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Vets group auxiliary goes online for growth SFlb
SALEM
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 56 has reinvented itself — “virtually” — and made history to boot.
Now as Auxiliary eUnit 56 (electronic on the Internet), the patriotic organization does not meet in a building. It meets online.
Its members, wherever they have access to a high-speed Internet connection, can go online to discuss activities, pass by-laws and elect officers via webcams at a virtual meeting.
And in the process, perhaps they are on the path to reviving an organization that has members but who are old and haven’t met in years.
All they need is a computer with a built-in or external webcam, said eUnit 56’s technical advisers, Lee and Dawn Lichtenwalner. The Internet service costs $6 a month.
On Aug. 1, eUnit 56 made history when it became the first virtual Legion auxiliary in Ohio and only the third in the nation.
Proponents of the virtual meeting say it is aimed at attracting younger women to the organization, and so far eUnit 56’s plan is working.
Katie Stewart, a sophomore at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, is eUnit 56’s president. Lisa Stewart, Katie’s younger sister, and Maria Fazal are treasurer and vice president, respectively. They are juniors at South Range High School.
Establishing an eUnit has been a dream of Martha Lee Thatcher, American Legion Department of Ohio president, since 2008.
She said more advanced technology is in younger women’s comfort zone, and it could also appeal to 30- and 40-year-olds for whom attendance is a problem.
If there are women interested in a patriotic organization that serves veterans, troops, their families and the community, but they don’t have time to travel to meetings, the virtual meeting offers that opportunity, Thatcher said.
Meeting face-to-face electronically is an alternative. And, she said, the eUnit portal is available to eUnit 56 members 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Auxiliary Unit 56, affiliated with American Legion Charles H. Carey Post 56 in Salem, was the ideal organization in which to get an eUnit started because it had become inactive but still has a charter upon which to build.
To start a new traditional auxiliary unit and be chartered requires 10 members 18 and older, Thatcher said.
Auxiliary 56 members invited the young women to add on to their membership and carry forward the name and reputation of Auxiliary Unit 56. It’s a blending of cultures. It also required and received the approval of American Legion Post 56 in Salem.
The eUnit website enables members to conduct online meetings with live audio and video. They see one another in real time and can share documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
“Young people are attached to technology. So if we want to continue to grow and survive in the future, if we want to capture and retain our youth, we have to change our way of thinking and start doing business and thinking in ways more like the younger generation,” said Dawn Lichtenwalner . She and her husband are members of American Legion Post 290 and Auxiliary Unit 290 in Columbiana.
Auxiliary Unit 290 has sent numerous young women to Buckeye Girls State, and Lichtenwalner is pulling from that group for potential members of eUnit 56 in Salem.
Katie Stewart, eUnit 56’s president, did not attend Buckeye Girls State, but while in high school was one of the winners of the Americanism and Government test. Her sister, Lisa, and Maria attended Buckeye Girls State this past summer and were sponsored by the Columbiana American Legion Auxiliary Unit 290.
Katie, one of six valedictorians of South Range High School’s Class of 2010, is studying accounting and economics and running cross country at Mount Union.
The daughter of Mark and Connie Stewart of Green Township, Katie said one of the requirements to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary is to be the daughter, wife, sister, granddaughter or great-granddaughter of a service member of any branch of the United States military.
“On both sides of my family my great-grandfathers and grandfathers served our country in conflicts from World War II to the Vietnam War. I became involved in the auxiliary because it is my duty to my country, and it shows my support to the men and women who have protected our nation’s freedoms over the years,” Katie said.
“Right now, eUnit 56 is a baby. But with the right leadership I believe our eUnit has a great chance to grow and become an interstate network working to support our veterans, encourage Americanism and provide inspiration to the up-and-coming generation.” Katie added.