President: National President Pam Ray to visit Minnesota

Congratulations American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota!

We achieved the 85 percent needed for the National Merit Medallion! We did it because of you the members, unit and district membership chairman, and our department membership chairman Kollett Kaehlert.

I am so proud of everyone who helped make this goal and contacting us to see what they could do to help. Every morning, we were anxious checking the numbers.

Please support our junior program by bringing your junior members to Department Junior Conference April 10-11, hosted by the 1st District at Stewartville Post 164. Department Honorary Junior President Anastasia is busy getting ready for a great conference.

The Unit Annual Reporting Zooms were well-attended with over 125 attendees for the three Zooms.

Great feedback was shared, and I took notes to share in hopes that future leadership will continue. Do not forget that your annual reports are due to district program chairman and your impact reports to your district presidents before April 15.

Department chairman annual reporting and awards zoom will be Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. If you are unable to attend, I am asking that you notify me in advance of the meeting. There is a lot of information to make sure our department programs are represented at the national level.

We are so close to our goal of $35,000 for the Honor Flight. As I am writing this article we are at $31,000.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed. I say that this project is because of our members, and, to me, it will always be the Minnesota members’ project.

Do not forget to Purple Up on April 15 to support our military children. This is a day to show support and thank our military youth for their strength and sacrifices.

Make plans to attend Veterans Day on the Hill Thursday, April 23. This is a great day to support our Minnesota veterans and rally together.

Our National President Pam Ray will be in Minnesota July 2-5. There will be a dinner on Thursday, July 2, at Osseo-Maple Grove Post 172. More information will be coming on making your reservations for this special 250th Birthday Dinner. You can also see President Pam in the Forest Lake 4th of July parade.

More details will be shared once travel is confirmed.

The Department of Minnesota Joint Testimonial will be on Saturday, June 27, in New Prague. Social at 5 p.m., dinner 6 p.m., with 7 p.m. program, and then a live band until 10 p.m. Only $25 for the meal of turkey and brisket, sides and dessert. And only one night out of your busy summer.

Please come celebrate with us. To me it is not about us; it is about all the hard work all our members have done this past year. The flier is in this unit mailing and on the department websites.

Robin Dorf of Monticello Unit 260 is the president of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Minnesota. Her theme is “Promoting Our Mission by Working Our Programs.”