American Legion Auxiliary members are continuously at work in their communities, demonstrating the compassion and heart we have for our veterans, military, and their families. Auxiliary members are always busy serving our mission. We know unit activities take time to plan, execute, and process. Because of that, we understand the need for better information and materials to be easily accessible.

The ALA Program Engagement Plans give our members instructions and guides by incorporating local and national Auxiliary priorities. Program Engagement Plans are for unit members and departments (states) to implement the Auxiliary’s mission in their communities, and further their knowledge of each program. 

We recognize there needs to be a multifaceted approach to educating ALA members about mission delivery, as members don’t always receive the information the same way. One large document is no longer the answer. We use Facebook groups, Mission Training events, ALA Academy, quarterly virtual meetings, the national website, and now, the Program Engagement Plans to educate Auxiliary members in all things focused on mission delivery. 

The plans are aimed at individual members but can be used to fit unit and department activities very easily. We know that not every unit or department delivers the mission the same way, but this form of information is available for all members at all levels of the organization. 

 What are ALA Program Engagement Plans? 
Located at www.ALAforVeterans.org, these plans drill down how to implement the key purpose statements and other ideas on how members can take their ALA mission outreach activities to the next level. They provide resources already available, real-life how-tos, links to useful information, links to our national committee Facebook groups, deadlines and important dates, sidebars for easy access to important topics about the programs, and in-depth knowledge of each program. 

Will the program plans change from year to year? 
The committee purpose statements will not change as those are now part of the Auxiliary’s national Constitution & Bylaws. While some activities may change from year to year, we know that it still takes two to three years for widespread awareness at the community level of new programs. These plans should be simple and easy to apply for that purpose. 

Where can I find the Program Engagement Plans? 
All plans are located on the member side of the national website. Sign in to the MyAuxiliary member portal at www.ALAforVeterans.org via the Member Log In link, click on “Committees” and you will see several options — at the end of the options, you will see a “How to Get Involved” box. From there, click on “Program Engagement Plans.” You may also go here to easily locate the plans: www.ALAforVeterans.org/member/program-engagement-plans. 

To learn more about the ALA national program committees, request to join one of the many Facebook groups at www.Facebook.com/alaforveterans/groups.