Dept. CDR's Update (February 22nd)

This week's shoutout goes to every individual who make the Department of Tennessee run. In fact, we're 1 of 22 departments who've met every membership deadline thus far and I humbly thank you.

In case you missed my "emergency" Commander's Chat on Thursday, give a watch.

• https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KCdvjCF5H/

Special Announcement 1: In addition to March 12th, being the first ever Legion Family Day on the Hill, it will also be designated Be The One Day in the Volunteer State as well. What I'm asking is simple, on March 12th, or the preceding or following Saturdays (dealers choice), hold some sort of Be The One related event.

As Department Commander, I'm inviting anyone around Kingsport to come and take a walk around my local track at Ketron Elementary School. I plan to begin walking at 9:00am on Saturday, March 14th. I plan to walk alone or with whoever decides to show up. FYI. this isn't a formal event, I just plan to begin walking more and exercising in order to arrive the convention next June in far better shape than I was when I began the year. Come Be The One!

• www.toddmckinley.com/post/i-urge-you-to-read-be-the-one

Ketron Elementary School

3301 Bloomingdale Pike

Kingsport, TN

37660

Special Announcement 2: The second special announcement, is the Department Commander's page is now the Department Chaplains Message, given I wasn't using the page, since I use my personal website. Give the Chaplain the courtesy and reading his message and check back regularly as he always has a message we can all benefit from.

• www.tennesseelegion.org/department-chaplains-message

Weekly Schedule

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

• www.tennesseelegion.org/site/eventscalendar

February 24th: Tennessee Commander's Chat: www.facebook.com/commanderchat

February 27th-28th: Washington Conference

March 1st-4th: Washington Conference

Membership

To reiterate my opening statement, we're 1 of 22 departments who've met every membership deadline thus far. The next deadline is March 11th, when we need to be at 90% or greater to continue this great streak. At present, we're at 86.77%, with the next deadline after the 11th, being April 8th (95% goal) and finally May 13th the 100% deadline. After we hit the 100% mark, let's not quit, not even after the department convention in June, after all the American Legion is worth saving.

• www.legion.org/member-services/membership-standings

Voter Voice

We finished the week in 2nd place nationally, just 5 behind Kansas, great job everyone, now let's look to finish in first this coming week.

• www.votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/home

Legion Family Day on the Hill (March 12th)

The first ever Legion Family Day on the Hill. will be held Thursday, March 12th in Nashville and will coincide with Be The One Day in Tennessee. We’ll meet on the 8th floor in conference room 8A of the Cordell Hull Building, as close to 8:00am as possible.

Cordell Hull State Office Building

425 Rep. John Lewis Way N,

Nashville, TN 37243

• www.toddmckinley.com/post/legion-family-day-on-the-hill-march-12th

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley

Department Commander

American Legion Department of Tennessee

I Urge You to Read & Be The One

Special Announcement: In addition to March 12th, being the first ever Legion Family Day on the Hill, it will also be designated Be The One Day in the Volunteer State as well. What I'm asking is simple, on March 12th, or the preceding or following Saturdays (dealers choice), hold some sort of Be The One related event.

As Department Commander, I'm inviting anyone around Kingsport. to come and take a walk around my local track at Ketron Elementary School. I plan to begin walking at 9:00am on Saturday, March 14th. I plan to walk alone or with whoever decides to show up. FYI. this isn't a formal event, I just plan to begin walking more and exercising in order to arrive the convention next June in far better shape than I was when I began the year. Come Be The One!

Ketron Elementary School

3301 Bloomingdale Pike

Kingsport, TN

37660

• www.toddmckinley.com/post/legion-family-day-on-the-hill-march-12th

• www.toddmckinley.com/post/betheonetn

“VOLS: Veterans Offering Lifelong Service”

Todd A. McKinley

Department Commander

American Legion Department of Tennessee

Northeast Tennessee Community Roundtable (February 28th)

Folks,

I would like to humbly invite everyone to the second Northeast Tennessee Community Roundtable. Repeating my message from January, my plan is to hold these meetings, the last Saturday of every month. That said, I hope to have a sleight of speakers lined up throughout the 2026 election season.

Since I'll be in Washington, DC advocating for the American Legion's legislative agenda and more, I've invited a special guest host. Sullivan Heights Middle School 8th grader Ellie Carpenter will be my fill in guest host. Ellie is excited to become mroe active in community civic projects and this is a perfect opportunity for her to play a role in her communtiy. We all should be proud of our younger generations, encouraging them insted of writing them off.

Who: Me (Todd A. McKinley) inviting you

What: Northeast Tennessee Community Roundtable 

When: 9am-10:30am, Saturday, February, 28th

Where: Evelyns Kitchen Table

1141 N Eastman Rd,

Kingsport, TN 37664

Why: Civic life in this country is abysmal!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BzALiuBM6/

Speaker: Mr. Craig Ramey

About the Speaker:

Craig Ramey is a candidate for Sullivan County Highway Commissioner.

Note: These events are informal and free to attend, but please patronize the establishment and tip.

Civic Life Matters

It's my honor to reestablish a civics roundtable in upper East Tennessee, after all, with a new year comes new projects. In September 2023, I launched the Veterans Coffee Roundtable and hosted every meeting until August 2025, all with the purpose of establishing a true civics speaker series in the Northeast Tennessee area, one that was open to everyone but tailored to Veterans. By calling it the Veterans Coffee Roundtable, my intent was to bring Veterans who are likely to attend an event or meeting held by a Veterans Service Organization, but will rarely if ever attend meetings held by civic and/or political groups, for whatever reasons, personal or otherwise.

By having a support network built in, it gave dozens of my fellow Veterans the opportunity to come into proximity with political figures and public officials alike. In most cases, my fellow Veterans would almost never cross paths with those I invited to speak, from city Mayors to State Senators and many more, all in a positive setting. It gave everyone the opportunity to hear from their Chief of Police, Sheriff and so many others and ask direct questions in a friendly environment. It also gave an opportunity for anyone who wanted to be involved to do so in an easy going, informal setting and of course bring meaning back to the word civics.

The reason I've decided to revamp the name was I feel many outside Veteran Service Organization circles didn't know the public was invited, not just Veterans. Also, I want to make this a true civics meeting with a simple format that will hopefully grow and one that doesn't trade on the name Veteran.

Since retiring the Veterans Coffee Roundtable name last year, I've had dozens of people ask me if I'm going to restart it, or do something else. Well, I'm doing something similar but I'm looking to expand the reach and make civic life important again, which necessitated the name change.

Todd A. McKinley, BA, MSL

SFC, USA-Ret.

Todd@toddmckinley.com

www.toddmckinley.com 

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