February 2019 eNews & eBulletin
Sending love to all ALA members
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we thank you for serving our nation’s veterans, military, and their families. We look forward to your continued support as we enter ALA’s next century of Service Not Self to ensure our mission for future generations. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Order a personalized brick to show your love for a veteran, servicemember, or ALA member
Honor a veteran, servicemember, or ALA member with a commemorative brick! For a $200 donation, you can order an engraved brick paver to be placed prominently at ALA National Headquarters’ new location in Indianapolis. Each personalized brick paver will help ensure our worldwide mission of service to veterans, military, and their families endures. Your 4×8” brick can be customized with up to three lines of engraved text, with up to 18 characters on each line. To order your brick, or to learn more, visit www.ALAFoundation.org. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to honor a significant veteran, servicemember, or ALA member in your life!
ALA In the Know eBulletin
Click here to stay updated with February reports and timely articles from ALA national committees, programs, and activities: ALA 100th Anniversary Committee, ALA Girls Nation, Americanism, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Child Welfare Foundation, Education, Junior Activities, Leadership, Membership,
National Security, Poppy, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
ALA Foundation accepting applications for board of directors position
Are you interested in sharing your leadership skills, prior board experience, grassroots fundraising ideas, and more, in support of the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization? The American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Board of Directors seeks applications for a three-year elected board position. We are looking for individuals – with a passion for veterans, military, and their families – who are excited to join a board committed to building, promoting, and sustaining the ALA Foundation. As a board of directors member, you serve as a trusted advisor on a team that steers the ALA Foundation by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as making sure the ALA has adequate resources to advance our mission for our next generation of heroes. More information, and the application, can be found at www.ALAFoundation.org. Apply by April 8.
Apply for an ALA scholarship by March 1
The American Legion Auxiliary believes the more knowledge our youth gain, the better citizens and leaders they will become. We are committed to education.

The ALA has three national scholarships available:
CHILDREN OF WARRIORS NATIONAL PRESIDENTS’ SCHOLARSHIP - Fifteen $5,000 scholarships are given to high school seniors who are direct descendants of U.S. wartime veterans.
SPIRIT OF YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FOR JUNIOR MEMBERS - Five scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each are awarded annually to Junior members of the American Legion Auxiliary. Current ALA Junior members who are high school seniors and who have been Junior members for the past three years are eligible to apply.
NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP - This scholarship helps people who are part of The American Legion Family pursue a college degree later in life or allow them to pick up where they left off when their studies were interrupted. Five scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each are awarded annually.
Click here to download an application form. Applications must be submitted to a local American Legion Auxiliary unit by March 1. Be sure to check with your local unit and your state department for any scholarships that they may offer.
February Auxiliary magazine now available online
The February edition of our national magazine is now available for you to read and share online. In this issue, we take a closer look at a few of the first-time attendees of the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. Also, see some of the NVCAF gold medal art winners. Plus, read about a dual member of The American Legion and ALA using her personal struggles with post-traumatic stress to help other veterans in crisis. Follow this link to read the online version.
Don’t forget: National Poppy Day® in May
In 1920, the poppy became the official flower of The American Legion Family, and, in 2017, the Legion Family called upon Congress to designate the Friday before Memorial Day as National Poppy Day. The Legion Family has successfully trademarked the use of the name National Poppy Day! The event, happening May 24 this year, will be here before you know it! Be on the lookout for resources your unit can use to make your National Poppy Day events successful here.
DID YOU KNOW?
ALA members have access to FREE online training with ALA Academy! Want to learn more about the American Legion Auxiliary? The ALA is providing all members with the tools they need to help grow the organization as a team. ALA Academy is designed to help members learn as part of a process that includes learning the information, sharing it with others, practicing new skills, and, eventually, making those new skills a habit. Classes now available: ALA 101, an introductory course to the ALA; ALA Communication Methods, an introduction to how the ALA uses e-communication; ALA Leadership: Living Our Motto of Service Not Self, which discusses how to be an effective leader; ALA Branding and Why It Matters to Me, where branding is more than just a logo; and Establishing an ALA Culture of Goodwill, a thought-provoking course designed to help ALA members better understand how to serve our mission. Get started today!

Are YOU using AmazonSmile to help the ALA Foundation? Did you know that through Amazon’s charitable AmazonSmile program, you can support the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation while doing your shopping? And it doesn’t take much effort. Simply sign in to Amazon through this special link, select the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation, and just like that, Amazon donates 0.5 percent of every purchase you make to the ALA Foundation. There’s no added fee, no catch, and best of all, you’re supporting the ALA Foundation and the lives of our veterans, military, and their families by funding programs of the American Legion Auxiliary today and for future generations. Bookmark this special AmazonSmile link for your future purchases!

Share your posts and photos with us on social media @ALAforVeterans. ALA social media hashtags:

#AmericanLegionAuxiliary
#ALAJuniors
#ALARockStars
#LegionFamily 
ALA Membership
Where does your department stand in Auxiliary Membership? Click here to log in and view the latest reports.
ALA Centennial
It's time to get your ALA centennial celebration items!

The American Legion Legislative Alerts
The ALA supports the legislative agenda of The American Legion.
SIRVA Mortgage
SIRVA Mortgage can save ALA members time and money on home purchase needs!

Bonus Drive
ALA members who purchase or lease a vehicle from participating auto manufacturers are eligible to receive an exclusive cash bonus, up to $500. Download Flyer


USAA
Click here to visit our partner, USAA. USAA membership offers exclusive benefits, products and discounts for U.S. military members and their eligible family members.
ALA Mission & Vision
Mission Statement
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.

Vision Statement
The vision of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion while becoming the premier service organization and foundation of every community providing support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace and security.