Please join us in congratulating our top two finalists for their dedication and participation in the 2023 American Legion Friends Basic Training (BT) trivia contest held online by The American Legion Facebook Group.
The champion, Commander Ruth Higgins, from the Department of Maryland, started off the 2023 American Legion year as a participant in the weekly trivia contest that was organized and hosted online in The American Legion Friends Facebook group.
Commander Higgins was relentlessly engaged and devoted to ensuring she never missed a single opportunity to win the maximum points. She accomplished this by demonstrating her knowledge of the American Legion BT course early in the contest. She is a graduate of National American Legion College Class 2022 under National Commander J. Troiola.
However, Commander Higgins didn’t take the finalist position without top competition, as District 23 Sergeant-at-Arms George Stern III from the Detachment of Sons of the American Legion, Department of Florida, was only a few points behind her.
George Stern III proved to be relentlessly successful in demonstrating his knowledge of the American Legion BT course. He could have easily been the finalist up until the very last week of the contest.
The contest was a great opportunity to showcase one’s knowledge of the BT course.
The American Legion Friends Facebook group was formed in 2016 when the founder, Department of California Media and Communications Chairman, graduate of NALC class of 2017, Denise Rohan and California American Legion College (CALC) facilitator Mary J. Whitler Fisher, saw a need for an online chat group to allow for all members of The American Legion family to collaborate and share information from across the nation.
It is a brilliant way to network, recruit online and stay connected. The group currently has more than 4,000 active members today with no slowdown in sight. It is especially popular in the winter months and serves as a great tool for the Be the One mission. There are more than five administrators and 15 moderators who represent the entire country. The group has separate chat rooms designated for one-on-one chats and prayer, and a closed chat for the administrators to discuss the business of the group. The group supports and provides links for VA S.A.V.E. Training, Make the Connection and a plethora of other training to support Be the One.
The prerequisites for the moderators and administrators are to possess the highest American Legion knowledge, which is taught at their department and/or to take the Basic Training course annually. The BT course can be accessed at legion.org/alei.
The groups administrators keep the group together by informing them of the information put out by national. All participants are recognized for their efforts and collaboration to support the Be the One mission. The group has an annual drawing for active participation.
The Be the One and Buddy Check mission has been the group's daily focus. Administrators who should be recognized for their leadership and hours of dedication are American Legion Auxiliary Dayna Beyer, Historian from the Department of Ohio; Northern Vice Commander Wayne Zeman, Department of Indiana, NALC 2021; Northeast Area Vice Commander Patrick “Doc” Phillips, Department of Arkansas, NALC 2017; Americanism Chairman Herman Downer Jr. from the Detachment of New York and Past Media and Communications Vice Chairman Mary J. Whitler Fisher from the Department of California, NALC 2017. This year, Doc Phillips joined the National American Legion College Facilitators. When asking him about how the group helps connect one another, he responded by stating, “As a member of the American Legion Family, you are NEVER alone. We are all Be the One for each other."
In conclusion, Ruth and George join 2022 finalist, Holly Heatly, President of ALA Department of Texas; 2021 finalist, Vice Chairman Donnie Lambert, Department of West Virginia and District President Becky Lee Larson, ALA Department of Illinois in the American Legion Friends Hall of Fame.
There’s always a chance for individuals in the group to be recognized for wearing their Be the One shirt on the first day of each month or to participate in random drawings. The group was also recognized for conducting thousands of Buddy Checks on National Buddy Check week. You’re invited to join them and become part of the online social media community.
BE THE ONE!
