Get Involved
Purpose: The purpose of the Junior Activities Committee is to inspire active participation in members aged 17 and under so they become engaging, productive members who will want to continue their American Legion Auxiliary membership into adulthood. Standing Rule 6, National Committees – Mission Outreach
Inspire active participation in members age 17 and under so they will become engaging, productive members who will want to continue their American Legion Auxiliary membership into adulthood.
- Engage Junior members in activities that support the American Legion Auxiliary mission:
- Engage in poppy activities that may include making poppy posters, telling the poppy story, and distributing poppies with the assistance of senior members.
- Promote Americanism through practicing correct flag etiquette and respect.
- Organize and participate in service projects.
- Offer help to military families and help military kids entering a new school.
- Involve Junior members in helping support the needs of veterans in VA hospitals and outreach facilities with handwritten cards, thank-you cards, mementoes, and supplies.
- Engage Junior members in leadership training:
- Shadow senior member officers at meetings and hold an appropriate unit office.
- Post colors at senior meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Lead opening ceremonies (the Pledge, prayers, National Anthem, ALA Preamble).
- Shadow senior committee chairs and assist with their program plans.
- Promote the ALA scholarship benefits of remaining a member.
- Encourage Juniors to attend their ALA Girls State program the summer between their junior and senior years of high school.
Build the Junior Activities program one member at a time by giving Junior members a voice and opportunity to participate.
- Plan mission-related activities that are interesting and inspiring to Juniors.
- Participate in Wreaths Across America Day by volunteering to lay wreaths at local cemeteries.
- Hold graduation ceremonies to recognize Juniors who will move to ALA senior membership status.
- Pay first year of senior membership to encourage retention.
- Share information about the ALA’s scholarship programs
- Pair older Juniors with less experienced Juniors to promote mentorship.
Promote and encourage Junior participation in the ALA’s national Junior Member of the Year award.
- There will be five division Junior Members of the Year (ages 14-17).
- From those five division winners, a national Junior Member of the Year will be chosen.
- Four division winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The national winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship, plus invited to the ALA’s National Convention.
- All five division winners will receive a citation plaque, plus an authorization to attend a national Junior meeting.
- This scholarship is to reward ALA Junior members who are contributing to the organization and our mission, with a long-term goal of increasing Junior participation.
Promote and encourage Junior participation in the ALA’s national Rising Star Junior award.
- There will be five division Rising Star Juniors for members ages 8-13.
- All five division winners will receive a citation plaque, plus an authorization to attend a national Junior meeting.
- This award is to recognize younger ALA Junior members who are contributing to the organization and our mission, with a long-term goal of increasing Junior participation.
Promote and encourage Junior participation in the ALA Patch Program to teach them about the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary.
- Work on the Patch Program at unit meetings. Include senior members to educate Juniors about the importance of participation in the Patch Program and to learn about ALA programs.
- Encourage Juniors who are unable to attend unit meetings to work on the Patch Program at home.
- Work with Sons of The American Legion (SAL) squadron leaders to inform them of the opportunity for young SAL members to participate in the ALA Patch Program.
- All Juniors and SAL members attending a National Junior meeting will earn a National Junior Meeting Patch to acknowledge what they have learned at the meeting.
Make Junior meetings fun and informative.
- Explore mission service and how they can impact our mission at each meeting.
- Encourage friendships and mentoring by planning fun team-building activities (games, learning Junior songs, etc.) and/or provide age-appropriate crafts.
- Highlight the numerous ALA learning opportunities available to members in the ALA Academy, including the ALA Juniors eLearning Course.
Deadlines/Important Dates
- April 15: Purple Up! Day for Military Children
- May 15: Department chairmen reports due to division chairmen, cc: national chairman
- June 1: Awards submissions due, including Junior Member of the Year and Rising Star Juniors
- 2025-2026 National Junior Meetings: See dates and locations here
