Department of Mississippi Magnolia Monthly Newsletter April 2015 News GREETINGS FROM THE DEPARTMENT PRESIDENT Beep Beep and we are On The Road For Our Veterans. Just got home from the tour around Mississippi with the American Legion and National Commander Mike Helm. To all the Posts and Units that hosted our Commander, you did great! Your true Southern Hospitality was shining. It was very good to hear National Commander Helm talk about the American Legion Family and membership. If your Unit has 100% in membership, please help your American Legion, the SAL and ALR get their 100%. If one of them already have 100% and your Unit does not, ask them to help you. Wouldn t it be absolutely wonderful to have a 100% Department? YES! We hope every Unit is represented at the Area Conferences coming up. Remember this is election time for our District Officers. I hope you have read the requirements of the District Officers, and you have someone that is willing to make the commitment to do the job. The District Officers are so very important to our organization. If you have any questions about the up coming elections, please feel free to call us. It is with great honor that I get inform you that our N a t i o n a l L e a d e r s h i p Chairman, Kathy Dungan has been given The Nod. Kathy presently serves as N a t i o n a l L e a d e r s h i p Chairman. She will serve as the National Children and Youth Chairman next year. The following year she will serve as National VA&R Chairman and then National Vice President. In the 100 th year of the American Legion Auxiliary, Kathy will be our N a t i o n a l P r e s i d e n t! CALENDAR OF EVENTS April 11, Southern Area Conference, Bay Springs April 18, Northern Area Conference, Calhoun City Post 50 May 9, Central Area Conference, Post 112, Jackson May 12-13, National President s Visit Congratulations, Kathy, we are proud of you and thank you for all that you do. Kathy Dungan will be the first National President from Mississippi. Please remain prayerful for all our members that have lost loved ones. We also need to pray for all our members who are sick. May God Bless you. Mary Barrett 1ST VICE PRESIDENT-PROGRAMS COORDINATOR SPRING IS IN THE AIR! It is time to work on the year-end reports. The due date to the Department Program Chairmen is May 1. Spring Area Conferences will begin soon; by doing reports now you will be ahead of the game. Unit Presidents - be sure to put your HOURS VOLUNTEERED and Number of DOLLARS spent (include donations) on your reports that you are to present at the Area Conferences. This information is compiled from all Departments and is what the National Leadership uses when in Washington, D.C., advocating for our VETERANS and the value of our Legion family. If you are unable to attend your Area Conference, please arrange for your report to be presented by someone else, or send it to me, and I will see that it is read. We need three copies of your report. If I can help in any way, please give me a call. Each member s presence at meetings is very important, and your vote is very important to the operation of each unit at election time. Speaking of elections; the upcoming Area Conferences are where the District elections take place. Get ready to run for office and to vote for your choice of officers. WE NEED YOU THERE! Most of the programs have some type of award please recognize the work that our units have taken the time to do. Check your Plans of Action. Pray for all that are serving and God Bless their Families. Anita McAllister, 1st Vice President
PAGE 2 APRIL 2015 2ND VICE PRESIDENT-VA&R CHAIRMAN Gee! This has been a chilly winter, and spring has arrived. The rain, sleet, snow and unexpected germs in the air have set an example for us to follow, i.e., Boy and Girl Scout s motto of always be prepared. I don t believe any of us expected the weather we ve had this winter. I just thank God we survived it all. Now, we must reinforce our teaching and learning by thinking about what we need to do daily for our veterans as soon as we can and when. So many of our veterans return home to face no jobs, shelter or means to provide for their families and daily needs. Let us think about this and be more concerned about our homeless and jobless veterans, while at the same time remembering the sick, shut-ins, handicap and especially the soldiers returning home. We have enough love to share with all of our soldiers. All the love we show with gifts and entertainment is good and we should not stop. What I would like to see is the addition of more activities that will provide veterans and their families with assistance for shelter, food and a job. Let us do whatever we can to make sure no veteran is left behind. Now for a more serious matter and that is submission of reports. Ladies, please remember that I have to get my annual report to national by May 1 st. So I must have your information before April 25 th to have your unit activities included and to apprise National of all the hard work and activities that we have done to support our veterans. Thank you for all your support and continued love for our soldiers. All about our veterans, not self. God Bless our Veterans and God Bless America. Eva Ford, 2nd Vice evil39183@yahoo.com Telephone: 601-638-3086 FOR THE RECORD DEPT. HISTORIAN I wish everyone a Happy Easter, and that we truly remember the reason for that DAY. It seems like a life-time since I have seen several of you. Several things have happens at Unit 71, we have started a game night each Days to remember in May. month, it is the Friday after our monthly meeting on Thursday. The Auxiliary and Riders visited the Jasper County Nursing Home and distributed Valentine s cards and candy. Several members attended the SEE YOU IN BAY SPRINGS, APRIL 11, 2015!!!! Oratorical competitions at Quitman, Vancleave, and the final one in Jackson. If you have never been to one, PLEASE try to go, you will not regret going!!!! Our Post and Auxiliary helped with a program for Post 107 in Louin on the 28 th of March. Several Post/Unit members of 71 enjoyed the reception for the National Commander at Post 24 in Hattiesburg. We are getting our soap box derby cars ready for the Hammerhead race on April 16, 2015, and of course our SAC will be April 11, 2015, in Bay Springs, so don t forget that and other Area Conferences. May 1st, Labor Day; May 10 th, Mother s Day; May 16 th Armed Forces Day; and May 25 th Memorial Day. Jackie Baughman, Department Historian 956 CR 17,Bay Springs, MS 39422 jbauxiliary@ymail.com; 601-480-6415 CHAPLAIN S CORNER DEPT. CHAPLAIN We have all heard this before but during this time of year nothing is more appropriate. Remember to thank our Veterans and Our Lord. Ladies, the work you do is so important and needs to be made known. The smallest act could mean everything to someone who is down. Remember to please send prayers, poems and any item you would like included in the President's Prayer book along with your reports. Please get those to me before the May 1 deadline. National and Congress needs to hear from us. Happy Easter and God Bless Us All! Tina Hurst, Dept. Chaplain
PAGE 3 APRIL 2015 NATIONAL SECURITY Ladies, May 1 is fast approaching. Please remember, that is when your National Security year-end reports need to be received by me. Any entries for the National Security awards need to be received by then as well. Each entry must include the cover sheet; check your Plans of Action for details and other information. Feel free to call or email me if you have questions. Rose Blanchard, Chairman and NEC DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD A DISTRICT? The Offices of District President and Vice President are an integral part of the American Legion Auxiliary. You serve as a coordinators between the Units and the Department and are a vital link in the chain of command. We have nine districts in the Department of Mississippi, with a varying number of Units in each. It would be your responsibility as a District President and Vice President to make sure your Units are aware of all pertinent information from the Department and insure they are aware of the time and location of all District functions. Since the District President is an elected officer of the Auxiliary, you are a member of the Department Executive Committee and expected to attend all meetings of said committee. When called upon, you are expected to assist all other Department officers with their endeavors during the year, especially in attaining membership goals. In order to keep Units running smoothly, a District President and Vice President must be familiar with the Department Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules. You should be prepared to solve any minor administrative problem that may arise within the Units in your District, although you cannot become involved in Unit personality problems and disputes. You cannot take sides in issues of the Unit; however, you should have them understand that you are there to assist them when needed. Your primary concentration is to increase membership, see that all renewals are met, and endeavor to form new Units. That being said, you should have a complete understanding of the process of organizing a new Unit. Always keep a supply of membership applications, blank membership cards, and a pen and notebook with you at all times. ELECTION TO OFFICE The District President is nominated ONLY at the Spring Area Conference. She is elected by the State Convention delegates and installed at the Department s State Convention. After installation, the District President shall appoint a District Secretary, who will take minutes at District/Area proceedings and assist with the administrative aspects of the District, if any. The District Vice President is elected and installed at the Spring Area Conference. The presiding District President may request the Department President to install the District Vice President, if she is present. ENJOY Enjoy your year as District President or Vice President as you are the heartbeat of our Department. You are closest to the Units and its members. Guard well the trust placed in you, and your reward will be a job well done. Get to know your district members and share in their accomplishments. Lend an ear or shoulder when they are distressed. Help them find positive solutions. Finally, know that your work will be most appreciated by the Department of Mississippi. We depend on you!
APRIL 2014 PAGE 4 AUXILIARY EMERGENCY FUND Is it Spring yet? April will be another busy month with the Spring District/Area Conferences. I hope each of you will be able to attend your local meeting and share your wealth of knowledge with everyone. What a great experience this has been for me this year as the Department s AEF Chairman. I want to thank everyone that has donated directly or in-directly to the AEF. Your support shows that together we can and do make a difference. Please continue to give and support our programs. Please mail or email me your end of year AEF report by 1 May 2015. If your unit does not participate, then a quick note so stating will also be appreciated. Mail me at 956 CR 17, Bay Springs, MS 39422 or email: chiefangie2013@gmail.com. For GOD and Country, Angie Baughman, Chairman LEGISLATIVE Please find The American Legion Legislative Priorities for the 114 th Congress attached to this newsletter. These are the items that the American Legion Legislative Committee has identified for our attention, and I am asking everyone to share with Unit members. Please take the time to contact your Senators and Congressmen and be heard on these vital issues. When preparing your Unit's Legislative annual report, please answer the five questions bulleted in the Legislative Plan of Action on page 75 as part of your narrative report. Thank you in advance for your annual reports and for working with our lawmakers to bring attention to veterans' needs. Diane Cantrell, Chairman EDUCATION My goodness, where has this year gone? Can you believe it s time for year-end reports? You need to compile your Unit Education Report and write a narrative as to what your Unit has done to promote the Education Program this year. Here are some specific questions you need to answer: Did your Unit promote Give 10 to Education, Veterans in the Classroom, actively support Veterans Associations on campus, or assist needy students? How many scholarships were awarded from your Unit? And, please detail any other Education activities your Unit did this year. Please send your reports to me by May 1. My email address is junebuglaws@yahoo.com or mail to June Laws, 219 Felicity St., Bay St. Louis, MS. Just let me know if you have any questions. I will help you in any way I can. June Laws, Chairman
APRIL 2014 PAGE 5 M.E.M.B.E.R.S.H.I.P. MISSION MEMBERSHIP: APRIL AND MAY MEMBERSHIP ASSIGNMENT FOR EACH UNIT! READ ON AND ACT! During the month of March, I asked each Unit, at your monthly meeting, to focus on those members who have not paid their renewal for 2015. Please remember, you have until April 10 to send me your Unit s list of renewals collected during the month of March. The Unit with the highest percentage of renewals submitted from March 1-31 will be awarded a Preamble Banner for your Unit s meeting room. We hope to present this to the winning unit during our upcoming Area Conferences if it arrives in time from Emblem Sales! Fingers crossed! Here s the plan for April and May: Well, we re going to do the same thing, but for different prizes: Each Unit President, Secretary and Membership Chairman needs to get together prior to your unit meeting and compile a complete list of your members that have not renewed to date for 2015. Bring a copies of that list to your unit meeting. Go over the list with your unit members in attendance and make contact assignments ask if a member knows the person who needs to renew and ask them to volunteer to call or visit that person to pick up that renewal. The important thing is to divide up the list and ask someone to personally contact that member to ask them to renew ASAP. One thing to keep in mind I do not want anyone publicly embarrassed! If you have a member in attendance who has not renewed yet, don t call them out in front of everyone. Speak with them off to the side before the meeting and remind them to renew. Let s always remember kindness and courtesy towards each other. You may decide to offer a reward for the unit member who brings in the most renewals during March. Make it fun and give them incentive besides the fact that it will help your unit reach 100% Renewals! Ask your unit secretary to keep a running list of all renewals gained from this campaign during the months of April and May (separate lists please). April s list needs to be sent to me by May 10 (email is angelakilcrease@bellsouth.net or mail to 720 Tyler Avenue, Tylertown, MS 39667). The May campaign list of renewals is due to me by June 10. The unit with the highest percentage of renewals submitted for each month (April and June) will get a little prize from your Dept. Membership Committee!! The April winner will receive a Scrapbook Cover, with the Unit s name embossed. The May winner will receive a History Book Cover, with the Unit s name embossed. The April and May prizes will be presented to the winning Units at State Convention in July. Many, Many Thanks to all of those units who are continuing to turn in membership and working the program. Your efforts are most appreciated, believe me! Mississippi is still in the top ten, as far as our numeric goal, and in the top 20 for renewals and rejoins. If we continue our good progress, we all will be saying, BEEP, BEEP, OUTTA THE WAY, MISSISSIPPI COMIN THRU!! Angela Kilcrease, Chairman
APRIL 2014 PAGE 6 PAST PRESIDENT S PARLEY (THE PROGRAM) We need to submit our nominations for The Salute to Service Women Award. The Past Presidents Parley (Program) Committee will continue to recognize the military service of female service personnel, including the National Guard and Reserve components, representing each branch of service at the National Convention. Requirements 1. The winning nominees should be willing to attend National Convention in Baltimore, MD. 2. All entry forms, including a narrative or You Tube video, must be completed and submitted by the deadline. A You Tube video can take the place of a written narrative by the nominee of not to exceed 750 words about Why I Support Women s Role in today s Armed forces. No Pictures or scrapbooks or folders are to be included. Please see awards form for details on National Web site at www.alaforveterans.org. 3. Entry must have the nominee s name and address, unit name and number (if applicable) and most importantly, contact information for the servicewoman. 4. All entries must be postmarked by the May 1, 2015 and sent to chairman Glenda Wheelis, 35 Oak Tree Drive, Laurel, MS 39443. We need to have a representative in this category. If I can help in any way let me know. Glenda Wheelis, Chairman PUBLIC RELATIONS Greetings to everyone! It's time to think about our "Public" knowing about what we are doing for the American Legion Auxiliary and for God and Country. There are many units who do not have things published due to many reasons, but send me anything you can. Communication may be utilized in varies ways such as flyers, community calendars, Tee shirts, local newspaper, TV, emails, Facebook, and billboards, and brochures for the Department Public Relations booklet. Please send me all your newspaper articles, anything published or announced, so that I can put it in our book. Your year-end report is due May 1, too. Many thanks! Charlotte Williams, Public Relations Chairman PRESIDENT S SPECIAL PROJECT I would once again like to thank everyone for their tickets sales. Let's keep them moving though. We still have a ways to go before we hit our target for President Mary s Special Project. If you need tickets please call me, and we will get some out to you ASAP. The Laptop we are raffling is a good one, and it will be given away at State Convention in July. Once again, thanks, and let's sell some tickets. Melissa Seward, Special Projects Chairman
FROM THE DEPT. SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI War Memorial Building P. O. Box 1382 Jackson, MS 39212 Phone: 601.353.3681 E-mail: ALAMSHQ@att.net W E RE ON T HE W EB! W WW. M ISSAL A. COM JOIN OUR GROUP ON FACEBOOK AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY MISSISSIPPI ALSO JOIN: ALA SOUTHERN DIVISION A Note of Thanks Lynn and I thank you all so much for the prayers, cards and thinking of us during this time of our grandson Trip s death. We miss our precious brown-eyed man. Also, thank you all so much for the generous donation made at Midwinter Conference to me for a shopping spree. I m going to really enjoy it. Poppies are here, are boxed and ready to deliver to you who ordered. Please attend your Area Spring Conferences and pick up your poppies or have someone from your Post or Unit do so. It will save a lot of postage. We ordered about a thousand extra poppies for those who always forget and order after the deadline. First come first serve. President Mary asked us to include in this newsletter a repeat of last month s article Do You Have What It Takes to Lead a District. Please take time to read this and find that special member who fits the bill. She is out there just waiting to be discovered. She s the one who keeps your unit going, is respected by all, and loves the Auxiliary. She is everywhere! Find her and encourage her to be a leader. We are still getting a few units reporting who have not sent their tax report to the IRS (e-card). We can t emphasize how important this is. Failure to file two years in a row results in your tax exempt status being revoked. Speaking of being tax exempt, we have had a few units who do not understand what this means (They haven t attended our workshops!). The American Legion Auxiliary is chartered under 501 (19). This means you are exempt from paying taxes TO THE IRS. Also, as a non-profit organization, all donations made to us can be claimed as a donation. An example of an organization who is exempt from paying sales taxes is a church (who is a 501 (3)). However, in order to keep your tax exempt status, you must file an annual report to the IRS. It s very simple and is done on line through www.irs.gov. If your unit has $50,000 or less in your banking account, you can file an e-card. If you have more than $50,000, you must file the long form (990). Everybody got that!!!!! Hope you are getting some benefit from the Secretary Duties included in the newsletters. The first part was included in March s newsletter. The second part is in this newsletter. Next month we will begin with the Treasurer s job. If you have questions about any of the duties, please call or email the Department. We will be happy to delve further into responsibilities. Hope to see you all at the Area Conferences. Please remember the Southern Area Conference location has been moved to Bay Springs. Don t forget your Unit reports and bring three (3) copies. Lovin you all and my country, Nancy Sanders, Dept. Secretary/Treasurer LOOK FOR SECRETARIES DUTIES, PART 2, ATTACHED TO THIS NEWSLETTER AND SHARE WITH YOUR UNIT SECRETARY! Martha and Lynn Rodgers Calhoun City