Building membership for a bright future.

Auxiliary officers at all levels of our organization are now engaged in one of their most important duties--the selection of various chairmen to share in the responsibilities of creating and enhancing an active and productive DAV Auxiliary.

While each and every chairmanship is important, there is one, the Membership Chairman, to which we must be cognizant. This chairmanship, be it at the Unit, Department, or National level, is appointed and tasked with the responsibility for the future growth of our organization. But the responsibility of building and maintaining a strong, vibrant, and effective Auxiliary membership does not rest on the shoulders of the Membership Chairman alone, because membership is the shared responsibility of all Auxiliary members. Membership is and must continue to be a priority throughout our organization.

This year our Auxiliary is embarking on one of the largest national membership mailings in our history. Over 700,000 letters with a membership enrollment form and return envelope have been mailed to those who are potentially eligible for DAV Auxiliary membership. Many women who are eligible for Auxiliary Membership are reading this article right now. If you are one of them, it means there is a DAV member in your household receiving the magazine--a veteran who was disabled in service to keep America free for you and me. Today, our disabled loved ones who sacrificed so much for us, need our support.

As an Auxiliary member, you not only love disabled veterans, you are there for them, and for their families and survivors. Auxiliary members are the ones standing firm alongside the DAV in the continuing battle to ensure the benefits and promises made to our veterans are honored by our nation, and we nerd everyone who is eligible for Auxiliary membership to be standing, with us.

Perhaps you are a veteran reading the Auxiliary page. Is there an eligible Auxiliary member in your home, a wife, mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, or great granddaughter? If so, you owe it not only to yourself, but also to the organization to sign them up as Auxiliary members. Remember too, Junior Auxiliary membership for children under 18 is only $1.

When the DAV advocates for benefits and legislation on the state and national levels, the organization firmly notes it is 1.4 million members strong. That includes all members of the DAV Auxiliary. But we can and must do better.

We must continue to grow in membership strength to support continued success in our legislative goals.

The need for a strong and active Auxiliary membership is vital. We live in an ever-changing world that can affect its. When it does, the Auxiliary has a specific procedure affecting change that is governed by membership delegates. This is yet another reason to make sure you are an Auxiliary member--to make sure your voice is heard in your organization.

Membership is everyone's responsibility. Carry membership forms with you at all times, including junior applications, because they are the treasures we leave to the future. When you ask veterans to show their most prized possessions, they rarely show you jewels or material items. Instead, from a wallet or purse come photos of children and grandchildren. The ability for children to grow up in a free nation is the true reason citizens serve in the military. They are the veterans' future, and the veterans' future should be represented in our Auxiliary.

Linda A. Trulio, DAV Auxiliary National Commander, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076