Membership                                 

2011-2012
       Membership

          Cultivate a New Attitude
            Dream, Believe, Succeed

As we begin another year we are faced with new challenges regarding membership. Each year many of our members have answered the final call and we begin to panic and worry about how we are going to meet our membership goals. Do you remember Avalanche Anne? She started us off  last year with changing our attitudes. Well the snow melted before she could complete her job, so we are going to pick up where she left off.

The Department of New York is growing a garden and it's full of sunflowers. Sunflowers have ATTITUDE'. They stand taller and stronger than any flower in the garden. Their heads follow the sun as it moves across the sky. No other flower does that. They also have a strong root system that will break down hard, compacted earth so that other plants may grow as well. So they are helpful and courteous to other plants in the garden. Sunflowers are a nutrition source for animals and people. Animals eat the seeds and humans harvest them for the oil. In addition, they are beautiful and long lasting. They are the perfect Flower with a winning attitude.

We are emulating sunflowers this year. Let's develop an attitude that will allow our flower garden to thrive. There are a large variety of flowers in the garden. Each flower is special and beautiful in its own way, just like our members. With a new attitude the flowers in the garden will achieve great beauty. They will thrive. That new attitude means civility to others, helpfulness, acceptance of new ideas, willingness to change and a rededication to the aims and purposes of the American Legion Auxiliary. With the right attitude we can sow the seeds of success and the flower garden will grow and become more beautiful every day. We must nurture and fertilize our garden of members. It's necessary to share information, educate all members about the organization and allow each member to grow at her own pace and in her own way. We must weed the garden, getting rid of negative attitudes. Cultivate a New Attitude! Let's all dream of a better American Legion Auxiliary. If we believe in the dream we will succeed in our goal!

OUR GARDEN OF SUNFLOWERS 

Get your shovels and rakes turn the soil, plant the seeds making sure to nurture your garden and watch our garden grow into a sea of beautiful SUNFLOWERS..

Let's review our membership team" and the duties and tasks of each.

First we need to plant the SEEDS these are the Unit Members. The unit members will determine if the flowers will grow into a beautiful garden. Our attitude towards our members will determine success or failure.

Now that the garden is planted we need to have the ROOTS  Unit Membership Chairman to provide the necessary support to the seeds, helping to cultivate a new attitude, believing that your unit will succeed and reach 100% membership goal.

As our flowers begin to grow we need the STALKS  County Membership Chairman. They need to support the roots and seeds, making sure that no roots have been uncovered or pulled up and thrown away. They will be working closely with the roots making sure that we are cultivating a new attitude, making all seeds welcome and needed.

District Vice Presidents (District Membership Chairman) are the LEAVES. They have the task of supporting all the stalks within their District. They must gather all the seeds and continue to promote a new attitude to make our flower garden succeed.

The Department Membership Chairman, THE SEED PLANTER, will be making sure that only healthy seeds have been planted and that the stalks and the leaves are sharing the same dream, cultivating a new attitude and believing that we can succeed, making our 100% membership goal.

District Presidents, are the TILLERS OF THE SOIL  As any good gardener knows, we must continuously till the soil up around our plants, give them space to grow and feed them well.  Fillers of the soil must keep their eye on the Dream, believing success, seeing the field of  sunflowers at the end of the growing season.

Department Vice Presidents are the CARRIERS OF WATER  No plant can grow without water. It is their job to make sure the seeds don't die due to lack of water. "Their job is to support the plant as it grows, carrying extra water as needed to some of the struggling plants.

Past Department Presidents, PROVIDERS OF FERTILIZER  Our experienced gardeners are aware of the plants that need the most attention to be successful and grow into a beautiful flower. They will provide advice to the all parts of our plant, from the seeds to the carriers of water. They have important advice to give to be successful.

Department President, she is our SUNFLOWER HEAD  Trusting that we have all done our very best, making sure that every precaution was taken to cultivate a new attitude, dreaming and believing that we can be successful. She waits for the growing season to come to a close as she envisions a healthy garden of bright SUNFLOWERS  standing tall, proud of their success with a 100% membership goal. A Dream completed to Success.

Remember your attitude when planting. We reap what we sow!

Our Membership Support Team will be working hard this year to foster a "New Attitude" in our members.  Units must concentrate on creating a welcoming and enthusiastic atmosphere for our seasoned and new members.  Members will stay interested in being a part of the American Legion Auxiliary, if we give them ample opportunity to find interesting programs and projects.  Just as importantly, each of us must have a positive attitude.  No one wants to hear "We can't do that", "We've never done it that way,"  or "It won't work".  That is just what drives some of our members away.  Adopt a winning attitude.  Listen to what members want, accepts different and new ideas, welcome new members into your unit. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Remember to thank members for help. That is so important.  So just remember "Attitude --- Gratitude."

Your membership support team is there for you.  They have the skills to assist you with unit development and they have ideas on how to help you turn your unit from uninterested to enthusiastic and successful.  Call on them for assistance.  There are new tools available from the National Organization which are available to you as well.  Membership support team members will have those tools and will share them with you. Also utilize the skills of the certified leadership instructors in your area.  Instruction and mentoring are very important for all members.

The Membership Supports Team is available to all units and Counties.  All you have to do is place a phone call.  The Department Office will be happy to assist you in contacting the member nearest you.  The Membership Support Team by District is as follows:

 What can the Membership Support Team do for my Unit?

1. Is your Unit struggling with membership?  Ask for help.

2. No one wants to come to the meeting.  Ask for help.

3. Recycling officers and committee chairman?  Ask for help.

4. Remember the Membership Support Team members are also available to assist your County if needed.

5. Call on your Certified Leadership Instructors for mentoring.

6. Be aware of what is available to all the Sunflowers

7. Be positive, Be courteous, Be patient, Be Kind always Be thankful

 

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, and March 1, 2012

County Chairmen:  Please send County_Report_Form  to reach the Dept. Chairman by November 10, 2011, and March 10, 2012

Sally Johnston
Department Membership Chairman
Email:  alasallyjohnston@gmail.com
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

Cultivate a New  Attitude
Dream,
                  Believe,
                                      Succeed

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