June 2021 eNews & eBulletin |
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A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families |
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A symbol of our freedom! Join The American Legion Family in proudly flying the flag of the United States of America on Flag Day, Monday, June 14. ALA units and Legion posts across the country will also conduct proper flag-collection and retirement ceremonies, host flag education sessions, and encourage all Americans to fly the U.S. flag this day and throughout the year.
Government and businesses can buy flags/equipment from American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales, an approved entity that can sell flags and flag display equipment to government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. American Legion Family members can help raise awareness about the American Legion Auxiliary and generate revenue for the Legion Family by encouraging government and businesses to buy USA-made flags and flag equipment from Emblem Sales. Any VA facility, company, church, civic organization, or the public can buy flags and flag items from Emblem Sales.
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Attention, ALA Juniors: Sign up for this fun, free event! |
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Spend an hour on a Sunday evening doing fun, engaging activities online! The very first ALA Junior Jamboree will be held this Sunday, June 13, at 7 p.m. Eastern.
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ALA Girls Nation returning to Washington, D.C. |
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Great news! ALA Girls Nation is returning to Washington, D.C. in July. The 2020 program was canceled because of COVID-19. The 2021 program will have COVID protocols in place. This will be an exciting year for ALA Girls Nation, as the program will be held in a new location! Follow @ALAGirlsNation on social media July 24 to Aug. 30 to get daily updates on the program.
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The ALA 100th National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 with COVID-19 safety procedures in place to adhere to local and state guidelines. We know you may have questions, so keep an eye on ALA media and your email for updates as we post more details about our 100th National Convention.
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See this special video message from National President Nicole Clapp on this year’s ALA Girls Nation and ALA National Convention events. |
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Get your unit back on its feet with ALA Foundation grant support |
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Need help ramping up your programs after taking a break during the height of the pandemic? The ALA Foundation wants to bolster your efforts! You can get support for projects such as hosting a local Veterans Creative Arts Festival, providing equipment for a veterans homeless shelter in your community, increasing the Auxiliary’s presence in your town with new branded materials, and more! See if your program qualifies and get started today at www.ALAFoundation.org/grants.
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Learning opportunities for all ALA members on www.ALAforVeterans.org |
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Have you checked out ALA Academy? This is a great resource in the MyAuxiliary member portal of our website. In ALA Academy, you can watch recordings of the ALA Academy Live webinars and take self-paced courses on a variety of topics.
ALA Academy Live Webinars currently available:
- Junior Mentor Training Series (four courses available)
- Unit Fundraising
- Mission Delivery: Veterans Creative Arts
- Mission Delivery through Caregiver Support
- Mission Delivery: Veteran Service
- Mission Delivery: Basic Training
- ALA Foundation Grants Panel
ALA Academy self-paced courses currently available:
- ALA 101
- ALA Branding and Why it Matters to Me
- ALA Communication Methods
- Establishing an ALA Culture of Goodwill
- ALA Fundraising
- How to Deal with Conflict
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ALA Leadership: Living Our Motto of Service Not Self
- ALA Juniors eLearning Course
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YOU can support the well-being of our nation’s heroes |
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There is no way to know the extent of the sacrifices that military servicemembers make for us every day. But there is a way to make sure they are taken care of when they come back home. Veteran Projects Fund grants from the ALA Foundation provide the mental, physical, and emotional support so many of our veterans need. You can make sure that support endures for years to come. Make a gift today to continue National President Nicole Clapp’s focus to lift up our veterans by prioritizing their mental and physical well-being.
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Virtual job fair on June 10 |
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The American Legion Virtual Career Fair is June 10 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. CDT. The Legion is partnering with the Texas Veterans Commission and Texas Workforce Commission to host this virtual career fair which includes local, national, and worldwide employers. The first hour will be open exclusively to women veterans. Then, at 11 a.m. CDT, it will open to all transitioning servicemembers, veterans, military spouses, and their dependents.
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Need to renew? Take care of your membership in three easy ways: by phone, online, or mail. Go to www.ALAforVeterans.org, call (317) 569-4570, or mail in your renewal notice.
Are you shopping Amazon Prime Days on June 21-22? If you are, be sure to use AmazonSmile! Through Amazon’s charitable program, AmazonSmile, you can support the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation. Simply sign in through this special link and select the American Legion Auxiliary. Amazon will donate 0.5% of every purchase you make to the ALA Foundation. It may seem small, but a little can add up to a lot.
New ALA Unit Guide Book available for purchase and download. The revised version of the ALA Unit Guide Book is now in stock and ready to order from American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales, where a portion of your purchase goes back to American Legion Family programs. The new Unit Guide is also available for free download in the MyAuxiliary member portal (log-in required).
The ALA in Numbers. The ALA now has more than 1,000 male ALA members! Let’s keep that number growing by recruiting eligible male spouses! Learn more here: www.ALAforVeterans.org/joining.
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ALA In the Know eBulletin |
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Find our groups on Facebook |
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ALA In the Know eBulletin
Click here to stay updated with June reports and timely articles from ALA national committees, programs, and activities: ALA 100th Anniversary Committee, Americanism, Children & Youth, Community Service, Leadership, and Public Relations.
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ALA Committee Facebook Groups 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.
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Has collecting dues become a snooze? Has getting membership renewals and rejoins become a chore that’s a bore?
It doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, these are important tasks. Yes, responsible behavior is required. But that doesn’t mean these activities can’t be fun. Nor do these tasks have to be a one-person activity.
Shake things up a bit. Make membership activities a fun project that can be done along with others in your unit. In addition to having a good time while doing something positive for the unit, you may also boost your chances of meeting your membership goals. There would be additional people, with varying approaches, making the calls to remind members about dues payments and renewals, and encouraging former members to rejoin.
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Think of strategic planning in the same way you would your personal goals. Have you made a plan for retirement? What steps do you need to take to reach your post-employment objectives? Are you planning a job change? What do you need to do to make that happen? In both of these scenarios, you need to have a plan and know what action you need to take.
The ALA’s national Strategic Planning Committee will develop strategies and tactics that can be applied at the unit level. After all, we need our units and members in order to make our mission successful. One such strategy will be for units to build a stronger relationship with The American Legion. Our Legion Family can achieve great success if we all work together toward our common collective missions.
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Geraldine (Gerry) Hince has a unique perspective when it comes to the American Legion Auxiliary. She is eligible for membership as the daughter of a World War II veteran, the spouse of a U.S. Army veteran, and the mother of two sons in the U.S. Air Force. Not to mention she is a veteran herself, having spent 31 years in the U.S. Army. Being a veteran and the daughter, spouse, and parent of veterans and active-duty military, Gerry has more knowledge than most when it comes to the problems our nation’s heroes face.
For Gerry, the families and spouses of veterans and military are particularly important.
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It’s absolutely awe-inspiring how someone who has lost so much can give so much to others.
When she was 13 years old, American Legion Auxiliary member Vicky Tomasello’s father, U.S. Navy veteran Robert G. Wankowski Sr., and her 4-year-old brother, Gregory, died in a house fire. Through the years, Vicky lost other loved ones, including her sister, Valerie, who died in 2002. Their mother, Dolores Anna Wankowski, died in 2011 from Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer.
And her husband of 32 years, Navy Vietnam War veteran Allen Tomasello, died in 2018 from angiosarcoma, cancer of the blood vessels, from Agent Orange exposure from when he was in Vietnam.
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Don't miss out on ALA member benefits! |
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Member benefit provider – GlicRx
American Legion Auxiliary members receive exclusive access to GlicRx, a free discount card that saves people up to 80%* off brand and generic drugs at Walgreens, Walmart, Publix, and many more. Click here to sign up for GlicRx or download the mobile app today. Your access code, if prompted, is ALRX100.
The GlicRx Prescription Savings Program is not insurance. To learn more about the GlicRx Prescription Savings Program, including eligible pharmacies, included prescriptions and related pricing, and other important terms and conditions and contact information, click here. Your access code, if prompted, is ALRX100. *Prescription savings vary by prescription and by pharmacy and may reach up to 80% off the cash price.
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June 12 – Women Veterans Day
June 13 – ALA Junior Jamboree
June 14 – Flag Day
June 14 – U.S. Army birthday
June 19 – Juneteenth
June 20 – Father’s Day
June 27 – PTSD Awareness Day
July 4 – Independence Day
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In honor of Father's Day, tell us something special about your dad |
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“My dad was a Korean War veteran. He first joined while still an active duty in 1954 Panama City Post 1. He taught me the importance of education, working hard, and family. To always give back to your community. One of my favorite memories is going with him and his two brothers who are Legionnaires to the Friday night Legion dinners. Because of him, I can say I'm a proud 53-year member of the Auxiliary.”
-Nicky Flores-Ninmer, Nevada
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New challenges unveiled
The American Legion 100 Miles for Hope is not just about improving one’s fitness and mental well-being. All proceeds from the challenge’s donations, registrations, and merchandise purchases go directly to The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation (V&CF). The V&CF funds the work of accredited American Legion service officers who provide free services that help disabled veterans get the VA benefits they earned through their service. It also funds the Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance program that provides grants to military families with minor children who are facing financial distress.
In order to support those important programs through the foundation, two new special challenges in support of the 100 miles program are under way now:
• 100 Miles for Hope Breakout Challenge: During the month of July, departments are competing against one another, grouped by population sizes. Whichever departments raise the most donations in dollars for V&CF via the Kilter app will receive a reward for their efforts. All American Legion Family members are encouraged to support their departments by participating and/or contributing toward the fundraising goal.
• 100 Miles for Hope Riders Challenge: Conceived by the American Legion Riders Advisory Committee, this event allows Riders chapters or individual members to hit different tier levels for rewards. Each tier level requires a chapter or individual to complete both a minimum number of miles and donations for V&CF. This challenge is free for Riders who already signed up for the 100 Miles for Hope.
For information about the 100 Miles for Hope, the foundation and the two new challenges, visit www.legion.org/100miles.
The American Legion represented at the “greatest spectacle in racing”
If you watched the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day weekend, you probably saw the No. 48 car with The American Legion paint scheme that also included poppies! The car was driven by Tony Kanaan, who placed 10th in the race. The car also included the name of Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham, who died days after falling on a grenade to save the lives of multiple fellow Marines on a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq.
Partnership extended beyond the track
The partnership between The American Legion and Chip Ganassi Racing is about more than race cars. At a press conference last month, The American Legion and Chip Ganassi Racing announced an effort to address and reduce veteran suicide. Veterans United Home Loans is also involved and has committed $2 million to support The American legion’s “Race to End Veteran Suicide.”
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Legion Family Merchandise
Show your support by buying from
American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales.
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The American Legion Legislative Alerts
The ALA supports the legislative agenda of The American Legion.
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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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