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CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
Bonnie Jakubczyk Department Chaplain Music Chairman Ph: (414) 764-6752 Email: bon6862@yahoo.com
Please send prayers for Department President Diana’s prayer book to me by May 1, 2013. While attending the Zablocki Creative Arts Festival, one performer gave his all. This Veteran had suffered a stroke that affected his speech. One of his acts was wheelchair dancing. His other act showed such courage as he sang Amazing Grace. He struggled with some of the words but never gave up and many tears were shed. His therapist said singing has been great therapy.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the wonderful signs of spring and ask that you please keep those serving our Country in your care. Keep us on track as we continue to serve God and Country. We ask for your guidance as we complete our year end reports. In your name we pray, Amen
MUSIC
I want to pass this Hymn on:
PASS IT ON Words and Music by Kurt Kaiser (1969) It only takes a spark to get a fire going, And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing; That’s how it is with God’s Love, Once you’ve experienced it, You spread His love to everyone, You want to pass it on. What a wonderous time is spring, When all the trees are budding, The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming; That’s how it is with God’s love, Once you’ve experienced it. You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, You want to pass it on. I wish for you my friend, This happiness that I’ve found; You can depend on Him, It matters not where you’re bound, I’ll shout it from the mountain top, I want the world to know, The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on. WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY “WISCONSIN”
March 28, 2013
GREETINGS FROM HEADQUARTERS Bonnie Dorniak Executive Secretary/Treasurer Ph: (608) 745-0124 Email: deptsec@amlegionauxwi.org www.amlegionauxwi.org Special thanks are extended to the WDVA, United Women Veterans, Ho-Chunk and Country Singer Ricky Lee for co-sponsoring the Veterans Expo and Benefit Concert on February 15th. Auxiliary members came from across the state to support this successful event that raised $1,824.40 for President Diana’s special project – Homeless Women Veterans Grant Fund. Auxiliary members are encouraged to attend their district spring conference. This is a great time to learn more about the American Legion Auxiliary, thank the district officers for all their hard work during the past year, and provide input as the district plans the year ahead. Please see the schedule on page A4 for more information.
There is still space available for the 2013 ALA Badger Girls State session scheduled for June 16-21. Units interested in sponsoring a delegate should contact Carrie Thrasher at Department Headquarters or their local high school to see if they have eligible junior students who wish to participate. Units that are interested in sponsoring a delegate but don’t have a local high school participating in the Girls State program are encouraged to consider sponsoring delegate(s) from another area. Department has a waiting list of young women who would like to attend ALA Badger Girls State. It is discouraging when we have to deny this great opportunity to educate the future of America due to lack of funds. 2014 Unit Membership Renewal Notice/Dues information was mailed to Unit Presidents and Membership Chairmen in mid-March. If you have not received your information, please contact Andrea Stoltz at
Department Headquarters as soon as possible. The deadline to return the information to Department Headquarters is May 3, 2013. In order to prevent the incorrect dues amount to go out with renewal notices, Units must respond by May 3rd to let us know how much they plan to collect for 2014 dues. National will not accept any changes after May 3rd. The minimum amount collected is $20 for senior members and $3 for junior members; units may charge more to offset costs of unit operations. Units must submit payments for any new members to Department by April 1st if they want these members to appear on the 2014 membership rosters and receive a pre-printed membership card. Name and address changes for current members must also be received by April 1st. 2014 membership cards will be mailed to units after department convention.
CHILDREN & YOUTH Mary Petrie Department Children & Youth Chairman Ph: (920) 261-8161 Email: mmrtpetrie@charter.net The first C&Y Unit mailing quoted Franklin D. Roosevelt, “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.” Throughout the year, members have been encouraged to form partnerships within the Legion Family as well as with other organizations, businesses, and community agencies – all for the betterment of our children and youth. To help carry out the Children & Youth mission, ideas have been presented to raise community awareness, information and contacts have been shared, and unique partnerships offering special promotions were highlighted. The generous contributions made to this program through monetary gifts, volunteer opportunities, and promotion of community involvement, have carried out the Auxiliary’s ideal of Service, Not Self. We have accomplished much, but there is so
much more to do. Continue to watch for special promotions. Last Fall, Brawny Paper Towels and Wounded Warriors partnered to raise more than $500,000 for and awareness of the needs of injured service members and their families. JC Penney collected over three million dollars for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and 4-H by ‘rounding up to the nearest dollar’ at checkout. Did you know that Tupperware has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs for over 15 years or that since 1947 the company has sponsored the National Year of the Youth program, honoring youth who have overcome enormous odds and who demonstrate exceptional character, service to their Club and community, academic performance, and contributions to their family? Visit your favorite products’ websites to check for special promotions. For each visitor who likes the Brawny Towels Facebook page or sends a thank you on its Wall of Thanks through December, $1 will be added -- up to $350,000 for Wounded Warriors.
The red bandana-bedecked Josh Dogs and Josh’s story have comforted and prepared children for surgery for years. Now introducing…G.I. Josh Dogs, sporting camouflage and comforting small children of a deployed service member. This Josh and accompanying “I’ll Be OK” book, housed in a box featuring the American Legion emblem, will be available soon. G.I. Josh will be sold exclusively through the Legion for $26 plus shipping and handling. Check the website at www.legion.org/sons/160764/comfortcanine-friend. Remember… Youth Hero Awards, honoring under 18-years-olds who perform a heroic act of valor, and Good Deed Awards, recognizing those who are excellent examples of community service, are available year round. Your encouragement, support, and focus through Working Together will not only make President Diana proud, it will make a tremendous difference in the lives of our children and youth, preparing them for the future.
LEADERSHIP Diane Weggen Department Leadership Chairman Are you an unconscious leader? Everyone – including you – is a leader whether you know it or not. Several times a week, you exhibit leadership traits without even thinking about it. What are some of these traits? Whenever you offer suggestions or solutions, give support or encouragement to another, clarify or add information, gather data, establish rules, or summarize, you help move someone or a group forward or toward a goal. Thus, you have demonstrated leadership, probably without realizing that you have taken the leadership role in each of these instances. This is the reason leadership workshops are for all of you. Join a number of members who are soaring to new heights by taking the challenge to become more knowledgeable about the Auxiliary and its programs while taking the National ALA Leadership Correspondence Course. Some units, like Holmen Unit 284 and New London Unit 263, have accepted the challenge and are working together to learn more about the Auxiliary to become
“Angels in Service” serving veterans, their families, and their communities and strengthening their units. Remember: recognition will be given to units who have the highest number of members and/or juniors completing the National ALA Leadership Correspondence Courses, and to units, counties, and districts with the highest percentage of members completing the course. Presidents must complete the course to be eligible for the unit, county, or district award. Mentorship is very important in membership development. Recognition will be given to one Unit Leadership Chairman who best implements the mentoring program within her unit and has the highest percent of member participation (goal is 50 percent) in the National Leadership Correspondence Course (LCC). One recognition certificate will be given for the mentoring of senior members and one for mentoring junior members. June 2nd is the deadline for taking and submitting the LCC for the unit award with the highest overall percentage of members who have successfully passed. Department can receive credit for all members passing
by June 28. Let’s work together and soar to greater heights. Holmen hosted a successful leadership workshop in January. Thorp Unit 118 will host a workshop on April 6; District 6 has a session on April 20. Everyone is invited to attend workshops including senior and junior members, Legionnaires, and prospective members. This is a great way to learn about your organization. Your Leadership Committee will work with you to establish a time for a Leadership workshop or to assist you in learning about the Auxiliary by completing the Leadership Correspondence Course. “Working together, we will help you find the leader inside yourself!” LEADERSHIP TEAM: Chairman Diane Weggen, Thorp Unit 118, District 7, dsweggen@centurytel.com; Rose Heinz, Appleton Unit 38, District 9, rozkar@new.rr.com; Germaine Hying, Muscoda Unit 85, District 3, jghying@countryspeed.com