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at the
top left corner of all pages
is a direct link to
Nat'l ALA Headquarters
ALA
Member Benefit Opportunities
Thanks to
the American Legion
for the following link.
click here to thank veterans
and
troops on Veterans Day
Operation Welcome Home

Click on Flag for more info
Department President's Project
Send your Donations to the
Department Office
Attn:
Secretary/Treasurer
Juanita Lochner
112 State Street, Suite 1310,
Albany, NY 12207
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Leadership
2011-2012
Leadership
New Test Available
(Link also listed below under resources/tools and in the Library )
Parliamentary Procedure and Protocol Test - and answers.
Basic Parliamentary Procedure
Dream, Believe, Succeed
Purpose: To develop and prepare knowledgeable and capable
leaders to carry on the growth and success of the Auxiliary by promoting
activities and resources that educate, motivate and mentor members of all
ages and at all levels of the organization. Even if you don’t have a green
thumb, sow the seeds in your garden to become an effective leader. Together
I know we will have a beautiful garden filled with knowledgeable, informed,
leaders to carry on the legacy of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Let’s join together and cultivate our leadership skills. What do we need to
make our garden of leaders grow? It all begins with you. Your willingness to
become knowledgeable about the American Legion Auxiliary programs is just
like preparing the soil. You don’t have to be an expert on everything but
basic knowledge is essential. Familiarize yourself on every program so at
the very least you are able to explain the general objectives. Sounds like
your watering can will soon be running over to quench the thirst of those
seedlings.
Some leaders are born, but most are trained to be good leaders. No matter
what the experience, education or technical skills, most anyone can be
trained to be a leader if they are willing to make a commitment, devote
their time and energy to listen, learn, and communicate. We are so fortunate
to have the American Legion Auxiliary College,
please consider enrolling for the 2012 session. It is truly an experience
you will find very valuable in creating your garden. You will be inspired to
get that soil ready and start planting those seeds.
PLANT THE SEEDS OF:
Attitude many people say happiness is 90%
attitude; our Department President Ann is continuing the quest for a new
attitude. Let’s plant a garden with kindness, love and support.
Resources our own Department web site:
www.deptny.org Click on library on
left side of page. You will find the American Legion Auxiliary Leadership
Correspondence Course. Check it out! You probably know more than you think.
What a great idea for a couple of Unit meetings or a County Leadership
workshop. Members that have completed the course can serve as instructors,
or call on those Certified Leadership Instructors for their guidance. The
course is downloadable for your use. Make it fun and make it happen!
Resources are a tool, like the rake to spread the soil for planting.
Enthusiasm is a passion for what you believe.
If you believe in the mission of the ALA, you should have enthusiasm for the
programs, our membership, ideals and principles that govern our
organization. Believe it and your can achieve it! Enthusiasm is like the
water to our garden; it revitalizes our spirit and creates full blooms.
Knowledge look listen and learn. Take advantage of all
the resources available to you. Our National website
www.alaforveterans.org has
numerous resources of knowledge just waiting for you: The Unit handbook,
Constitution and Bylaws, The correspondence course, ALA College, Leadership
workshops, Midwinter Conference, Convention, Fall and Spring Conferences,
and the Plan of Action. There is a lot of knowledge available for your use.
Knowledge is the fertilizer to our garden.
Tools are like the ivy on the garden wall. Intertwining
as they grow, using the Unit Handbook, and searching for information about
leadership on the internet. Public relations, serves our tool shed well. If
people in the community don’t know what we do and why we do it, we are not
doing our job. As a leader your job is to motivate, challenge, and
appreciate. You are only as good as the people you lead. Always lead by
example. Take time to smell the roses.
Effective how do you measure your
effectiveness? How well is your garden growing? Do the members seem more
willing to help with Unit projects or events? Do you always prepare an
agenda? An effective leader delegates the duties and oversees the result.
Working together makes things so much more fun. Praise the accomplishments
and give the credit where the credit is due. Good communication always leads
to better understanding.
Good listener is weary of the snapdragons.
Respect others ideas and opinions even if they are not your own. The ayes or
nays will have it in the end. Good use of parliamentary procedure gives all
the flowers an opportunity for a drink of water or ray of sunshine to help
them grow with respect for one another.
Trustworthy is one of those characteristics
that are earned. We all have had many lessons in life that teach us about
trust. Just as the weed killer states, it will not hurt the flowers, but are
we really sure? Weed your garden by your own hand and don’t take the word of
another. Word and deed earn trust. Know the finances at all times, help
prepare a budget for the year. Audits are to be done annually.
Participate, Action/Events- be a part of the
plan not just in word. You have chosen the committee and put your trust in
them. Take part in the action or event. Volunteer to fill any roll that is
needed. Take time to mingle and welcome new members or have a brief
conversation with others. Enjoy the outcome, creating a bouquet from the
flowers in the garden.
Accepting/Decisive sometimes our garden just doesn’t take
off the way we feel it should. Could have been the fertilizer, or not enough
water, perhaps just not enough daily sunshine? Could have, would have,
should have, and doesn’t matter. Accept the consequence and decide what we
are going to do to fix it together. A leader is a coach, perhaps you need to
rearrange those lovely blossoms and add some greenery to the mix. Maybe
Matilda was right those daisies would have been nice.
As a member you have the ability to honor those who serve, have served and
their families. Each committee chairman is a leader of the program she
chairs. New ideas and a fresh out look through a different lens can make all
the difference in the world. Don’t be afraid to try something new. We have
always done it that way doesn’t mean it is the only way. Or when I was
Chairman, President, Treasurer etc., we did it so and so. The past will
always be the past and hopefully we have learned from it. Let’s move
forward! You have the ability to take that first step forward.
Leaders should constantly seek knowledge.
The Plan of Action or POA, Empire
Newsletter, Department Bulletins are for everyone.
They are for every member! Attend your Fall Conference, hear our leaders
share their message, attend your Unit and County meetings ask questions be
in the know. You may purchase your own POA at Fall Conference and subscribe
to the Empire Newsletter. The POA and Newsletter are both available on line
at www.deptny.org Department Bulletins are sent to County Presidents for
distribution to Unit Presidents, and are also available on line.
You have begun your journey without even realizing it. You have opened the
pages of knowledge and just as the flowers have begun to drink from that
half full watering can. Just as the stepping stones placed in the garden are
small but significant as laid amongst the plants. You have begun your
journey as a leader, in the most powerful patriotic woman’s organization in
the world. Congratulations and best wishes for a dream come true.
Mark your calendar for Midwinter
Conference Jan. 26-28th, 2012. Albany- Marriott.
You asked for more information on Children and Youth, National Security, and
Empire Girls State. Come one, come all and bring your new attitude to the
Midwinter Conference.
Nancy G. Kurk
Department Leadership Chairman
tekngk@aol.com
Dream, Believe, Succeed
The National organization suggests that
we focus our attention on reaching out to younger women in our communities.
We need to expand their confidence and develop their leadership abilities. The process of good mentoring will ensure a stronger
organization as we develop potential future leaders.
Below are some suggestions for reaching these
goals:
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Teach the history of the Auxiliary to all members.
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Teach the programs of the Auxiliary and match members’
interests with the programs.
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Teach the basics of protocol, parliamentary rules and
meeting procedure.
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Establish a mentoring program, matching senior members’
knowledge with younger members desires.
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Encourage updating program activities so younger eligible
women will want to join.
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Promote the Sr. and Jr. Leadership Courses on the Dept.
website-go to: www.deptny.org and click on “Library” in the left hand column.
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Promote the use of the Unit Handbook.
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Promote the use of the Unit Constitution & Bylaws as a
resource tool.
The
following are Leadership resources/tools:
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Emblem Sales: www.emblem.legion.org
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The “NEW”
Unit Handbook
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National, Department & Unit Constitution & Bylaws
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Robert’s Rules of Order
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Parliamentary Procedure
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Let’s Be Right on Flag Etiquette
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Parliamentary Procedure and Protocol Test - and answers.
New ç
The act of “Mentoring”
continues to be a guiding influence on our newer/younger members. What we
teach is what they will learn and in turn places a huge responsibility on
"how" we mentor.
Let’s make LEADERSHIP and MENTORING a
priority this year.
How to be a Mentor
Certified Leadership Instructor Listing
Leadership Instructor Qualifications and Requirements
DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Marion Capasso Award
To the Unit Leadership Chairman who
submits a written report of the most outstanding accomplishments through
leadership in her Unit 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 Unit, the
Unit Leadership Chairman’s name and address, and the number of words.
Copies of materials used, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other
pertinent materials may be included.
Maud Millard Trophy
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 County Leadership Chairman’s name and address, and the number of words.
Copies of materials used, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other
pertinent materials may be included.
Anna Schultz Award
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 not be a first time attendee herself.)
Junior Award
To the Junior member exemplifying the
best leadership role model at the Unit or County level. The
entry must be typewritten, in a 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.
NATIONAL
AWARD
Unit Leadership Training Recognition Certificate
A Recognition Certificate will be presented to the
individual Unit Leadership Chairman who best
implements the mentoring program within her Unit. Entries with all
pertinent information should be sent to me at address shown below. The
winning entry will be forwarded to National for judging.
ALL ENTRIES MUST
BE POSTMARKED BY MAY 10, 2012 AND SENT TO DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN:
Nancy G. Kurk, 149 State St. #2, Manchester, NY 14504
REPORTING PROCEDURE:
UNIT CHAIRMEN:
Please send
Unit Report Form to reach your County
Chairman by the following dates: Nov. 1, 2010,
March 1, 2012
COUNTY CHAIRMEN: Please send
County Report Form
to reach the
Department Chairman by the following dates:
Nov. 10, 2010, March 10, 2012
Nancy Kurk
Leadership
Chairman
Email Nancy Kurk
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...
Note:
For
Chairman's physical address, contact
chairman or
Department
Office


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REPORTING
One of the most important responsibilities of
Unit Committee Chairmen
is to report the activities and work
on their programs.
This comprises all of the work done by the more than 50,000 members in
our Department.
The Unit Chairmen report to the
County Chairmen, who in turn
report to the Department Chairmen.
The Department's report to National is
the factor that makes the
outstanding reports at the National Convention.
Chairmen are encouraged to enter all contests. |

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