"United We Stand - Divided We Fall"
Death
.gif/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:600,cg:true)
Obituary for
Changes have been made to the services for Past President Gwenell Knight (2008-2009) who passed away Sunday, 6-24-2023 as follows.
There will NOT be a viewing or visitation on Friday 7-7-23.
10:00 am graveside services only on Saturday, 7-8-2023 at Jamison Cemetery located at 336920 US 62, McLoud, OK 74851.
Flowers can be sent to Hillside Baptist Church at 9497 N. Oak Road, Harrah, OK, 73045.
Sympathy Cards should be sent to 1424 NE 3rd Street, Moore, OK, 73160.
David expressed a desire to attend the Memorial Service at our Dept. Convention. I told him he would be more than welcome and I would let him know what day and time that would be held.
Oklahoma ALA Call to Convention July 13-16, 2023
American Legion Auxiliary
Department of Oklahoma
Call To Department Convention
June 12, 2023
To All American Legion Auxiliary Members
This is the Official Call for the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Oklahoma Convention to be held Friday through Sunday, July 14-16, 2023 at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, 777 Grand Casino Blvd., Shawnee, OK, 74804 (405/964-7777). Rooms can be reserved for $104 (+ tax) per night – be sure to use the rooms blocked by The American Legion when you make reservations.
The registration fee for the Auxiliary meeting is $20.00 (if Pre-Registered) or $25.00 at the door. Pre-registration is requested so that we can have an accurate count of attendees (registration form is enclosed). Registration will begin at 9:00 am on Friday, July 14, 2023 - the meeting will start Friday morning at 10:00 am.
Past Department Presidents – we want our members to be able to easily recognize you for your past accomplishments and your devotion to the American Legion Auxiliary. We are asking that you wear your Past Department Ribbon/Sash throughout the Convention
Credentials Form: Your Unit Delegation Chairman should bring two (2) copies of the completed Unit Credentials Form (copy enclosed) and present them at the time of registration. The Department Credentials Chairman will then complete the form designating the number of votes allowed by your unit.
Friday morning activities will consist of training, and for those of you who would like to attend, joint meetings with The American Legion. Patricia Mathis-Kerr will be speaking the Auxiliary on the topic of “Stress Management” beginning at 10:15 am.
There will be a Pre-Convention Department Executive Committee (DEC) Meeting
beginning at 1:00 pm Friday, July 14, 2023. All DEC members should plan to attend. As a reminder, the DEC consists of the Department President, Department 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, Department Chaplain and Historian, all District Presidents, District DEC’s, and all Past Department Presidents in good standing. All members are welcome to attend but only DEC members will have a voice and a vote at the meeting.
The Legion is planning an Ice Cream Social Friday evening, July 14, 2023 at 7:00 pm. The cost is $5.00 per person, and you can pre-pay the Legion using the enclosed registration form or pay at the door.
Units and Districts – Please be sure to bring your winning Poppy entries, along with any History Books and Chaplain Books. These will be judged on Saturday afternoon and the winners will be announced Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, July 15, 2023, we will attend a joint session with The American Legion beginning at 9:00 am. The Auxiliary meeting will begin at 10:30 am. Among other business to be conducted is the election of Officers for 2023-2024, selection of delegates to attend the National Convention in August, and amendments to our governing documents. Copies of the amendments to the governing documents are included with this call – please be sure to review them beforehand and bring them with you to the Convention as extra copies will not be available.
The American Legion is hosting a banquet on Saturday July 15, 2023 starting at 7:00 pm with live music by Boone Mendenhall & War Horse. The cost is $40.00 per person and must be paid to the Legion (not the Auxiliary). The Legion registration form is enclosed.
Any business that is not finished on Saturday will be concluded Sunday morning, July 16, 2023, followed by the Installation of Officers.
Our Past President’s Parley Luncheon and recognition of the Woman of the Year will take place Sunday, July 16, 2023 at noon. The cost is $25.00 per person and pre-registration is requested so that we can have an accurate count of attendees.
There will be a Post-Convention DEC Meeting beginning at 2:00 pm on Sunday, July 16, 2023. All DEC Members should plan to attend.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Convention. It has been a wonderful year for me as President and I wish continued success for the American Legion Auxiliary next year.
Strength Thru Unity
Rowena Gayle Keene, President
New National Executive Director
On behalf of the Executive Director Search Committee and the Executive Committee to the NEC of the American Legion Auxiliary, I am very pleased to announce that Sara Riegel has accepted the position of the Executive Director and will begin this new role on January 6th, 2023. She has served in the role as Interim Executive Director for the last several months and will continue to be responsible for the management of national headquarters staff and operations, the Washington DC liaison office, working with our governing boards and nurturing our external relationships.
Sara has been on our staff since 2011. She has served in multiple positions over her years with us. Her experience in the compliance, financial and managerial arenas has prepared her for the Executive Director role. Prior to her employment with the American Legion Auxiliary Sara was employed in financial and compliance roles with a range of successful Indiana firms along with owning her own business for five years
.
We are confident that she possesses the qualifications and abilities that will serve the American Legion Auxiliary along with those we are dedicated to serve at this significant point in our history.
Sara joined the American Legion Auxiliary in 2014 and continues her membership in Indianapolis Unit 438, Department of Indiana. Her eligibility is through her grandfather, Russell R. Byer, a Captain in the US Army serving during World War I and World War II.
Please join me in extending a heartfelt welcome to Sara as she begins her journey with the American Legion Auxiliary in her new role as the Executive Director.
Vickie Koutz National President 2022-2023
National Public Relations Chairman
Preamble to the ALA Constitution
For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:
To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;
To maintain law and order;
To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;
To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars;
To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;
To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;
To make right the master of might;
To promote peace and goodwill on Earth;
To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy;
To participate in and contribute to the accomplishment of the aims and purposes of The American Legion;
To consecrate and sanctify our association by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.
PERPETUATING OUR VALUES
For nearly a century, The American Legion Family, which includes The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and Sons of The American Legion, has been steadfast in support of our nation’s military. Our members promote patriotism, responsible citizenship and national security while educating youth and advocating for veterans’ rights. While members of The American Legion Family are individually unique, collectively we are a multi-million member powerhouse of caring advocates dedicated to service.
In the spirit of Service Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to support The American Legion and honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families, both at home and abroad.