Ladies,

I am a little sorry to see February come to an end. I truly enjoyed watching the Olympics. Seeing United States female athletes encourage one another, and watching competitors from different countries support each other, was inspiring. It reminded me so much of our Auxiliary. We stand beside one another in our units, departments, and divisions, working toward common goals with the same spirit of teamwork.

What are you doing on March 8? It is International Women’s Day, a great opportunity to support each other!

The aims of International Women’s Day include:

• Celebrating women’s achievements by recognizing contributions in every field and highlighting their influence, past and present.
• Raising awareness of gender inequality by bringing attention to issues such as pay inequity, underrepresentation in leadership, gender-based violence, and unequal access to education and opportunity.
• Mobilizing action for equality by encouraging individuals, communities, and organizations to build a more inclusive and equitable world.
• Donating and fundraising for women-focused charities and increasing awareness of their work.

Some of these efforts may feel more achievable than others, but each of us can take part in meaningful ways.

Celebrating women’s achievements comes naturally to our Auxiliaries as we prepare our slate of officers for the coming year. We carefully elect leaders who will guide our units with strength and integrity.

Raising awareness may be a little more difficult, but you can begin in your own community by supporting women-owned businesses. As you make those connections, you may also meet prospective Auxiliary members.

Mobilizing action can be as simple as encouraging participation. As you vote for your new slate of officers, consider how your leadership reflects the strength and vision of our organization. We have all seen women attend events alongside their spouses who are not members of the Auxiliary. Ask your detachment members to introduce you to their family members. A special family night at the detachment could be a welcoming way to share who we are and what we do.

Donating and fundraising for our charities can sometimes feel challenging. Many of us support Operation Little Angels, and fresh ideas are always welcome. There may be members in your unit who have creative suggestions but hesitate to speak up. Consider placing a “fundraiser idea jar” at your meetings, where anyone can submit a new idea – or revive one that was successful in the past.

When we bring in new members, we also bring in new ideas – ideas for fundraising, for serving additional charities in our communities, and for strengthening our voice at conferences and conventions.

I look forward to hearing what your units did to recognize International Women’s Day when we gather at the Mid-Winter Staff Conference. Perhaps you will have a picture to send into Headquarters for the Programs of Pride section.

Warm regards,
Dotty Sanning

MCLANatPres2024@gmail.com