Veterans Creative Arts Festival
October 22-28, 2007
St. Louis,, Missouri

Sponsor:
Send your Donations to the Department Office

American Legion Auxiliary
Department of NY
112 State St.  Suite 1310
Albany, NY 12207

Programs

Americanism
Citizenship, patriotism and flag education is the focus of the Americanism program. Participating in patriotic celebrations, the distribution of flag codes, donations of flags to schools, organizations and institutions, working with Scout Troops and "Get out the Vote" campaigns are some of the activities we encourage members to participate in.
Chairman: Diane Gerber

Auxiliary Emergency Fund
Providing temporary financial assistance to our members during times of personal emergency is the basis for establishing this fund in 1969. Grants for education and/or training programs is provided for under the Displaced Homemakers for widowed, separated or divorced members who need to update their skills to return to the workplace.
Chairman: Tina Burns (no e-mail)

Cancer Awareness
Educating the members, Fund Raising/Contributions, and assisting cancer patients are the fundamentals of this program. Cancer, the second leading cause of death among Americans, is responsible for one of every four deaths in the United States. In 2007, more than 560,000 Americans—or more than 1,500 people a day—will die of cancer. The financial costs of cancer are staggering.  totaled $156.7 billion.
Chairman: Joan Klahs

Chaplain
The spiritual leader at all levels of our organization is the Chaplain. She is responsible for offering prayers at all meetings, conducting memorial services, bringing cheer to ill or aged members, extending sympathy to families of deceased members and courtesies to Gold Star Mothers.
Chairman: Susan Liedy 

Children & Youth
Improving the quality of life for America's youth is the central focus of this committee. There are many ways this can be accomplished by direct financial assistance, providing activities for children in the community, assisting needy families with food and clothing, distributing educational, materials on child abuse, drugs and teenage suicide. Many areas hold immunization clinics and participate in Special Olympics.
Chairman:  Karen Porempski

Finance
Chairman:       Mary Lou Platt
Co Chairmen: Regina Harris 
                          Priscilla Imburgia 

Historian
Compilation of the activities and work done by the Units throughout the Year is the duty of the Historian. It is important to preserve this information for the future. At the end of the year, she should present to the President a written narrative of her Administration. Remember to keep a copy in the Unit's files. Chairman: Lori McFarland

Junior Activities
This Committee works with the Junior members, who will, hopefully, become active Senior members. Plan activities around the special holidays and observances. Use them to assist in making favors, waiting on tables or preparing a program for The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary dinners. Instruct them in the programs of the Auxiliary and teach them how to properly conduct meetings.
Chairman: Bonnie Sonneville

Leadership
Units, Counties, Districts and Departments benefit from the leadership training provided under this program. Leadership encompasses such qualities as motivation, teamwork, using
the talents of our members, maturity, initiative and a full knowledge of the programs, structure and background of our American Legion Auxiliary. Request a Certified Leadership Instructor to assist in developing a Leadership Training Session.
Chairman: Mary Williams  

Legislative
The American Legion Auxiliary works along with the American Legion to ensure that favorable issues presented to our Legislative bodies are enacted. Members are encouraged to write or call their elected representatives in support of the legislation and urge their support also. Many laws have been passed by our support and encouragement, as well as undesirable ones defeated. Each Unit and County Legislative Chairman should be provided with a subscription to the Legislative Bulletin.
Chairman: Barbara Wong  

Membership
This Committee is the "grassroots" of our organization. Without a solid membership; we cannot carry out the many programs that comprise the American Legion Auxiliary. We need to encourage those eligible to join our organization. Membership drives using Post rosters can be held. We need to retain those on our rolls and actively seek out new members to remain the largest women's patriotic organization in the world.
Chairman: Susan Britton      

National Security
At present, the security of America is not a certainty, we must never relax our efforts in being prepared for the forces that may threaten our democracy. Working with your local officials in Civil Preparedness, crime prevention, donations to the USO, purchasing U.S. Savings Bonds, assisting victims of natural disasters and awareness of our POW/MIA issues is all part of this program.
Chairman: Ann Geer

Parliamentarian
Chairman: Angelina Karr, PRP

Past President's Parley
Past Unit President's are the members of this committee who assume the responsibility of caring for and giving support to our ex-servicewomen. Scholarships are offered to children and grandchildren of veterans to continue in attaining higher education.
Chairman:  Joan Caccamo

Poppy-Poppy-Poster:
Our American Legion Auxiliary Poppy is hand-made by the veterans for which the veteran receives money for each poppy made. Many of these veterans are in VA Medical Centers, and in some cases, the therapeutic benefits derived are most helpful to them. Promoting public awareness and the history and the purpose of the Poppy is part of this program. Contacting schools to enter Poppy Poster contests and displaying posters in a store window enhances public awareness.
Chairman: Helethea Roy  (no e-mail) 

Public Relations
It is important our communities know about the programs and activities of the Units. Talk to the Editors of your local newspaper informing them of what we do. Encourage the papers to include the American Legion Auxiliary in their Community Bulletin Boards. Use TV spot announcements on up-coming activities or special affairs that are being planned. Keep copies of any items in a scrap book in a year-after-year continuation.
Chairman: Mary Geer  

Unit Development & Revitalization
The goal of the Unit Development & Revitalization Program is to increase membership in The American Legion Auxiliary, in order to continue the work we do in aiding our veterans, their families/children and our communities.
Chairman: Susan Britton

Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
Our organization was founded in service to the veterans. This program provides physical comfort and mental cheer to those who gave so much for their country. Dances, bingo parties, Field Day activities, picnics - activities to keep them active and entertained. Writing letters, reading to the veteran, taking veterans for walks and visiting, helps those disabled or blind. Volunteers are needed to carry out this program, and every member should be included. All Units should participate in "Adopt a Veteran" Program, whereby special remembrances at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and the veteran's birthday can be acknowledged. The Christmas Gift Shop is held each year enabling the veteran to remember their loved ones at home with gifts. This program is fully funded by Units throughout the Dept. at no cost to the veteran. The funds from the Poppy distribution is used to finance this Committee.
Chairman: Nancy Kurk

Department President's Project 
Chairman:  Mary Lou Platt

Convention  July, 2008,  Albany
Chairman: Margaret Norton  

Webmaster
Ann Viverito

Chairmen:  (Contact Dept. office for physical address and phone numbers of chairmen)

OTHER COMMITTEES
Unit Presidents may appoint other Committees that are helpful in the operation of the Unit programs, such as Auditing Committee, Kitchen Committee, Sgt. at Arms, Liaison Officer with the Post.

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 53,000 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.

DEPARTMENT OFFICE INFORMATION

The address for the Department Office:
American Legion Auxiliary
Department of New York
112 State Street - Suite 1310
Albany, New York 12207

This program summary is provided for your information.
More detailed information is contained on each Department Committee page. You are encouraged to read all of these pages thoroughly.

It would be helpful to all members to share these program summaries with those who do not have a computer.