Do your past presidents parley hardy?

By Shirley Frederick, Past Presidents Parley Chairman

What is the Past Presidents Parley? What do they do? Does my unit have one? Who can belong? So let’s go “Back to the Basics” as our President Judy Ackerman’s theme says.

For many of our members, the answer is easy, but what about new members, longtime members that have not been as active. Does your unit have one and do all members know about it?

Sometimes we forget that not all our members know about some of the programs and committees we have in our units.

A Unit Past Presidents Parley is made up of members who have served their unit as president. A District Past Presidents Parley is made up of members who have served as a district president.  And a Department Past President’s Parley is made up of members who have served as department president.

The purpose of the Past Presidents Parley is for their members to use their experience, knowledge and training to mentor the unit members by answering their questions of the who, what and why of our organization. Encourage them to take part in committees, chairmanships and leadership by asking them to be part of a project with you. Make them feel comfortable at meetings and activities and with the members are all part of good mentoring.

If your unit does not have a Past Presidents Parley, how about going back to your unit and start one? Set a meeting date, time and place and then send out invitations for all your past presidents to come.

All Past Presidents Parleys should have dues and encouraged to contribute to the Past Presidents Parley Healthcare Scholarship Fund. And encourage the unit to do the same.

Past Presidents Parley Healthcare Scholarship is not just for nursing, it is for any course of study in the medical field. It is open to any American Legion Auxiliary member who has been a member for three years and their current dues are paid. It is a $1,000 scholarship and up to 10 are given each year, if the donations received from units to the Department Office have enough funds to do so. The September Unit Mailing has more information. The applications will be sent out to units with the 2024-2025 plaques and awards material in a unit mailing.