Auxiliary Emblem
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
Veterans
Creative Arts Festival 2009
October 05-11, 2009
San Antonio, Texas
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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Legislative
Legislative
ALA
Legislative Handbook - pdf ---
ALA
Legislative Handbook - doc
by Ann Geer, Dept. 2nd Vice President
The American Legion Auxiliary is dedicated to
the aims and purposes of the American Legion. As stated in our preamble “ to
uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America” as these
words are very powerful we realize the care of our Veterans and their
families as well as our community, state and nation can be affected by our
legislative process.
The American Legion Auxiliary can play a major role in the task at hand of
influencing our elected officials to support issues that are of importance
to the American Legion. We need to become grassroot advocates for these
issues and get our voice heard. Every member needs to become informed and
active in supporting these legislative initiatives. Here is how you can make
a difference; by writing, calling or e-mailing your elected officials as
well as visiting their offices to share your views on issues that are
important to The American Legion. Make an appointment and speak to them
often, it is time for all of us to become active advocates if we want to get
our legislators to listen and act. Get to know the staff in your elected
officials office, as they can be influential in getting you on your
legislator’s calendar. Let them know our Legion Family has a major voting
strength in their district.
Please remember to be respectful as you share
your views. Before you leave a legislators office, or when sending a letter,
e-mail or by phone, always ask for a written response. Thank them for their
time and follow up with a note of thanks when you receive your reply. You
will find some tips and sample letters at the end of this page.
Communication is key as well as being informed on issues that are important
to the American Legion. There are many ways you can stay informed, the
Internet has many web sites, which I will share, at the end of this Plan of
Action. You can also subscribe to the “Dispatch” which is a publication of
issues that are of interest to our organization. Using our own internal
sources via the Internet; you can sign up for the American Legion Auxiliary
Legislative Newsletter, Spirit of America and Legislative Alerts via the
Legislative Action Center.
Other key strategies to remember are getting the candidate who shares your
views into office, so during elections we must remember to “Vote”. “Teamwork
is key to our success”, working in conjunction with the Americanism
Committeemen help your members to “Get Out and Vote”. Offer to baby-sit if
needed, share transportation to a polling site or just remind members to go
vote. We can have a huge impact at State and Federal levels. Keep up to date
on important issues through all sources, come together as a team and make a
plan of action to communicate the issues of importance to the American
Legion through writing, e-mail and visiting your elected officials.
This is a time we need to “BEE SPECLACULAR” as
we become an active voice in our community, state and nation. “Bee”
legislatively active, stay informed, reach out to your County and Unit
Legislative Committeemen let them know your activities and report. I know we
can make a difference.
Let’s keep the “BUZZ” throughout our Legion Family and stay informed. Look
for further bulletins and newsletters throughout the year.
Resources
The Dispatch- Available online or by sending a letter and $15.00
subscription cost to The American Legion (checks payable to
American Legion Dispatch) PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206,
include membership number, Unit and Department. This
is a great source of information when preparing bulletins, reporting to
membership and when writing letters.
The American Legion Legislative Action Center- Insert your e-mail address
and you will receive copies of Alerts. Also you can sign up for Action
E-List and be notified when you can make a critical difference on an
important issue.
http://scapwiz.com/legion/home/
The
Spirit of America Legislative E-Newsletter:
You can
subscribe to it by going to
"Spirit of America" Legislative E-Newsletter
ALA Legislative Advocacy Guide – available for free downloads
www.legion-aux.org
See program page on www.legion-aux.org
for additional resources.
Related Websites:
Congressional Record:
www.gpoaccess.bov/record/index.html
Department of Defense:
www.defenselink.mil/
Department of Veterans Affairs:
www.va.gov
Federal Election Commission:
www.fec.gov
House Committee on Veterans Affairs:
http://veterans.house.gov
House of Representatives:
www.house.gov
Library of Congress:
www.loc.gov
Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs:
http://veterans.senate.gov
State Department:
www.state.gov
Supreme Court:
www.supremecourtus.gov
THOMAS
Legislative information:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
US Census Bureau:
www.census.gov
US Senate:
www.senate.gov
White House:
www.whitehouse.gov
Democratic National Committee:
www.democrates.org
(202)863-8000
Republican National Committee:
www.rnc.org (202) 479-7000
US
Capitol Switchboard
(202) 224-3121
Legislative-Key Objectives
2009-2010
-
Objective- To increase our communication with
elected officials using specific talking points and reasons for contact at
least twice a year.
Action Steps:
-
Assist our members with sample letters and
e-mail/postal addresses of State and local Officials in our Plan of Action
2009-10.
-
Work with our Committeemen on County and Unit
levels to keep them abreast of specific issues that are important to The
American Legion.
-
Update information available to help keep
members informed on issues important to The American Legion.
-
Relay key talking points on issues that need
focus.
-
Objective- To raise awareness of
grassroots involvement by quarterly visits to local congressional offices
when advocating for veterans issues.
Action Steps:
-
Contact our local elected officials
often when an issue is of importance to the American Legion as well as our
members.
-
Provide lists of elected official names,
addresses, telephone and e-mail for the Department of New York.
-
Partner with Civic and other local
organizations to invite elected officials to address our members concerns.
-
Keep importance of voting in all elections a
focus.
-
Objective- Create our Plan of Action for
2009-2010, additionally publish four Newsletters and monthly e-mail updates
as needed to keep County Committeemen and members informed.
Action Steps:
-
Publish Legislative Plan of Action in
2009-2010 to be distributed through the Department of New York.
-
Use all sources of information available
(i.e. our websites and Legislative materials) to stay abreast of all issues
important to the American Legion and communicate immediately to County
Committeemen and members.
DEPARTMENT LEGISLATIVE AWARDS
FLORENCE WRIGHT PLAQUE
– to the County with the best all round Legislative Program. A
500 work essay must accompany the entry.
COUNTY AWARD
– To the County Legislative Chairman submitting the highest number of
replies from Legislator concerning correspondence on legislation as directed
by the American Legion. The number will be determined based on the
percentage of membership goal.
UNIT AWARD
– To the Unit Legislative
Chairman who submits the best report of legislative activities in two
categories
Group
I – Unit with 1 to 100 membership
Group II – Unit with 101 or more membership
Rules: Typewritten in narrative form not to exceed 500 words. Please include
details of special legislative meetings with copies of any newspaper
articles documenting meetings. Entries must be judged in the County
and only one winning entry in each category is to be sent for judging.
NATIONAL AWARDS:
Unit Legislative Awards:
A plaque presented to the Unit Chairman in each Division reporting the Most
Outstanding Overall Legislative Program. Entry must be typewritten in
narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words. Do not include
pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. Units will submit
entries to the Department Chairman by her required date.
Individual Recognition Certificates:
A recognition certificate will be presented to the individual Unit members
that forward the National Legislative Chairman copies of responses received
from congressional leaders as a result of their advocacy efforts: letters,
emails, visits, etc. Packets of correspondence must be post-marked by
June 1, 2009 to be considered.
All entries must be
submitted to the Department Chairman by May 10, 2010
REPORTING PROCEDURE:
UNIT CHAIRMEN:
Please send
Unit Report Form to reach your County
Chairman by the following dates:
November 1, 2009 -
March 1, 2010 - May 1, 2010
COUNTY CHAIRMEN: Please send
County Report Form to reach
the Department Chairman by the following dates:
November 10, 2009 - March 10, 2010 - May 10, 2010
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...
Judy Lanci
Legislative Chairman
Department of New York
email:
jlancix2@aol.com
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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