Leadership

 "Back to Basics"

Leadership is one of the most misunderstood concepts in our society.  I’ve found that most people believe that leaders are born, not made.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Much of the reason for confusion is that, in our modern-day society, we’ve come to equate leadership with management – another and totally different concept.

The Webster Dictionary defines Leader as: A person or thing that leads; directing, commanding, or guiding head, as of a group or activity

It defines Leadership as:                

1. the position or guidance of a leader 
2. the ability to lead
3. the leaders of a group.

In order to go "Back to the Basics" we need to go back and look at our programs as they were written in the beginning, and the reason they were written.  Have we forgotten that we were formed to be there for the Veteran and the children of veterans, and that is the basis for our programs?  Take one committee and feature it at your first meeting and then follow-up with another for the next meeting, continue until you have featured every committee.

Have you taken the American Legion Auxiliary Leadership Correspondence Course? 
If not – now is a good time to do it.

You can purchase it from
"American Legion Flag & Emblem"
  E-mail_Flag_ &_ Emblem

Mid Winter Conference will be held January 25 and 26, 2008 at the Marriott Hotel on Wolf Road in Albany, New York.  Mark your calendars now, and plan to attend!  Our National President has been invited to attend this conference.  Be sure to be there to meet and greet her.

  Mid-Winter Agenda PDF
  Mid-Winter Agenda Doc
 

National Headquarters has various brochures on Auxiliary programs that are available free.  Call for those available.  National reserves the right to limit quantities.  1-317-955-3845

Note: In the Dept "Plans of Work," the URL's to access the Nat'l ALA, and the Dept ALA websites are incorrect. The URL's listed below are correct!

The National American Legion Auxiliary Web site:  www.legion-aux.org  has a wealth of information, as does our Department Web site: www.deptny.org

The Department of New York is unique in that we train and develop Certified Leadership Instructors. Listed below are the names of the 39 Certified Leaders. They are always available to assist any Unit, County or District.

Department Certified Leadership Instructor Qualifications and Requirements

1. The candidate must have served as County and/or District President.
    

2. The candidate must have completed the American Legion Auxiliary Leadership Correspondence Course and the American Legion Extension Institute with passing grades.
    

3. The candidate must have attended a minimum of three (3) Department Leadership Workshops.
    

4. The candidate must submit a resume with proof of requirements through her Unit to the County Leadership Chairman. The candidate must also submit a statement indicating why she wants to be certified and confirming that she will participate in future leadership meetings and activities.
    

5. The County Leadership Chairman and/or the County President must review the application, sign it, and forward it to the Department Leadership Chairman with a letter of recommendation.
    

6. When the resume, proof of requirements, candidate’s statement, and letter of recommendation are received by the Department Leadership Chairman, the Chairman will send the candidate two “how to” questions. The candidate must answer the questions in one or two paragraphs and return the form to the Department Leadership Chairman. The Leadership Chairman and a committee of two Past Department Presidents, to be appointed by the Department President, shall review the submission.
    

7. The Department Leadership Chairman shall present to the Executive Committee each candidate’s resume, proof of requirements, candidate’s statement, letter of recommendation, and completed question. There will be a three-minute period allowed for comments from Past Department Presidents in attendance.
    

8. Upon motion by the Department Leadership Chairman to approve certification of a candidate, a ballot vote shall be taken with the members of the Executive Committee voting.
    

9. Once certified, instructors who fail to participate in leadership activities within a three-year period or who do not respond to the annual verification survey will be removed from the Certified Instructors listing. 

Department Certified Leadership Instructors

DEPARTMENT  AWARDS

Plan now to submit an entry for each of these awards.  Not sure what to do or how to prepare the entry?  Ask a Certified Leadership Instructor for assistance – she’ll be happy to help!

To the County Leadership Chairman who submits a written report of the most outstanding accomplishments through leadership in her County during the year.  The entry must be typewritten, in narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words.  The narrative must include the number of Senior and Junior members in attendance at each program.  The entry must be presented in a folder with a cover page stating the County, the Leadership Chairman’s name and address, and the number of words.  Copies of materials used, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other pertinent items may be included.

To the Unit with the most first-time attendees at the Mid Winter Conference.  For a Unit to be eligible, the Unit President must attend (although she need not be a first time attendee herself).

To the Unit Leadership Chairman who implements the most outstanding year round Leadership program.  The entry must be typewritten, in narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words.  The entry must be presented in a folder with a cover page stating the Unit name and number, the Leadership Chairman’s name and address, number of members in the Unit, and the number of words.  Copies of materials used, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other pertinent items may be included.

To the Junior member exemplifying the best leadership role model at the Unit or County level.  The entry must be typewritten, in narrative form, not to exceed 500 words.  The report may be typed by someone other than the Junior member but it must be the work of the Junior member.  The entry must be presented in a folder with a cover page stating the Unit name and number, the County, the Junior member’s name and address, the names and signatures of the Unit or County President and the Unit or County Junior Activities Chairman, and the number of words.  Copies of materials used, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other pertinent items may be included.

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPT.  CHAIRMAN ON OR BEFORE MAY 10, 2008. 

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 reports to reach the Dept. Chairman by November 10, 2007, March 10, 2008 and May 10, 2008.

Note: Form is in (PDF Format ) and can be filled out using your computer keyboard. You cannot save data typed into any  forms. Please print at least 2 copies of your completed form, save one for your  your records.

Mary Williams
Department Leadership Chairman

Note: For chairman's physical address, contact Department Office