October 4, 2012
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As I write this, it seems like fall is in the air and those warm lazy days of summer are now just a fading memory. For the AuxilDiana Sirovina iary, that’s not Department so bad! While I President know that many units continue to work on their programs during the summer, there are a fair number that are just getting back to meetings in the fall. Now is a great time to begin planning all those great projects that will benefit our veterans, active duty military and their fami-
lies. Our program chairmen have all established their “Plan of Action” for the coming year, so please visit our website for all the information you will need to be very successful in your projects this year. Remember to keep track of all your hours for our Impact Reports at the end of the year. As you make your plans, please remember our theme for the year, “Working Together… for Veterans and Our Organization.” Whatever you plan, try to include all – not only your Auxiliary members, but Post and SAL members, too. Last week I was invited to attend a unit meeting in a small community in 1st District. While
the members of the EssmanSchroeder Unit 20 may be small in number, they truly prove that “working together” does get things done. These ladies work together on their programs, share the duties and accomplish a lot! The two young ladies this Unit sponsored to Badger Girls State also attended the meeting and gave glowing accounts of their experiences. This unit like so many others all over the state proves that “service not self” unites us in our mission to advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism. Diana Sirovina Department President
MEMBERSHIP Ann Rynes Dept Membership Chairman Ph: (608) 604-0350 Email: annies@mwt.net At this writing, the 3rd Annual Fall Ride to Camp was successful in members and numbers! The dining hall was full with family members and $9,000 was raised. The family is Working Together for Our Veterans and Our Organization! Another successful Fall Forum has ended and many fall conferences and membership rallies are underway. The 3rd and 7th District rally is in New Lisbon on October 20th. 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Districts is being held on October 28th in Greendale. And word has it that Elvis might be making an appearance in Green Bay on November 3rd at the joint 6th, 8th and 9th District rally! Here’s hoping that all of the upcoming events will be successful. If the team is unable to be at your event, please let us know
how it goes. Membership is every member’s responsibility. Talk about it. It doesn’t have to be a bad word. Offer early dues payment incentives, offer a free membership, pay the dues of your nursing home-bound long-time members. If you’re in a rut-change it up. Instead of meetings, pack homeless women veterans bags, cut and tie blankets, pack Operation Military Kids backpacks, make table favors, pack boxes for deployed troops. Have your inactive members clip coupons and offer to pick them up. Get your members engaged! What are the strengths that you can draw from to engage your members in something that they can take ownership of? It is not relevant how many members you have. It’s what “gets them off the couch.” Send newsletters to keep the inactive members in the loop. They may just find out about a project that
interests them and want to participate. A huge fault of ours is that we don’t toot our own horn and let others know the good we are doing. The prime example is in the reports, or lack thereof, that are turned in to District and Department. National President Peggy Thomas’ theme is “Soaring to New Heights with Angels in Service.” By demonstrating service not self and engaging members in meaningful mission delivery, the American Legion Auxiliary will retain current members and attract new members. The first national membership milestone date is Veterans Day. The goal is to be at 55% in membership. Where will you be? Your membership team: Ann Rynes, 608-604-0350, annies@mwt.net; Berne Baer, 920-680-0308, twobaers2009@gmail.com; April Kollmorgen, 360-362-2803, aekollmorgen@comcast.net.
NATIONAL SECURITY Karen Degner Department Chairman C: (920) 918-9772 H: (920) 892-6139 Email: mdegner@wi.rr.com Do you or someone you know have unused points for hotel stays? Do you know you can provide “Hotels for Heroes”? Helping is simple. Donate your unused points to participating hotels and help our wounded warriors and their families. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is no fee to stay in a Fisher House. Since inception, the program has saved
military and veteran families an estimated $192 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation. Fisher House Foundation operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. Fisher House Foundation has partnered with the following major hotel groups: AmericInn,
Best Western, Choice Hotels, Marriott Rewards, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and Wyndham. * Please note that our agreements with individual hotel groups only permit free rooms for wounded, injured, or ill military (or DoD civilian employees) and their families. These rooms will not be used for R&R travel or other travel not related to a medical condition. For more information: http://fisherhouse.org/programs/hotels-for-heroes/abouthotels-for-heroes/
TAKE THE HIGH ROAD 2012
2013 1st - 36.85%
2nd - 36.20%
4th District
3rd District
3rd - 34.85%
4th - 30.33%
2nd District
1st District
5th - 28.72% 6th - 28.61%
12th District
6th District
7th - 28.22% 8th - 27.97%
9th District
7th District
9th - 26.60% 10th - 20.63%
8th District
11th District
12th - 8.67%
11th - 18.62% 10th District
5th District
SEPTEMBER 2012
Total Membership: 29.04%
2013 CALENDAR FUNDRAISER Entry forms for the 2013 ALA Calendar Fundraiser have been mailed out! Return your entry forms by 12/31/12 for a chance to win.
365 Winners Over $12,000 in Cash Prizes! For Additional Entries contact Headquarters at
866-664-3863