What Can I Do to Ensure my Auxiliary is Healthy?

Whether you are a new member, a member for a few years, or a member who has been around for a long time, each one of us is a vital piece of the puzzle that makes up our Auxiliary.  Every one of us can assist in keeping our Auxiliary healthy to carry on our mission of assistance to our Veterans and their families for many years to come.

So here are just a few suggestions on how you can do your part:

• Take an active role in your Auxiliary meetings. Each of us possess unique talents that can be useful in some way to our Auxiliary.  We have many programs and Auxiliaries are always looking for volunteers to work projects or perhaps lend a hand at a fundraising dinner or event. Don’t leave everything to the officers; choose something that fits you, and volunteer to help.  Attending meetings is admirable, however, working projects that assist our Veterans and their families is an uplifting experience.
• Bring a positive attitude to your meeting. Many of our members (new and old) have great new ideas that are geared to meet the world we live in today.  Leave your negativity at the door – be open-minded and listen to what they have to say.  Don’t be afraid to try something new.  You might be surprised at the outcome and more importantly you will make your members feel engaged and truly part of your Auxiliary.  It’s about merging our past with the present for our continued success.
• Remember what it was like to be the “new kid on the block.” When a new member joins your Auxiliary, make them feel welcome.  Don’t leave them sitting by themselves.  New members will learn by example and hopefully will then “pay it forward” with new members, ensuring that your Auxiliary continues to move forward.  We want to invite, invest and retain our members, and making them feel welcome goes a long way in achieving this goal.
• Leave personality conflicts at home. You don’t have to be best friends with everyone, and certainly we are not always going to agree on everything, however, we must respect each other and the office an individual holds.  Find ways to compromise, and most importantly, find ways to work with each other.  Destructive behavior is the easiest way to tear down your Auxiliary.

If we work as a team, we will Soar Above and Beyond and be unstoppable in what we can achieve for our Veterans and their families across this great land of ours.  You, as a member, are a piece of the puzzle not only in your Auxiliary but also in our organization.  You can help achieve our goals. The continued success of our organization is in our hands.