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Growing the ALA: Sustaining momentum important topic at 98th ALA National Convention |
At ALA National Convention Aug. 24-30 in Minneapolis, members will assemble to conduct business meetings, learn about the progress being made with the ALA’s Centennial Strategic Plan’s five national goals, and celebrate successes with key Auxiliary programs and initiatives. This year’s agenda includes topics about the American Legion Auxiliary's ability to ensure we can continue serving our country’s 22 million veterans.
More than three years into the ALA’s 5-Year Centennial Strategic Plan, the benefits of this investment in our future continue to grow. The Centennial Strategic Plan’s five goals focus on strategies resourced each year by the ALA national governing board so that the ALA has the ability to fulfill our mission and make a difference for veterans and their families. Investing in ourselves as a vital service organization means making sure the funds we generate meet our mission needs and are wisely used to strengthen the ALA as an organization and maximize the ALA's impact. The investment in our strategic plan initiatives is showing results! Membership decline is starting to lessen; yet, until we start growing membership, we must maintain sufficient resources, stay focused on the strategic plan goals, and sustain our momentum of progress.
Unable to attend the ALA's 2018 National Convention? You can watch it live from wherever you are through our live stream link. Unable to catch the sessions each day? Archived video will also be available for viewing. The ALA is needed. Thank you for caring about the ALA’s future and the five goals that will get us there! |
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| 72nd session of ALA Girls Nation is a wrap |
| The 2018 ALA Girls Nation, held annually in Washington, D.C., officially concluded July 28. During the weeklong immersive learning program, the “senators” gained practical insight into how the federal government operates, a sense of pride in our country, and friendships that last a lifetime. The ALA Girls Nation senators also had the opportunity to tour D.C. monuments, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, took pictures with the Vice President of the United States outside of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and also met their respective real-life counterparts on Capitol Hill. Re-live the 72nd ALA Girls Nation, including the ALA Girls Nation Times, bills and resolutions, party appointments, social wall, ALA National Headquarters social media accounts for photos, and more here. |
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| USA TODAY highlights ALA Girls Nation |
| USA TODAY recently interviewed ALA Girls Nation senators Hoda Abdalla (SC), Paris Miller (NY), and Suzie Cho (NE), about their experience at the 72nd session of ALA Girls Nation. From an excerpt of the article: “It’s important for young people to get involved in civic action especially because of the fact that issues on the local and federal level are more pressing than ever,” Cho said. “Young people being invested in their own communities is such an important block for those communities.” Read the full article here. |
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| ALA Annual Supplement to the 2017-2022 Programs Action Plan available for download |
Get all of the important deadlines, contest themes, and committee contact information for the upcoming administrative year in the 2018-2019 Annual Supplement to the ALA Programs Action Plan! This Annual Supplement is available for download in the Members Only section of the national website here. The ALA Programs Action Plan and all of the necessary information to successfully accomplish ALA programs can be downloaded year-round here.
The Annual Supplement, which contains updates on committee members and reporting and award deadlines, and the 2017-2022 ALA Programs Action Plan, which contains information on how to execute the ALA’s programs, were split into two parts last year to ensure consistency and help departments and units focus on serving the ALA’s mission outreach programs. For the most up-to-date contact information for each program committee, be sure to visit the respective program page to download that program’s Annual Supplement. |
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| 2018-2019 ALA Mission Training: Register now! |
Spend one Saturday getting fresh ideas and insight on how to better serve veterans, military, and their families by joining us at an ALA Mission Training event near you! We’re getting back to basics by covering the ALA’s fundamental principles with an emphasis on membership, our mission, plus ways to support women veterans. The agenda includes guest speakers who will highlight the challenges women veterans experience that lead to homelessness; the importance of spreading the message of who we are, what we do, and why we matter through the ALA's Public Relations program; how you can advocate on behalf of veterans; supporting veterans through our Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation program; and much more. In order to continue growing our mission for the next 100 years, the ALA needs you – the grassroots member! You’ll also have the opportunity to network and share ideas with ALA members just like you from your department. Click here to register and for more information.
Have ALA Junior members ages 8-17? A national Junior meeting will be held at the same time and location as ALA Mission Training. Bring your Juniors so they can learn more about the Auxiliary and how our youngest members also play key roles in mission delivery.
2018-2019 ALA Mission Training and national Junior meeting dates:
Albany, N.Y. – Sept. 29
Spokane, Wash. – Sept. 29
Sioux Falls, S.D. – Oct. 6
Springfield, Ill. – Oct. 20
Charlotte, N.C. – Jan. 12
Las Vegas, Nev. – Jan. 26 |
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| ALA Academy course covers effective branding |
| The latest ALA Academy course is now available! In ALA Branding and Why It Matters to Me, ALA members will learn that branding is more than just a logo – it’s also how the public perceives our organization and our values. In this course, members will gain a better understanding of why branding is critical to continue our mission of serving veterans, military, and their families. Learn more about the ALA Academy, and get started today on all courses – including ALA 101, ALA Leadership: Living Our Motto of Service Not Self, ALA Communications Methods 201, and Establishing an ALA Culture of Goodwill – here. |
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| DID YOU KNOW? |
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ALA entities can use the ALA 100th anniversary logo for apparel, etc. Looking forward to celebrating the ALA’s centennial in 2019? ALA units, districts, and departments can create customized and branded apparel, products, and other items with the ALA’s 100th anniversary logo in preparation for our landmark year. Emblem usage approval is required and is the same as filing to use the ALA emblem and ALA Girls State logos – simply fill out the ALA Emblem Use Approval Request form here. Check out the centennial items currently available from Emblem Sales here. You can proudly showcase the ALA’s upcoming milestone birthday on shirts, banners, posters, and more!
Are YOU helping the ALA Foundation by using AmazonSmile? Through Amazon’s charitable program, AmazonSmile, you can support the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation while knocking out some of your everyday 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:
#AuxCon18 Share and follow tweets, posts, and photos from the ALA’s 98th National Convention
#LegionFamily Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of your Legion Family volunteering in branded attire
#AmericanLegionAuxiliary Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of anything and everything related to the ALA
#ALAJuniors Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of your ALA Juniors working the mission
#ALARockStars Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos of ALA members working the mission
#ALA100 Share Facebook posts, tweets, and photos celebrating the ALA’s 100th anniversary |
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| August 2018 |
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