7th District Juniors

Department Junior Activities

7th District Juniors Newsletter

The 7^th District Junior Bowling and Pizza Party will take place at the Geneseo Bowling Alley on April 24, 2010 at 12:00 Noon.  Please join us for a couple games of bowling.  There is no charge for the bowling and Pizza.  Pizza is served after bowling. This is sponsored by the SAL and is for all Juniors and Sons age 18 and under.

Also remember the Walk A Thon on April 17^th at Bath, NY. We will be walking in Pultney Square in the village this year.  If you have an Auxiliary or Legion T Shirt you are asked to wear that to support the Veterans.  Please get your pledge sheets filled.

f you are interested in attending please let me know.  I have to have a count turned in so they can plan on enough Pizza and certificates.  Each participant will receive a certificate.

You may reach me at hmpaul@frontiernet.net or hmpaul@att.blackberry.net.  You may call me at 585-993-0802.  Leave a message and I will return you call if I cannot answer.

Please forward this email to anyone you have in your address book that I do not have.

Thank you,

Harriet M Paul, 7^th District Junior Coordinator

Note: All PDF files with forms included can be filled out using your computer keyboard!

We all know the Junior members of any organization are the future of that organized group, and without them, the organization is destined to fail. You, as the Junior Activities Chairman, have accepted the responsibility and challenge to inspire and instill in our Junior members a love and dedication to our organization so they will be prepared to become active and productive Senior members. By doing so, we can continue to grow and remain the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world. All chairmen are asked to instruct Juniors on the proper format and conduct of meetings, protocol, flag etiquette, and officers’ duties.

The success of a Unit’s Junior activities program will depend largely upon the chairman. The attitude of the chairman is the link between success and failure. She can create fond memories for our Juniors and guarantee their future participation in our program

As the Junior Activities Chairman, you must be:

An active Auxiliary member who knows the programs.
One who attends Unit meetings regularly.
One who works for our organization with awareness and pride.
One who has initiative and a good sense of humor
Personable, trustworthy and a good leader
One who loves working with young people and is young at heart herself

OPEN to CHANGE

Young people love challenge and excitement. Watch them in action and be alert to their needs and frustrations. Teach them our programs, how to run a meeting, parliamentary procedures and the Constitution and By-Laws. Make them feel needed, involve them in every aspect of the American Legion Auxiliary. We must update and incorporate new ideas and suggestions. Ask your Juniors about their interests and think of ways to add them to your programs. The American Legion Auxiliary can play a very positive part in the lives of our youth, but ONLY if we take the time and energy to include them, and above all make our organization interesting and fun. All our programs can be adapted so Juniors can participate on their own level.

PATCH PROGRAM: The Junior Activity Patch Program is a great way to get them involved and have fun at the same time. For information regarding the New Special Junior Patch  click here!

AMERICANISM: Americanism tends to build character and should be an important part in your activities. Be sure to include citizenship activities and knowledge of Flag etiquette. Instill in them the importance of their rights as well as their obligations of being a citizen of this great country. Have the older Junior members teach the younger ones about flag codes and the proper way to dispose of unusable flags. Participate in parades by marching and/or passing out small American Flags. Present patriotic programs for schools, nursing homes or other organizations.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Being active in the community is a natural for our Juniors. Beautification projects, working with senior citizens, helping at day care centers, visiting nursing homes and senior day care centers. Contribution to the success of their neighborhoods will be very rewarding and enjoyable. Volunteering in youth programs in the community, food pantries and shelters. Adopt a senior citizen, help by running errands, walking a pet, shoveling snow, gardening, etc. If your Legion Post has a Sons of the Legion, have both the Sons and the Juniors work together on projects.

VA&R and FIELD SERVICE: One of the main programs of the American Legion Auxiliary is our service to our veterans and this should be stressed. Encourage Juniors to become a volunteer at VA Medical Centers or any NY State Veteran’s Home. The Juniors could adopt a Veteran in nursing homes or in their neighborhoods. Remember, our Veterans and their families more now then ever need your support throughout the year, not just at holiday times.

MEMBERSHIP/MENTORING: Invite your Juniors to get involved. Encourage them to recruit their friends from school or neighborhoods. Watch your Junior group grow within your organization. Encourage older Juniors to adopt younger members, teaching them through their actions and encouragement. Have them help with initiation, installation, memorial and graduation ceremonies.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH:  Who can relate to youth better than other young people can? Have Juniors become involved in Special Olympics, Children’s Hospital and other programs designed for children. Collect books and toys for homeless children.

POPPIES: Teach our Juniors about the origin of the poppy as our official flower. Encourage them to help distribute poppies with our senior members. Remember to have Juniors participate with poppy entries for awards under the poppy program.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Promoting the use of the Leadership Course for Junior Members will be strongly encouraged this year. Leadership is one of the most misunderstood concept in our society. There is a leader hiding in each of us just waiting to come out and shine. Remember the Juniors of today will be the Leaders of this organization tomorrow. Teach them well.

NATIONAL SECURITY: Every community has men and women serving in the armed forces. It’s very important to support the families left behind, particularly remembering the military children. Having a parent serving overseas is very difficult for children and who better to help than our Junior members. Have your Junior members adopt a military child in your community. Children helping children can be so rewarding for every one.

The President’s Project is "Operation Purple." It focuses on helping military children deal with the challenges and stress that come with deployment. There is detailed information in the Plans of Work, and on our website. Participating in the Pocket Flag Program promotes troops’ hope and encouragement while serving far from home and lets them know we are thinking of them.

PUBLIC RELATIONS & PUBLICITY: It is very important for you to give Juniors recognition. Recognize the hard work of your Juniors, utilizing newspapers, local cable companies, radio, and your Post and /or Auxiliary Newsletters. In this age of computers, many organizations have their own Website. Make sure the Juniors have their own page to utilize. A page in the “National News” is dedicated to the Juniors. Special activities sponsored by Junior groups should be photographed and their stories sent to the “National News” editor at National Headquarters & published on
 "Our Members" Page of our Website.

We have a Junior Activities handbook that will prove to be a big help with ideas and suggestions for each of our programs. Other resources are available to help you with their programs. A list has been included in this bulletin for your information.

As we work with our Junior members, we must remember to LISTEN for their ideas and suggestions. We need to act as role models and work with enthusiasm for all our programs. We can guide them, encourage them, but let them do the work. RESPECT THEM AND IN RETURN, THEY WILL RESPECT YOU. 

 MARY LOU PLATT AWARD

UNIT AWARD:  A citation plaque presented to the Unit Chairman in each division reporting the Best Junior Activities program. Entry must NOT be handwritten, must be in narrative form not to exceed 1,000 words. DO NOT include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. All entries must be submitted to this chairman by May 10, 2010 to be forwarded to the Division Chairman no later than June 1, 2010

NATIONAL PLAQUE AWARD: This special Plaque will be presented to a unit reporting the Best Overall Junior Activities program using the following criteria:

1. Name and complete address of nominee

2. Narrative typed, double-spaced, essay not to exceed 500 words describing  nominees’ accomplishments during the current administrative year.

3. Nomination must be signed by Unit Junior Activities Advisor, the Junior Group President and submitted to Department Junior Activities Chairman.

All entries must be submitted to the Department chairman by May 10, 2010 who in turn will  forward  to the National Junior Activities Vice Chairman no later than June 1, 2010. Department Junior Member of the Year will be awarded a "Certificate of Accomplishment" to be announced at the Department Convention in July, 2010

Spirit of Youth Scholarship: One four-year scholarship valued at $4000 will be awarded to a Junior Member in each Division. Scholarship criteria is posted online at www.legion-aux.org

Junior Volunteer Scholarship Award: A $1,000 scholarship awarded to a Junior member Volunteer in each division serving the greatest number of volunteer hours in a VA facility, through home or field service. See VA&R Plan of Work for details

Junior Activities  Chairman
Department of NY
Email: