march 2016 wi

4
MEMBERSHIP Our Strategic Planning team has been work- ing very dili- gently to get our strategies and initiatives final- ized. You ask, what can I do to help with Wis- consin’s strategic plan? Every day you are doing something that cor- relates to the strategies and initia- tives of Wisconsin’s strategic plan. Goal 5 – With The American Le- gion, build brand loyalty. When- ever you wear your Auxiliary clothing when working our pro- grams, you are working on Goal 5. Every time you write an article for your Unit newsletter, you are working the goal. Those of you who have contacts with newspa- pers, can write articles and have them published. This is a fantastic way to work Goal 5. When you do this, please make sure that you get this information to our Public Re- lations committee and our depart- ment historian. We want to use that information in our history book to ensure the information is available to our future members. Goal 4 – Strengthen Department and Units. The new ‘ALA in the Know – Important Info for Every Member’ regional training confer- ences are being set up and will be rolled out in the near future. This training, which replaces the Fall Informational Forum, will make it easier for more members to attend to get the information that they want and in doing so, will strength- en our units and our department. Goal 3 – Develop Leadership at all Levels. The strategy team is working on a lot of great ideas to develop the leadership of Wiscon- sin. They are working on different options for how we choose our chairmen – are they appointed or should they apply for the position? They are also looking at the ways that we elect our officers at the de- partment, district, county and unit levels. Watch for more information in the future. Goal 2 – Create a Culture of Goodwill. This should be the easi- est of goals to meet, but as we all know, it isn’t always easy. There are many different personalities in the American Legion Auxiliary. We need to find ways to work to- gether, without controversy, to LAURA CALTEUX Department President Bonnie Jakubczyk, Chairman Ph: (414) 764-6752 Email: [email protected] Thank you for getting those memberships in, helping Wiscon- sin to the 75% Keeping the Prom- ise Valentine’s Day deadline. We only need 6,565 more for 100%, and I know we can do it! Congrat- ulations to the 14 Units that have reached or exceeded 100%, great job! You can tell that everyone is working together on member- ship by how close all the Districts are in the membership standings. Keep up the great work on light- ing those sparks. Please share any success stories with us, so that we can share them with other Units. Personal contact is the best way to keep a Unit together. Keep in contact with your members and they will know they are a valu- able member. Check on those who have not paid and see if they have any concerns or if they need help with paying. If you have some elderly members who can- not make it to your meetings, ask them if they would be willing to make membership phone calls. Keeping the promise for March: I promise to breathe life into our organization. Promise date: Legion Birthday, March 15, 2016 - 80% member- ship goal Be the Spark for our Veterans! Your Membership Team: Bonnie Jakubczyk, Amy Luft, Penny Joren, Meghan Helms, Andrea Stoltz work the mission. Remembering to always be kind and welcoming to guests and new members is the best way to work this goal. If we are all welcoming and kind, our membership will grow. Goal 1 – Enhance Membership Strength. So, how do you think we can work on Goal 1? There are many, many ways to Enhance Membership Strength. Units can create alliances with other veterans and community groups to work on our programs. We need to con- stantly promote the Auxiliary, set up booths at community events, and get the word out on your own events to other Auxiliary units and your community. And maybe the biggest thing we can all do is to communicate! Keep the lines of communication open between all members, your posts and your community. Being able to answer questions and having membership applications with you at all times is also important. I know that this has been a lot of information, but we need to keep our members updated as to what is going on in our department and using our publication, The Wiscon- sin, is a great way to do just that. Keep working the mission, Be the Spark for Our Veterans and God Bless America! MARCH 17, 2016 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 77.15% MARCH 2016 DISTRICT 5 80.00% 1 ST DISTRICT 2 78.83% DISTRICT 12 77.45% DISTRICT 6 79.42% DISTRICT 10 78.08% DISTRICT 9 78.79% 4 TH 2 ND 3 RD 5 TH DISTRICT 11 76.64% 8 TH 6 TH DISTRICT 8 77.14% 7 TH DISTRICT 3 76.27% DISTRICT 4 73.96% DISTRICT 1 75.40% DISTRICT 7 75.23% 10 5 TH 9 TH TH 12 TH 11 TH CREATE A SPARK MEMBERSHIP IS BOOMING President Laura Calteux was pleased to present a donation of $4000 during the Washington DC Conference on behalf of all the members and units in Wisconsin that contributed to the AEF fund. Thank You For Supporting Our Members! Department of Wisconsin, You all are amazing! Thank you so much for your donation to the Aux- iliary Emergency Fund. Because of you, members facing displacement due to wild fires, flooding, and tor- nados are able to receive assistance. You are not only providing help, but hope to members in need. Thank you! Madison Maves Development Outreach Lead ALA National Headquarters ZABLOCKI VAMC BABY LAYETTES (Program Discontinued) Thank you to all the Ameri- can Legion Auxiliary units that supported the Women Veterans Health Group by donating baby clothes and other related items to the new mothers. Dr. Feldman of Zablocki VAMC informed Department that she has been overwhelmed by the Auxiliary’s support and all the donations they received. At this time, they have enough donations to last for sev- eral years. Dr. Feldman has asked that Auxiliary units “direct their extraordinary generosity to other equally deserving projects for Veterans.” Thank you! April 2 Leadership Workshop • Stoughton Contact Linda Schmidt • 608-205-2517 or Lisa Olson • H: 608-873-8924 • C: 608-279-4847 for more information. April 24 Junior Spring Conference (read Junior Activities article for details) May 21 “Walk, Run & Roll for our Veterans and Their Families” • Oconomowoc Contact Jane Schmittinger • 414-379-1995 or Jill Gust • 262-719-7280 for more information. ••• upcoming EvEnts ••• –– Information is subject to change ––

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Supporting Veterans, their families and their communities

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Page 1: March 2016 wi

MEMBERSHIP

Our Strategic Planning team has been work-ing very dili-gently to get our strategies and initiatives final-ized. You ask, what can I do to help with Wis-

consin’s strategic plan? Every day you are doing something that cor-relates to the strategies and initia-tives of Wisconsin’s strategic plan.

Goal 5 – With The American Le-gion, build brand loyalty. When-ever you wear your Auxiliary clothing when working our pro-grams, you are working on Goal 5. Every time you write an article for your Unit newsletter, you are working the goal. Those of you

who have contacts with newspa-pers, can write articles and have them published. This is a fantastic way to work Goal 5. When you do this, please make sure that you get this information to our Public Re-lations committee and our depart-ment historian. We want to use that information in our history book to ensure the information is available to our future members.

Goal 4 – Strengthen Department and Units. The new ‘ALA in the Know – Important Info for Every Member’ regional training confer-ences are being set up and will be rolled out in the near future. This training, which replaces the Fall Informational Forum, will make it easier for more members to attend to get the information that they want and in doing so, will strength-

en our units and our department.Goal 3 – Develop Leadership at

all Levels. The strategy team is working on a lot of great ideas to develop the leadership of Wiscon-sin. They are working on different options for how we choose our chairmen – are they appointed or should they apply for the position? They are also looking at the ways that we elect our officers at the de-partment, district, county and unit levels. Watch for more information in the future.

Goal 2 – Create a Culture of Goodwill. This should be the easi-est of goals to meet, but as we all know, it isn’t always easy. There are many different personalities in the American Legion Auxiliary. We need to find ways to work to-gether, without controversy, to

LAURA CALTEUXDepartmentPresident

Bonnie Jakubczyk, ChairmanPh: (414) 764-6752Email: [email protected]

Thank you for getting those memberships in, helping Wiscon-sin to the 75% Keeping the Prom-ise Valentine’s Day deadline. We only need 6,565 more for 100%, and I know we can do it! Congrat-ulations to the 14 Units that have reached or exceeded 100%, great job! You can tell that everyone is working together on member-ship by how close all the Districts

are in the membership standings. Keep up the great work on light-ing those sparks. Please share any success stories with us, so that we can share them with other Units.

Personal contact is the best way to keep a Unit together. Keep in contact with your members and they will know they are a valu-able member. Check on those who have not paid and see if they have any concerns or if they need help with paying. If you have some elderly members who can-

not make it to your meetings, ask them if they would be willing to make membership phone calls.

Keeping the promise for March: I promise to breathe life into our organization.

Promise date: Legion Birthday, March 15, 2016 - 80% member-ship goal

Be the Spark for our Veterans!Your Membership Team:

Bonnie Jakubczyk, Amy Luft, Penny Joren, Meghan Helms,

Andrea Stoltz

work the mission. Remembering to always be kind and welcoming to guests and new members is the best way to work this goal. If we are all welcoming and kind, our membership will grow.

Goal 1 – Enhance Membership Strength. So, how do you think we can work on Goal 1? There are many, many ways to Enhance Membership Strength. Units can create alliances with other veterans and community groups to work on our programs. We need to con-stantly promote the Auxiliary, set up booths at community events, and get the word out on your own events to other Auxiliary units

and your community. And maybe the biggest thing we can all do is to communicate! Keep the lines of communication open between all members, your posts and your community. Being able to answer questions and having membership applications with you at all times is also important.

I know that this has been a lot of information, but we need to keep our members updated as to what is going on in our department and using our publication, The Wiscon-sin, is a great way to do just that.

Keep working the mission, Be the Spark for Our Veterans and God Bless America!

MARCH 17, 2016

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

77.15% MARCH 2016

DISTRICT 580.00%

1ST

DISTRICT 278.83%

DISTRICT 1277.45%

DISTRICT 679.42%

DISTRICT 1078.08%

DISTRICT 978.79%

4TH

2ND

3 RD

5TH

DISTRICT 1176.64%

8TH

6TH

DISTRICT 877.14%

7TH

DISTRICT 376.27%

DISTRICT 473.96%

DISTRICT 175.40%

DISTRICT 775.23%

10

5 TH

9TH

TH 12TH

11TH

CREATE A SPARKMEMBERSHIP IS BOOMING

President Laura Calteux was pleased to present a donation of $4000 during the Washington DC Conference on behalf of all the members and units in Wisconsin that contributed to the AEF fund.

Thank You For Supporting Our Members!

Department of Wisconsin,You all are amazing! Thank you so much for your donation to the Aux-iliary Emergency Fund. Because of you, members facing displacement due to wild fires, flooding, and tor-nados are able to receive assistance. You are not only providing help, but hope to members in need.Thank you!Madison MavesDevelopment Outreach Lead ALA National Headquarters

ZABLOCKI VAMC BABY LAYETTES

(Program Discontinued)Thank you to all the Ameri-

can Legion Auxiliary units that supported the Women Veterans Health Group by donating baby clothes and other related items to the new mothers. Dr. Feldman of Zablocki VAMC informed Department that she has been overwhelmed by the Auxiliary’s support and all the donations they received. At this time, they have enough donations to last for sev-eral years. Dr. Feldman has asked that Auxiliary units “direct their extraordinary generosity to other equally deserving projects for Veterans.” Thank you!

April 2 Leadership Workshop • Stoughton Contact Linda Schmidt • 608-205-2517 or Lisa Olson • H: 608-873-8924 • C: 608-279-4847 for more information.April 24 Junior Spring Conference (read Junior Activities article for details)

May 21 “Walk, Run & Roll for our Veterans andTheirFamilies”•Oconomowoc Contact Jane Schmittinger • 414-379-1995 or Jill Gust • 262-719-7280 for more information.

••• upcoming EvEnts •••

–– Information is subject to change ––

Page 2: March 2016 wi

Bonnie DorniakExecutive Secretary/TreasurerPh: (608) 745-0124Email: [email protected]: www.amlegionauxwi.org

Any member whose dues were not pro-cessed by department as of January 31st is delinquent and membership benefits and privileges have been suspended. As of March 1st, almost 2,500 of our members have not renewed, which is about 10% of our current membership! We need to stop the sliding decline in membership NOW if the American Legion Auxiliary is going to continue being a viable organization. If we don’t have enough members to work the mission and support the programs that ben-efit our veterans, who will do the work? If you let your membership lapse but want to continue to honor the special veteran(s) in your family, please send your membership dues to headquarters today OR renew online through the national website at www.ALA-forVeterans.org. If you know someone who hasn’t renewed their membership, please call them today and let them know we need their help in serving our veterans.

Space is still available for the 2016 ALA Badger Girls State (ALABGS) session scheduled for June 19-24, 2016. Submit

your unit reservation form if you have not already done so and check out the Girls State website (www.badgergirlsstate.org) for up-to-date information, including orientations scheduled around the state. The schedule is listed on page A4, but the website is updated as new information becomes available. Units that already submitted their reservations should contact their selected students to en-sure they register for the 2016 ALABGS ses-sion and attend an orientation. Orientations are a great resource for parents, too, so they know what to expect when their daughter at-tends Girls State.

Do you know any Auxiliary members who could use financial assistance for college? The M. Louise Wilson Educational Loan Fund offers interest-free loans of $800 per year for up to five years to Auxiliary mem-bers attending college. The loan is repaid in easy monthly payments after the student graduates or finishes school. Interested members should contact Chairman Joan Chwala at 715-668-4661 or [email protected] for an application or more information.

Unit annual reports are due by April 15th. Year-end impact reports should be sent to your district president and narrative reports should be sent to department headquarters.

The department chairmen will use the nar-rative reports to complete their year-end reports for the national organization. Presi-dent Laura Calteux will also review them to select units for special recognition at de-partment convention. These reports are the best tools for showcasing what the Ameri-can Legion Auxiliary does throughout the year. Every unit does something – from distributing poppies to hosting community blood drives. Members should be proud of their service and report it!

Last year, only 239 of Wisconsin’s 425 units submitted a year-end impact report BUT the work that was reported was phe-nomenal! A summary of accomplishments from 2015 is printed on page A3. Imagine how much more impressive the numbers would be if EVERY unit had submitted a re-port. Will you report this year?

Members are reminded to attend district spring conferences to learn more about the Auxiliary and thank the district officers for all their hard work. The conference dates are listed on page A3, with details posted on the department website.

Units that wish to have their deceased members listed in the 2016 Convention Memorial Book must submit Member Data Forms to Department by April 25th.

PAGE A2 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

Diane WeggenDepartment Chaplain/Music ChairmanPh:715-644-2668Email: [email protected]

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Veterans Creative Arts competition, I hope you choose to attend. As I watched and listened to veterans at the Tomah VA competition, I was awed with their talents and their courage to take the stage – especially when sharing original works. It was easy to be genuine in praise and thanks to these veterans. Anais Nin said, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s cour-age.” These veterans’ lives expanded as they performed and/or shared their artwork.

Just as these veterans shared a part of their lives with the audience, so too, we are asked to share our lives. We receive direction for relating with one another in a reading from the Old Tes-tament: Micah 6:8 “…to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God…” We display courage when we choose to treat others justly, fairly and honestly and to love as commanded: “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all You have given us.

We humbly ask for courage to always do what’s right.

As You have loved us, may we love one an-other.

For this, we pray.“Remember the Heroes,” a patriotic rock song

by Sammy Hager (1982)Stranger in a foreign landFearful cries surround himReturning home a wounded manTo find he’s been forgotten, yeahCourage is the badge he wearsBlinded by obsessionWars are won by those who dareThe memory still haunts himRemember the heroesWho fight for the right to chooseRemember the heroesWe’ve all got a lot to loseA rebel to the naked eyeAn undiscovered legendFace the facts and don’t ask whyIt’s something to believe inIn the dark, day and nightFight for wrong to prove what’s rightRemember the heroesWho fight for the right to chooseRemember the heroesJust another life to useRemember the heroesWe’ve all got a lot to lose(Remember the heroes)To take one life without a sayDemanded without reasonTo turn our backs and walk awayA faceless act of treasonA father’s son must carry onThe wound is only deepenedRemember the heroesWho fight for the right to chooseRemember the heroesIt’s just another life to useRemember the heroesYou know we all got a lot to loseRemember the heroesWho’s gonna fill their shoes?An Irish prayer: May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

EDUCATIONKelli Mades, Department ChairmanPh: (608) 385-6693Email: [email protected]

Children of military servicemen and wom-en make many sacrifices as their parents serve on active duty. Their lives are uprooted and they are often separated for long periods of time. Finding financial aid can also be an-other added stress.

The American Legion will be publishing an Education Development Guide which has many resources available. Look for it soon! However, in the meantime, the following sources can be used to inform and help chil-dren of the military find financial aid.

Pell Grant (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html): This federal grant does not need to be repaid, and the award amount var-ies based on a number of factors. The most important is a student’s income to cost of attendance ratio. For 2015-2016, the maxi-mum award amount is $5,775.

Post-9/11 GI Bill (http://www.benefits.va/gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp): This complex but extremely worthwhile program allows servicemembers on duty after September 11, 2001, to receive money to cover most tuition, fees, books, and living expenses at state col-leges and universities. An applicant for this program should work with a veterans service

officer (VSO) and/or the school’s VA admin-istrator to apply for and receive benefits.

Marine GSgt. John David Fry Scholar-ship (http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/docs/factsheets/fry_scholarship./pdf): This program grants the surviving children and spouses of deceased servicemembers to re-ceive up to 36 months of education benefits. As with the GI Bill, these benefits should be explored and applied for with the assistance of a VSO or VA administrator. Note: A ser-vice member must make elections to pass on their benefits to a dependent after meeting a certain time-in-service mark.

Many programs require the Free Applica-tion for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Families also may find helpful information at FinAid: The SmartStudent Guide to Fi-nancial Aid (www.finaid.org), www.Schol-arshipHelp.org, and www.CollegeScholar-ships.org.

Several scholarships focus on military children. They include scholarships spon-sored by:

• Air Force Aid Society (www.afas.org): The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program gives grants to children of active duty Air Force members, as well as some Reservists and retirees. Grants are need-based.

• Army Emergency Relief (www.aerhq.org): The MG James Ursano Scholarship Fund offers scholarships for children of ac-tive duty soldiers, retirees, or those who died in service. These scholarships can be used for undergraduate studies, vocational train-ing, or to help a student prepare to enter a military academy.

• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (www.nmcrs.org): The Vice Admiral E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan program pro-vides financial aid to children and spouses of active duty and retired Sailors and Marines. There are also scholarships for the children of those killed in action.

• Scholarships for military children (www.militaryscholar.org): Every com-missary gives at least one scholarship. The scholarships of at least $1,500 per student are supported by the companies that sell goods to the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).Additional resources:

Department of Education Student Aid on the Web (www.studentaid.ed.gov)

http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/E0EDF61B/Military-Children-Education-Benefits/

http://www.militaryonesource.mil/k-12-and-college-education?content_id=268720

GREETINGS fROM HEADqUARTERS

MARCH 17, 2016

JUNIOR ACTIvITIESLorrie Barber, Dept. [email protected]: 715-343-1947

If you missed the Junior Winter Con-ference and Bowling for Veterans, you missed a great time. The Juniors and American Legion Auxiliary had a great time raising money for our veterans and our active military. Thank you to Ste-vens Point Unit 6 for inviting us to join them for this great event. The top bowl-ing team for the Junior Division went to Team Brianna, Tina, Meghan and James. Brianna Zimmerman from Oshkosh Unit 70 won the prize for collecting the most pledges. We have been invited to join

them again in January 2017 for another Bowling for Veterans. A donation has been sent to Department for Homeless Women Veterans Fund in the Depart-ment of Wisconsin Juniors name. Ad-ditional monies raised will be used in support of Honorary Junior President Katarina’s project of supporting local hometown veterans.

The Junior Spring Conference is just around the corner. We will be meeting in Brookfield on Sunday, April 24th. The conference will be held at American Le-gion Post 449. Registration will begin at 10:00 am followed by a short meeting and election of officers. Brookfield Aux-

iliary Unit 449 will be providing a great lunch and then it will be time for JU-NIOR OLYMPICS. There will be events for all ages and awards in each event. Of course senior Auxiliary members are also invited to join us. It promises to be a day filled with fun and activities to support our veterans and active military. Registration forms and brochure are available on the Department website and also can be found in your unit mailing. Don’t miss this event.

Please remember to send in your Junior activity reports. I look forward to hear-ing about everything your Juniors have been doing.

Page 3: March 2016 wi

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN” PAGE A3MARCH 17, 2016

POPPy PROGRAMJudy Kuta, Dept. ChairmanPh: (262) 377-8613Email: [email protected]

Seven million memorial pop-pies are distributed each year by American Legion Auxiliary mem-bers across the country to provide a therapeutic activity for veterans, raise awareness and raise funds to help veterans, military service members and their families. Veter-ans who make the poppies are paid a small stipend for their efforts.

Two million dollars are donated by people receiving the poppies each year. Up until recently, 100% of the donated funds were used to help veterans. Due to the great needs of today’s military families, The American Legion expanded the use of newly-collected funds to active duty service members and their families who demonstrate a financial or medical need. Most of the funds collected stay in the com-munities where they are collected.

Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed May 2016 as Poppy Month. A copy of the official proc-lamation is posted on the depart-ment website.

Memorial poppies are generally distributed on patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day and Vet-erans Day, but any day can be a “Poppy Day.” May is typically the month most Units distribute pop-pies in their communities. Poppy orders have been received and the poppy shop is working hard to have the poppies delivered. Poppies are distributed in various places throughout local communities. American Legion Auxiliary mem-bers and other members of The American Legion Family can be found with poppies on sidewalks, in front of stores, at local meetings and more. Asking, “Will you wear a poppy for a veteran” and sharing

the poem “In Flanders Fields” help to share the poppy story and often encourages community members to make a donation.

You should be getting permission from those businesses that allow the distribution of poppies on their sites. It is not too early to be doing this. Often the corporate office grants this request and it may take weeks or even as long as a month or two to get the needed response. Also, be sure to ask the members of your American Legion Family to assist you in distributing your poppies.

Poppy funds CAN be used for: the rehabilitation of veterans hon-orably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces; the rehabilitation of hospitalized military service per-sonnel returning home and await-ing discharge who require treatment in service hospitals; the welfare of all veterans honorably discharged from U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. active-duty military personnel, and the families of those veterans and active-duty military personnel, where financial and medical need is evident.

Reporting of your Unit’s poppy activity is essential. Be sure to re-cord how many poppies your unit ordered, how much money was col-lected, and how much of the total was sent to Department. Return the Poppy Unit Annual Narrative Re-port to Department by April 15th. So, as we prepare, let’s focus on the public relations aspect and how we can promote the Poppy throughout your community.

If your Unit promotes the Poppy Poster Contest your winning entries should go to your District Spring Conference for judging there. The winning District entries should be sent to me as soon after the confer-ence as possible. I need them by May 1.

CHIlDREN & yOUTHAnn Rynes, Dept. ChairmanPh: 608.604.0350Email: [email protected]

The American Legion Auxiliary has an obligation to protect, care for and support our children and youth, especially those with ties to the military. The month of April has been set aside to highlight our youth through numerous activi-ties that may be found on the de-partment, national Auxiliary and national Legion websites. Just be-cause April is considered Children & Youth month, consider making every month an opportunity to reach out to support youth in the community.

One way to applaud our youth is to present a Good Deed card when you witness a good deed being carried out. This provides instant acknowledgement to the youth and provides a means to bring awareness to our organization. A template is available on the depart-

ment website.Consider giving blue star banners

to children of active duty military. At the 2015 session of American Legion Auxiliary Badger Girls State, thirty-six 1-star banners were distributed to immediate fam-ily members. Two 2-star and one 4-star banners were also given. Delegates without immediate fam-ily ties, but who had members of their extended families actively serving, numbered 125.

There are many school-related projects, including distribution of flags with one of the US Con-stitutional bill of rights printed on cardstock attached to the flag and highlight the history to younger children. For older youth, a pocket-size copy of the Constitution may be distributed along with informa-tion regarding the American Le-gion Oratorical program. Bring a veteran with you who can explain their time in service, how it affect-

ed their life, etc. Promote the Star Spangled Kids project, hold flag folding projects, invite prior-year Girls and Boys State citizens to speak to potential delegates about their experience, distribute age-ap-propriate word searches and cross-word puzzles. Oh, and a cookie or similar treat will go a long way as well. The list is only limited by your imagination. Have fun with your projects and don’t forget to report on your activities through your local and social media out-lets as well as to your Department Chairman.

Please mail your narrative reports and pictures of Children and Youth activities to Department headquar-ters by April 15, 2016. Details for reporting are posted on the depart-ment website.

The deadline for Unit, District and Legion Family awards is May 13, 2016. Details are located on the Department website.

Joyce Endres, Dept. ChairmanH: 608-221-1763Email: [email protected]

Nothing energizes like a real purpose. The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) mission state-ment provides our purpose. The ALA Centennial Strategic Plan provides a road map that defines, prioritizes and implements our mission. The ultimate result of the Strategic Plan is to achieve all five goals through measure-able results to reach our vision. This article focuses on Goal Five: “With the American Le-gion, Build Brand Loyalty.”

When we wear and display the emblems of The American Legion (TAL) family, we build brand loyalty. Emblems tell the world who we are. When we market the good work of the ALA and its family, we further define and promote brand loy-alty.

Five P’s of marketing:Product: Honor and ‘Ser-

vice not self.’ One reason we

joined the ALA is to honor the veteran(s) in our life though our service for God and country.

Price: The VALUE of your membership and SERVICE are priceless.

Promotion: Brand loyalty is achieved when we promote who we are, what we do and how we make a difference.

Place: The ALA presence in the community, state and nation holds a strong positive image. As members, we have the responsi-bility to build and retain this posi-tive image and service oriented reputation. The American Legion Post is the home of TAL family. Legion Posts often hold a visible brand presence in communities, especially if TAL emblem and the American and Legion flags are displayed. Be proud of your Post building. Help keep it spruced up as another way to promote brand loyalty.

People: Members are the heart of our organization. With you we positively impact veterans

STRATEGIC PlANNINGand their families, fellow citi-zens and our youth. With you we bring patriotism, friendship, camaraderie, support and ser-vice to all we serve and to each other. Without you we will fail our mission.

Please pass on your ideas and perspectives to apply the five P’s. Share your insights with fellow members to mentor and carry forward our legacy of ser-vice for generations to come. To-gether we will achieve measur-able results.

In twenty years, many of us will be unable to serve or will be gone. Promotion of our brand will encourage more members to join and participate to make an even bigger difference to the people we serve.

Understand our purpose. Be the SPARK to energize ALA pro-grams and your unit. With The American Legion, build brand loyalty to reach more people and help us meet all five goals of the strategic plan.

2014-2015 STATISTICS

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN

Wisconsin has 24,000 members strong; wives, mothers, daugh-ters, sisters, grandmothers, granddaughters and great-granddaugh-ters of wartime veterans.

OUR SERVICE FOR VETERANS: • Hours volunteered: 246,417 • Dollars spent: $291,364 • Dollar value of in-kind donations: $113,305 • Veterans assisted: 17,546 • Number of poppies purchased by units: 401,675 • Poppy dollars raised to support veterans: $267,411 • Number of veterans who made poppies: 20OUR SERVICE FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY: • Hours volunteered: 17,682 • Dollars spent: $28,404 • Number of US service members served: 8,484OUR SERVICE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: • Hours volunteered: 13,963 • Dollars spent: $44,231 • Number of military families served: 1,551SCHOLARSHIPS • Number of scholarships awarded: 495 • Dollar amount of local scholarships: $84,470 • Dollar amount donated to Department scholarships: $5,545 • Number of ALA Badger Girls State Delegates: approx. 734

Totals are based on the annual reports from 239 of Wisconsin’s 425 Units.

CONVENTION: RESOLUTIONSA resolution is a main mo-

tion, offered as a resolution either because of its impor-tance or because of its length or complexity. For this reason, resolutions should always be prepared in writing.

Any member or unit that wishes to submit a resolution for consideration at Depart-ment Convention must follow the Department Bylaws (Ar-ticle II, Section 1), which re-quire:

The Department President shall, not less than 30 days prior to the annual Department Convention, appoint a Resolu-

tions Committee consisting of five members chosen from the delegates. • Resolutions presented by an individual member must be ap-proved by the Unit or District of which she is a member. Resolu-tions must be received at depart-ment by June 1. Copies of these resolutions shall be transmitted to Units not less than 30 days before Department convention. • Any resolution not ap-proved by a Unit or District, or when the District confer-ence is held after June 1, must be approved by the appropriate Department chairman of the

program to which the resolu-tion pertains. The Department chairman will submit resolu-tions that she approves to the Resolutions Committee for consideration. • The Resolutions Commit-tee will forward any approved resolutions with a financial impact to the Finance Com-mittee for their approval.

Once the Resolutions Com-mittee and other appropriate chairmen/committees have acted on all resolutions, the Resolutions Chairman will re-port recommendations to the convention delegates.

Page 4: March 2016 wi

PAGE A4 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN” MARCH 17, 2016

2016 BADGER GIRLS ORIENTATION SCHEDULE

Elsa Schick celebrated her 100th birth-day January 18, 2016. She is a 68-year member of the William H. Meyer American Legion Auxiliary Unit 392 in Cecil, Wis-consin. Several members of the Ameri-can Legion Auxiliary visited that day to celebrate with her. Happy (belated) Birthday Elsa!

Past Presidents Parley

2016  AMERICAN  LEGION  AUXILIARY  BADGER  GIRLS  STATE  ORIENTATION  SCHEDULE  ALABGS  Delegate(s)/Alternate(s):    We  strongly  encourage  you,  your  parents  and  a  school  official  to  attend  a  county  orientation.  

Counties  with  an  asterisk  (*)  conduct  a  joint  Badger  Girls  and  Badger  Boys  Orientation.      Any  questions/corrections  regarding  the  American  Legion  Auxiliary  Badger  Girls  State  Orientation  schedule,    

please  contact  Jeannine  Conradt  at  [email protected]  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  County           Date     Time     Location     Contact  Person       Presenter(s)      *Ashland,  Iron             High  School  Library             BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  Price  &  Taylor     5/22/16   2:00  p.m.   Medford       Theresa  Schindler  715-­‐229-­‐2202BGS:  Theresa  Schindler  715-­‐229-­‐2202  *Barron,  Bayfield,  Burnett,  Douglas,       American  Legion  Post  185           BBS:    Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  Polk,Sawyer,Washburn    3/20/16   1:00  p.m.   108  N.Oak  St.,Grantsburg   Gayle  Janson  715-­‐463-­‐5723   BGS:  Gayle  Janson  715-­‐463-­‐5723  *Brown,  Door             American  Legion  Post  11   Jerry  Willems       BBS:  John  Cumicek  920-­‐833-­‐2859  Kewaunee     5/9/16     7:00  p.m.   1708  N.Irwin  St.,  Green  Bay   Mary  Krutz  920-­‐680-­‐7938   BGS:  Mary  Krutz  920-­‐680-­‐7938  *Calumet  and             Brillion  High  School             BBS:  John  Cumicek  920-­‐833-­‐2859  Manitowoc     4/20/16   7:00  p.m.   W1101  Cty  Rd  HR,  Brillion   John  Giese  920-­‐756-­‐2024   BGS:  Rose  Heinz  920-­‐850-­‐1941                   VFW  Hall,110N.Main  St.             BBS:    Fred  Berns  715-­‐533-­‐0103  *Chippewa     5/1/16     2:00  p.m.   Cadott         Pauline  Olinske       BGS  Teresa  Isensee  715-­‐577-­‐5259                 High  School  Library             BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Clark       5/15/16   3:00  p.m.   306  W.Central  Ave.,Greenwood  Cherilyn  Hare  715-­‐429-­‐0814   BGS:Theresa  Schindler  715-­‐229-­‐2202                 Portage  High  School     608-­‐617-­‐9839       BBS:  Norm  Bednarek  608-­‐617-­‐9839  *Columbia     5/7/16     9:00  a.m.   301  E.Collins,  Portage     Norm  Bednarek       BGS:Carol  Sidwell  608-­‐296-­‐4090                 American  Legion  Post  308    Crawford       5/15/16   5:00  p.m.   217  Orin  St.,  Gays  Mill     Karen  Johnson  608-­‐632-­‐0597   BGS:  Sharon  Zales  608-­‐649-­‐4468                 American  Legion  Post  360           BBS:    Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Dane       5/16/16   7:00  p.m.   417  E.Main  St.,  Waunakee   Mary  Curran  608-­‐873-­‐9463     BGS:  Jennifer  Grinder  608-­‐495-­‐2733_             7:30  p.m.  BBS   American  Legion  Post  69   920-­‐488-­‐3668       BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282    *Dodge       5/12/16   6:15  p.m.  BGS   134  S  Main  St.,  Mayville     Diane  Billings       BGS:  Shirley  Krier  262-­‐377-­‐5026                 American  Legion  Post  53           BBS:  Fred  Berns  715-­‐533-­‐0103  *Dunn  &  Eau  Claire   5/1/16     4:30  p.m.   634  Water  St.,  Eau  Claire   Gretchen  Seidling     BGS:  Theresa  Schindler  715-­‐229-­‐2202                 Horace  Mann  H.S.             BBS:  Paul  Williams  414-­‐943-­‐5433  *Fond  du  Lac     5/4/16     7:00  p.m.   325  McKinley  St.,  NFDL     Sandi  Smet  920-­‐923-­‐6085BGS:    Char  Kiesling  920-­‐428-­‐5655                   Fennimore  Community  Bldg           BBS:    TBD  *Grant  &  Iowa     5/15/16   1:00  p.m.   860  Lincoln  Ave,  Fennimore   Merry  Cooley  608-­‐822-­‐3983    BGS:  Dee  Woolf  608-­‐778-­‐1936                 Albany  Legion  Post  144     Eileen  Henning  608-­‐527-­‐2222   BBS:    Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Green       5/2/16     7:00  p.m.   300  N.Water,  Albany     Rose  Wenger  608-­‐325-­‐6364   BGS:  Dee  Woolf  608-­‐778-­‐1936  *Green  Lake  &             American  Legion  Post  282   920-­‐294-­‐3537                                                                  BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282                                Marquette       4/20/16   7:00  p.m.   11  Charles  St.,  Markesan   Patricia  Westpfahl                                                  BGS:  Jennifer  Leahy  920-­‐979-­‐3213                 American  Legion  Post  67   920-­‐648-­‐8424       BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Jefferson     4/24/16   1:00  p.m.   129  S.  Main  St.,  Lake  Mills   Beatrice  Rothschadl       BGS:  Danyelle  Thompson                   American  Legion  Post  110   Rose  Clark  608-­‐847-­‐4450   BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Juneau  &  Adams   5/23/16   6:30  p.m.   110  Welch  Prairie  Rd.,  New  Lisbon         BGS:  Liz  Staff  608-­‐781-­‐6888  *LaCrosse,  Monroe           American  Legion  Post  51   608-­‐385-­‐2025       BBS:  Fred  Berns  715-­‐533-­‐0103  &  Vernon     4/14/16   7:00  p.m.   148S.Leonard  St.West  Salem   Rebecca  Gleason     BGS:  Liz  Staff  608-­‐781-­‐6888                 American  Legion  Post  214           BBS:  Jim  Hying  608-­‐739-­‐3367  *Lafayette     5/11/16   7:00  p.m.   1400  Keep  Street,  Darlington   Cindy  Corley  608-­‐776-­‐4220   BGS:  Dee  Woolf  608-­‐778-­‐1936                 Bunkers/Tribute  Golf  Course           BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Marathon  &  Lincoln   5/15/16   6:00  p.m.   1001  Golf  Club  Rd.,  Wausau   Fran  Bender  715-­‐359-­‐8469   BGS:  Diane  Kranig  715-­‐341-­‐4935  *Marinette,             American  Legion  Post  413   715-­‐854-­‐7885       BBS:  Paul  Williams  414-­‐943-­‐5433  Florence     5/1/16     5:30  p.m.   251  State  Hwy  141,  Crivitz   Marin  Wankowski     BGS:  Loretta  Shellman  920-­‐373-­‐5853                 American  Legion  Post416           BGS:  Laura  Calteux  414-­‐379-­‐2943  Milwaukee     5/18/16   6:30  p.m.   6351  W.  Grange  Ave.,  GreendaleSue  Hembrook  262-­‐945-­‐9791   BGS:  Bonnie  Jakubczyk  414-­‐764-­‐6752                 High  School,  208  W.  Main           BBS:    Paul  Williams  414-­‐943-­‐5433  *Oconto     5/1/16     1:00  p.m.   Gillett         Verona  Carlson  920-­‐660-­‐1640   BGS:  Loretta  Shellman  920-­‐373-­‐5853  *Oneida,Vilas,             Three  Lakes  High  School      Unit  431  President     BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282    Forest  &  Langlade   5/2/16     10:00  a.m.   6930  W  School  St.,  Three  Lakes    Diana  Wheeler  715-­‐546-­‐2134   BGS:  Diana  Wheeler  715-­‐546-­‐2134                 Kaukauna  Municipal  Bldg.           BBS:  John  Cumicek  920-­‐833-­‐2859    *Outagamie     4/13/16   7:00  p.m.   201  W  Second  St.,  Kaukauna      Lisa  Wolfinger:  920-­‐766-­‐7911   BGS:  Rose  Heinz  920-­‐850-­‐1941             7:00  p.m.  BBS   AL  Post  355,  1540  13th  Ave.   Dennis  Loberger  414-­‐704-­‐7976    BBS:  Al  Richards  262-­‐573-­‐0924  *Ozaukee     5/25/16   6:00  P.M.BGS   Grafton         Shirley  Krier  262-­‐377-­‐5026   BGS:  Shirley  Krier  262-­‐377-­‐5026                 Lincoln  HS  BBS  =  Rm  144/BGS  =  Rm  101         BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Portage  &  Wood   4/27/16   6:30  p.m.   1801  16th  St.  S,  Wisc.  Rapids   Diane  Kranig  715-­‐341-­‐4935    BGS:  Diane  Kranig  715-­‐341-­‐4935                 American  Legion  Post  171            Racine  &  Kenosha   4/27/16   6:30  p.m.   1027  New  St.,  Union  Grove   Marcie  Perez  262-­‐308-­‐8705   BGS:  Kitty  Larkin  262-­‐649-­‐3399                   American  Legion  Post  13  Richland     5/22/16   7:00  p.m.   Richland  Center       Ann  Rynes  608-­‐604-­‐0350   BGS:    Ann  Rynes  608-­‐604-­‐0350                 American  Legion  Post  209           BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Rock       4/30/16   1:00  p.m.   Orfordville       Zondra  Morris  608-­‐751-­‐3924   BGS:  Joyce  Bouhl  262-­‐248-­‐4533                     Veterans  Memorial  Assoc.           BBS:  Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Rusk/Sawyer     5/22/16   5:00  p.m.   605  Summit  Ave.,  Ladysmith   Anne  McCain  715-­‐214-­‐6661   BGS:  Theresa  Schindler  715-­‐229-­‐2202                                 American  Legion  Post  240           BBS:  Fred  Berns  715-­‐533-­‐0103  *St.  Croix  &  Pierce   4/25/16   7:00  p.m.   410  Maple  St.,  Baldwin       Fred  Berns  715-­‐533-­‐0103   BGS:  Laurel  DuBois  715-­‐825-­‐3916                 Sauk  Prairie  HS,  Room  14           BBS:    Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Sauk       6/6/16     7:00  p.m.   105  9th  St.,Prairie  du  Sac   BGS:  Mary  Walz  608-­‐643-­‐5921   BGS:    Mary  Walz  608-­‐643-­‐5921  Shawano             Community  Center            &Menominee     5/4/16     7:00  p.m.   208  W.  Vinal  St.,Wittenberg   Mary  Bevesdorf  715-­‐253-­‐2908    BGS:  Jeannine  Conradt  920-­‐359-­‐0860                 High  School,  125  Highland  Ave.           BBS:  Zach  Day:  414-­‐469-­‐5399  *Sheboygan     4/18/16   6:30  p.m.   Plymouth       Leslie  Sanzo  313-­‐407-­‐3310   BGS:  Danie  Wilson/Shirley  Krier  *Trempealeau,  Buffalo           Trempealeau  Cty  Courthouse           BBS:  Fred  Berns  715-­‐533-­‐0103  Pepin,  Jackson     5/4/16     7:00  p.m.   36245  Main  #4  Whitehall   Karen  Hansen:  715-­‐236-­‐7310   BGS:  Liz  Staff  608-­‐781-­‐6888                 American  Legion  Post  24           BGS:  Kitty  Larkin  262-­‐649-­‐3399  Walworth/Kenosha   5/1/16     1:00  p.m.   735  Henry  St.,  Lake  Geneva   Joyce  Bouhl  262-­‐248-­‐4533   BGS:  Joyce  Bouhl  262-­‐248-­‐4533                 Allenton  Legion  Post  483   Herb  Kieferndorf  414-­‐313-­‐8229  BBS:  Al  Richards  262-­‐573-­‐0924  *Washington     5/18/16   7:00  p.m.   419  Railroad  St  (Cty  Hwy  W)   Mary  Montag  262-­‐355-­‐6467   BGS:  Shirley  Krier  262-­‐377-­‐5026                 American  Legion  Post  382           BBS:  Bob  Kaczmarek  414-­‐810-­‐9685  *Waukesha     5/9/16     7:00  p.m.   Main  St.,  Menomonee  Falls   Marcie  Schmitz  262-­‐628-­‐1478   BGS:  Kitty  Larkin  262-­‐649-­‐3399                           A.L.Post  263,  New  London           BBS:  Paul  Williams  414-­‐943-­‐5433  *Waupaca     5/5/16     7:00  p.m.   840  E.North  Water  St.     Marla  Knuettel  920-­‐359-­‐1629   BGS:  Rose  Heinz  920-­‐850-­‐1941                 Wautoma  High  School     Wayne  Winter  920-­‐293-­‐5011   BBS:    Bill  Cosh  608-­‐770-­‐1282  *Waushara     5/4/16     7:00  p.m   566  Cambridge  (Hwy  21/22)   Cathy  Kaminski  715-­‐249-­‐5263   BGS:  Diane  Kranig  715-­‐341-­‐4935                 The  Waters               BBS:  Russ  Hanseter  920-­‐833-­‐2469  *Winnebago     5/18/16   7:00  p.m.   1339  Washington  Ave.,  OshkoshChar  Kiesling  920-­‐428-­‐5655   BGS:  Char  Keisling  920-­‐428-­‐5655  

ALABGS Delegate(s)/Alternate(s): We strongly encourage you, your parents and a school official to attend a county orientation. Counties with an asterisk (*) conduct a joint Badger Girls and Badger Boys

Orientation. Any questions/corrections regarding the American Legion Auxiliary Badger Girls State Ori-entation schedule, please contact Jeannine Conradt at [email protected]

Florence Wasley Dept. ChairmanPh: 608-935-3527An Energizing Message to Senior Members --

Please review the Contest and Awards information for Past Presidents Parley that was mailed to all units in December. The information is also posted on the department website at www.amlegionauxwi.org. Two specific awards need your spe-cial attention: Unit Member of the Year and Active Duty Ser-vice Woman.

Ladies, start thinking about that Unit Senior member who has been the “Spark” that ener-

gized your Unit’s program this year!! Her special motivation led your Unit in being the Spark for our Veterans and your programs. Nominate her for Unit Member of the Year. Entry forms are due to me by May 1, 2016.

Also check out the information on the Salute to our Active Duty Servicewoman. Perhaps your Unit or community has a nomi-nee currently serving on active duty or in the Reserves. They deserve our recognition!! Again, nomination forms are due to me by May 1, 2016.

Need help? Please don’t hesitate to call me before the deadline. Be the Spark for our Veterans!!

AUXILIARY EMERGENCY FUNDLaVon SchurmanDept. ChairmanPh: 608-996-2575Email: [email protected]

The current district standings for contributions to the AEF Challenge are as follows:1st Place: District 8, $5942nd Place: District 2, $5553rd Place: District 1, $5354th Place: District10, $5305th Place: District 6, $4456th Place: District 9, $3757th Place: District 3, $3258th Place: District11, $3009th Place: District 4, $25010th Place: District12, $150

11th Place: District 7, $10012th Place: District 5, $0Units leading the Challenge:1. Wisconsin Rapids, $327.912. Saukville, $300 Waupun, $3004. Milwaukee Unit 18, $250Individual $50 donor:LaRene Carpenter, Unit 482, Bagley

Great job! Don’t stop now. Re-member the top District and Unit will receive a citation at conven-tion, a $10.00 donation in your name by this Chairman, and bragging rights. Individual $50 donors receive a pin.

Unit 392 Celebrates Longevity!

715-832-1734

2016 DISTRICT SPRING CONFERENCES

Correction: 6th District Conference - Judy Lyon’s zip code was listed incorrectly in the previous issue. The correct address for registration is Judy Lyon, 200 Pleasant Avenue, Waupun WI 53963.

current as of 2-16-16

2016 DISTRICT SPRING CONFERENCES

CORRECTION: 6th District Conference - Judy Lyon’s zip code was listed incorrectly in the previous issue. The correct address for registration is Judy Lyon, 200 Pleasant Avenue, Waupun WI 53963.

Dist Date Location Contact Person

#1 4/23/16 Delavan AL Post 95

111 2nd Street Delavan WI 53115

Connie Lindloff 262-215-7074

[email protected]

#2 4/30/16 Cedar Ridge Grand Hall 113 Cedar Ridge Drive West Bend WI 53095

Mary Montag 262-355-6467

[email protected]

#3 4/23/16 Waunakee AL Post 360

417 E Main Street Waunakee WI 53597

Joyce Endres 608-221-1763

[email protected]

#4 5/7/16 Ascension Lutheran Church

1236 S 27th Street Milwaukee WI 53215

Sue Middlestead 414-545-2727

#5

#6 4/16/16 Waupun AL Post 210

130 N State St Waupun WI 53963

Nancy Helms 920-231-5310

[email protected]

#7 3/19/16 Sparta AL Post 100 116 Angelo Road Sparta WI 54656

Kathy Rowan 608-633-2372

#8 4/23/16 Clintonville AL Post 63

20 Memorial Circle Clintonville WI 54929

Sarah Stiff 715-340-5188

[email protected]

#9 4/23/16 Jack LaMar Community Pavilion

N11291 Dorr Street Elcho WI 54428

Marie Schuh 715-275-3882 [email protected]

#10 4/23/16 United Methodist Church

300 Stout Street Chetek WI 54728

Lou Ann Novak 715-764-1033

#11 4/23/16 Camp American Legion

8529 County Rd D Lake Tomahawk WI 54539

Linda Kostka 715-209-8135

[email protected]

#12 5/21/16 Bruce AL Post 268

834 N Main Bruce WI 54819

Current as of 2/16/16

DISt. DAtE LOCAtION CONtACt PERSON