Hello Alaska,
It has been several months since July, when the 2027 dues became eligible for renewal.
Membership is everyone’s responsibility. With the holidays approaching, please consider gifting a membership or renewal to a friend, family member, or someone who may need assistance so no one loses their benefits. Please speak with your Membership Chair to see how you can help, or reach out to me directly for guidance.
Additionally, I have not yet received responses to my previous email from several Membership Chairs. I will begin calling Unit Membership Chairs and Presidents directly, starting with Units that have unpaid Honorary Life Memberships (HLMs). Out of the 60 HLM members across our department, 33 remain unpaid, this is unacceptable, including one member from 2025.
For our aging members, please check both in-state and out-of-state obituaries. Deceased members must be reported to the department so we can honor them at the Everlasting Ceremony; they are not automatically removed from your roster without notification – PLEASE notify Department at the earliest with a date and obit notification when possible.
Regarding HLMs, If these HLM dues are not paid soon, they will be invoiced directly to the Unit, as HLMs are expected to be paid by the Unit on the first transmittal of the year.
Please ensure your HLMs are paid today.
If you are unclear on how to process these payments, please contact me or Diana. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter, and thank you for doing your part.
My apologies if I’m a bit curt in tone….This can be so easy – if we all do our part and ask questions for clarity and/or assistance.
April L. Sinclair
American Legion Auxiliary
Department of Alaska
Membership Chair 2026-2027
The American Legion Auxiliary Lighthouse Keepers continue to shine that beacon for membership! We are just over one month away from our first membership goal of 50%, due on Veterans Day, November 11. Looking at this week’s numbers, I can see that you are working hard—renewing current members, recruiting new members, and reaching out to those who may be eligible to join. Every renewal and every new member brings us one step closer to reaching our goal.
This week, I challenge every unit to personally reach out to at least one potential member and one current member who has not yet renewed. Make the call, send the message, extend the invitation, and let them know there is a place for them in our ALA family.
At your next unit meeting, take a few minutes to report back: How many members did you contact? How many renewed? How many new people did you ask to join? Small actions, repeated every week, will get us to 50%.
Together, let’s keep our beacon shining brightly!
John R. Tester
National Membership Chair
At the 2026 American Legion National Convention, delegates adopted new membership eligibility language for the American Legion Auxiliary — expanding eligibility and allowing more family members to join the ALA.
The Legion has authority over the ALA’s membership eligibility; this gender-neutral language change allows more people into our organization — strengthening our ability to better serve our veterans, military, and their families.
Following is the updated text from The American Legion that reflects the updated eligibility provisions for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary:
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE:
Section 2. Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to:
(1) grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of members of The American Legion; and
(2) grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of all servicemembers who served in either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, and any time after December 7, 1941, who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;
(3) grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and direct or adopted descendants within two degrees of consanguinity of all servicemembers who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941, who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility period and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and
(4) to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion.
The revisions to the ALA’s eligibility mentioned above allow individuals the potential to be members of both the Sons of The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. The Legion’s national judge advocate has confirmed that this dual membership does not constitute a conflict of interest with The American Legion.
The eligibility changes are effective immediately. Updated membership applications, brochures, and additional membership resources are available at www.ALAforVeterans.org.
For any questions related to this eligibility change, please email ALA National Headquarters’ Membership Division at membership@ALAforVeterans.org.
