November 2025 Dept Letter

November 2025

The days are flying by, I hit the ground running to eight of the Fall District meetings and logged over 2200 miles. My husband, Dave, was my shotgun rider to six of the meetings. I know most of you thought my husband was a figment of my imagination, but he is real! A lot of information was presented at the meetings and there were many questions which made it worthwhile interacting with so many Units. I will be at as many Spring District meetings as I can.

My eyes have been opened on how many people do not know the value of an American Legion Auxiliary Unit. Montana has 17 programs to help veterans, military, youth, and communities. We have a chairman for each one, we have Zoom meetings every month from our Northwestern Division and National programs to share ideas and encourage each other to make the best better! We are “A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military and their Families.”

At Fall Conference we tried something new, we had a good turnout and we also offered ZOOM. I really thought more people would choose the Zoom option. We had tight quarters and some audio issues but we believe we have solved those issues for next time. My President’s Project, the Grace Home and Grace Haven, were given $12,000 each to help with a couple of renovation projects, the money came from the Poppy Fund. Thank you.  

Our four VAVS Directors and their Deputies are getting ready for their busiest time, getting ready for the Christmas Gift Shops. Our units and members have been very generous to our Veterans and their families to make a nice Christmas. If you can help out with your time and talents, I am sure more hands make light work. I read this is the National 97^th year for doing the Gift Shops!

We have a cleaned-up Roster and a Plan of Action in email form. Our Public Relations chairman, Candice Gehring mtala.candice@gmail.com , is working on getting the Plan of Action on our website, montanaauxiliary.com.  If you have articles or pictures, please send them to Candice.

The Girls State and Boys State forms are new, hopefully they will be found on our website soon, do not use the old forms. It is still $300 per delegate. We will have fundraisers to make up the difference. As a reminder, get out and find delegates. Our new Girls State Chairman is Gwen Marshall, let’s help her out. Can you help at Girls State, a day, two days or a week? We are looking for counselors, no experience needed, on the job training. Stress to the Junior students the importance of Girls State and the scholarship opportunities available and how prestigious it is on a resume.

Memberships are coming in, let’s help our membership chairman, 1^st VP Jackie Gangstad, reach some goals set by National. She is here to help and doing a great job. Remember to keep track of your volunteer time, money spent, and activities for our Community Service chairman, 2^nd VP Trisha McKinney. Impact Reports are really important.

Be thankful for what we have and all the freedoms that are afforded to us this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Montana Treasures-Copper, Silver, Gold and Veterans,

Leona Somerfeld, Dept of MT President