American Legion Auxiliary
Department of Florida

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Shirley Fashano

legislative@alafl.org
2022-2023 Legislative Program Action Plan
2022-2023 Legislative District Year End Reporting
2022-2023 Legislative Unit Year End Reporting
2022-2023 Legislative Awards
ALA Legislative Facebook Page

American Legion Auxiliary loves our Veterans.  When it comes to “Politics” our goal is simply, protect their rights under the law and to take action with all American Leaders to protect their rights. As your Department Legislative Chair, I promise to give you all the information on Bills and the resources needed to write your leaders. Together we will make a difference on issues concerning veterans, military life, national security and patriotism. We can #Color me there by… empowering ourselves to be more knowledgeable in order to take action on The American Legion’s legislative priorities. Start by taking the following actions and you will soon be able to help our American Veterans in a way you never thought possible.

1. Subscribe to The American Legion’s Legislative Action Alertsat capwiz.com/legion/mlm/signup to receive notifications. When they call on Legion Family members to take immediate action on legislative issues you will be notified.
2. Plug into the American Legion’s Legislative Update and e-newsletters by going to https://www.legion.org/legislative  this will keep you informed on recurring veteran, military, budget and funding, healthcare, patriotism, and awareness issues..
3. Order a copy of the ALA Legislative Advocacy Guidethrough Department Headquarters or download from their website at https://www.legion-aux.org/cmsdesk/ALA/media/PDF/Guides/Legislative_Advocacy_Guide.pdf Follow the suggestions and guidelines to help build legislative awareness within your American Legion family and your community.
4. Connect with your Legislators and send them letters at this site. https://www.votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/Campaigns

Always remember we are a non-partisan Legislative team fighting for our Veterans. We must keep an eye on our elected officials, hold them accountable for their actions towards the American Veterans. We must stay politically connected to our government.

7-Point Plan to Get Your Representative to Pay Attention

• Write the member a personal letter and expect a response within thirty days. Do not use a form letter or postcard.
• If you haven’t heard from your member, call to ask for a meeting with the staff member in charge of veterans issues.
• Be concise at the meeting. Have your facts straight and all your sources.
• Request that your issue/concern be placed on the radar screen and supported by your member.
• If the above isn’t working, stand outside the member’s office or committee door. Introduce yourself when she/he passes by and tell them about your concern as simply as possible. Back up your statement with facts.
• Send a thank you letter for the time and support the member gives to your issue.
• Hold her/him accountable. Send a note of appreciation if she/he votes yes. Send a note questioning a no vote.

National and State Legislative Committee

The national organization of the American Legion Auxiliary has a National legislative Committee which works closely with the National Legislative Commission of The American Legion. The American legion Commission has offices in Washington. D.C. and continually promotes the passage of The American legion sponsored legislation. Departments of the American legion and Auxiliary also have Legislative Committees which function in a similar manner within the states.

Unit Support in Legislative Work

When measures important to the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary are before the lawmaking bodies for consideration appeals go out for support on these measures. At such times the unit members should contact their representatives urging them to take the action desired.

How Legislative Policy is Formed

In all matters of legislation the American Legion Auxiliary follows the action of The American Legion, never endorsing any measure until The American legion Has firs endorsed it and never following a policy which does not coincide exactly with The American legion’s stand.

The Department Conventions formulate the legislative program for each Department and also follow the action of The American Legion Department Convention. They outline the policy to be followed in regard to measures to come before the legislatures of their stats and also pass resolutions on national measures to be referred to the national Conventions.

Legislative Work for the Unit

The legislative activities of the Unit may be handled by the Unit President, by a standing Unit committee, or by a special committee appointed to conduct the work in special emergencies. The legislative matters usually deal with some other phase of Auxiliary work, such as Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation – getting beneficial legislation for veterans; Children and Youth – securing legislation beneficial to children of veterans and children generally; National Security – securing national security measures; or Americanism – obtaining the passage of measures to promote better citizenship or to curb the activities of radicals. The arousing of public sentiment in support of such measures might well be left to the committee handling the activity under which they fall.

All Unit Legislative Chairmen should subscribe to The Dispatch. The American Legion’s publication. This biweekly newspaper describes current legislative issues and other news pertinent to The American Legion family. Subscription requests with payment should be sent to The Dispatch, The American Legion , PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

National Awards

Department Award

An award will be presented to the Department Chairman in each Division reporting the most outstanding overall Legislative Program. All entries are to be in narrative form and are not to exceed 1,000 words. Pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. are not to be included. Only those reports that include return postage will be returned. The Department Chairman must submit her entry to the Division Chairman on or before June 1.

Unit award

An award will be presented to the unit Chairman in each Division reporting the most outstanding overall Legislative Program. All entries are to be in narrative form and are not to exceed 1,000 words. Pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc..are not to be included. Only those reports that include return postage will be returned. Entries are to be judged at the Department level and one winning entry from each Department is to be forwarded to the Division Chairman on or before June 1st.

NEW Unit Award

An award will be presented to the Unit Chairman in each Division reporting the most outstanding overall “Getting to Know Your Legislators” Program. All entries are to be in narrative form and are not to exceed 1,000 words. Pictures, clippings, scrapbooks, folders, etc. are not to be included. Only those reports that include return postage will be returned. Entries are to be judged at the Department level and one winning entry form each Department is to be forwarded to the Division Chairman on or before June 1.

The American Legion National Legislative Awards

These awards will be based upon copies of congressional responses forwarded to the Commissions’ Staff Office in Washington, DC. Eligibility for citations will be based upon two factors:

• The number of congressional responses in relationship to the Department’s membership.
• The timeliness of congressional responses forwarded to the National Legislative Commission, The American Legion.

For accounting purposes, citation eligibility will be based upon congressional responses received in the Legislative Commission Staff Office by July 31 for the preceding 12 month period.

Department Legislative Chairman Award for The Unit Chairman

This Unit Chairman Award will be given at the 2023 Department Convention.  You must have all information to Department Legislative Chair 30 days prior to Convention (May 17^th, 2023.)  The Unit Legislative Chair with the most gems received will win the 80 Carat Diamond Award.   You will not be eligible without your year-end written narrative.

A Gold gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

An innovated idea of your own to promote a Bill of the 117^th Congressional meetings

Submitting Legislative Involvement ideas to Department Chair for the Department Newsletter

An Orange gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

Holding a meet and greet  (copy of flyer, invitation, and a photo must be attached.

Call to action (copy of the email reply from the Elected Official)

A Pink gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

Volunteering at the polls, (elections in November)

A Purple gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

Hold a mock debate (can be as simple as which is a better color pink or yellow)

Sign up on Capwiz.com

A Blue gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

Attendance of county meetings

Attendance of city meetings

A Green gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

Speaking at a county meeting

Speaking at a city meeting

A Yellow gem awarded for each of the items below that you have completed:

Involve your Unit or District Public Relation Chair at any of the above events (articles, photos, press release, etc.)

Mail to: Shirley Fashano
1108 Sabal Palm Lane
Sebastian FL  32976
Email to: legislative@alafl.org
Cell: 321-609-7564