Sue Verville, Chairman, and Shelia Maxwell, Committee Member
We need to encourage our Juniors to participate at the Unit Level, their District Level, and hopefully to become Honorary Junior Officers. Please consider the following strategies:
Help them be active in our meeting, support our programs, and help them feel involved and valued for their participation. Involving them in our “Legion Family” meetings and activities provides them with opportunities to share experience and wisdom with other members.
Promote the Junior Activities Programs by promoting meetings, events, and activities that interest and inspire them. Build a Junior’s Activities Program by giving our Juniors a voice and an opportunity to participate.
Use the Junior Activities Handbook. The ALA Junior Activities Handbook has details for organizing and directing a program for Junior members, as well as information on eligibility, ceremonies for initiations, installations, graduations, contests, meetings, and programs. You can download it from the ALA website or purchase it from American Legion Emblem Sales.
The Junior Patch Program. Junior members of the American Legion Auxiliary, as well as school-aged Sons of the American Legion members who often collaborate with Juniors, may earn patches for activities in ALA programs, such as Poppy, Leadership, Americanism, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, and more. Participating in the Patch Program is a terrific way to learn about the Auxiliary and our “Legion Family,” volunteer in the community, and serve our country’s veterans.
Highlight the benefits of being a Junior Member. Promote the available scholarships—Spirit of Youth Scholarship, Junior Member Loyalty Scholarship, and James H Parke Scholarship.
Creating a positive environment where the juniors feel comfortable expressing their ideas and are willing to participate in activities. It will help them feel connected and motivated to continue their involvement. A mentor can provide guidance and enthusiasm to foster a positive relationship. They can provide advice and wisdom.
The key to retaining our Junior members is the way they connect with other members. Engaging our Junior members in helping with our mission-based activities fosters them to develop the skills and values for future leadership roles within our organization.
Before this year ends, Shelia and I would really like to organize a Junior Rally for any Junior members who are interested. It would be only for the day, not an overnighter. We can not do this without the interest. Those Units that have Junior members who would be interested can contact Shelia at this email address (smaxwell2403@gmail.com), Sue (sverville11@hotmail.com), or the Department (Shannon@michalaux.org).
We all need to work together to get the Juniors interested in becoming Honorary Junior Officers again. This is not an issue for just a few members but for all of us. We need to keep our younger members involved so they will continue as senior members. I look forward to hearing from any Unit with Junior members so we can start to plan a Junior Rally.