Auxiliary Emblem
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is a direct link to
Nat'l ALA Headquarters

  2011-2012

Education

Education is the root to making our nation strong.  Without an education, the citizens of our nation would be lost, informed choices could not be made.  We are proud of our  programs that promote education in the classroom and beyond.

New York is working hard to strengthen the roots of education to help make Dept. President Ann’s garden grow.  We need to cultivate our new attitude to make sure we participate in the education and scholarship programs ensuring that our children and young adults can follow their “Dream, Believe, and Succeed.”

Our National organization along with the Department of New York has three (3) objectives for our education program.

1. To focus on educational and scholarship opportunities for military children, whether their parent (s) are active-duty or reserve.

2. To educate school administrators about unique mental health issues facing children of our military.

3. To enhance respect for the sacrifices of our military heroes among school children by scheduling Veterans in the Classroom programs at your local school.

Objective 1
Can be reached by participating in one or more of the following programs.  Give 10 to Education by donating funds and school supplies at The local level to our schools and /or military children.  Make sure you have a working communication system with your school administration and/or guidance counselor and deliver copies of American Legion Auxiliary and American Legion Scholarships.  Keep them abreast of details and make sure you follow up so that there is an abundance of applicants this year.  Prepare news releases and send them to your local media.   Establish a unit scholarship for local students.  Mentor a student (e.g. bring a student to your job to shadow for a day, tutoring, test prep help, etc.)  particularly a military child if possible.

Objective 2
Can be reached by members arranging to meet with the administrators of local schools to discuss ALA KIDDS materials.  Provide a contact within the Unit for school/local social workers, guidance counselors etc. to assist with Gateway to Services and other opportunities for military kids and their families.  You can also establish contact with  your state Operation: Military Kids team, as they have   information to assist  military children, and schools should take advantage of this resource.

Objective 3
Instructions are to collaborate with  members of your local Post to schedule a Veterans in the Classroom program during Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other patriotic holiday.  Sponsor an Americanism essay contest. Ask the winner to read his essays either on a patriotic holiday.  Offer prizes (American Flag, certificate, a book, etc.).  Work with your high school to have a student record a video interview with a veteran and submit it to the Veterans History Project.  Issue an invitation to history/social studies teachers to come to the Post/Unit and learn about the programs of the Auxiliary, Legion and Sons.  Visit schools during American Education Week, Nov, 13-19, 2011.  Bring apples, cards, etc.  Make sure schools recognize that you are doing this on behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary and the foundations for which we exist.

National Scholarships

1. Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship-The National President’s scholarships are awarded to children of veterans who served in the Armed Forces during the eligibility dates for The American Legion.  One $2,500 scholarship, one $2,000 scholarship, and one $1,500 in scholarship money will be awarded in each division.  Fifteen outstanding students will be awarded a total of $30,000 to further their higher education.  The applicant must complete 50 hours of community service during his/her high school years to be eligible for one of these scholarships.
    

2. The Non-Traditional Student-There will be five scholarships, each in the amount of  $1,000, awarded in each administrative year. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded in each American Legion Auxiliary division.  Applicant must be a member of The American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion and shall have paid dues for the two preceding years and for the calendar year in which application is made.
    

3. Spirit of Youth-One Junior member in each division will receive a scholarship valued at $1,000 per year for four years (total $4,000).  The applicant must have held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary for the immediate past three years, currently hold a membership card and continue to maintain her membership throughout the four-year scholarship period.

National Education Awards

Unit Awards

1.       Most Outstanding Education Week Program - A plaque will be presented to the Unit Education Chairman for the most outstanding American Education Week Program.  Award entry shall be in narrative form and must not exceed 1,000 words.  The cover page should have the name of the award entry, Department name, Unit name and name and address of the Unit Chairman.  A copy of the Unit’s Department report form must accompany the narrative.  Entries must reach the Department Education chairman by May 10, 2012.
    

2.       Most Outstanding Literacy Program - A plaque will be presented to the Unit Education Chairman for the most outstanding literacy program.  Award entry shall be in narrative form and must no exceed 1,000 words.  The cover page should have the name of the award entry, Department name, Unit name and name and address of the Unit Chairman.  A copy of the Unit’s Department report form must accompany the narrative.  Entries must reach the Department Education chairman by May 10, 2012
    

3.       Most Outstanding Scholarship Program - A plaque will be presented to the Unit Education Chairman for the most outstanding scholarship program.  Award entry shall be in narrative form and must not exceed 1,000 words.  The cover page should have the name of the award entry, Department name, Unit name, and name and address of the Unit Chairman.  A copy of the Unit’s Department report form must accompany the narrative.  Entries must reach the Department Education Chairman by May 10, 2012.
    

4.       Most Outstanding Veterans in the Classroom Program - A plaque will be presented to a Unit Education Chairman for the most outstanding Veteran in the Classroom Program.  Award entry shall be in narrative form and must not exceed 1,000 words.  The cover page should have the name of the award entry, Department name, Unit name and name and address of the Unit Chairman.  A copy of the Unit’s Department report form must accompany the narrative.  Entries must reach the Department Education Chairman by May 10, 2012.
    

5.       Give 10 to Education - Every Unit participating in the Give 10 to Education Program will be featured on the ALA website’s Give 10 Honor Roll, a page dedicated to showcasing contributions to this program.  Units will notify the Divisional Chairman in writing and indicate what was accomplished under this program. This program will accept submissions at any time during the year, but no later than June 1, 2012.
    

6.       Honoring the Service of our Military - A citation will be presented to one Unit in each Division for the most outstanding promotion of education for military children.  Award entry shall be in narrative form and must not exceed 1,000 words.  It may include pictures and other forms of publicity.  Each Unit shall submit a cover page to include the name of the award entry, Department name, Unit name, contact information, and name/address of Unit chairman.  A copy of the Unit’s Department report form must accompany the narrative. 
    Entries must reach the Department Education Chairman by May 10, 2012.

Resources

1. Link to Scholarship applications are available on the left side (gray area) of this page.
    

2. Contact American Legion Flag & Emblem Sales online for educational products at www.emblem.legion.org/
    

3. Educational resources are available at not cost by contacting the Americanism and Children & Youth Commission of The American Legion or visit their website at www.legion.org.
    

4. The American Legion’s comprehensive national scholarship resource, Need A Lift? At http://www.legion.org/mygibill/needalift
    

5. See program page on www.ALAforVeterans.org for additional resources.

Department of New York Awards

Unit Award:
To the Unit Education Chairman reporting the most outstanding overall Education program.  Entry should be typed in narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words, and must include the following on the cover sheet

The Department of New York
Unit Name and Number, County, and District
Name and address of the Unit Chairman

The report is to include a breakdown of number of entries the Unit had for various scholarships.  A copy of the year end report form is to be included.  Entries must reach this chairman by May 10, 2012.  The following groups apply:

                                    Group 1: 10-75 members
                                    Group 2: 76-150 members
                                    Group 3: 151 or more members

County Award:
To the County Education Chairman submitting the most outstanding year round Education program.  Each entry must be typewritten in narrative form, containing 500 words or less.  Cover sheet to include:

The Department of New York
County and District
Name and address of the County Education Chairman
Entries must reach this Chairman by May 10, 2012

Viola Babin Awards:
Unit Award: A plaque to the Unit reporting the most outstanding promotion of career education in its area.  The entry must be type written in narrative form and not exceed 500 words.  Deadline May 10, 2012.

County Award: A plaque to the County reporting the most outstanding promotion in career education. The entry must be type written in narrative form and not exceed 500 words.  Deadline May 10, 2012.

I look forward to getting your reports during the year. How many counties will receive 100% reporting?? Let’s have 100% reporting for the Department of New York. Remember, no one knows what you are doing unless you report…

REPORTING PROCEDURE:  Note, there are only two reporting dates this year.  Reporting-How-When-Why

Unit Chairmen: Please send Unit report form to reach your County Chairman by  November 1, 2011, March 1, 2012
 
County Chairmen:  Please send County report form  to reach the Dept. Chairman by  November 10, 2011, March 10, 2012

Units should report to Counties prior to the Department Deadlines;

Note: Forms are in PDF Format  and can be filled out using your computer keyboard. However, you cannot save data typed into any  forms unless you have the Full Version of  Adobe Acrobat software! Please print at least 2 copies of your completed form, mail one to the chairman, and save one for your  records. If you try to e-mail it without the Full Version of  Adobe Acrobat software, the chairman will receive a BLANK PAGE...

Sharon Polson
Education Chairman
Department of NY
Email: mamadukes99@hotmail.com

Note: Education Resources, go to Library Under Brochures