Veterans Creative Arts Festival
October 22-28, 2007
St. Louis,, Missouri

Sponsor:
Send your Donations to the Department Office

American Legion Auxiliary
Department of NY
112 State St.  Suite 1310
Albany, NY 12207

Education

“Getting Back to Basics”

 Education is our most important building block; lets
"soar with the Cardinal Team" into making a difference
in someone's life.

The American Legion Auxiliary, with its extensive programs from Girl State to scholarships is helping mold our leaders of tomorrow.  We need to let our youth know all the opportunities that are there and to be there for their support. We can make a difference!

SCHOLARSHIPS: The American Legion Auxiliary realizes the importance of providing our youth with the support and varied scholarships to make a difference in their lives, and our future. Please take a few minute to scan over the scholarships that are available to them. Make that important call to your local school's guidance counselor and set up an appointment to make them aware of our many scholarships. Show them our interest in our "children of the future", and how we can help from our important Girl State program to their college education.

Remember, the deadline for our applications is MARCH, and ONLY fully completed applications with ALL necessary signatures can be considered. Too many times we have to disqualify applicants for incomplete forms or a missing signature. Read the rules so they are fully informed.

"NEED A LIFT":  A number" ONE" handbook in scholarship and financial aid.  This handbook covers information from the financial aid process to all types of scholarships, grants and loan opportunities. This handbook includes internet websites, University profiles, as well as federal and state sources for financial aid. The booklet is available through American Emblem Sales @ $3.50 per book (P.O. Box 1050, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-1050), or online at American Emblem Sales

   Stress this to the guidance office.  Better yet, provide them with one for their resource area.  Make another difference.  Provide one for your Girls State candidate!

"A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS" is a brochure to help focus on planning for education. The American Emblem Sales at the above address has several booklets and brochures available for varied needs.  Send for a catalogue and view all the available material for Americanism and how our government works, our rights and citizenship.  Be pro-active and get involved.

AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK - November 12-18, 2007. Visit the American Education Association website at www.nea.org/aew for ideas and events planned during the week.  This is a great time to start with your schools for informing them about Boy/Girl State, the Oratorical/Essay contests, and our Scholarship programs.

CAREER EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT:  A necessary tool in for our teens of today.  A perfect time to get involved and help our teens explore their options.  Many schools need volunteers for Career Day, school job fairs and the like.  Contact your school.  See what is being planned,  and provide some of our booklets.  Talk about our Auxiliary scholarships.  If your school doesn't have a program available, offer to help start one.

LITERACY:  "READ ACROSS AMERICA" is a NEA sponsored program to excite our children to want to read. In order to be successful in any educational program, our "kids" have to be able to read.  This is step one in making our children successful in their future.  Check out this program at www.nea.org/readacross and see where you can help.  Call your schools or local library to help with their programs.  Start a Unit volunteer group to help with reading to children at school or the library.  This is a great opportunity for the Juniors to get involved.  If we can succeed at helping at this level, just think how this changes a child's life forever.

VETERANS IN THE CLASSROOM:  An American Legion program that links our children to our Veterans and to our heritage.  This is a sorely needed program to help educate our children about the sacrifices that our veterans endured and are still enduring for our freedoms.  This program shows them about the great contributions to our great nation.  Our veterans are living history in teaching our children about the importance of Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day. The American Legion published a video and teaching guide entitled "America's Veteran".  It is offered through National Emblem Sales for $3.95.  Units are encouraged to assist their Post in initiating this program. A great opportunity in offering this to your local school for a Veteran's Day program.

MUSIC IN THE CLASSROOM:  The National Association for Music Education has launched a four year program to return patriotic music to schools.  The American Legion is a supporting organization to this project.  Please check this out and see where you can help your local schools get information by going to www.nationalanthemproject.org.  You will be glad you did.

"PACT" (POST, AUXILIARY, AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER):  An Education Handbook that is a comprehensive and informational guide to co-ordinate programs at the Post and Unit level.  This valuable handbook is available at The American Legion National Headquarters Americanism publications. The booklet gives incite into organizational procedures, a suggested plan of action and listings of resources.

Unit Chairmen:  Please send reports to reach your County Chairman by November 1, 2007, March 1, 2008 and May 1, 2008.

County Chairmen:  Please send Report to reach the Dept. Chairman by November 10, 2007, March 10, 2008 and May 10, 2008.

A Final Reminder - Review the scholarships!  
Applications must be complete and properly signed.

 Janet Mahoney
Department Education Chairman
Email: Janet Mahoney

For chairman's physical address, contact Department Office