American Legion Auxiliary

November, 2022 

    This is the month we're all supposed to be giving Thanks for all our Lord God has bestowed upon each of us. Of course, I'm always giving Thanks to Him for each and every one of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary members. 

We're just two months away from the Mid-Winter Conference, January 13-15, 2023 and Open Wheeled Racing. Whose car will be leading on the track for first place? Will it be your District or will it be mine??? 

     Generally, Louisiana’s membership starts off with a bang! Unfortunately, by November/December we begin to fall in membership. Membership has begun to wane. District Presidents that falls on your shoulders.Let's all work together to reverse that trend this year!  If you want your District to place in the race, I encourage you to get behind the driver's wheel and start your engines!! Together, we can have National wave the flag for Louisiana as we come in first, second or even third place! 

     Unfortunately, many of our Units are experiencing internal problems. Please remember the chain of command when working towards resolution of conflicts. Work within your unit to resolve problems. If that doesn’t work, you may then contact your District President to see if there's something that can be done on the District level. If there is no resolution on the District level, please contact the Department. Always remember why this great organization exists…to work together for our Veterans and active Military. 

     In closing I am sending Thanks for and to each of you and praying for a very Blessed Thanksgiving. I hope to see each of you at the Mid-Winter Conference to show your support for our Auxiliary and all the new Units and members. 

For God and Country 

My Dear Auxiliary Members, 

I am so excited with the number of new and renewed memberships that are rolling in. While Louisiana is still in second place in the Southern Division, the Southern Division is still #1 in the nation!!

Unfortunately, we still have too many zero (0) Units out there…18 to be exact.

I’m asking all of our amazing District Presidents and Area Presidents to get out there and change those 0 Units to 100% Units! Some of our Districts only have 4 or 5 Units so those should be easy to take care of.  If a unit is unable to meet the minimum (10) required to maintain its charter, suggest that they consider merging with another Unit. 

Please remember, DO NOT HOLD MEMBERSHIP that has been sent in. Send in your transmittals immediately after you receive member dues. Remember, holding membership does not reflect well on a Unit, our Department or the Southern Division. 

As important as membership is, let's not  forget our Veterans  while we're working on our membership goals!

The Legion does 'Buddy Checks' on their members and I encourage all members and leaders to do the same. Call, text, email, or stop by for a face to face visit with  members. Remember, we are a part of the American Legion Family and each family member is valuable! If they haven't paid their dues yet, use this opportunity to remind them….member relationships come first, and  membership follows! 

The 2022-2023 Membership Party is being held on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Unit 38 in Baton Rouge beginning at 11:00. We ask everyone attending bring something to share for the snack table.

September 2022

     I cannot begin to tell you how humbled, honored and excited I am to be able to serve each of you as President of the most prestigious organization in America, the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Louisiana.  It is a dream come true for me and I ask for your prayers that I may succeed and possibly make a difference not only for our organization but also for our great State of Louisiana.

     I won’t be able to achieve my goal without the help of each of our Senior and Junior members.  We are now collecting 2023 membership dues.  This year National has imposed another 104 new members to Louisiana’s Goal, that means we need 4,322 members signed up for 2023; our membership goal for 2022 was 4,218 for which we did not achieve.  BUT that being said I know we will meet the membership goal set for us for 2023 and I am praying we surpass that goal.  We can do it but we ALL have to bring in at least one new member, we are 105 Units strong surely this isn’t impossible.

     As of the last membership report received from Department and National, Louisiana is leading in the #1 position in the Southern Division and in the Nation.  Looks like we might not have to sit all the way in the back row at National next year.  We’ve got to keep the momentum going ladies and gentlemen, so if you haven’t paid your dues yet or if you know someone who hasn’t get with it and do so right away.  Make your Unit, District and Department proud.

    My President’s Project is ‘Service Dogs for Veterans’.  My President’s Theme is ‘Service Not Self’.  For too many years our organization has dropped the ball on our Veterans and thought about ourselves instead, this has got to change.  Our Veterans are our first and foremost concern.  Let’s all work together for God and Country, for our Veterans, for those currently in the Military and especially for our Disabled Veterans who really need our help.  

    Many of you have contacted me for one reason or another and I want you all to know that I am reachable by phone, text, email and snail mail. So please whatever your need or comment, whether it’s something you want to say to me, pro or con, let me hear from you.  If you get my answer machine please leave a message and I will get back to you probably same day.  That being said I want to remind you of Protocol, when you have a question or concern always go to your Unit President first then to the District President then to Department.  I will always listen and if I don’t have an answer to your question or concern, I will get it and the final decision will always be for the good of the Auxiliary.  My main goal is to bring us together. Some have said I’m following the same path of some of the past leaders and I can tell you all that there are some that I admire and would love to follow in their footsteps but alas, I must lead the best way I know how and that’s to MOVE FORWARD, so let’s do it together.  FOR GOD AND COUNTRY!