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July 2023 eNews

A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families

Countdown to ALA Girls Nation!

In just 10 days, 94 high school seniors will arrive in Washington, D.C. to represent their state as a senator at ALA Girls Nation! During the week, the senators will learn how the federal government operates and take part in mock senate sessions. In addition to the on-campus work, they will explore our nation’s capital. Visits include Arlington National Cemetery, D.C. monuments, Twilight Tattoo at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, and Capitol Hill.


You can follow along on Facebook and Instagram @ALAGirlsNation as the students experience the once-in-a-lifetime ALA Girls Nation program. 


The July event will be the 76th session for ALAGN. We’d love to hear from alumnae of all ages — tell us about your ALA Girls State/Nation experiences and how they helped shape your future. Email us

ALA's biggest event is next month!

We’re getting excited to see you in Charlotte, N.C., for the ALA’s 102nd National Convention! For those of you who can’t make it, follow along online through our livestream at www.ALAforVeterans.org and on social media @ALAforVeterans


Again this year, most pre-convention committee meetings will be virtual. Any member may attend the pre-convention meetings; the events are not limited to officers or committee chairs. Recordings of the meetings will be posted on the ALA website. Dates and times for each committee are listed online


Are you looking for more information about National Convention? Here is where you can find it! 


If you’ll be in Charlotte for convention, take pictures and post on social media! Tag National Headquarters @ALAforVeterans and use the hashtags #AuxCon23 and #AmericanLegionAuxiliary. 

Fundraising 4-1-1

Stars and Stripes provides independent news and information to the U.S. military community, including active-duty servicemembers, U.S. Department of Defense civilians, veterans, contractors, and their families. Unique among DoD authorized news outlets, Stars and Stripes is governed by the principles of the First Amendment, keeping it free from censorship or interference.  

 

First appearing during the Civil War, Stars and Stripes has published continuously since World War II, serving the military community by reporting on the news that matters most to them. Best known for the daily printed paper delivered to servicemembers serving in remote and sometimes dangerous areas, Stars and Stripes is also available online at Stripes.com, updated 24/7 by our news bureaus around the world. On any given day, the publication reaches approximately 1.4 million readers through its print and digital platforms, including website, social media channels, podcast, videos, and mobile apps.


As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, you get 50% off your annual digital subscription with discount code ALA50.

Good to know

Check your mailbox! The August issue of Auxiliary magazine is arriving soon! In this issue: the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, a weekly POW/MIA vigil in Vermont, a National Convention preview, and much more! Can’t wait to read it? Check it out online


Is your local VAMC opening back up for ALA volunteers? ALA members have volunteered at VA healthcare facilities since the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) was founded in 1946. Many of the customary roles have changed in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, some volunteers are getting to return to some of their previous activities. We'd love to hear how volunteer opportunities are opening up in your community. Email us!

The ALA Junior membership patch has been updated to match the new ALA branding. It was time to restock, so the new order included the ALA word mark. American Legion Auxiliary Junior members and young Sons of The American Legion members can be active participants of the ALA Patch Program. Learn more about the program and the list of activities youth do to earn patches.


American Legion Auxiliary 2024 dues are now available to pay. Renew your annual membership dues in three easy ways: by phone, online, or mail. Go to www.ALAforVeterans.org, call (317) 569-4570, or mail in your renewal notice.

Request to join the official ALA program and committee groups on Facebook

Discover what your fellow ALA members are saying in the committee Facebook groups! These easy-to-access forums provide an arena for organic discussion about your local programs or services and present the opportunity to cultivate brand awareness. Find the list of groups here.
On the ALA Blog

Scholarship recipient grateful for ALA's commitment to helping military kids

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship to support the children of our warriors. Eligible to apply for this scholarship through her father, a U.S. Air Force officer, Anne Mountcastle grew up in a military family. She moved every two years, lived overseas, and experienced quite a lot as a military kid. Learn more about Anne and this scholarship on the blog.

Membership dues: To hold or not to hold?

During a national Membership Committee quarterly Zoom meeting, department chairs voiced concerns that membership applications and renewals aren’t being remitted as soon as they are received. Instead, some chairs hold on to these files until they have several, and then turn them in all at once. The national Membership Committee realized this issue needed to be addressed. Learn more about this Membership topic on the blog.

Save the date!

July 22-29 – ALA Girls Nation 

July 25 – National Hire a Veteran Day

July 27 – National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

Aug. 4 – U.S. Coast Guard Birthday

Aug. 7 – Purple Heart Day

Aug. 10 – U.S. Department of Defense Birthday

Aug. 10-15 – American Legion World Series

Aug. 14 – Navajo Code Talkers Day

Aug. 20-24 – American Legion Legacy Run

Aug. 25-31 – ALA’s 102nd National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

ALA Junior Member on why she wears Junior patches on her jacket:

“I want to inspire other Juniors to earn as many patches as I have. Wearing the jacket gives me opportunities to show them my accomplishments and to tell them more about the Auxiliary and hopefully get more members.”


— Rebeka Avila-Hernandez, California

Legion Family News

Join The American Legion in support of 50,000 disabled veterans


The Major Richard Star Act was among The American Legion’s priorities for this session of Congress. It would benefit veterans who were medically retired due to combat-related injuries before they were able to serve 20 years. These veterans would receive full retirement pay and disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. You can help get the bill introduced and voted on by contacting your lawmakers and voicing your support to pass the Major Richard Star Act. It’s easy to do: Just visit The American Legion’s Grassroots Action Center and fill out the form. 

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In the spirit of Service Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad. For God and country, we advocate for veterans, educate our citizens, mentor youth, and promote patriotism, good citizenship, peace, and security.
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