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January 2025 eNews

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

Ready for this ALA challenge?

Discover ways to get involved in your community and make a real difference in the lives of local veterans by using the ALA Challenge Deck. When you donate $35 or more to the Veteran Projects Fund, you will receive the 46-card deck. Learn more about the ALA Challenge Deck here. Donate online here, text CARD to 1-844-940-3450, or mail a check to ALA National Headquarters, 3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Please indicate in the memo line of the check that the gift is for the cards. If you have any questions, please contact Development Director Carley Schutz at cschutz@ALAforVeterans.org.

Spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day in service to others

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service is Jan. 20 — a great opportunity for ALA members to serve their communities. Service on this day focuses on empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and creating solutions to social problems. While making a difference on this day, make sure you’re wearing ALA branded clothing and tag us on social media @ALAforVeterans.

Have you signed up for these ALA Academy webinars yet?

Jan. 22 at noon Eastern

Unlock Your ALA Member Benefits!

We’ll showcase the array of benefits ALA members receive with their membership, highlighting how these offerings support their personal, professional, and philanthropic pursuits. By exploring discounts, resources, and exclusive opportunities, the webinar aims to empower members to fully leverage their membership while reinforcing their connection to the ALA’s mission of service to veterans, military families, and communities.

Course objectives:

Educate members on benefits: Provide a clear overview of the exclusive member benefits available, including discounts, resources, and programs that add value to ALA membership.
Navigate the member benefits portal: Guide members on how to access and utilize the ALA website to explore benefits and stay informed.
Showcase provider partnerships: Highlight specific offerings from member benefit providers to demonstrate the advantages of membership.
Encourage engagement: Empower members to make full use of their benefits and connect with the ALA Development Division for questions or support.

Jan. 22 at noon Eastern | Register here.

And check out these February webinars!

Feb. 6 at noon Eastern: Celebrating Women of Service on March 8

This presentation will familiarize ALA members with the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation, how it supports the ALA’s programs and ALA entities nationwide, and how to get involved in the Celebrating Women of Service Day on March 8.

Course objectives:

Educate ALA members about the purpose of the ALA Foundation and how ALA entities are supported financially through grant opportunities.
Encourage ALA entities to get involved on March 8 in the Celebrating Women of Service Day.

ANOTHER DON’T MISS: Feb. 19 at noon Eastern: How to Apply for an Auxiliary Emergency Grant (more details coming soon!)

Watch our socials @ALAforVeterans for more information about our February webinars.

Mission Training: Find us in February!

Only two sessions remain for the ALA’s 2024-2025 administrative year

Join us for a one-day ALA conference that’s both inspiring and educational! We’ll dive deep into our programs through interactive and engaging sessions, ensuring you leave with new insights and renewed energy. Mission Training covers many Auxiliary mission outreach programs, all presented in a fun and supportive environment. Here’s what you’ll learn in a 2024-2025 session:

How do we evolve our membership to attract the next generation of members (and ultimately leaders)?
Draw connections with all of our youth-centric programs to deliver our mission.
The new face of veterans: How has the veteran community changed compared to even 20 years ago?

National Junior meetings are held at the same time and in the same location as ALA Mission Trainings. Junior members aged 8 and older are invited to attend. These sessions are packed with fun, interactive activities designed to engage and inspire our youngest members. The ALA Junior T-shirts are in! Register your Junior member or young Sons member for one of the national Junior meetings. Your young Legion Family member will meet new friends, complete a mission-focused service project, play games, make crafts, learn more about our organization and partnerships, and have tons of fun! Plus, they get a new ALA Juniors T-shirt!

Did you know you can submit the Salute to Servicemembers Award NOW?

We’ve made it much easier to submit for the ALA Salute to Servicemembers Award!

An ALA member/entity simply makes the nomination, rather than the servicemember, to effectively tell the story of why they feel this person is “head and shoulders” above their peers and worthy of this award. A simple narrative (no more than 1,000 words), a picture of the servicemember (preferably an official U.S. Department of Defense photo), and the endorsement from their command group are the only requirements!

You can submit now, and right up until the June 1, 2025, deadline! The nomination form is live now.

This award acknowledges the servicemember’s contributions that go beyond their military career, displaying their impact on their community. Our goal is to have at least one submission from every ALA department, and ensure that every branch of the military is represented — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and the National Guard/Reserve.

Attention, all units!

Do you know a unit member who goes above and beyond in everything they do, yet never asks for anything in return? Perhaps they run poppy distribution, organize the annual holiday party, or are the first ones to start cleaning up and doing dishes after an event. If this sounds like someone you know, we would love to hear from you. Every unit has at least one special someone who deserves to be recognized. All you have to do is write up why they are so special.

Nominees must be an adult American Legion Auxiliary unit member not in an elected or appointed leadership role higher than a unit president. A narrative of 1,000 words or less describing the nominee’s accomplishments and activities must be submitted by a unit to its department Leadership chair or the Past Presidents Parley chair. Winners will be recognized at a special luncheon during the American Legion Auxiliary’s National Convention. Application deadline is June 1.

Learn more.

Fundraising 4-1-1

On March 8, International Women’s Day, the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation will Celebrate Women of Service. Mark your calendar and donate to the ALA Foundation in honor of a woman who inspires you. Let’s use this day to commemorate our incredible community of volunteers and veterans in an effort to sustain the ALA’s mission of service. Every gift received on March 8 will benefit the ALA Foundation’s Mission Endowment Fund. The Mission Endowment Fund financially supports the programs of the ALA, including ALA Girls Nation, Spirit of Youth scholarships, and events like the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival!

In times of hardship, the American Legion Auxiliary stands dedicated to providing support to members in need through the Auxiliary Emergency Fund. Since the establishment of AEF, the ALA has distributed over $6 million to more than 6,500 members, making a real impact on eligible members facing significant setbacks due to acts of nature or personal crises. To sustain this vital assistance, the ALA relies on this generous community. Contributing to AEF ensures the spirit of solidarity remains strong, creating a better tomorrow for fellow Auxiliary members in their time of need. Text AEF to 1-844-940-3450 or donate online here.

Enjoy discounts, rewards, and perks on 1,000s of brands including Hertz, Sam’s Club, Walt Disney World, Toyota, Skechers, and more! BenefitHub is your single-source site where you can find extensive savings through an easy-to-use, exclusive discount marketplace. Enter the exclusive ALA member referral code HZE7XG when creating your account. Learn more.

Good to know

Apply for an ALA scholarship before March 1. Let the ALA help you earn money for college! The American Legion Auxiliary has several scholarships available for students. If you are a student or know someone who qualifies, make sure they apply. Applications for ALA national scholarships are due March 1. Here’s what’s available:

Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship
Non-Traditional Student Scholarship
Spirit of Youth Scholarship
Member Loyalty Scholarship

Learn more. Send questions to Education@ALAforVeterans.org.

Americanism Essay Contest: Know a student in grades 3 to 12? The Auxiliary’s annual Americanism Essay Contest encourages participants to learn about the fundamental rights and freedoms we enjoy today. Each year’s contest has a different theme. Learn more.

Have you heard about the ALA’s storied Poppy Poster Contest? Students (grades 2 to 12) showcase their artistic talents on an 11”x14” poster board using the poppy. One student in each category per division is selected as a winner. Learn more.

Renew your 2025 membership dues in three easy ways! You can pay your annual dues by phone, online, or mail. Go to www.ALAforVeterans.org, call (317) 569-4570, or mail in your renewal notice.

Request to join our 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

ALA impact is felt — even in a small-town bar

My husband and I were on a road trip returning to our home in northern Minnesota from a bowling event in Las Vegas. We encountered a major blizzard, closed roads, detours of detours, and numerous four-legged wild animals who insisted on crossing the road in front of our car. After a gruesome 10 hours on the road, we limped into a small Wyoming town. Read more.

Members helping members in recovery efforts

During times of natural disasters, American Legion Auxiliary members step up to help. This was evident during the 2024 hurricane season as many members were affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Read more.

Save the date!

Jan. 20 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 22 — Unlock Your ALA Member Benefits! webinar

February — Black History Month

Feb. 1 — ALA Mission Training and national Junior meeting events in Las Vegas and Boston

Feb. 3 — Four Chaplains Day

Feb. 6 — Celebrating Women of Service on March 8 webinar

Feb. 19 — How to Apply for an Auxiliary Emergency Grant webinar

February 22-26 — The American Legion Washington Conference

What is your favorite ALA program that you

participate in and why?

“Membership is my favorite. It’s challenging and at the department level, we can work individually with the districts and units personally. With a strong membership, we can accomplish anything.”

— Deb Chambers, Alabama

Legion Family News

Be The One comes to Maine

The mental health crisis across the United States has become a silent epidemic throughout our communities, with veterans among the most adversely affected. According to the 2020 Maine Veteran Suicide Data Sheet, there were 228 suicides in Maine that year; 38 were U.S. veterans — numbers American Legion Post Commander and State Judge Advocate Julie Flynn and National Eastern Division National Security Chairman Debra Rumery could not ignore. Together, they have taken the lead on an initiative that cuts through the stigma and encourages open, honest conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Read more.

Be ready for VA’s secure sign-in changes

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is transitioning to two sign-in options and veterans need to create accounts to access health care information. Read more.

A powerful voice on Capitol Hill

The 65th Annual Washington Conference will be held Feb. 22-26, 2025, at the Washington Hilton Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Ave, Washington DC. Learn more.

ALA Membership

Where does your department stand in Auxiliary membership? Click here to log in and view the latest reports.

Legion Family Merchandise

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American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales.

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The American Legion Legislative Center

The ALA supports the legislative agenda of The American Legion.

Get involved.

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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