Be an Advocate! Be Informed! Be Engaged! Lighting the way between veterans’ families and legislators with a wave of gratitude. Thank You for Your Service—Turning our Gratitude into Action Every time we say, "Thank you for your service,” we are acknowledging the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. But we can go beyond words and translate gratitude into action. Our Legislative Program empowers us to advocate for policies that improve the lives of veterans, service members and their families by tuning our appreciation into meaningful legislative advocacy. Your efforts, combined with the nearly 1.5 million other VFW and Auxiliary members, can influence lawmakers whose decisions affect veterans and their families every day. Join the chorus of voices that will ring out in legislator’s offices this year! We will learn to "Follow up with Gratitude.” After in-person meetings with local legislators, follow up with an email or thank-you card. Establish Legislative "Gratitude Days” of action to send legislators a message of thanks Establish specific days of action where Auxiliaries commit to contacting legislators with a message of thanks, while also urging them to support legislation that benefits veterans, and more! Study the issues laid out clearly in the VFW Priority Goals. The VFW focuses on these to strengthen and ensure an adequate VA system for millions of current and future veterans. The goals are grouped by six areas of concern: Budget; Health Care; Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs; Education, Employment and Transition Assistance; Military Readiness; National Security; Foreign Affairs and POW/MIA. These goals are released in January of each year by the VFW on the VFW National website: https://www.vfw.org/-/media/vfwsite/files/advocacy/prioritygoalsbrochure. VFW Action Corps Weekly: These goals are released in January of each year by the VFW on the VFW National website at: https://votervoice.net/VFW/register. To identify your congressional representatives, visit the VFW website at: https://votervoice.net/VFW/Address. Please keep track of all the new sign-ups, you will need to report that total for the year. Step by step—A Bill: To follow the progress of a specific bill through the stage of the legislative process by its number or by a key word or phrase go to: https://www.congress.gov/. Advocates in Action: We need to "Speak the language” and navigate the legislative process effectively. Be familiar with the Priority Goals and the VFW Key Bills in Congress. Sign-up for Action Corp Weekly AND respond to them! Communicate with your legislators and elected officials (via phone, email and personal visits). Be brief and to the point. Stick to one issue per phone call or email. Appoint a Legislative Chairman for your Auxiliary that will stay on top of the issues. Get involved with Town Hall meetings. Be sure to VOTE in ALL elections and assist others in doing so. Use MALTA Member Resources under Legislative and teach others to. DO NOT endorse any candidate on behalf of the VFW or VFWA—remain neutral. DO NOT wear any VFWA attire when campaigning for a candidate. Many of you will have Municipal Elections coming up in the fall. With the 2026 Mid-Term Elections coming soon, your Representatives will be campaigning in your districts. Find them! Attend events and talk to them. Legislative Program Awards for Auxiliaries Most outstanding activity and/or event to create thank-you notes and cards to veterans that include links to VFW Action Corps Weekly and/or the VFW Priority Goals. Citation and $25 to one VFW Auxiliary in each of the 10 Program Divisions that hosts the most outstanding activity and/or event to create thank-you notes and cards to veterans that include links to VFW Action Corps Weekly and/or the VFW Priority Goals. Entry form is required and available in MALTA member Resources. VFW Auxiliaries must send the required entry form to their Department Legislative Chairman by March 31, 2026, for Judging. Citations will be mailed directly to winning VFW Auxiliaries from National Headquarters and money will be deposited into the VFW Auxiliary account after the 2026 Auxiliary National Convention. Visit our Facebook Page, Dept of NC VFW Auxiliary Legislative Program to keep up with Legislative News and Action Alerts! Contact info: Lynn Childs, 252-528-0500. Email: lynn.ccta@gmail.com, 1476A Northside Rd, Elizabeth City, NC 27909