Things not to have at a Unit meeting.

I travel 120 miles round trip to attend my Auxiliary Unit meetings, and I look forward to them every month.

There are a lot of reasons I enjoy my Unit meetings. They include a chance to learn about all the activities members report on, the opportunity to develop new programs and activities to assist disabled veterans and their families and the opportunity to share fellowship and chat with DAV and Auxiliary members before and after the meetings. It's the kind of camaraderie that builds strong and effective Units.

With a new year underway, this is an ideal time to reflect on our purpose and renew our dedication to that purpose. The purpose of the Auxiliary is clearly written in our National Constitution and Bylaws. It should be read, at each of our Unit meetings in accordance with the General Instructions for Regular Unit Meetings found on page U18 in the Constitution and Bylaws book. To quote just one part of it "... to stimulate a feeling of mutual devotion, helpfulness and comradeship among all members ..." is something we all need to take a moment and think about.

This comradeship among all members goes hand in hand with the statement found further in the General Instructions for Regular Unit Meetings. The Commander states: "This Auxiliary is now open for any business that may properly come before it."

The "... any business that may properly come before it is exactly that. It is the business of serving our veterans and their families the best way possible. It is the business of encouraging each other to build better lives for our veterans and their families. It is doing the business of the Auxiliary.

The business at a Unit meeting is not for the betterment of oneself. It is not the business of blaming or criticizing another member for something done or not done. It is not the time or place for personal issues between members. We all have bad days, but those issues should not be brought into the Auxiliary meeting.

Don't let bickering or other negative attitudes make your Unit meeting activities counterproductive to the work of the Auxiliary.

Comradeship, service, loyalty and devotion have always been mottos of the Auxiliary and all are encircled by love. Everyone should keep these elements in mind as we go into our meetings and do our program activities.

Start with comradeship in meetings and activities, and service, loyalty and devotion will follow naturally. I am confident renewed efforts to build comradeship among our members and at our meetings will make our Units stronger. Remember, our mission is to build better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families. Sharing comradeship is a great way to help accomplish that mission.