Dept. CDR's Update (May 31st)

This week's shoutout goes to Boys State Chairman Jim Reed and to all Boys State attendees and their parents for trusting the American Legion Department of Tennessee by sending your rising senior to TN Boys State.

To all future prospects, check out www.tnboysstate.org for more information, see you in Cookeville on the Tennessee Tech campus in May 2027.

As the days draw shorter, and my schedule a bit more bear, I wanted to let everyone know while it's on my mind, that my last Commander update will be posted the weekend of the Department Convention and will be a solid wrap up of my year as Department Commander and what an honor it has been, thank you.

Weekly Schedule

• www.toddmckinley.com/post/dept-commander-s-schedule

• www.tennesseelegion.org/site/eventscalendar

June 2nd: Tennessee Commander's Chat.: www.facebook.com/commanderchat

Voter Voice

We finished the month in 2nd place, well ahead of Wisconsin and slightly behind Kansas.

• www.votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/home

Membership

We're currently standing at 93.72% of our membership numbers, my hope is in the remaining month I have in office, that we push membership and see how close we can get to 100% and give Tonya an Army to lead once she's elected and sworn in as Department Commander.

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley

Department Commander

American Legion Department of Tennessee

The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship (2027)

Memorandum For: Sullivan West Ridge High School Seniors (Class of 2027)

SUBJECT: The Todd A. McKinley Scholarship

1. I’m pleased to announce the Todd A. McKinley scholarship for the sixth graduating class of West Ridge, the Class of 2027.

2. This scholarship will be available to only 1-graduating senior, from West Ridge’s class of 2027, the sixth graduating class. It will be awarded primarily based on character, academic qualifications; career goals, projects, accomplishments, and educational plans, and any recommendation letters will also be considered. The scholarship is in the amount of a one-time payment of $1,000 to the winner, which will be awarded at the 2027 awards day.

3. Minimum Prerequisites:

a. Be a person of good character.

b. Be a West Ridge 2027 graduate in 4 years or less.

c. Have at least a 3.0 GPA

d. Be involved in at least one extracurricular activity outside of normal school hours, either sponsored by the school or a reputable organization. Regularly volunteering in the community will suffice.

e. Not required but encouraged: A letter of recommendation from a West Ridge faculty member, former Teacher, an elected official, community leader, coach, etc., but not from a relative.

4. How to apply:

a. Complete the attached application. (Email me for an application: Todd@toddmckinley.com)

b. Submit all required documentation before the deadline. Applications will not be reviewed until after the deadline, therefore changes to submitted applications will be allowed until then.

5. Application deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, April 30th, 2027.

6. Submit all applications to Todd@toddmckinley.com

  Subject: Todd A. McKinley Scholarship: Your Last Name, Your First Name

Title all documents appropriately. Use Word and/or PDF if possible.

7. I look forward to receiving the applications and rendering a timely unbiased decision. Note, my decision will be based solely on the criteria above, no applicant will be discriminated against for any reason.

8. Any questions and applications should be emailed to the undersigned.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

www.toddmckinley.com 

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Operation Show & Tell

What exactly is "Operation Show & Tell," you maybe asking. Well, give me a few moments of your time and I'll explain. Now mind you, for this idea to bear fruit for the American Legion on a national level, it requires buy-in from everyone in all 55 departments. What I'm asking for are willing members across the entire Legion Family (Sons of the American Legion & Legion Auxiliary) to be willing to openly use social media (or your own website) to share & promote the American Legion by telling stories through Operation Show & Tell. I'm sure everyone remembers this activity in Kindergarten. BTW, I received an "E" for Excellence in Show & Tell and I'm sticking to that story.

Operation Show & Tell

I'm urging everyone in the Legion Family and Veteran community (every community is a Veteran community) to post a video or go live on social media and discuss an item you treasure (preferably Legion related) and tell a story with it, such as where did you get or "acquire it," what does it mean to you and how does it make you feel.

Example: Take a Legion cap for example, it could be related to an office you hold/held, or Post/Department you belonged to and why it's important to you. You can really show off anything you have, a car, challenge coin, Army helmet, award or whatever and tell a story. In the video, add in why you joined the Legion Family, and yes, this is a backdoor "why" video project.

I'm urging everyone to use the following hashtag #myamericanlegion and #LegionFamily across all platforms and promote camaraderie in our communities, after all strong communities are the foundation of strong states and strong states make a strong nation. You can make these stories fun and lighthearted or you can be serious, but let's keep it PG. Also, please be sure to promote membership in these endeavors by sharing the link below. You may also use any other hashtag such #BeTheOne or whatever you think applies, just be sure to promote Legion Family, encourage membership and of course have fun.

• www.legion.org/about/american-legion-family

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley

Department Commander

American Legion Department of Tennessee