September 2019 eNews & eBulletin
Take time to remember the victims of 9/11
Today marks the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor the victims, Congress designated this day as the 9/11 National Day of Service. We hope you have taken time to do good deeds. But don’t worry if you haven’t  –  make a pledge to do a charitable service soon. To read more about this day, go to our blog . 
Men may now join the American Legion Auxiliary
The American Legion has voted to extend membership in the American Legion Auxiliary to all spouses of U.S. veterans and servicemembers who meet The American Legion eligibility requirements. During The American Legion National Convention in Indianapolis in August, delegates voted to replace the word “wife” with “spouse” in their constitution and bylaws, opening up membership in the American Legion Auxiliary to male and female spouses of those eligible for American Legion membership. Follow this link to read more about this change and the opportunities it brings to ALA membership. 
New American Legion Family Leadership
The 2019-2020 administrative year is in full swing! New national leaders were installed during National Convention. Read about ALA National President Nicole Clapp here , and in the November issue of Auxiliary magazine.  James W. “Bill” Oxford of North Carolina was elected American Legion national commander, and Clint D. Bolt of Virginia was elected Sons of The American Legion national commander. To read more about the ALA 2019-2020 national officers, click here . For a recap of the ALA National Convention, follow this link to see recordings from each general session. And read about ALA programs and members’ successes from the past year via the 2018-2019 Annual Report .
Members helping members affected by Hurricane Dorian
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, communities on the United States’ East Coast have been dealing with flooding and storm damage. That includes some American Legion Auxiliary members. As recovery efforts are underway, the Auxiliary is here to lend a helping hand by providing financial assistance to members during their time of need. To continue this support for many decades to come, we need your help. Donating is simple, and your generosity is a true testament to members helping members. To make a donation to the Auxiliary Emergency Fund or to apply for an AEF grant, follow this link. Click here to learn about The American Legion’s National Emergency Fund for Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion members. 
ALA In the Know eBulletin
Click here to stay updated with September reports and timely articles from ALA national committees, programs, and activities: 100th Anniversary Committee, Children & Youth, Community Service, Legislative, Membership, Poppy, and Public Relations.
New ALA Academy courses available
ALA Juniors e-Learning Course and ALA Fundraising are available now! The ALA Juniors e-Learning Course is designed with younger members in mind. Juniors will learn about the purpose of the program, how to excel as leaders, tips for speaking to groups, and much more. The ALA Fundraising course teaches members about the four different ALA Foundation grants and how to apply for them, how to plan a fundraiser, how to market a fundraiser, and much more. Be on the lookout for more ALA Academy courses, including How to Deal with Conflict. Click here to take a course!
Be part of the ALA Legacy Society
Legacy gifts are a great way to leave a lasting impact on the American Legion Auxiliary. These gifts truly make a difference and ensure the ALA mission continues for generations to come. You can ensure the mission of the ALA by joining the Legacy Society, a group of people who have thoughtfully included a charitable gift to the Auxiliary or ALA Foundation in their estate plans. Learn more by following this link .
DID YOU KNOW?
Registration open for 2019-2020 ALA Mission Training events . ALA Mission Training is now two separate, yet related events. Mission Training 101: Delivery helps members better understand our mission of serving veterans, the military, and their families. These meetings will be held in conjunction with the national Junior meetings. Mission Training 201: Development is the next level and helps members overcome common hurdles in mission delivery. For dates, information, and to register, click here . 

Help your unit spread the news about 100 years of ALA service!  The American Legion Auxiliary’s 100th anniversary media toolkit is available for download. This toolkit includes press releases, speeches, celebration ideas, and more. Click here to download.  Take pictures of your celebrations and share them on Facebook using hashtags #ALA100 and #ALA100Celebration.

A keepsake to remember a century of service: Order an American Legion commemorative coin before they’re gone! The collection available from the U.S. Mint includes three coins – a silver dollar, a gold coin, and a half dollar. All surcharges received from the coins will support The American Legion’s services and programs. Follow this link for pricing and to order. 

If you shop on Amazon, make sure you’re using AmazonSmile. Through Amazon’s charitable program, AmazonSmile, you can support the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation. Simply sign in though  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 it a little can add up to a lot. 

Stay up to date on the latest ALA news by following American Legion Auxiliary on social media . Did you know the ALA has accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Just search for @ALAforVeterans. While on Facebook, also follow @ALAJuniors and @ALAGirlsNation.
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.
Don't forget about member benefits
Saving money on dental care has never been easier
Starting at only $9.95 a month, the Careington Discount Dental Plan for American Legion Auxiliary members gives you access to discounts from 20% to 50% on most dental procedures. Imagine saving $69* on a single teeth cleaning and $45* on a routine checkup. That's a total saving of $114 for one visit to the dentist's office for just $9.95 per month! Now that's something to smile about. Learn more at https://www.alaforveterans.org/Resources/Member-Benefits/. *These fees represent the average of the assigned POS fees in the Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago, and NYC metropolitan areas. Prices subject to change.
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.