It was a great membership year for the Auxiliary

By Kollett Kaehlert, Past Membership Chairman
After a successful year as the 2025-26 department president, Robin Dorf was initiated into the Past Department Presidents Parley. With her great sense of humor and love of pickles, she was escorted by 2024-25 Department President Judy Ackerman back into the convention hall for the Friday afternoon session.

What a wonderful American Legion Auxiliary Convention we had in Willmar. Congratulations to the districts, units and chairmen who earned awards for their outstanding membership efforts this year.

Award recipients

  • Scallen Carlson Plaque: Awarded to the district with the highest percentage of goal by the 2025 Fall Conference. This award went to the 6th District, which reached 56.57 percent of membership.
  • Carlson Hollenbeck Plaque: Awarded to the district with the highest membership percentage by July 1, 2026, based on the membership bulletin. This award also went to the 6th District, which reached 92.43 percent.
  • Unit Membership Chairmen Award: Presented to the unit with the most new unit members signed up. Forest Lake Unit 225 from District 3 received this award with 25 new members.
  • District Membership Chairmen Award: Presented to the district membership chairman with the most new members signed up districtwide. Third District Membership Chairman Jeorgia Cluckey received this award after recruiting 95 new members during the year. Great job!
  • Recruiting Our Future Stars Award: Presented to Kimball Unit 261 in the 6th District.
  • Outstanding Individual Recruiter: Presented to Sheri Hernandez from Forest Lake.

Membership year and dues reminder

The 2026 membership year runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, while the Auxiliary year runs from Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026. If you have not yet paid your 2026 dues, please do so as soon as possible.

Members may begin paying their 2026-27 dues starting July 1. Let’s continue working together to recruit new members, renew current members, and support the incoming membership team.

Thank you again for all your hard work, dedication, and support throughout this past year.