Get to know your Department Chairmen!
Chaplain Pat Maillet
Historian/Public Relations/Community Service/Liasion to the American Legion and Website-Beth Hallene
We will this year be once again sending in our Unit Sr./Jr. Unit Histories, District Histories for our Awards at Convention. We are also encouraging everyone to participate in the National Member to Remember Video project. I am always available to help each of the Historians with both of these Projects please feel free to reach out to me at any time.
Sr/Jr History Rules for Judging
How to Record and Post member interviews
COMMUNITY SERVICE
PUBLIC RELATIONS
EASTERN DIVISION PUBLIC RELATIONS
September Eastern Division Newsletter
CHILDREN AND YOUTH-Sofia Blake
EDUCATION-Lisa Gauthier
Greetings Dept. of MA ALA members!
My name is Lisa Gauthier and I am your EDUCATION CHAIRMAN this year.
I am promoting the “GIVE 10”. When you participate in this, please also consider homeschoolers.
Reach out to local homeschool groups/families to let them know there are supplies available to them.
You can probably contact your local library or word of mouth to reach them.
You could even start a “ supply bank” and donate towards educational field trips. Some parents (public/
homeschool etc) can’t afford supplies or to send their children on field trips. Field trips are important to
help make learning fun.
I would also like to encourage people to write to their Representatives & Congressmen to support
school choice and to allow the money to go to families that homeschool, or go to Charter schools etc.
Homeschool parents have to pay out of pocket for everything. They pay a monthly fee per child. They
pay attorney fees. They purchase all their own supplies etc.
We also need to get the word out on all of our wonderful “ EDUCATION AWARDS”.
We need to let students know that ALL students are eligible. Regardless of whether they attend public
school or are homeschooled.
The same is true for GIRLS STATE. ALL students are eligible.
Get in contact with your guidance department at your local high-school. Have an alliance with them to
get the word out about all of our programs. They can be found at: alaforveterans.org click on
SCHOLARSHIPS for information
BE THE ONE to help a child learn
BE THE ONE to let a child know you care
BE THE ONE!
We’re going to have a great year this year! I look forward to seeing & hearing about all you accomplish!
REMEMBER promoting our EDUCATION AWARDS is a great way to get new members!
Lisa Gauthier
ALA Dept of MA
Education Chairman
AMERICANISM-Donna Wilde
How to Promote Star Spangled Kids
Auxiliary Emergency Fund-Maggie Roy
My name is Maggie Roy past Department President. We are getting excited for the next year to help our American Veterans throughout the United States. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Southern part and parts of the Midwest. There has been many storms that devasted those areas with thunderstorms, tornados, and Floods. Veterans that are in need and have lost their homes and Loved ones from these devastating weather patterns definitely need our help. In 2018 there were Auxiliary AEF Grants available for hurricane Florence who sweep the Carolinas . I’m sure all of the unit’s and districts are familiar with this program and are willing to help you with any questions you have or get in touch with me at maggiedroy@gmail.com and I will help. In a Crisis, Veterans are helped with a financial hardships due to personal crisis too. Members who are left without shelter or food because of the tragedy, or unemployment or educational training we help. We also give out gifts and baked goods to help our Veterans and their families . In my Unit we give at every meeting and at our District meetings too. we accept any amount at the end of the year. There will also be an award to any District or Unit who have worked to help our Veterans. THANK YOU
In Service for our Veterans
PDP MAGGIE ROY
Constitution and Bylaws-Debra Lyons
Junior Activities-Mary Gagnon
Leadership-Sandy Desrosiers
Legislation-Coral Grout
Membership-Millie Larson
Our goal for 2023-2024 is to reach 100% for membership!
Let’s get creative and have fun and make it exciting to welcome new members. Here are a few tips and encouragement to add members to your Unit.
- Have a bake sale, put up a table for a membership drive
- Have a craft fair, put up a table for a membership drive
- Anytime your Post is having a function, put up a table and host a membership drive
- Talk to prospective members, sell your Unit, tell people what you do
- Be the One to bring in a new Senior member Be the One to bring in a Jr member
- Have a contest within your Unit or District, women love competition, give an award
- Remember, we have done this before and WE Can Do it Again!!!
- Let’s get excited about what we do and why we do it…. What’s your Why?
- Give out awards for the Unit who achieves their membership quota
- Introduce yourself to new faces that come into your Post
How do we keep our current Membership up? Again, let’s get creative. I know most have elderly so make them feel like part of the Legion family. Host a get-together at your Post for the members that don’t get out much, perhaps a Saturday or Sunday brunch to thank them for being a member and for all that they have done. Have a craft night where you get together to create crafts for a craft fair, how about making poppies together? Bring in a few pizzas and make poppies, it’s a blast! Get to know everyone a little bit better and thank them for being a part of the Legion family. Things work a little better when you’re in a relaxed atmosphere. Host a breakfast or lunch for your members, remind them how thankful The American Legion Auxiliary is to have them.
We can do this!!! Just ask me how I am available to help in any way! Please reach out, let’s talk it up! Questions about eligibility, ask me! Make it exciting, ask them Why and tell them your why!
I can be reached at mlarson5376@gmail.com
Let’s have an exciting year full of new faces… and thank you 😊
Department of Massachusetts Membership Chairman
Millie Larson
Poppy-Ann Fournier
National Security-Kathy Larrivee
VA&R-Donna Blattenberger
/files/2023-2024_Veterans_Affairs_and_Rehabilitation.pdf
Risk Compliance-TBD