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Department Executive Committee Meeting Call
TO: DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, DISTRICT PRESIDENTS, PAST DEPARTMENT PRESIDENTS
FROM: Georgia Downs, Department President
DATE: August 24, 2020
CALL FOR DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
A meeting of the Executive Committee for the 20-21 year is hereby called for one (1) day on Thursday, September 24, 2020 starting at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) via conference call.
This is a closed meeting to Executive Committee Members only.
ARTICLE V, SECTION 2, DEPARTMENT BYLAWS: “Each Past Department President shall be a member of the Executive Committee with vote, but without expenses as long as she remains a member in good standing of a duly chartered Auxiliary Unit in the Department of Michigan.”
District Presidents unable to attend the Executive Board Meeting should contact their District Vice President so they can represent your District.
Reports and other documentation to be discussed during the meeting will be emailed or mailed prior to the meeting. In efforts to reduce meeting time we ask if you have specific questions that can be answered before the meeting, please contact President, Georgia Downs, Executive Director, Brandy Nelson, or Finance Chairman, Lynn Terhune.
Executive board members are to notify Department either by phone (517-267-8809 ext. 121) or email (info@michalaux.org) that this notice has been received and if they are attending the meeting.
Items for meeting discussion include:
Ratification of new Chairman. Adoption of recommendations made and approved by the Finance Committee. Approval of the 20-21 Department Budget.
Members called to the DEC meeting:
Lynn Terhune, Finance Chairman
Sharon Schulte, Constitution & Bylaws
Transmitted by: Brandy A. Nelson, Executive Director / Secretary-Treasurer
Department Headquarters Open by Appointment ONLY
For the continued safety of our members and staff, the Department office continues to be open by appointment only.
Most Department business can be handled via mail, email, and phone calls. We ask that you please conduct business in this manner.
To make an appointment, please email info@michalaux.org or call (517) 267-8809. We will confirm with you if the requested date and time is available.
We will be limiting appointment times to no longer than 20 minutes, if possible.
When visiting the office for a scheduled appointment the following guidelines are in place:
Please enter and exit through the front door on Verlinden only. Please maintain proper social distancing and wear a face mask.
If you’ve had any of the following symptoms that is not attributable to another condition you will be asked to reschedule your appointment:
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Or at least two of these symptoms
• Fever – TEMPS that exceed 100 degrees will not be admitted into the office
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
Department Update Newsletter
Americanism Downloads
How can we promote Americanism if we are staying @ home?
At home, if you have a flagstaff, fly our U.S. flag proudly. It is the universal custom to display the flag from sunrise to sunset on buildings or stationary flagstaffs. The flag may be displayed 24 hours a day, if illuminated during the hours of darkness. If tattered, please retire it properly. Perhaps your Post could have a flag retirement ceremony outdoors and invite the public.
Thank businesses and other residents for flying our flag. You can do this verbally if you are out, “I am a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit__________ and we appreciate your patriotism and flying our flag.” You could mail a note to Businesses (banks, car dealers, schools) that says “Thank You for making patriotism a priority and flying our U.S. Flag, from American Legion Auxiliary Unit __________. (Look for printable flyers, that can be downloaded from our website michalaux.org under Americanism Activities).
Exercise your right to vote, whether in person @ your Precinct or by absentee ballot. At Michgn.gov you can: view your sample ballot for the upcoming election, request & track your absentee ballot, verify your voter registration, find your polling place, contact your local official, find answers to frequently asked questions. If called, serve your jury duty if you are able.
Teach your children well. When the National Anthem is played, we should face the flag (or face the music if there is no flag), stand at attention and place your right hand over your heart. Veterans and current military should give and hold a military salute during the Anthem.
Watch a patriotic movie with your family and discuss it afterward. In the past few years, there have been some inspiring historical movies like: Midway, American Sniper, Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, Pearl Harbor, USS Indianapolis, and Unbroken. Some may not be kid friendly, but PBS may have other offerings and documentaries.
There are numerous kid friendly books available thru your library (or to purchase and later donate?) For example, A is for America by Devin Scillian, This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie and Kathy Jakobsen, We The Kids by David Calthrow, Patriots Handbook by Caroline Kennedy. TAL’s own https://emblem.legion.org/ has lots of patriotic materials, including comic books and flag education.
If you know a teacher or have any school (public, private or homeschool) contacts, see if they would incorporate our Americanism Essay Contest in their curriculum. Or you could introduce this contest to your children, grandchildren, neighborhood kids, church youth group, Scouts, etc. Your Unit would have to judge the essays according to Contest rules. This contest has monetary prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place, in 6 different age/class groups. The 1st Place for each Class will advance onto the Division Americanism Chairman. The word count varies from 150-500 depending on the student’s grade. This year’s theme is: “How can we address the health and well-being of our Veterans, military and their families”?
UNITS-as an incentive for participation in the Americanism Essay Contest, this Chair will present 3 Units with a $25 reward for having 1 or more essays submitted. After promoting and receiving the essay(s) inform me, that Unit __________had this # of essays and you will be placed in the random drawing held in early April 2021. That’s it, whether your Unit had 1 or 75 entries. Mail to: Margo Forrester, 936 Ellsmere St NE, Grand Rapids, MI or email mscottforrester@gmail.com.
This is a challenging time to promote patriotism in our communities. I urge Units to try as best you can. Read the Department Americanism Guide, track your efforts and enter our contests. Odds of winning may be better than ever.
Click the following to download!
You can also order the following from Flag & Emblem! Click the image to go to the website.
Membership
Membership Packets were processed and mailed out by Tuesday, July 21st. Packets were mailed to the Unit Membership Chair listed on file.
Download the new Eligibility Infographicto post and share! This is a great tool for unit Membership Chairs!
2020 Department Convention, Department Officers, District, and Unit Election Info
The American Legion Auxiliary Department Convention has been officially canceled via resolution adopted by the Department Executive committee on April 22, 2020.
Current 2019 – 2020 Department Officers will remain in place for 2020-2021.
Instructions for Units and Districts, as well as additional important information, is included in the link posted below. Please read in its entirety.
2020 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY DISTRICT AND UNIT ELECTION GUIDANCE – Click here!
National Convention Canceled – National Officers Remain in Place
The Department of Michigan has been notified by National Executive Director, Kelly Circle that the 2020 National Convention has been officially canceled.
In addition, National officers are to remain in place until 2021 National Convention. For more information please click here.
Unit Forms
The Unit Data and Officer’s Form for 2020-2021 are now available. These forms are fillable! Download, fill, save, print, and mail or email to Department.
Unit Data Forms are Due no later than May 1st!
Unit Data Form 2020-2021 Unit Officer’s Form 2020-2021
Awards Form
The new fillable 2020 “Pink Sheet” (Convention Awards Form) is available now. Pink Sheet/Convention Awards Form
Attention Unit Membership Chairs
Department has been receiving an abundance of membership applications that are not complete! When we receive incomplete applications they are mailed back to the membership chair with a credit memo with the request that the COMPLETED application, new transmittal form, and copy of the credit memo be sent back to Department. This causes significant delays, extra time for Department staff, and extra expense.
Please see the Application Instruction Sheet provided CLICK HERE.
New Transmittal Instructions – Transmittal Instructions 2020
Department reserves the right to mail back your entire membership submission if all parts are not complete and correct.