Department Presidents Message for July 2026

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

If you missed the Department Convention you missed out on a great time. We had fantastic weather and a lot of fun with our National Representative, National Sr. Vice President, Donna Mills. What a super sweet, fun and intelligent lady!

This year, our slogan is "Together, honoring the past while embracing the future.” Take a moment to reflect on what that truly means for you and for your Auxiliary. Are we genuinely honoring our long‑time members the people who built the foundation we stand on? And just as importantly, are we embracing our new members with the same enthusiasm? Honoring our past includes preserving the traditions that make our Auxiliary unique. But traditions only matter if we pass them on with intention. Are we mentoring new members, so they understand why we do things, or are we simply saying, "Oh, we always do it that way”? Our future depends on how well we balance both: respecting where we came from while actively guiding those who will carry us forward.

I’d also like to challenge you to reflect on your why. Why did you join the Auxiliary and more importantly, why do you stay? Understanding our own reasons matters, especially as we welcome new members into our organization. Think back to when you first joined. Was there someone who took you under their wing, made you feel seen, and helped you understand what was happening in the meetings and why it mattered? Those moments shape how we connect, how we grow, and how we find purpose here. Hold onto that memory. Remember what it felt like to be new, unsure, and hoping to belong. Then strive to be that welcoming, supportive mentor for someone else. Our future depends on how we show up for the next generation of members.

In case you haven’t noticed yet, this year we’re putting a strong emphasis on growing our membership and mentoring everyone, new members and long‑time members alike. I strongly encourage you to attend one of the upcoming Training Academies. You will not be disappointed. We won’t be standing at the front of the room droning on about our programs. Yes, the chairmen will be available for questions, and they’ll have information about each program’s focus for the year. But our priority this year is training. That’s right mentoring is at the heart of everything we’re doing. These sessions are designed for you, our membership. Whether you’re brand new or have decades of experience, the Training Academy will focus on what you want to learn. We’ll offer dedicated classes for Secretaries and Treasurers, along with a wide range of topics to explore. We’ll be answering your questions, clarifying processes, and helping everyone feel confident and empowered.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to learn more about, send me an email and let me know. Your input helps shape the training we provide.

Here is a list of the Training Academies with the date and place for you:

Aug. 15th Redmond, at the Art Horsell Deschutes Post 4108

-          491 SW Veterans Way Redmond, OR

Aug. 22nd Albany, at VFW Post 584

-          1469 Timber St. SE Albany, OR

Aug. 29th Roseburg, at Westside Christian Church

-          2712 W Harvard Ave Roseburg, OR

Meetings will begin at 9 am. and lunch will be available.

Membership this year is packed with prizes and contests. There’s a $100 check up for grabs for the District that recruits the most new members. On top of that, we’ll be awarding a $50 check and a plaque to the top recruiter at the Department Convention in June 2027. And that’s not even counting the smaller prizes available throughout the year for our dedicated recruiters. But the best incentive of all might be the challenge I issued to the Department Commander. If the Auxiliary recruits more new members than the Post, the Commander will have to wear a replica of an old‑fashioned child’s sailor suit to the banquet at the June convention. So please take pity on me and recruit, recruit, recruit. I really don’t want to be the one stuck wearing that sailor suit.

That is all for now. I look forward to seeing you all at one of the Training Academies and when I travel the state to come say hello to your Auxiliaries. As always, I am here for you. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.

Loyally,

Department of Oregon President

Terri Steller

Phone: 541-279-7135

Email: tlsteller@gmail.com

Remember, work hard, play hard.