 |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
American Legion Auxiliary - Department of New York | |||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
                               
|
Junior_Activities
Chairman: Debby Herrmann Mid Winter Conference info and Registration Form PDF We have a CAMP SITE PDF - for the Junior Department Convention/Campout - All forms included Note: All PDF files with forms included can be filled out using your computer keyboard! We all know the Junior members of any organization are the future of that organized group, and without them, the organization is destined to fail. You, as the Junior Activities Chairman, have accepted the responsibility and challenge to inspire and instill in our Junior members a love and dedication to our organization so they will be prepared to become active and productive Senior members. By doing so, we can continue to grow and remain the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world. All chairmen are asked to instruct Juniors on the proper format and conduct of meetings, protocol, flag etiquette, and officers’ duties. The success of a Unit’s Junior activities program will depend largely upon the chairman. The attitude of the chairman is the link between success and failure. She can create fond memories for our Juniors and guarantee their future participation in our programs. As the Junior Activities Chairman, you must be:
Young people love challenge and excitement. Watch them in action and be alert to their needs and frustrations. Teach them our programs, how to run a meeting, parliamentary procedures and the Constitution and By-Laws. Make them feel needed, involve them in every aspect of the American Legion Auxiliary. We must update and incorporate new ideas and suggestions. Ask your Juniors about their interests and think of ways to add them to your programs. The American Legion Auxiliary can play a very positive part in the lives of our youth, but ONLY if we take the time and energy to include them, and above all make our organization interesting and fun. All our programs can be adapted so Juniors can participate on their own level. The Junior Activity Patch Program is a great way to get them involved and have fun at the same time. For more information regarding the 2008-2009 Patch Program click here! AMERICANISM: Americanism tends to build character and should be an important part in your activities. Be sure to include citizenship activities and knowledge of Flag etiquette. Instill in them the importance of their rights as well as their obligations of being a citizen of this great country. Have the older Junior members teach the younger ones about flag codes and the proper way to dispose of unusable flags. Participate in parades by marching and/or passing out small American Flags. Present patriotic programs for schools, nursing homes or other organizations. COMMUNITY SERVICE: Being active in the community is a natural for our Juniors. Beautification projects, working with senior citizens, helping at day care centers, visiting nursing homes and senior day care centers. Contribution to the success of their neighborhoods will be very rewarding and enjoyable. Volunteering in youth programs in the community, food pantries and shelters. Adopt a senior citizen, help by running errands, walking a pet, shoveling snow, gardening, etc. If your Legion Post has a Sons of the Legion, have both the Sons and the Juniors work together on projects. VA&R and FIELD SERVICE: One of the main programs of the American Legion Auxiliary is our service to our veterans and this should be stressed. Encourage Juniors to become a volunteer at VA Medical Centers or any NY State Veteran’s Home. The Juniors could adopt a Veteran in nursing homes or in their neighborhoods. Remember, our Veterans and their families more now then ever need your support throughout the year, not just at holiday times. MEMBERSHIP/MENTORING: Invite your Juniors to get involved. Encourage them to recruit their friends from school or neighborhoods. Watch your Junior group grow within your organization. Encourage older Juniors to adopt younger members, teaching them through their actions and encouragement. Have them help with initiation, installation, memorial and graduation ceremonies. CHILDREN AND YOUTH: Who can relate to youth better than other young people can? Have Juniors become involved in Special Olympics, Children’s Hospital and other programs designed for children. Collect books and toys for homeless children. POPPIES: Teach our Juniors about the origin of the poppy as our official flower. Encourage them to help distribute poppies with our senior members. Remember to have Juniors participate with poppy entries for awards under the poppy program. LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Promoting the use of the Leadership Course for Junior Members will be strongly encouraged this year. Leadership is one of the most misunderstood concept in our society. There is a leader hiding in each of us just waiting to come out and shine. Remember the Juniors of today will be the Leaders of this organization tomorrow. Teach them well. NATIONAL SECURITY: Every community has men and women serving in the armed forces. It’s very important to support the families left behind, particularly remembering the military children. Having a parent serving overseas is very difficult for children and who better to help than our Junior members. Have your Junior members adopt a military child in your community. Children helping children can be so rewarding for every one. The President’s Project is "Operation Purple". It focuses on helping military children deal with the challenges and stress that come with deployment. There is detailed information in the Plans of Work, and on our website. Participating in the Pocket Flag Program promotes troops’ hope and encouragement while serving far from home and lets them know we are thinking of them. PUBLIC RELATIONS & PUBLICITY: It is very important for you to give Juniors recognition. Recognize the hard work of your Juniors, utilizing newspapers, local cable companies, radio, and your Post and /or Auxiliary Newsletters. In this age of computers, many organizations have their own Website. Make sure the Juniors have their own page to utilize. A page in the “National News” is dedicated to the Juniors. Special activities sponsored by Junior groups should be photographed and their stories sent to the “National News” editor at National Headquarters. We have a Junior Activities handbook that will prove to be a big help with ideas and suggestions for each of our programs. Other resources are available to help you with their programs. A list has been included in this bulletin for your information. As we work with our Junior members, we must remember to LISTEN for their ideas and suggestions. We need to act as role models and work with enthusiasm for all our programs. We can guide them, encourage them, but let them do the work. RESPECT THEM AND IN RETURN, THEY WILL RESPECT YOU.
Debby Herrmann, Chairman
JUNIOR MID WINTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE January 23-24, 2008 at the Marriott Hotel in Albany New York. JUNIOR DEPARTMENT CONVENTION/CAMPOUT WE HAVE A CAMP SITE! The
Junior camp is being reinstated this year and I look forward to having a
great one. Mark the date on your calendars. Junior Department
Convention/Campout for Juniors age 8 – 17 is planned for the first weekend
in May, DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT SUSAN’S HOMECOMINGMay 30, 2009 at the Albany Country Club. Details will be available at a later date.
DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT’S AWARD: “STELLAR PERFORMANCE” AWARD To the Unit that offers the most unique Junior program to encourage new Junior member enrollment. Please attach copies of materials used as well as publicity releases. Entries should be submitted in typewritten form not to exceed 1,000 words. Cover sheet must include Unit name, Unit number, Unit Junior Activities Chairman’s name and phone number. Pictures, newspaper clippings, etc. can be included All entries MUST be sent to the
Department President directly at: Submission deadline: May 10, 2009 Entries will NOT be returned. MARY LOU PLATT AWARD To the Unit, County, or District Junior Advisor with the most outstanding report on her Junior Activities emphasizing American Legion Auxiliary programs. The report is to be in narrative form, not to exceed 1,000 words. Cover sheet must include name of Unit, County and District with the name and address of the Junior Advisor. Photos, news clippings, etc. may be used. All entries must be sent to the Department Junior Activities Chairman NO LATER THAN MAY 10, 2009 PHYLLIS BACHMAN AWARD To one Junior member attending Junior Camp this year a full scholarship and an additional $50.00 in travel expense will be awarded. The junior applying for this scholarship must submit an essay reporting on her individual desire to attend this year’s camp and what she hopes to take back home with her. The essay should be in narrative form, not to exceed 500 words. Must be written by the junior member herself, not a parent or Junior Advisor. Cover sheet must include name of Unit, County, and District with the name and address of the Junior. The entries must be sent to the Department Junior Activities Chairman. No later than January 17, 2009 - Winner to be notified at Mid-Winter Conference. Junior Activities
Chairman are reminded to check the other committees
UNIT AWARD: A citation plaque presented to the Unit Chairman in each division reporting the Best Junior Activities program. Entry must NOT be handwritten, must be in narrative form not to exceed 1,000 words. DO NOT include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. All entries must submitted to this chairman by May 10, 2009 to be forwarded to the Division Chairman no later than June 1, 2009 NATIONAL PLAQUE AWARD: This special Plaque will be presented to a unit reporting the Best Overall Junior Activities program using the following criteria:
Entry must be handwritten, in narrative form not to exceed 1,000 words. DO NOT include pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. All entries must be submitted to Department chairman by May 10, 2009 to be forwarded to the National Committee Member no later than June 1, 2009 Junior Member of the Year Award: A $100 Savings Bond presented to the National Junior Member of the Year in recognition for her dedicated service, efforts and talents. Each unit may submit one nominee for Junior Member of the Year to this Department Chairman. This Chairman and a selected committee will select one nominee to represent the Department of New York and to be recognized during the National Junior meeting held at the National Convention in August 2009 (The National organization will not provide funding to the Department for the nominee to attend the National Junior meeting) The rules are as follows:
All entries must be submitted to the Department chairman by May 10, 2009 who in turn will forward to the National Junior Activities Vice Chairman no later than June 1, 2009. Department Junior Member of the Year will be awarded a "Certificate of Accomplishment" to be announced at the Department Convention in July, 2009 Spirit of Youth Scholarship: One four-year scholarship valued at $4000 will be awarded to a Junior Member in each Division. Scholarship criteria is posted online at www.legion-aux.org Junior Volunteer Scholarship Award: A $1,000 scholarship awarded to a Junior member Volunteer in each division serving the greatest number of volunteer hours in a VA facility, through home or field service. See VA&R Plan of Work for details
REPORTING PROCEDURE: UNIT CHAIRMEN: Please send Unit Report Form to reach your County Chairman by the following dates: November 1, 2008, March 1, 2009, May 1, 2009 COUNTY CHAIRMEN: Please send County Report Form to reach the Department Chairman by the following dates: November 10, 2008, March 10, 2009, May 10, 2009
Note:
Forms are in (PDF Format
Junior Activities Chairman Department of NY Email: Debby Herrmann or Email: d_herrmann@theoutsource.org Note: For Chairman's physical address, contact Department Office
|
                                  
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|||
|
||||
| Copyright & Disclaimer © 1999-2008 |
|
