Department President

President 

Susan M. Britton
American Legion Auxiliary
Department of New York

Susan M. Britton was elected President of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of New York,
on July 19, 2008 at the Department Convention held in Albany, New York,
for the year 2008 - 2009.

 

Susan is a 35-year member from Albany County in the Third District, she is a member of the Clarke White Unit #589 through the eligibility of her husband, Donald, who served in the US Navy during the Vietnam era. They have been married for 35 years; have a daughter, a son and five grandsons.
 

As her children were growing up, she served her community with active roles in the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and as cheerleading advisor. She served on the Greenville Central School Board of Education, as Assessor for the Town of Rensselaerville and member of the Vestry of Trinity Church. She recently retired as Business Manager of The Bethlehem Public Library where she was employed for 25 years and administered a $3.8 million budget
.

Susan served as Unit President for 5 years. She was awarded the Department President’s Award for her work on Children & Youth in 1997 as well as a National certificate and Regional Award from The American Legion Commission on Children & Youth for “Best in the Department” in the VISION Award Program. In 1998 she received the Department President’s VISION Award for an Americanism project as well as the Charlotte Craven Americanism Award. In 2002 she was awarded the Evelyn Sheldon “Youth Reaches Out” Award under Children & Youth for her submission of projects by a local youth group.
 

She served as line officers and as President of Albany County for a two-year term in 2002-2004. She served as Chairman of the Halls & Seating Committee for the 1996 Department Convention and as Chairman of the State Dinner for the 2002 Department Convention both held in Albany. Susan has spent time volunteering at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center assisting with Holiday Gift Shops and the Albany VA Fisher House.
 

She served as Third District President in 2001-2002 and chaired the National Security Committee. Her efforts resulted in national recognition when awarded the Department National Security Award for the best overall National Security Program activities in the Eastern Division. During 2002-2003 Susan served as Department Legislative Chairman and was awarded the Department Legislative Award for the most outstanding Legislative Program in the Eastern Division. In both chairmanships, she represented the Department of New York at the National Awareness Assembly in Washington, D.C.
 

Susan was one of the initial trainees selected to serve on the Department of New York’s Unit Development and Revitalization Team in 2002 and has presented aspects of the program at numerous Mid-Winter Conferences. She has served as Senior Counselor at Empire Girls State and is a Department Certified Leadership Instructor. Susan served as Department Leadership Chairman in 2003-2004 and organized the Mid-Winter Leadership Conference. She also served as Department Americanism Chairman in 2004-2005 and was on staff for the Empire Girls State Program in Brockport, NY. During this year, she received the National Citizenship & Naturalization Activities Americanism Award for best overall program in welcoming and educating new citizens for the Department of New York.
 

In 2005-2006, as Third Vice President Susan served as Department Children & Youth Chairman and promoted the Spinoza Bear program and eliminated the initial list of waiting children in NYS. At National Convention, she was awarded the Department Children & Youth Award for the best overall promotion of the Children & Youth Program in the Eastern Division. In both the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 administrations, Susan served as Department Membership/UD&R Chairman.