without fear of The American Legion reporting harmful information to VA. American Legion Accredited Department Service Officers are also professional trained full time employee of the origination.

"Claims services usually start with a post or district service office helping the veteran understand what benefits he or she might be entitled. The post service officer will then normally refer the veteran either to the local county service officer or The American Legion Department Service office for claims filing assistance. In addition to assisting with completing claim forms, county and department service officers also explain what evidence is necessary to win the benefit being sought and how to obtain that evidence.

"Once the claim reaches the VA Regional Office, an American Legion department service officer reviews if for ensuring nothing harmful is submitted with the claim. VA then has a responsibility to keep the accredited American Legion service officer involved during the claims processing. This allows us to review whatever actions are taken on the claim and answer claimant inquires. VA should also let us review, and, if necessary, discuss decisions before those decision become official, or, at least, review the decision for correctness after notification is issued. This action alone, often results in VA making the correct decision the first time since VA knows the decision will be critically reviewed by the veteran’s representative.

"If VA denies the claim, a claimant with representation will have someone on his or her side during the appeals process. The representative will answer the claimant’s questions about appealing the decision, and offer advice about what additional information is necessary to win. The claimant’s representative will also help the claimant during VA hearings, and submit legally based arguments on the claimant’s behalf both at the hearing and in written form if the appeal must go forward to the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington DC.

"VA’s own studies show claimants with representation average much higher compensation awards then those claimants without representation.

We have a duty to let veterans know all about The American Legion and our members’ continue service to the community, state, and nation -- not only for the good of the Legion, but for the good of the veterans we serve."

If you have any questions, contact the Department Service office directly. One Caution, however: There are four service officers, and thousands of veterans' claims being worked by them. You will have to wait. You may have to try several times, and th service officers will not return calls. But they will provide you the best representation available in the nation. Be patient.

Call 317.916.3605; fax 317.226-6645; or call toll-free 1.888.723.7999 and listen carefully to the prompts. Only the service officers are certified and qualified to answer your questions concerning VA claims. If you are transferred to the Service Office and you don't get through, keep trying.