By unanimous vote of the Department Executive Committee on May 2, the 2020 Department Convention, the commission and committee meetings preceding that convention, the Department Executive Committee meeting following that convention and the Color Guard competition during that convention have all been cancelled. The Holiday Inn will cancel all room reservations associated with the convention. There is no need for individuals to call and cancel rooms.
As a result of the cancellation of the convention, there will not be an election of Department officers. Also normally a vote of the convention delegates would be taken to determine the site for the 2020 convention. The resolution cancelling the convention specified that the Department Officers, both elected and appointed, would carry over for the 2020-2021 year. The Department Executive Committee also determined that the 2022 convention would be held at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines with suggested dates of July 7-10, 2022.
Additionally all personnel appointed to the Department commissions and committees will carry over for the 2020-2021 year. Membership contests for the 2020 membership year will conclude on June 20, 2020.The resolution brought before the committee may be found below.
Resolution 1
Subject: Cancellation of 2020 American Legion, Department of Iowa, Convention in Des Moines, Iowa and Awarding of 2022 Department Convention
Origin: Department Finance Commission & Strategic Planning Committee
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of The American Legion of Iowa designates the Department Convention as the legislative body of the organization and that the convention be held annually at a place to be fixed annually by majority vote of the convention two years in advance; and
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 4 states that the executive power shall be vested in a Department Executive Committee; and
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of The American Legion of Iowa further states that in the event that the place fixed becomes unable to meet the requirements for such convention, such place shall be fixed by the Department Executive Committee; and
WHEREAS, The United States of America is currently experiencing a pandemic associated with the spread of Coronavirus (COVID–19) therefore causing communities, cities, states and the federal government to enact unprecedented emergency actions in order to contain and combat the impact and risks of spreading the COVID–19; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Iowa issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the State of Iowa on March 17 prohibiting Mass Gatherings of more than ten people until March 31; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Iowa issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the State of Iowa on March 26 that extended the prohibition on Mass Gatherings of more than ten people until April 7; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Iowa issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the State of Iowa on April 4 that extended the prohibition on Mass Gatherings of more than ten people until April 30; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Iowa issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the State of Iowa on April 16 prohibiting social and community gatherings of any size with individuals other than members of the same household until April 30, for 14 Iowa Counties; and
WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Iowa issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the State of Iowa on April 27 proclaiming all social and fraternal clubs, including The American Legion, shall be closed until May 15, except for food and beverages promptly taken from the premises; and
WHEREAS, The President of the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Governor of Iowa, and the Iowa
Department of Public Health recommend restriction of mass gathering sizes, restrictions on unnecessary travel, implementation of “social distancing” guidelines and an overall emphasis on personal hygiene and virus/germ abatement actions; and
WHEREAS, While some relaxation of the social distancing restrictions has begun in specific locations, other locations remain under more stringent restrictions; and
WHEREAS It is uncertain whether further relaxation will occur or if a growth in the numbers of diagnoses of COVID-19 will occur resulting in a reinstatement or extension of restrictions; and
WHEREAS, A gathering of the members of The American Legion at the Department Convention in Des Moines, Iowa could possibly place our members at an unnecessary health, safety and medical risk; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Department Executive Committee of The American Legion, Department of Iowa, in special meeting by telephone and electronic online communication, on May 2, 2020, That due to the uncertainty of the duration of the disease known as Coronavirus (COVID-19), the following American Legion events in Des Moines, Iowa are cancelled: (1) The Department commission and committee meetings scheduled for July 10, 2020; (2) The American Legion’s 2020 Department Convention scheduled for July 10-12, 2020; (3) the Post-Convention Department Executive Committee meeting scheduled for July 12, 2020; and (4) the Department Color Guard Competition scheduled for July 11, 2020; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That all Department elected and appointed officers continue serving in their current positions until the close of the next Department Convention scheduled in Des Moines, Iowa, from July 9-11, 2021; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That all Department commission and/or committee chairpersons and the current commission and committee members continue serving in their current positions until they resign or are either reassigned or reappointed at the 2021 Department Convention; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That due to the cancellation of the Department Convention, membership contests for the 2020 membership year shall terminate at midnight on June 10, 2020, which is 30 days prior to the original Department Convention date in accordance with Article VIII of the By-Laws of the American Legion, Department of Iowa; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, That due to the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport accommodating the American Legion 2020 Department Convention’s cancellation decision without penalty or other financial cost to The American Legion of Iowa, the American Legion Department Executive Committee is hereby awarding the 2022 Department Convention to the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport.