President’s Corner
Greetings Auxiliary Members,
All changes to your unit leadership, including ALAMIS access, need to be reported to the Department Office staff so the database can be updated to reflect those changes. Deaths cannot be recorded in ALAMIS by unit membership chairs. Please be sure that your unit membership chairman is kept aware of any deaths of members so she can report them in a timely manner to the Department Office.
It is particularly important that SLM (State Life Members) deaths are reported in a timely manner. We have SLM’s the Department pays National dues of $18 for each of those members. Those dues for approximately 550 members are paid in late November to National. It is important that Units stay in close contact with their SLM members and keep their status updated in our database, especially their addresses. In the past, the Department has paid numerous dues for deceased members because those deaths were not reported and the records corrected.
Honorary Life Members (Honorary Life Members) are members that the unit pays dues for. Please be sure to notify the Department Office with the name and unit number so the database can be updated. The dues renewal notice will then be mailed to the unit directly for the unit to pay the HLM member dues.
Department Staff is using a new email service called ‘Constant Contact.’ It will be utilized to send email blasts out to all members with an email address on file. When an email is sent out it will show constant contact at the bottom of the email. I collected email addresses when I attended the Fall District Meetings. We are asking units to get emails from their members along with name, unit # and any leadership role that they hold as soon as possible. The Department Office Staff is working on updating email addresses as we get them in. Remember to collect email addresses when a member pays their dues. Email will be used increasingly for communications purposes by the Department and National organizations with the goal of saving time and money for both.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a member of your unit have access to ALAMIS (American Legion Auxiliary Management Information System). This program has information for every member of your unit. There are three levels of access, so choose the one that works for your unit and send a request by email to the Department Office at secretary@ndala.org. Please include the access level desired, member’s name, and email address. In turn, Department staff will request your access from National Headquarters.
Medora Homecoming: Pictured (l-r) Department President Gloria Covert, Past Department President Sandra Petermann (2022-23), Past Department President Marlys Aubol (2013-14), Past NW Division National Vice President Judy Twete (2015-16), and NEC Tammy Ryberg.
Every program that the National office administers has a Facebook page. All members have access to these pages. They are a great resource for information as a lot of questions and answers are addressed.
Every member with computer access should sign up under the “members only” portal on the national website: www.ALAforVeterans.org. All members should review the courses that are available under the ALA Academy page. Everything you ever wanted to know about the American Legion Auxiliary is available on the national website.
Is everyone wearing RED on Fridays? RED (Remember Everyone Deployed) on Fridays is a show of support for our military. You can get your community and schools involved in the movement. You can wear or display anything red to show your support.
Remember to send the pictures and articles on your unit events to Department Historian, Andrea Neshem so she can archive our happenings. What units do to complete the mission statement needs to be in newspapers and on social media.
The Department’s website, www.ndala.org, features information on our programs, scholarships, application forms, unit mail material, “The Message” articles, and more. All members with a computer have access to this information.
Always be kind,
Gloria Covert
Department President-Elect
Hello North Dakota Auxiliary Members,
I want to reiterate my constant call for ‘membership, membership, membership.’ We need every Auxiliary member to pay their dues! We in North Dakota are active, involved members of our country and communities! We love our veterans! Remember why you became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Our mission is to support our veterans and active-duty military members and their families.
We must never let our Auxiliary members forget how important they are and how critical paying their dues is in our efforts to support our mission of advocating for veterans and their families. North Dakota is known for the number of men and women who have served and continue to serve in the military, for how well we honor our veterans, and for our wonderful generosity on behalf of veterans.
Remember that Congress acts on behalf of our veterans in direct proportion to our membership numbers in the American Legion Family. We just cannot let our veterans down. Bills such as the GI Bill, health bills related to Vietnam and Camp Lejeune, the Choices Bill that allows veterans to go to local doctors when they live 40 miles from a VA care facility, the PACT Bill regarding burn pits, and so much more have all been passed for veterans. These important Congressional actions would not be possible without the help and support of numbers in our organizations, our volunteer hours, and our donation of funds spent on behalf of our veterans.
Remember the ‘Be The One’ program and its focus on the well-being of our veterans. Watch over your veterans and if you see one in need or going through hard times, reach out to them and assist them in any way you can.
For God and Country.
LoAnn Dick
Meet your Department Vice President
Candace joined the Auxiliary as a junior member under the eligibility of her father, Harland Berg, a Vietnam veteran. During her years as a junior member, Candace served as the trumpet player (bugler) for Memorial Day programs until graduating from high school.
Candace is active with the York unit as well as the Devils Lake Neathery-Simenson VFW Auxiliary, having served as a flag bearer, unit secretary, unit chaplain, and several chairmanships.
Candace is also involved with Ramsey County 4-H, serving as the treasurer and a 4-H leader. She emphasizes community service projects with her group that are veteran-focused, such as learning the meaning of the US flag, flag folding, honoring businesses and homes who display the US flag, putting together veteran food and supply packages, and helping with veteran and patriotic holiday services.
Candace currently lives and works in Devils Lake and is the proud parent of 3 children and a menagerie of pets. She is a licensed foster care parent, and in her spare time she enjoys volunteering at White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, sketching, photography, genealogy, watching hockey, exploring nature, and spending time with loved ones.
Candace’s focus this year is to embrace the programs of the American Legion Auxiliary and meeting as many veterans as possible.
(Department Staff Article)
December 2023 – The Message
President’s Archives
