High Octane D.E.C.!
As members of the D.E.C. arrived at Amador they became aware there was tension in the air. Top of the list was the Commander's eliminating the position of Department Service Officer (see letter). Also they became aware of several resolutions addressing the elimination of the DSO and the termination of Scott McKee. All seemed to agree the need and obligation of the Department of California to have a Service Officer who would be overseeing and administering the huge V.A. & R. budget and staff. As the gavel fell to open the D.E.C. one of the first orders of business was the reading of the appointments to Commissions and Committees. Strange enough an appointment was made to the now "eliminated" position of DSO; the task fell to Brian Mc Guinness, who also was also appointed to the Ways & Means Commission. Unanimously the D.E.C. approved the appointments! The Commander had dodged a bullet but what of the position being eliminated? Several resolutions covering the reinstating of the DSO position within the Dep't of California had been delivered to the Resolutions Committee and were supposedly under review. The D.E.C. continued and not until Sunday did the resolutions come to the floor; well almost! The Resolutions Committee ruled the resolutions "out of order" as the Commander and the D.E.C. had earlier on Saturday appointed a new DSO Mc Guinness and thus crisis averted! But wait! The Commander had eliminated the position and the resolutions were intended to reinstate the position!
We are told that the success of the Legion is in the adherence of the By-Laws, Constitutions and Rituals of our organization. Only by this will we be seen as a serious and well run organization. We mentor and teach the principles of the Legion and give guidance to Posts who stray from the formats of order to the conducting of good business during our meetings. Yet it would seem the D.E.C. powers that be see fit to ignore these same guidelines. It would seem that more than economic problems plague the current administration.
Let's hope that clearer heads will prevail and that Commander Castro gets better advise and guidance in the remainder of his term.
We are told that the success of the Legion is in the adherence of the By-Laws, Constitutions and Rituals of our organization. Only by this will we be seen as a serious and well run organization. We mentor and teach the principles of the Legion and give guidance to Posts who stray from the formats of order to the conducting of good business during our meetings. Yet it would seem the D.E.C. powers that be see fit to ignore these same guidelines. It would seem that more than economic problems plague the current administration.
Let's hope that clearer heads will prevail and that Commander Castro gets better advise and guidance in the remainder of his term.