Wisconsin for August 2018

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AUGUST 9, 2018

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I am still reeling and canʼt believe I am your American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Wisconsin President. CHAR KIESLING What an absoDepartment lutely exciting President and unforgettable experience. I truly appreciate all those who took part in my installation. It was so special. It was a real family affair...the Kieslings and the American Legion Family! I received such great support from all of you and so many heart-warming good wishes from my Auxiliary sisters. Thank you for allowing me to be your 98th President! I know each and every member will be working the mission this year as we “Kindle the Flame” for our Veterans, Military and their Families. Our FLAME will burn brightly for all to see. The FLAME

will bring energy and dedication to carry out our programs and to serve unselfishly those who need us the most. Membership may be a big challenge as we contend with the dues increase but our goals are realistic and the membership team is the best! The Presidentʼs project is truly from the heart. Wreaths Across America was decided upon after long consideration in finding a project I could really believe in. On that annual second Saturday in December, as my husband and friends laid wreaths on the graves at King Memorial Cemetery, I turned to look up the hill. The wreaths were beautiful in the snow with the bright green evergreen and red bow, but there were still graves that didnʼt have a wreath. What if that empty grave was one of your loved ones? I decided then that all graves would be covered this coming holiday season in all three of

the state Memorial Cemeteries... Spooner, Union Grove, and King. We arenʼt just decorating graves; we are honoring their lives and not their deaths. We are REMEMBERING, HONORING, and TEACHING the younger generation about the value of their freedoms and the importance of honoring those who sacrificed so much to protect and defend those freedoms. More details on Wreaths Across America will be available. I am writing this article while serving as THE RN at Girls Nation in Chevy Chase, Maryland. I look forward to seeing our capitol city with these outstanding young ladies and with the dedicated counselors, my fellow American Legion Auxiliary members and soon-to-be great friends! I look forward to the fun part of this job as Department President... meeting you and sharing this year with all of you and our heroes.

OATH OF OFFICE

During the 2018 Department Convention Char Kiesling along with others took the Oath of Office. President Char’s mission for this year is “Kindle the Flame” for our Veterans, Military and their Families.

2018-19 DEPARTMENT OFFICERS

MEMBERSHIP Diane Weggen, Dept. Chairman Email: dsweggen@gmail.com Ph: 715-644-2668 What does membership in the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) mean? Just paying dues to the ALA is an action that says, “I want to support veterans, the military, their families and communities. I want to recognize and honor those who served or are serving to ensure our democracy, the freedoms we experience every day, and our way of life.” Dues collected by local units, states and national are used to sponsor programs. The membership year runs from January 1st through December 31st so there is still time to renew members for 2018. The 2019 dues may also be paid now. The online renewal portal is available and renewing by telephone takes only a few minutes. Either option makes it possible to renew quickly and easily. Members can only renew their own membership through the online option. Step one is to create an account on the ALA national website at www.ALAforVeterans.org. An email confirming the account will provide a link to finalize setting up the account; just click on the “renew membership” link and follow directions. Members who prefer to renew by phone or wish to pay the membership dues of other family member(s), may call 317-569-4500 (MondayFriday, 7:00 am – 3:30 pm) and a very helpful staff member will assist with the renewal process. The

national organization will mail a membership card to anyone who renews by phone or through the website. Andrea Stoltz at Department Headquarters in Portage will notify unit membership chairmen of members who have paid online or by phone. Newly elected President Char Kiesling has chosen “Kindle the Flame of Service for our Veterans, Military and their Families” as her theme, with emphasis on Faith, Leadership, Attitude, Mentor, and Encourage (FLAME). Similar to last year, units and individual members will be eligible to win money from random drawings when meeting membership goals on set dates. To be eligible for the following unit awards, membership dues must be AT Department Headquarters by the goal date: • Early Bird - 1 unit picked at random for $100 if they are 25% by September 11, 2018 • Smoldering - 1 unit picked at random for $100 if they are 65% by November 11, 2018 • Flaming - 1 unit picked at random will win $100 if they are 85% by January 31, 2019 • Roaring - 2 units picked at random for $100 if they are over 100% by June 12, 2019 • Blazing - 5 units picked at random will win $100 if they are 100% by December 28, 2018 Twelve members who recruit a new member and submit a FLAME entry form by May 31, 2019 will be picked at random to receive $50. One form for EVERY new

member (Senior and/or Junior) recruited may be submitted, allowing for multiple chances to win! The focus for the 2019 membership year will be on positive and timely communication, nurturing new members, civility and mission delivery. Rather than focusing on how MANY people belong, we will focus on WHY people belong. Making membership meaningful is important—demonstrating why we belong and why the ALA matters to us. The ALA is about who we are, what we do (mission delivery) and why we matter (honor those who served or are serving and their families and communities for the sacrifices they made to ensure our way of life). Thank you for entrusting membership with me. Other members of the Department Membership team include Linda Kostka, Virginia Kodl and Junior member Kallee LeCloux. The membership team believes communication and connecting with others is imperative to build membership; thus, we will be traveling throughout the Department. Please invite us to your events and meetings. Membership really is about serving our heroes and engaging members in mission delivery to enhance membership strength 2019 MEMBERSHIP TEAM Chairman Diane Weggen Virgina Kodl, Linda Kostka Kallee LeCloux, Junior Member Andrea Stoltz, Headquarters Staff alawi@amlegionauxwi.org

Front Row (L to R): Diane Weggen, 1st Vice President; Char Kiesling, Department President; Joanie Dickerson, Senior Vice President; Linda Coppock, 2nd Vice President. Back Row (L to R): Christine Johnsen, Sergeant-at-Arms; Maggie Geiger, Historian; Becky Mueller, Chaplain; Bonnie Dorniak, Executive Secretary-Treasurer; Mary Kay Souther, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms.

2018-19 DISTRICT PRESIDENTS

Front Row (L to R): Anita “Sam” Catura, 1st District; Danie Wilson, 2nd District; Jenni Syftestad, 3rd District; Department President Char Kiesling; Kathy Baranzyk, 4th District; Linda Bartell, 5th District; Nancy Helms, 6th District. Back Row (L to R): Sarah Stiff, 8th District; Deanna Farley, 9th District; Aimee Korger, 10th District; Barbara Bell, 11th District; Barbara McDaniel, 12th District. Not pictured: Becca Gleason, 7th District.


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