American Legion Auxiliary
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With the enthusiasm generated from our National President Jan Pulvermacher-Ryan’s theme "Forward Thinking: A Ripple Today, A Wave Tomorrow" and our very own Department President Charlie Dew’s theme, "We Believe," the Legislative Committee believes we can go anywhere and do anything! Nothing can stop us now. Working with the American Legion as a family, we can achieve successes for our veterans and their families along with promoting and supporting the programs of both organizations. Through lobbying efforts of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, we will continue to influence legislation that will benefit our veterans, the community, the state, and our nation! The Legislative Committee believes that every Auxiliary member should be armed with legislative information, knowledge, and a desire to achieve success! We are committed to ensuring we are aware and informed on issues that are central to the support and well being of our veterans and their families. We want to promote open lines of communication with our local, state, and nationally elected officials promoting a grass-roots level of advocacy and action. We are a wonderful, strong organization with great resolve. Simply by taking a few moments to talk, write letters to our congressmen, attend meetings, or by calling folks reminding them to "vote," we can do it...we "believe" we can inspire others and achieve our goals. We must encourage everyone to participate in this program. With local and state initiative changes and elections for new officials, plus the upcoming Primary and National elections…we will be speedy little “legislative” racecars over the next few years. By making it to the finish line, all these efforts will benefit our veterans and their families, our communities, our state, and our nation. Our Legislative Council will be hard at work again this year. The purpose of the Legislative Council is to further the interest and legislative goals of the American Legion as quickly as possible through personal contacts to elected representatives in Congress. The Legislative Council should have a close personal relationship with the congressional member to whom they are assigned. Legislative Council members are to keep the congressional members advised of critical issues pertinent to our veterans and their families. Legislative Council members subscribe to the “Dispatch,” staying informed of current Legion issues and efforts. The American Legion can provide legislative information on elected officials, issues, pending legislation, and elections. Please go to the National American Legion Home Page at www.legion.org and click on the Legislative Action Center. Insert your e-mail address…copies of alerts will be sent directly to you. Sign up for the Action E-List and be notified when you can make a critical difference on important issues. The Issues and Legislation click will provide you with important issues, recent votes, current legislation and more. A click on Elected Officials will introduce you to your congressional members. Legislative action may be accomplished through personal letters, grass-roots lobbying, communication, visits, e-mails or phone calls. The personal letter is the most popular choice of communication...it may be sent by mail or e-mail. Personal letters from constituents have a tremendous influence. In most cases, personal letters will be answered. Form letters or petitions rarely get their attention. In all matters of legislation, the American Legion Auxiliary follows the actions of the American Legion, never endorsing any measure until the American Legion has first endorsed it and never following a policy that does not coincide exactly with the American Legion's stand. When writing a letter, the following suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter:
· When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address him/her as: Dear Mr. Chairman, or Madam Chairwoman, or Dear Mr./Mrs. Speaker. · When writing, be sure your purpose is stated in the first paragraph of the letter. Discuss only one issue per letter. Write in your own words, be personal. Be courteous and to the point. You may want to speak in volume. Bring your idea up at your unit meeting; vote for submission, and write the letter on behalf of “all 444” members of ALA Unit #XXX. Ask for a response to your letter. If your reply comes as a form letter, ask for a commitment to your letter. You may also send your message through the internet. Please forward copies of your congressional responses to the National Chairman, Diane Duscheck by June 1, 2008. A national certificate will be presented to each unit member who submits copies of their responses. · Congressional Record ... When the American Legion Auxiliary, including our junior girls, completes a community service project, gives an award, receives an award, makes a presentation or some other newsworthy event or activity, send a letter to the congressional delegation sharing the information and ask that the event be placed in the Congressional Record. · Key Points:
· NEW Reporting Requirements This Year: When submitting a Legislative Award package for your outstanding efforts, please note that the National Chairman has included several new reporting requirements this year. In order to compete on the National level…you must meet “all” Plan of Work requirements.
DEPARTMENT LEGISLATIVE AWARDS· A plaque will be presented to the Unit Chairman in each Division reporting the Most Outstanding Overall Legislative Program. The unit’s program “must” meet all elements of the Plans of Work including participation in the Legislative Council, and advocacy for national and states issues and meeting the goal of legislative contacts 10 times during the year. Entries must be submitted in narrative form; single-spaced; 1,000 words; typed and available in MS Word Format. Do NOT include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, etc. The narrative should be mailed to District Presidents by April 15, 2008; the District Presidents must mail the reports to the Department Legislative Chairman by May 1, 2008. The Department's Most Outstanding Overall Legislative Program entry will be forwarded to our Southern Division and National Chairwomen for judging by June 1, 2008. · Certificates will be presented to each Unit Chairman submitting an article for recording in the Congressional Report. A copy of the document "must" accompany the entry. · Certificates will be presented to the unit in each Division reporting the highest number of subscriptions to the "Dispatch." · Certificates will be presented to the Unit Legislative Chairman or Unit President who submits the best Unit Legislative Report. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE AWARDS· National President's Award for Excellence - An award to the unit with the Best Overall Legislative Program. Our "best" overall legislative program for the Department will be submitted...specifics for submission are above. · National Legislative Award - A certificate will be presented to individual unit members that forward copies of responses received from congressional leaders as a result of their advocacy efforts; letters, emails, visits, etc. Forward copies to our National Legislative Chairman, Diane Duscheck. Deadline - June 1, 2008. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE 2007-2008Division I Jeannine Donaldson, Chairman
Division II Mary Riley
Division III Bobbie Wesch
Division IV Mary Creighton
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